I have just finished 5 Matisse inspired figures for the Charleston Artist Collective.  They will be at Whilden Street Gallery in Mt. Pleasant for the Holiday Show.  They are 6x6 and framed in white wooden frames.  I am working on "allowing the work to lead me. "  Advice from the I Ching.    

No new workshop work that is postable, but plein air painting is underway. Learned to use some great new color mixtures from painter Mary Gilkerson's workshop in Edisto.  This collage has had the face slightly reworked but will be posted in its final form soon.  It's from a model I drew at Summerville Artist Guild figure drawing class.  Now on to next and final workshop.

Seeing art in a photo always makes me want to change something.  However this is not exactly how it looks.  I have made a few larger collages.  This was inspired by Matisse.  

This window is one I've drawn and painted many times.  I love the variety of shapes at the Battery.  The lighthouse is a colored pencil drawing I did of one of Edward Hopper's many lighthouse images.  

Whoever said "color is my daily torment" knew what they were talking about.  I think it was Matisse.  I think he also said it could take a lifetime to learn about it, or maybe that's just how I feel.  I have painted the green soda bottle at least  five times and yet to get its intensity.

The first collage of McLeod has been recycled.  I did it in class up in the mountains so was trying something new.  I didn't think it worked, but maybe needed to keep going on it.  Right now I am working on the woman in a green kimono.  Equally frustrating but almost finished. 

This is a detail of a larger piece I am working on as a group of 5 or 6.  It is amazing how small bits of paper can create different expressions by being moved just a fraction.  

Just finished this workshop with Meredith Fife Day of Lowell, Mass. an artist who has been doing paintings and collages and teaching for many years. This painting  was done on paper rather quickly from the balcony of the library at WCU.  There are a number of ways to combine these two but in this instance we plein air painted in the morning and later made collages from our paintings.  Working with acrylic was challenging.  Can't say enough about the generosity, sincerity and unique, creative approach of this instructor. Check out her website that shows collages and paintings side by side at:  meredithfifeday.com

It took a long time but I finally was able to post from my IPad. I like the ocean backdrop so much I left most of it as is.  I am trying to finish several before I go to a collage workshop at Cullowhee Mountain Arts.  I have had so much interest in the dancers I did from Degas paintings I am thinking of ways to do more.  Possibly paintings next.