"Searching for Paradise" Art Entry and Saladino Class

"Searching for Paradise"
18" x 24" Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas
This figurative work is for sale at the exhibit in the September 11-26, 09, 7th annual art show and sale, Preservation is the Art of the City, Fort Worth, located in the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. Each of the 50 selected artists will have a 36" x 72" space and can place as many works as will fit within this space. (4 pieces max.) The artists can have another 4 pieces, max. 14", in the miniature section and 1 work associated with Fort Worth preservation and not to exceed 30". A portion of the sales to to help fund preservation programming. The turquoise pattern to the left of the figure is a little too dominant so it may get a little tweaking.

Tony Saladino Critique Class July 9
I took the painting above and another I'll post later and below is a slide show of others' work from the class. Mouse over for captions.
One of the perks of attending the critique class is to sit surrounded by Tony's beautiful abstracts and see his newest works. You can view some of his fabulous work at this current show at the B. Deemer Gallery.
Tony talked to us in this class about simplify and combine parts of a painting that is not working and about it being O.K. to be all over the place before we develop a "thrust" and settle in. Similar to me taking so many workshops and I get asked about getting mixed up in techniques. I don't and guess I've been all over the board and probably still am, but if nothing else I learn I don't want to paint like that and that is a good lesson. I would love to learn some of Tony's painting methods.
He says "The painting has to have interest to grab your attention. If it's pleasing to your eye, it will be pleasing to others." One of his comments on Thursday kept focusing on how many paintings we might find in our one painting. He would take a mat and show us and then ask us to think about simplifying some of the areas and combining colors.
We had to laugh when Paula said "I hate to show my work after the simplify discussion. I'm the "Queen of Dull" and I decided to loosen up since Tony's one day workshop." We loved her busy and colorful wheels and clocks painting and especially her abstract. Check out the slide show and see the other interesting paintings from the critique. Yes, we had a good Mexican lunch together at the "Tequila Rain" restaurant. I think that would make a great painting title.