Attack of the Flying Wonton

On March 17, 2019January 21, 2022 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, humor, mixed media painting, oil painting, Photography, Recommended, sarcasm, SurrealLeave a comment

I am clueless. About most things really, but in this specific case, about what to say regarding this next gallery. Per usual, they all began with one of my photos or a photo of one of my paintings. About half of them are a blend.

The bottom line is I just like playing around in Photoshop. (It’s a very powerful program if you haven’t checked it out yet, and I say that even though Adobe does annoy me.) I just like distorting images, creating layers, trying out different pieces to see what fits together. Just like a puzzle.

It’s the same with my paintings. I just like to paint. It’s that simple. I like blending and shaping and seeing what works. A nun once told me (yep, I went to Catholic school) that if you make a mistake in your art, just turn it into something else. That took a lot of pressure off. Later a friend remarked, “That is just like life.” Both are good lessons. Sorry if I already told that little anecdote somewhere else in this blog. I have the memory of a gnat. Do gnats have memories you ask? Exactly.

I believe that everyone is creative. You just have to discover what you love and run with it. Creativity comes in so many more forms than painting and drawing, etc. Just figure it out. Don’t be afraid to throw yourself into it. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Remember, you don’t have to show it to anyone else if you don’t want to. This can truly be all about you.

Oh, and I almost forgot, this gallery is under Graphic Art (in the menu bar) and it’s called Sir Real Sundays.

I know, I know. This blog is supposed to be primarily mixed media paintings with just a dash of photography. Well, what can I say? I needed a break from painting, needed a distraction from my brain, and graphic art it is. I’ll get back there eventually. Or not. Maybe I’ll find I really like tagging trains.

Stir of Echoes

On March 11, 2019March 17, 2019 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, humor, mixed media painting, oil painting, Photography, Recommended, sarcasm, SurrealLeave a comment

Yep, that is the name of the Kevin Bacon movie in which he gets hypnotized and then sees a ghost. I think it’s fitting because there is something ghost-like about the ten images in my new gallery, Insufficient Funds (which can be found under “Graphic Art” in the menu bar). There’s also something hypnotizing about them, too. So, without giving anything else away — and because I’m not especially chatty this evening — I will leave you to them. Go forth and be mesmerized.

A new gallery hath cometh to Camelot.

On February 27, 2019January 21, 2022 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, humor, mixed media painting, oil painting, Photography, Recommended, sarcasm, SurrealLeave a comment

I uploaded a new gallery named The Fire, Water, Air & Feathers Series. Well, that’s what I call the series, but the page — which is located under the Graphic Art page in the menu bar — is called Earth, Wind, and Fire because, well because I think those images are gonna just make ya wanna sing. Now I know there are many of you — so many — who are thinking, “huh?” To whom I say, go look it up. No wait! Come back! I didn’t mean go look it up now. Now you should really check out the new gallery ‘cuz it’s kinda cool.

All of the images are the spawn of one of the two above paintings. I think there are 12 images? I lost count. I couldn’t help myself. I just kept playing around until I was interrupted by a very loud scream in my head, telling me to STOP! Post the damn things already and move on to an obsession with a new parent photo. Which is exactly what I’m going to do.

Oh, just one more thing. The paintings above are from years ago when I was working with oils. The painting on the left was influenced by Mardi Gras and I call it Feathers. The painting on the right is called The Grail. Who knows what its influence was. Probably plum sake with maybe a little smoke thrown in.

Barbie’s road trip to Berlin.

On February 25, 2019January 21, 2022 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, humor, mixed media painting, oil painting, Photography, Recommended, sarcasm, SurrealLeave a comment

I just posted two, yes two, new ‘galleries.’ One, a collection of photos, is called Santa Fe, New Mexico because they were taken in Berlin, Germany. Oops. I keep doing that. Confusing where I want to be with where I am.

My second ‘gallery’ is called ‘generally abstract.’ I know. How original. Look. My visual work is creative. I can’t be creative everywhere. Just tell you where the gallery is? Yeah, right then, it can be found under ‘graphic art,’ and since we are located out in cyberspace let’s just pretend you’re coming to my gallery opening in Berlin.

Well that’s a little misleading.

On February 22, 2019March 17, 2019 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, humor, mixed media painting, Photography, Recommended, sarcasm, SurrealLeave a comment

I am having one of those nights where my computer hates me, my cats have had about five cups of coffee too many, and WordPress decided to revoke any and all of my editing rights.

I posted another gallery called “Latest Work” under “Mixed Media Painting” in the menu bar. What should have taken no time at all took about six hours. Then, after publishing the page it occurred to me that not all of the work in that gallery is mixed media. A few are simply straight-forward acrylics. Such as the painting in this post.

Then I realized that I intend to post more work under the “Mixed Media” heading that is also not mixed media. I considered changing that heading to “Painting” with mixed media as a subheading, but that’s just so boring. So I’m leaving it as is because it looks far more interesting.

Head’s up, what you see in these pages may not be mixed media at all. Just so you know.

I’m going to bed now, if I can get my cats to stop using my head as a backboard for their lay-ups.

On February 13, 2019January 21, 2022 By Steven J. PicardIn abstract art, acrylic painting, art, graphic art, graphic design, hodgepodge, humor, mixed media painting, nature, oil painting, pets, Photography, Photojournalism, Recommended, sarcasm, Surreal, travel2 Comments

You might be wondering what a Sticky Skillet has to do with painting and photography… absolutely nothing. I just like the way it sounds – Sticky Skillet. So if you came here for tips on cooking, well, sorry about that. Still, I hope you’ll stick around and spice up your day with a look at some of my art.