Sincerity, Originality

"Thinking more of sincerity than of originality, conscious that originality that is not the product of sincerity is but peculiarity, and that sincerity alone points the road to the only originality anybody is capable of." -- Harold Speed, Oil Painting Techniques and Materials

Speed's Oil Painting is a classic, written in 1924 (thanks, Barbara, for pointing me back to it). There is much wisdom in it, though his style is sometimes awkward and dated. Sincerity is an old-fashioned idea, but it informs my best work and the work of others that I most admire.

Tiny Touchups

Kitchen Counter came back from exhibit with just a little edge wear.

Paintings at Carteret Contemporary Art

We just got back from a North Carolina road trip, visiting family and friends and taking paintings up to Carteret Contemporary Art. A couple are new and there are also a few that haven't been seen in some time. Jack Saylor will be the featured artist.

The one below is called At the Beach House (16" x 18", oil on linen). Another in the pink bathrobe series, it's on a rougher linen than I've been accustomed to using, and maybe that's what got me painting a little more loosely. There's even some knife work.

We visited my friend Marina Bosetti in Raleigh. Her recent work is, if possible, even more terrific. Here is one of her birdhouses (from her blog).