The End is Near

Sometimes you just have to end it.  Time to move on.  I've been working on paintings in my Place series since 2006, and I've now completed 94 paintings in the series, including the 2 most recent ones pictures below. More than any other work I've done, creating the paintings in the Place series taught me what I wanted to do with my work...what I mean is they lead me down the current path that resulted in the San Juan series, and the more recent Flood series I am embarking upon.  These works have allowed me to explore directions in style I might otherwise have not approached. They have helped me understand my own interest in landscape, in structure, in, well, place and how I could use painterly techniques and drawing techniques to find interesting ways to illustrate my ideas.  And color, or what an exploration in color this series has been!  (with a few B/W exceptions).  But all good things must come to an end, and once I reach the 100th painting, the Place series will be over.

93 Place, 22 x 28, oil on canvas, 2010  On display at The Hideout starting this week.

94 Place, 28 x 34, oil on canvas, 2010. Showing at my studio during  Art Walk July 1st, 619 Western - 3rd floor, South side. 

It is a little daunting, and perhaps misguided, to publicly declare the end to a series.  In all reality, though, they are not ending.  I'm still making work, work that is a bit more illustrative, work that may surprise long-time supporters with more direct representation.  Work that will keep focus on structure and certainly maintain some of the link work present in the Place series; but I am shifting.  Trying to.  It can be scary.  I've always gotten pleasure and even some attention for these colorful paintings, and leaving them behind, well, is a bit unnerving.  But it must be done.  Granted, I'll make colorful paintings again, I'm sure.  But I hope, that after the 100th place is complete, that I can put this body to rest and push forward.