Art – Page 44 – Rob Medley

Majesty

January 22, 2017 by Rob Medley

A colorfully painted depiction of a lion's face, composed of vibrant brushstrokes in shades of orange, blue, green, and yellow. The lion's eyes and facial features are abstractly represented, blending into the textured background to convey its majesty.

The interesting thing about this piece is it was accomplished with nothing but short horizontal strokes of the brush. I also limited myself to metallic paints. This limits choice to blue, green, purple, copper, bronze, gold and white; so lighting was also a challenge.

I’m happy with the painting, it’s a good first step into a style I would like to pursue for a while, but am really unhappy with the way this artwork presents itself on film. If you are standing near it, the natural light does really wonderful things that photographs can’t capture and the metallic feel is lost in the transfer to film. I’ll have to invest in bettering my skills.

Majesty refers to the Lion and it’s place as the ‘King of the Animals.’ Even lounging in the grass of the Savannah, the lion exudes comfort in being the Apex Predator. Conversely, humans are only a 2.2 on the 1-5 scale. The fun fact is that we humans maintain our perch over the animals due to our rational thinking and technology. Without these two things, we are grouped with the likes of pigs and sardines.

Anyway, this is 16″ x 20″ and is an #acrylic #painting on canvas.

Being Koi

January 18, 2017 by Rob Medley

A close-up photo of a mosaic artwork featuring two green shapes resembling organic forms, possibly cells, amidst a background of multicolored, reflective, broken glass pieces. Red fragments are scattered between the green shapes, adding contrast.

This started as something else, then I had the idea to use crushed glass, self-leveling clear gel, other gels, and acrylic paint on canvas board. It really just came together as a pond with a Koi fish inside.

Top Down View

I started with a base of deeper color, then laid the crushed glass, and held it in place with clear gel.

(Viewed at an angle)

The lillies were originally rocks but morphed into the former when I went away from a flowing river concept.

(Lilly closeup)

The lillies are made from gold and metallic colors, filled with clear gel, and dusted with a translucent white gel to represent reflection.

(Close up of Koi)

In full light, I’m sure that it will sparkle more.

11″ x 14″ and is currently available.

Eye of Heaven

January 14, 2017 by Rob Medley

If you ever look at a human eye up close, it’s one of the most beautiful natural creations. I was thinking of this when I started this project. At the same time, I wanted to create the impression of what one would see looking up at the moon. The moon here represents the reflection of natural light in the eyes, where the forest is the myriad of colors that make up the rest. It’s also a reflection on life, eternity, and the wonder of natural things.

Mixed Media (really because of the pumice I used to make the moon (it’s somewhat 3-D) on canvas, 11 x 14, and already sold.

Midsummer Knights Dream

January 22, 2017January 8, 2017 by Rob Medley

A painting of a woman with long, curly hair, closed eyes, and blue lips. She wears a necklace with a circular pendant. Her serene face is bathed in warm light against a swirling background of deep blues and reds, creating a mystical atmosphere reminiscent of Midsummer Knights Dream.

This started out as something else, but my art rarely goes where I want it to – which is not a bad thing; it’s part of the adventure. I originally was going for a take on Munch’s ‘The Scream’, but somewhere along the way blended the surrealistic aspects of his work and more traditional painting – probably because I wanted to practice shading. As a fantasy piece, the story is of a knight, a Paladin or otherwise, who takes a moment to rest. The scene captures that moment that the borders between the dream-lands and the world we live in blur; where sleep takes over our thoughts. In the background, are they the swirling mists of her dream or a sinister portent of battle to come?

#Art #Painting #Knight #Midsummer #Dream #Acrylic #Empower

Portrait of a Chicken: Still Life of Captivity

January 22, 2017December 24, 2016 by Rob Medley

I’ve become bored with it, so I’m moving on. This painting evokes the confinement all beings find themselves in, hence the reds. The chicken represents humanity shackeled by our desires, and the eyes seek to capture the emotions connected with the human condition.

Acrylic on canvas painting 14″ x 18″.

Lost Souls

January 22, 2017December 11, 2016 by Rob Medley

A vibrant, abstract painting features a green gas mask with bright pink eyes, set against a swirling backdrop of blues, purples, and reds. The mask's intense colors and the dynamic, flowing background create a sense of motion and tension.

