Today in the Studio. Activating the canvas.
Art Journal. Graphite and acrylic on paper.
Blue Willow Cabinet
Final version of the work in progress posted January 26th.
Growing up, Sunday dinner at Granny’s meant cornbread, lamb, coffee ice cream and Blue Willow china displayed in the corner cabinet.
Acrylic on canvas.
Fire in the Flower Garden
Today in the studio. When we were children, my friend Dan and I once carried buckets of water from his house to a park across the street to put out a small brush fire.
Art Journal. Acrylic, ink and pencil on paper.
Incident Against the Stable Wall
in Illustration
Today in the Studio. One day, a horse stepped on my foot. Immediately, it lifted its hoof and lost balance, pressing me against the stable wall.
Art Journal. Graphite and water on paper.
Encounter with van Gogh
Recently, I visited the National Art Gallery in Washington, D.C., and stared at this painting for nearly an hour. I couldn’t look away. When I closed my eyes, the piece remained visible. Once again, Van Gogh challenged me to live my calling.
Something was wrong. I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t know how to fix it. I went to a museum and stood in front of a self-portrait by van Gogh. The painting was life-size. It felt like van Gogh was staring back at me. Rising through the silence, I heard these words: Cut a bold path to truth. Sometimes in life, I am awake. Sometimes I am asleep. Art always wakes me up. — Howell Burnell