Day 26 - Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

 This is the latest in my Spirit Animal series, where I focus on animals as symbolic guides that help us through our lives.  This one features a coyote and 3 crows.  Coyotes are known for their ingenuity and adaptability, while crows are known for their intelligence and symbolize the mysteries of existence. I've painted both animals before, and have paired them together as well.. They seem to belong together somehow, as if their energies work together.. 

 In my painting, Coyote is joined by 3 crows (thought patterns?) to remind us that we are adaptable.. there is always the possibility of change.  I am a firm believer that if we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change..  Of course, thinking can not change everything.. My daughter reminded me that you can not 'think' away all of your problems.  But, a lot of problems are caused by how we are thinking about them.  Shift your perspective and observe what happens...  

Another variation on this theme is this quote that I came across: If you don't like where you are.. move!  You are not a tree..  Love that!  

"Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life", oil and cold wax, 11"x14", 

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Day 4 - Layers 2

Today has been a looooong day... And consequently, this painting is not quite finished... I know, you are probably thinking, "but how can I tell?".  Well, lets just say that, I can.  I had planned on hanging this in the gallery with yesterday's post, but by last night, I realized that was not going to happen.  There is more to be done in the composition and general paint application.  But, I am posting it anyway, as I have no more time to be working on this today!  (a an aside, I will be on TV tonight talking about Art Plus Gallery and all of the new renovations, business plans and our brand... Should be interesting...)  So, below is Layers 2, in its almost finished state.  And below that is Layers 1 and Layers 2 photoshopped, as I imagined they would hang, in some one's beautiful home!  I will post this painting again, once it is complete...

Layers 2, oil and cold wax, 16" x 20"
nfs... yet

Layers 1 & 2 , as they could look in your home!

Day 3 - Layers 1

Today's painting is one of 2 that I designed to be hung as a pair, or separately.  The original idea came from a much smaller stripey I did awhile ago and posted on instagram. I got so much positive feedback on that one little stripey that I decided to try it bigger.  Due to the dimensions, however, I needed to re-think it on two canvases.
Stripeys evolved from end of the painting session excuses to use up all of the left over paint on my palette.  I often save my paint by freezing it (this keeps oil paint fresh for much longer than just covering it)  But eventually the paint that I have saved over and over just needs to go because I need to start afresh with clean colors.  Nothing wrong with the old paint... just ready to move on.... So, I would grab a small panel, take my palette knife and just start painting it on in a purely abstract way. Some of theses turn out to be pretty interesting!  I like using the palette knife because it frees me from thinking about subject and just lets me talk about paint, color and composition in a purely elements and principles kind of way...  And... it allows me to use paint like a millionaire! (that is, lots of it!)  My recent stripeys are layer upon layer of paint.... in essence paintings over paintings.... It is what makes them so appealing to me!
So, here is Layers 1.  Below it is a close up of some of the juiciness, and below that is what Layers 1 could look like in your house!  Both paintings are custom framed and will be in the new show at Art Plus Gallery, opening January 8th.  Click here for details.

Layers 1, oil and cold wax, 16" x 20", framed
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Layers 1  Closeup

Layers 1  ~ Could be in your house!