Earlier, I was reading a book on Otto Dix and his experiences in the First World War. I had a doodle I’d started yesterday with swirls of red. I looked at it after reading the book, and saw a man in desperate fear within the swirls. I tried to turn what I saw into what you see. I kept the eyes I’d seen in the red swirls and put them behind the mask of the man advancing in a cloud of poison gas.
Here’s a close-up

Although it’s what I call a filler piece, until I get my next big idea, I wanted to convey raw, unsettled emotion; fear, creepiness, the hopelessness of war, and so on.
I’d like to hear your opinion.

Return of the Queen

January 22, 2017December 6, 2016 by Rob Medley

Set a few years, if not a decade or two, after the filming of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, an odly familiar figure returns in disguise to the scene of filming. Although she hated pastries, it seemed fitting at the time to enjoy one.

I haven’t signed it yet as I may or may not attempt to correct the glaring errors I see.

Earth Mother

January 22, 2017November 30, 2016 by Rob Medley

Surreal painting of a glowing blue face with a serene expression emerging from a dark background. Spiraling, bright green vines rise from the orange-red base, entwining towards the face. The artwork conveys an ethereal and mystical ambiance, evoking the presence of an Earth Mother.

I went ahead and signed this one because I don’t know when, if ever, I’ll get back to it. It’s a nature piece, dealing with the mystical forces surrounding the entity that is Mother Nature, both from a pagan and artistic perspective. She’s never really portrayed as a creature one wants to be around; rather, people would rather just appreciate her children. This is why she is depicted as serious, even of stern visage, in my portrayal of her.

Once again, the vision in my minds-eye did not match what came from my hand, so I will have to keep trying. The exercise in the piece was lighting from multiple sources, the plant, emanating the energy of its birth, the right, and from above, representing the night. One can see faint traces of it in the downward strokes of the background.

Vitals: 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas.

Comments are welcome, more so if they go beyond “this is total rubbish”.

The Forest

January 22, 2017November 2, 2016 by Rob Medley

I originally was going to use this as a background for a Halloween painting. Halloween has come and gone, and so I decided to let it stand on its own. Most people don’t appreciate the woods, but every time I’m in nature, I feel that connection between man and the environment. So, while the painting may be boring in a media-filled, sound-byte ridden world, I think there’s a certain peace to it.

New techniques to be found in this? Linear painting, maybe? I’m mostly practicing things I’ve developed in the past. The hardest part of art , in my opinion, is getting light right in the woods, as there are so many contrasting areas of light and dark colors. Throw in streaming sunlight and one is tempted to cast aside the brush and bow to nature’s perfection. This is an imperfect representation of that beauty.

18 x 24, acrylic on canvas. Part of the closet series.

Berries

January 22, 2017October 31, 2016 by Rob Medley

“Berries”, a fluff piece really; designed to get me painting again. I’d lost the Muse for a moment, so I just went with what I felt. This is a combination of acrylics, extremely watered down to look like… errr, watercolors. I then used some spray painting (nice fumes on that one) with stencils and these odd polystyrene balls I found at Michael’s. To finish it off, I used fingers to paint what the balls could not. I’m hoping the brilliance of the reds hold when the paints dry. This is 18×24 and is multimedia.

Test of Faith

January 22, 2017October 15, 2016 by Rob Medley

A cold winter evening, somewhere in the city. On the roof of a nondescript tenement, a life is about to end… or is it about to begin?

Every artist does a religious painting at some point (at least the ones I follow), so here is my contribution to that lexicon of beauty.

Castle S

January 22, 2017October 7, 2016 by Rob Medley

A misty, ethereal landscape painting depicting a medieval castle with pointed towers and rooftops. The background is shrouded in fog, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Warm autumn foliage surrounds the structures, adding a touch of color.

I’ve completed another painting. I’m experimenting with fog / mist. It’s a process. I didn’t do so well on this one; hence ‘Castle S’. I’m going to call it a practice piece for the next work, in which this will be the background for the action in that scene. This is 16 x 20, acrylic and spray paint on canvas. If you’re interested, I’ll let it go for $100.