Mood Swings

Art affects us; at least, that is usually the reason for creating it. I paint because it's fun to try to capture the experience of a place or moment that made me feel happy or peaceful or inspired; something that connects to the goodness of life. I don't think I am one of those artists that will ever paint dark, scary abstracts! 

So how can an artist communicate mood in a painting? Several ways, as a matter of fact. Here's a bullet list for those of you who do Bullet Journaling:
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• With color
• With edges
• With subject
• With values
• With lighting key
• With design

What? These topics sound familiar? Yes, I've been blogging about them all along and in the next few entries I want to show how these work to not only make for a successful painting, but also to make the viewer feel what the artist is feeling. Can I just say right now that this is why original art matters...it comes from the heart and hand of a living, breathing human, whether it's a painting, jewelry, literature, music... It matters that we support those who create with our interest and attention. 

Today I offer some examples of my work that I hope evoke emotion in you. See if you can figure out what mood I was after in each of these paintings:

P.S. Some of these are still available :).  Thank you for reading my blog!!