This painting of a coffee drinker by Richard Diebenkorn was my inspiration for "PInk Hair" and "Morning Rhythm" collages.  I'm always surprised at how they turn out.  

I recently had the pleasure of hosting an informal collage workshop at my studio.  One artist friend demonstrated a painted paper technique from collage artist Harry Stooshinoff.  The great thing about collage is that there are so many approaches it is truly a creative medium and who doesn't like to cut and paste?  Above is one of my favorite subjects, the Wappoo Bridge.  I can't comment on where I am with painting right now except to say it's calling to me.  Follow me on Instagram for more art related postings.  

Looking for some common theme here and using different color schemes.  The three  from the right top down are works of artists or teachers I admire.  All on carton board except the one in left bottom corner, McLeod Plantation done on panel. Maybe after 100 more .......

This is my inspiration for a collage of a Bluegrass musician I am working on.  This collage by Romare Bearden was just purchased by the Virginia Museum of Fine Art.  I think its one of his best.  

Having blog technical issues.  New collages will be on Charleston Artist Collective site soon.  Please check it for more dancers.  Thanks. 

Dancers inspired by Degas.  

This one is another version of Matisse's wife.  I wish all of them came together as easily as this one.  It will be available in Feb. on the Collective website, 9x12, in a white frame.  The real title of this post is "Collage Burnout." Love Cubism, don't really understand it.

While working on collages, Charleston experienced a massive snow storm, a very rare event that brought things to a kind of  nice standstill for a few days.  I was able to keep working with the help of two extra space heaters and the Savvy Painter Podcasts.  Now it's all melted as if it never happened. 

"An avalanche of color loses all its force.  Color can achieve its full expressive power only if it is organized and its degree of intensity corresponds to the emotion of the artist."  - Matisse.
I just ordered this book from the show at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts about how Matisse used the objects he collected in his paintings.  He collected a lot of things including textiles, not because of their monetary value, but for aesthetic reasons.  Although for most of my life I had little interest in him, I now find him and his ideas about art fascinating and pivotal in the development of modern art. 

I have never been more excited about what I'm planning for this year.  I continue to find artists who work in collage and paint and they inspire me.  Looking forward to working on architecture, figures and still life and possibly combining the first two, and revisiting some ideas that have worked well for me.  Stay tuned.