Luxury Air Conditioning

9"x12" acrylic multi-media painting...As a base, I used a sky study painted in acrylic on paper-backed canvas. I then attached sections cut from two experimental paper compositions; one was a futuristic aquarium, the other was a funky windmill. If you look closely, you can see portions of a metalic frog, a water lily and double bubbles. The flag (attached only at the right side) in this piece has a patch defining the word 'windy'. The signature paw print indicates this is my cat's favorite bird watching place.

Equine Red Tape

10"x10" acrylic multi-media painting...Sometimes a painting is just a jumble of colors, lines, and nondescript designs. Then something magical happens. In this case, tracing with red paint, I followed what I thought were haphazard lines. The resulting image popped and there was a horse's head...complete with ears, eye, mane, and bridle. The 'red tape' phrase comes from the patch of words taken from an old dictionary. Click...then click again...for a closer look.

Color Changeling Bubbles

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic painted and stamped (on clothing pattern tissue) painting ....Reds and yellows merge into oranges, yellows and blues merge into greens...it's wonderful how the eyes will optically mix the colors. Overstamping with blue/purple serves to brighten the colors even more. I thought it might be whimsical to imagine square bubbles.

Of Things Past

12"x10" acrylic multi-media painting...The thesaurus block represents the word "junction". Click on the image - then click again - for a detail view. We've all had junctions in our lives and, looking back upon them, they are "Of Things Past".

paper-in-waiting

These are various painted/stamped papers which I've cut into strips (some 1" wide, some cut angularly). I sometimes use these as borders, weave them into designs, or cut/tear them into other shapes as needed. Click on an image, then click again, to see detail.

Cat Bird's Seat

...11 1/4"x10 1/4" acrylic mixed media painting...It's interesting how two failed compositions, which I had worked on for hours, can be sliced up with a paper cutter and used as pieces in another painting. The bird's body contains bits of a dictionary page showing the meaning of "window dressing". I think the bird makes excellent window dressing. Click on the image to see the words.

Keeping the Faith

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...There are a lot of hidden designs in this painting. I used a small hand carved rubber stamp featuring 3 flying doves to apply the darker green on either side of the cross. The intersection in the upper left features a Celtic cross printed in golden irridescent paint.

Tracery of Shadow

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...I'm not sure exactly what the gold symbol is. It was part of a sheet of stencils from a mandala book. If anyone knows, please let me know.

Everything Went Swimmingly

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic multimedia painting...Everytime I look at this painting I see a big fish, which kind of explains the title. Although fish swim, the word 'swimmingly' actually means "...with great ease of success". I'd like for all my endeavors to go swimmingly.

Much to Whisper

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic multimedia painting...This one is done on clothing pattern tissue and, if you look closely, you can see some of the markings peeking through (which are part of the design).

Back to Forever

...a portion closeup...

...clicking on the image will show more detail...

...12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...I left a few areas dimentional in this piece. The flag containing the quote (which reflects the sentiments of the subject) and the small orange extention in the left/center cast small shadows. The entire piece hasn't yet been trimmed, so unfinished edges still show.

My Metaphorical Garden - SOLD

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...SOLD recently at Artistic Gifts and Framing in Dalton, GA....The interesting play of light and dark, warm and cool colors gives this a mysterious feel.

To Begin Again - SOLD

12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...SOLD and framed at Artistic Gifts and Framing in Dalton, GA...Other painted papers (les papiers colles) are available there and by contacting me at beejw@charter.net.

Comes a Romance

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic/mixed media painting...

Heart Shaped Soul

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic mixed media painting...It's too bad I didn't get this one finished before Valentine's Day. However, I'm sure there are lots of June weddings planned and this would make a wonderful wedding gift.

My GPS Possibility

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic painting on thick deli paper, including collage...This reminded me of trying to read a map, when it's much easier to plug in the GPS.

Dreams I Have

...portion of a 12"x12" acrylic painting on varying papers. Letting the pattern printing show through gives movement to the lower right.

Not A Knot

...a portion of a 12"x12" acrylic painted acid-free tissue paper. Layering the paints, stamping and stencils allows me to see all the possibilities in subjects and themes.

Pillars of Thought

12"x12" acrylic paints layered and stamped on acid free tissue paper. This is another example of the techniques taught by artist Anne Bagby http://www.annebagby.com/.
After randomly applying layers of acrylic paint (beginning with opaque then adding transparent), a design or theme will appear. Letting the paper tell me what it wants to say (or be) gets me "off the hook" in deciding its subject. With the addition of a few final touches here and there, the paper is finished.

Fabled in Verse

After taking some time away from plein air painting, I was looking for a different "something" to do during the Winter. My friend, Sandra, had attended a painted paper workshop taught by Anne Bagby (see her website at http://www.annebagby.com/)

Experimenting with the wonderful ideas that come with painting on different types of paper has resulted in my new "painted paper" obsession. The entire process is hard to explain...so I'd suggest you visit Anne's website to see the exciting things that can be done with acrylic paint on various papers.

Beginning with a 12"x12" paper, layers of paint, stamping, stenciling, etc are applied. The paper can be turned until a theme or object becomes clear.