A new idea for some studies

I have long been a huge fan of Mark Rothko's glorious color field paintings. They are magnificent when you actually get to see them. I always liked them in books, but the reality is staggering. I saw them, along with Sargent's portrait in the museum in Montgomery Alabama a few years ago. What a profound experience!!

I've never gotten them out of my mind. Last night I was thinking of some way to study color field work but within the confines of the landscape. Suddenly I thought of what I want to do. I am doing a lot of paintings of The Wood farm with my various exercises. Why couldn't I do some "Color Fields" paintings. I don't have much interest in abstract painting, preferring a visual reference of some kind in my work, but I have always loved the abstract approach to painting with representational objects.

What about a series of little studies of the Wood Farm field with the color field approach in acrylics? I love the beautiful color of color field paintings and their luminosity, but that is not exactly what I want to do. I have an Internet friend, Tina Mammoser HERE who does very good color field paintings with a landscape theme, but I have in mind something less luminous and a bit less abstract than the traditional color field approach.

In my mind, I am seeing the strong color saturation and flat shapes for value transitions rather than the traditional blended technique. Simplicity of composition and rather minimized. As many of you know, I have long been fascinated by the paint by number concept of painting. Value mapping and color mapping are similar in idea. I am thinking of maps of color and value for these studies.

Using the fields at Freddie's farm is a perfect transition into doing "Color Fields". That is what I will name the series. I'll try to start the first one tomorrow. This will be fun!!

I spent the day running all over the county, delivering and picking up paintings from galleries and other venues. I had a quick trip to deliver a painting sold to a client in Micanopy, so I thought why not take some of the little farm studies to the Wood Swink in Evinston? I had a nice visit with Freddie and Sue, sitting beside the wood stove. I could while away the hours there. Sue said that someone had an eye on another little painting, so it looks like business may be picking up for my miniatures, at least at the Wood Swink.

Tomorrow I'll get started on my new study series and spend a cozy day in my studio. It's cold early this year in north Florida.


Today's Recipe


Chicken with Pasta


1 pound fettucini
2 chicken breasts
Salt/ pepper
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 T EVOO
3 T fresh parsley
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, until al dente. Drain well.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat a large grill pan over medium high and add chicken. Grill until golden and completely cooked. Remove to a plate and slice.

Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to a saute pan with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and saute until fragrant. Add the cooked pasta and turn heat off. Mix all together.

Remove pasta to a large bowl. Add chicken to the warm pasta and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle in chopped parsley. Add the juice of 2 lemons and mix. Before serving top with Parmesan.