Inspired by Rice Chapel

While in Houston I had the opportunity to visit the Rice University Chapel. It was quite beautiful.  The back wall and columns are covered in small gold mosaic.  There isn't any recognizable iconography which I quite liked.

It was night when I visited and not all the lights were on in the chapel but I could still get an impression of the walls humble beauty.

Now back in my studio in Durham I have been processing my Rice Chapel impressions.

Chapel- 60"x60"  oil on canvas http://artid.com/members/rcdamman/art/31234-chapel/

Been Away, Now I am Back

Been busy.  Actually forgot I started this blog.  Some how remembered and it is time to recap what has been going on.

I am saving my pennies to get a CAA membership,  That's College Art Association membership so I can keep abreast of the goings on in the world of art education.

I finished the Houston Marathon with my brother and sister.  I was surprised by Houston.  Besides the marathon the Menil Art Campus was a high light of the trip.  A whole building of Cy Twombly in natural light, the Rothko Chapel, some early small Brice Marden color field paintings.  Hot stuff.  I would have pictures of this reverential experience but they were not allowed.

Back in Durham now.  Painting like I have a new fire under my butt.  I am going to apply for some residencies.

3:24 AM

Here is a studio image I'll be using as a invitation postcard/announcement for my Nov. Joe Van Gogh show.

Sneak Peek

I am getting ready for an exhibition of my paintings at the coffee shop Joe Van Gogh on Broad Street in Durham.  I plan on showing 6 new canvases.  The title of the exhibition is "Draw a Blank, Fill in the Blank."  It opens Nov. 1st the same day I'll be running the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh with brother and sister.  Then comes Thanksgiving and a trip to NJ for turkey and to work on my mom's kitchen.  Here comes a busy month.  My arms are out stretched.

Stay

From top to bottom where the painting has come from

Seconds

  My second posting.  I started the painting on the canvas I stretched yesterday.  I started at some ungodly hour like 2 in the morning.  I am back up at 5:30 working on it.  It currently looks like this for the couch I sit on in my studio that looks like this.

Today, promises to be relaxing,
No running on the training schedule.  (I am registered for the 2009 Nov 1st Raleigh Marathon) A little work in my other vocation, carpentry.

Beginning

I went for my scheduled 5mile run today. Thought about being solid and my core as a brick house. Did the actual 5.7 miles in some 51 minutes. Not bad for this 38 year old guy.

Also stretched and primed a three feet by three feet canvas today. It is ready to be painted on. I did a quick graphite sketch of Georgia the dog and OC the cat on the wet gesso. I just felt itchy to get onto the canvas.




This painting "Toeing the Line" has been painted over so that it looks like this now
Then I disassembled it into 12" x 12" squares and it now sits in a pile on the green stool in my studio.