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I had a scare over the weekend.  I’m a long, long time birder, or "bird-watcher," as they used to call it.  As a teenager I helped with bird banding and prepared study skins, “stuffed” birds that now just lay in drawers at Ohio State University's Museum of Biological Diversity.  Through this in-hand exposure I picked up histoplasmosis, a fungal disease that, in my case, broke out in the retina of my eye.  I’ve had a number of laser surgeries because of leaking blood vessels in each eye (which isn’t supposed to happen), leaving me with blind spots in both eyes, and significant vision loss in the left.

I noticed a flare-up that required a visit with the ophthalmologist yesterday.  But to my great joy, new procedures have been developed which make “hot laser” only one of several treatment options.  I had many times worried if I would be able to paint the same way if I lost further sight in my good eye.  People are praying for me, so I’m trusting the Lord for good things!  In my giddiness, I decided to post my favorite painting of the last 6 months or so.  It’s a small piece that only took a short time to paint, but it seemed to pull together the stuff I’ve been trying to learn, and It “worked!”

——Jim

After almost a year of good intentions, this is my first Blog post.  I was pretty naive to think, “I’ll update this thing every couple of weeks.”  Instead, after a dozen “shows” of one sort or another, a few commissioned paintings, a couple health issues, a new relationship with a gallery, paint outs, a daughter’s wedding . . . you get the idea, and your life is just as busy as mine!

So there, you’ve heard my excuses.  Now, for what’s new.  After several years of total concentration on oil en plein air and studio pieces, I returned to the old nemesis, wildlife art.  For a show in Yellow Springs, OH, “Nature Arts and Crafts Festival” at Glen Helen Ecology Institute, I decided to try my hand at a zebra.  My intent was to see if I could incorporate my newfound looseness in oils while painting a pretty realistic acrylic, looking for intense colors in a black & white animal, reflected light, watching my edges, etc.  I was relatively pleased with the final result and amazed that I was able to do about 85% of the painting holding the back end of the brush handle.  Only eyelashes, bristles around the mouth, and occasional special details required me to “choke up” on the brush in this 20” x 24” painting on masonite.

This painting was sold at the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association Regional Conference at their "Wings, Tails & Scales: An Art Exhibition Celebrating Animals," after being awarded Best Of Show.  I later entered the digital image into the BoldBrush Painting Competition in January, 2011 and it was selected as Finalist - Outstanding Acrylic!

Thanks for visiting my Blog!  Please leave comments; I’d be glad to hear from you!

——Jim