The Best Robe ~ Acrylic Figure ~ The Prodigal Son ~ PCPC Arts Festival

"The Best Robe"
16"x 20" Acrylic with collage on gallery wrapped Canvas

My second entry in the Park Cities Presbyterian Art Festival is based on the prodigal son theme, Luke 15:11-32.
A hungry and penniless young man longs to return to his father. The compassionate father has been waiting for his return and welcomes him back home. The son asks and receives forgiveness for wasting all his money. The father was so happy his beloved son has returned home he asks his servants to bring "The Best Robe" for him, a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet in preparation for a great feast. Great rejoicing occurs when lost children of God return to Him, our Father, and ask forgiveness. My previous post showed the first entry, The Birds of the Air.
The festival will be April 25-May 3 at 4101 Oak Lawn Avenue, across the street from the church. The top works in each category will be honored with a ribbon. The "Best of Theme" and "Viewers' Choice" winners will each receive a cash award of $1,000. Some of the artists in the metroplex area might consider the show for next year as it is a well run, professional show presenting Biblical themes.

Calypso Family Series #1 of 10 by Nancy Standlee

7.5" x 5.5" image
Acrylic on 140 lb. watercolor paper
The Calypso series was begun this play and paint weekend at a Canvas by Canvas members' home. Scenario: Member's husband goes to Europe, 6 painter friends arrive with cars loaded down with art supplies and food ready to work on Friday. It was late Saturday evening when my CBC work was completed and I began to think about some personal paintings. This series is the result of an intense focused weekend of painting. It is impressionist and painted more from emotions than photos. So as not to suffer from girl friend withdrawal, some members will paint together on Monday at the Upstairs Gallery. Watch our sites and blogs for an exciting announcement of new work to follow after our weekend of painting.

Exit

10” x 8” acrylic on gessoed watercolor paper, without mat or frame, $100.00 In the FWCAC show.
Figurative themes interest me. Put a figure in your painting and that becomes the center of interest. Ideas for paintings are generated by life, a photo, an image or pulled from your imagination and then allowing yourself to be creative. “Paint something you’ve never seen before” is a Robert Burridge quote. Break some rules. It takes courage to take a pristine piece of expensive watercolor paper and throw a “blob” of acrylic gesso in the center and spread it out – that’s a huge rule breaker. (More on gesso in today’s Burridge newsletter.) There are many rules on how to handle a piece of watercolor paper with traditional methods. But if you break some rules and splash on color, look for interesting shapes and images, scratch into the surface and let the painting evolve sometimes you’ll find some magic. What appeared to me was a figure in flight, an exit. Each person will have their own interpretation. One week ago today, June 21, 2007, I was in Tampa General having numerous Sestamibi scans for a possible surgery. At the end of a very long morning, Dr. James Norman came to the foot of my bed and said “Goodbye. Are we still friends?” I was disappointed that I couldn’t be helped but so glad to be out in the Tampa sunshine looking for a cup of coffee - A celebration, a rethinking, a bump in the road, an Exit.