Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

At the Studio

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Lots going on in the studio right now!  One of the biggest challenges I am facing is documentation.  For each work I create, a certain amount of paperwork needs to be established for each work, before I make it available for sale.  As I had promised to several collectors, I am trying to offer ‘previews’ of artwork here on the blog, before the items are listed in my shop.

Here’s another piece that I hope to list later today or tomorrow:

This is a 24″ x 18″ and I’ve been having a difficult time getting a decent photo of it.  Though digital photography has made almost instantaneous visual communication more feasible, it’s still a challenge for many artists to get ‘decent’ photos of their work.  Here’s a good article I read recently on the subject called Digital Image Troubleshooting.

Also I have other projects in mind other than paintings that need attention.  As an artist, the finished work is certainly the most important in developing my reputation, however the process of creation does not function well for me in a vacuum.  Each painting is a visual record, that reflects what I am reading, thinking and investigating.  If I were a better writer, I believe I would have enjoyed journalism because writings that take human endeavors under the lens of study in an objective way fascinate me.

One such book that I’d recommend to any artist is Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton.  Again, here’s why I’m NOT primarily a writer; I’m pretty sure I should have listed that first linked article in quotes, rather than as an underlined entry, but my computer doesn’t seem to want to let me go back and change it…

New

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Here are some of the finished items I hope to make available for sale later today, or tomorrow.

Commission in Progress

Saturday, March 20th, 2010

Just wanted to post this image to show a bit about how I work.  With living creatures like birds (specifically here, the Great Egret) I believe it important to study many sources to gain an understanding of the animal and how it moves.  Also I documented the birds myself and am using those photos to create this commissioned work.

Often while working as an instructor, I would see students create art from newspaper or magazine photos… this is not an issue if done only for the purpose of study, but unethical if done for profit.

Soon to be Available

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Just wanted to give a preview of the works I will be posting soon in my store.  This first one is a large oil on canvas, 24″ x 24″

Artistic Expression in Everyday Life

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Beauty and creativity can be expressed in many forms… here’s a photo of the table setting we used for dinner last night.  The camellias here are in bloom..

The Importance of a Title

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Titling a painting or other work of art may seem like a minor concern since the primary mode of communication with visual art is, as the name states, visual.  However, the title of a work can provide valuable insight into meaning and intent.  This latest work that I will soon be listing for sale, is titled “Mystery”.  Below is a description of how and why I arrived at the title.

At first glance there are elements of the work that contradict the name.  The scene is bright and open with vibrant colors.  Further exploration draws us down to the foreground area where the shadows deepen to the point of illegibility and the brush marks are more active.  The order of the upper scene almost seems to drain out into chaos.  Mystery is in the chaos, but also in the exploration and contemplation of visual meaning.

Latest Version – Dog Portrait…

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

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Christmas Gifts

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

Some of the items at www.mckeeverfineart.etsy.com might be perfect for your holiday shopping…

Gallery-Wrap

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

This image is of a painting that was recently created and just sold this week.  It depicts a view mostly of marsh, but also of an abandoned boat bumper hanging around in the water.  The site is located within biking distance of my house and I love to see it change through the seasons.

The canvas style is often described as gallery wrap because the canvas continues around the edges and no staples are visible.  Because the painting is so narrow I felt that a frame would close in the image too much, and that it was best to continue the image around the sides.

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Art Alive

Friday, May 8th, 2009

Through working with several talented designers I’m often fortunate enough to see my work in its final home.  Art certainly does not need to ‘match’ your sofa, but when all the elements of a room work with one another, the optimum life for the art is achieved.

Here is one of my paintings at the owner’s home…

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