WSO Show Time: “When The Music Begins”

I am pleased to announce that my painting When The Music Begins was selected for the Watercolor Society of Oregon’s Fall Exhibition (WSO). My congratulations to all the artists selected!  The show will be at the Elsinor Gallery in Salem, OR.

Juror.

I would like to extend my thanks to Juror Iain Stewart (AWS/NWS) of Opelika AL, for choosing my work.  It is one of 80 watercolors in the exhibition.

I have known of his work for sometime and recommend looking at his website.

Details for the show.

• Location:  Elsinore Gallery, 444 Ferry St. SE, Salem OR 97301.
• Dates:  October 5th through 29th.
• Gallery Hours:  9am to 6pm, Mon – Fri; 10am to 5pm Sat.

About The Painting.

When the Music Begins started with a squiggle drawn in my sketchbook.  Then, I slowly began to build the drawing by adding lines, shapes, and tones.  I imagine the process as being like jazz music improvisations.  That is to say, I riff on the shape of spirals, dots, and grids.  The next thing I know, I see music.  That is I feel like I am anticipating the opening bars of musical piece.  What kind?  Could be jazz, or maybe rock-and-roll, or what do you see?

Previous Version.

Incidentally, this is not the first time I have used this particular drawing in a painting.  I did at least one study.  Also, I did a version in acrylic, titled, When Circles and Spirals Dance.  In this case, I used an orange and blue color scheme.

The result looks “the same but different”.  That is, I use the original design as a point of departure.  And, then, I find I have new ways to solve the problems of the compositions.

Also, sometimes it takes multiple variations before I feel like I have gotten all that I can out of an idea.  In any case, after completing the first painting, I was inspired to try it again, this time exploring variations of gray and white.

Thanks!

Back to the exhibition.  My gratitude and thanks to the many volunteers in the Watercolor Society of Oregon who make this exhibition possible.

If you are in the area, I invite you to please stop by and enjoy the WSO Fall Exhibition!