"Capitol Building, Raleigh" and "City Market, Raleigh", both 24x24" acrylics on canvas, are part of a larger architectural project I started a while ago.  I chose 6 recognizable buildings from the downtown Raleigh area.  I started these pieces in an unusual way, creating a very textured background, then cutting in the sky around the silhouette of each building and its surrounding trees (see below, the Capitol is on the left, City Market on the right).  

These two were the first two I completed.  The next four have gone in a somewhat different direction stylistically so they'll be their own series.  

"By the Way" is 30x40", acrylic on canvas.  Unlike my last few projects, the creative process for this painting was completely unplanned and instinctive.  When I mix liquid acrylics, I often end up with excess paint and it seems such a waste to just let it dry out.  A couple of months ago I grabbed a blank canvas and laid it to the side in my studio and every time I had surplus paint, I'd brush it out randomly on the canvas.  Folks would stop by my studio to see what I was working on and walk over to this and say but what's this?  We like this!  This piece developed on its own off in the perimeter of my thoughts while I focused on other things.  The result is loose, atmospheric, emotional... almost the opposite of the concurrent works.  When I was ready last week to tilt it upright on my easel, there was very little to do for it to feel complete and whole as a painting.  I blurred my eyes to focus (or unfocus) only on color, surface, and balance.  I do that often to check for broad-stroke compositional issues.  With a piece like this, it's hard to know when it's complete... but I do know when it feels right, when it feels good.  Happy Tuesday!

We installed the completed mural panels today.  Each one measures 5x5' and they cover a lengthy stretch of wall leading to a collaboration and design space.  I had much help with painting from my coworker, Bill Rodgers, since the flat and clean nature of the images required multiple layers of paint.  This was a really fun project, quite a departure from my usual assignments!  I love doing faces but it's rarely applicable in a corporate environment.  I have a few other works/series in progress in the studio to which I will now turn my attention.  Happy Friday!