Nautilus

Some problems exist with the reflection of the center nautilus. Today's pictures shows how inconsistent the color can be if the photograph is not taken in exact circumstances each day.

Nautilus

There was a lot of tedious work today painting the segments of the center nautilus.

Nautilus

I quickly altered the background to submit this to the Judith Klein Gallery for a February Show. The Gallery wanted "bright" colors for a February Love theme show. This is about as bright as I could take it and maintain the integrity of the piece.

Nautilus

This painting is oil on board and 6"x15". At first I planned to paint in an illustrative manner mimicing scientific drawings and leaving the red background. Now I've decided to place the shells on a dark ground with reflections. I will also change the blue-gray shade of the left shell to a pink-ochre color. The nautilus has survived millions of years virtually unchanged. It is from the same family as the octopus; its shell is its skeleton. As Oliver Wnedell Holmes wrote,

Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted past! Let each new temple, nobler than the last, Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea

!

Daturas

I worked the far ground more extensively, adding some subtle plants and leaves. Also worked the center datura.

Daturas

I decided I didn't like the far ground area at all. It was amateurish and trite. The straight lines of the boards were also incongruous with the curvilinear aspects of the plant. In place of the house, I will just have a deep space that indicates plants.

Daturas

I feel I'm not a very good blogger. After painting I never feel like putting in the time to write about it. I guess the work must speak for itself. And, if there is some soul that looks at the work beyond me and has questions, fire away.