We Are Alive

"We Are Alive" is my latest cardboard cut that will be hanging in the Artists of Yardley 8th Annual Members Show. The size is 14" x 24".

I developed this piece after hearing the haunting lyrics from the song of the same name "We Are Alive" by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band. The following lyrics that kept coming back to me...    

"And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark
Our spirits rise to carry the fire and light the spark
To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart"

Bruce Springsteen's lyrics have always been great stories, and as a fan have connected to a lot of his songs, especially for this one. Everyone has lost someone they care about, and ponder life afterwards, well this song spoke volumes to me. 

Info about the show. Over 100 local artists are showing their work in the annual show. The opening reception is tonight Friday, March 8 from 6-9pm. The show runs from March 8 to April 6. Gallery hours are Fri/Sat/Sun: Noon to 5pm. Come on by if you're in the area.

Artists of Yardley

AOY Art Center at Patterson Farm

949 Mirror Lake Road

Yardley, PA 19067-5514

Rooftop #1

I'll be participating in the Artists of Yardley "100 for 100 Small Works" show this weekend with my latest piece, Rooftop #1. Information about the show is below.

Rooftop #1    Acrylic with cardboard on canvas.    6" x 6"    November 2012

Usually my art is the same process: cutting into the cardboard, peeling away the layers, and then painting on top with acrylics. This show is different. All participating artists were given the same 6" x 6" canvas to work with. While I have painted and showed on canvas before, I thought it was time to try something new.

After finding my subject, an old building I came across, I decided to incorporated scraps of older pieces into the canvas. First step was placing the scraps onto the still wet gesso that covered the canvas. Next, I applied more gesso on top to make sure the cardboard stayed in place. After drying thoroughly, I applied some darker acrylic paint along the "building" part of the canvas with an ink roller to give some more texture to the building. Once that dried, I went about finishing the painting with more acrylic by brush.

Scraps of cardboard from earlier art.

This was fun for me. I liked experimenting with the cardboard scraps on the canvas. It was new, scary, and unknown, but it was exciting. I worked until the wee hours to finish it up last night (thanks The Nerdist podcast!) and glad to say that I'm happy with the end result.

So, come on by, see this piece in person plus the other 99 pieces that are sure to be great. Plus, what a great gift idea, a piece of art by some really creative people, from a fantastic organization (AOY), and at a reasonable price. $100 for each canvas. Come meet some fun people, give your eyes something to feast one, and supports the arts! See you there!

A Little Bit Of Smoke In The Sky

"A Little Bit Of Smoke In The Sky" is my latest cardboard cut that will be hanging in the Artists of Yardley 7th Annual Members Show. The size is 14" x 10".

Inspiration from this piece came from the song "Blackbird and the Fox" by The Twilight Singers. The opening lyrics stayed with me since the first time I heard it, and I just started to sketch it out.

"A little bit of smoke in the sky
It's late in the evening
And the end of the summer burns upon your skin."

The man behind The Twilight Singers, Greg Dulli, has always captured my imagination with his lyrics since his days with The Afghan Whigs.

Info about the show. Over 100 local artists are showing their work in the annual show. The opening reception is this Friday, May 11 from 6-9pm. The show runs from May 11 to June 3. Gallery hours are Fri/Sat/Sun: Noon to 5pm. Come on by if you're in the area.

Artists of Yardley

AOY Art Center at Patterson Farm

949 Mirror Lake Road

Yardley, PA 19067-5514