We Are All One - An Inspiring Short Film To Watch

THIS is what drives me as an Artist!It is the entire concept behind ALL that I do! It is WHY I came up with "WIND BENEATH MY WINGS"!  I ACHE to have the world understand that change MUST come! We MUST return to a reverence & respect for the Mother "Maka" - our Other Earth! We MUST remove the dominance of power from Corporations who are leading all of existence to jump over the cliff to our doom!
Please take a few moments to care! Listen & watch this and become the change! What we do today affects the next 7 generations! We can't afford to be so Selfish to say "It doesn't affect ME, so I don't care!" ! We are all responsible for this Earth! Show respect for the Grandmothers & Grandfathers before us, and for the GREAT Grand Children yet to come! Make the world a better place because YOU were here! At the end of the day, as the saying goes - THAT is WHY you ARE here! Don't blow it off! Thank You!

See | Me

See | Me
Congratulations on your upcoming inclusion in The Story of the Creative!
We are so excited to host this special exhibition, which will be on view in our gallery through September 10th.
Our team will be live blogging the opening event via Instagram and Twitter on July 25th, so you can be a part of the celebration no matter where you are.
We'd also like to mail you an official letter documenting your inclusion in the show along with a special thank-you package from See.Me.

I started with the drawing on 600 grit UArt paper

I am working on a new cougar painting - Phantom Repose. Here's where I'm at wit it at the moment. It is 28" x 23" pastel on UArt 600 grit paper.

Check out my NEW web page @ www.ArtVitae.com/JustinDANCINGHAWK

This is my newest painting - " The End of an Era " , Pastel on PastelMat , 9" x 9.5" .
This is the last critter that was released from White Pine Wildlife Rehab. Center in Fall Creek , WI before they closed. 
Please stay tuned! I'm working on a lot of new works & will be working hard to update this blog!

IT's DONE!

I signed it early this morning ! I hope you'll come to the "Essence of Wisconsin " opening reception on November 13th from 4:30pm to 6:30 pm at the Heyde Center in Chippewa Falls , WI.  This will be one of five pieces I will have on display along side my friends of the Valley Art Association.  You can enjoy viewing the show throughout the entire month of November. See You @ the Heyde Center!

"Tiger Oak" is nearly finished !

I'm adding the final touches to this painting this evening & will be signing it! I'm really delighted with how it's come out .  The process of it's creation has been quite an adventure as well ! I've discovered I need to take a slow & vigilant pace while intently paying attention to juxtaposing warm & cool colors adjacent to each other which lends a luminescence and profound freshness to the work .
I find that the more frequently I work & optimize my time in the Studio, the higher the quality of my work gets. Coupling this with first hand observation of nature & paying intense attention to lighting & texture  as I do so , translates into profound improvements in my paintings.
This painting will be on exhibit during the month of November,2010 at the Heyde Center for the Arts in Chippewa Falls, WI during the "Essence of Wisconsin"  group exhibition of the Valley Artist's Association.
I am planning to submit "Tiger Oak" to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson's "Birds In Art" 2011  in Wausau, WI.
For those who may be interested, I intend to make Signed & Numbered Ltd. Ed. Giclee prints of this image available "On Demand " . Contact me for details.

Pan Pastels are a great BOON to painting in Soft Pastels!

I just received a sample set of Pan Pastels & I love them! The Hansa Yellow, used with a cosmetic applicator sponge adds warm Sunlight to an underpainting in a very delicate, translucent layer not previously possible.
I started "Tiger Oak" by drawing in the tree in charcoal pencil to establish the scene 1st.  Keeping in mind , where I wanted to place the Great Horned Owl ( aka - Flying Tiger & thus my Title ) , I drew in the structure of the tree's branches. I wanted to knock out the darkest darks first, so I used alcohol to wipe & brush in those areas & establish the movement of the piece. Next, I used the green pan pastel with a cosmetic cotton round soaked in alcohol to apply a layer of foliage green. The alcohol dries quickly so I am able move to the next step in a very brief time. I now laid in the Hansa yellow Sunlight layer.

From here , things get tighter & I begin to work on textures of the tree , the leaves, and I'll finish up with the Owl - bringing the tightest detail there to make it the center of focus.

Exacerbation of Aspired Inspirations

     I'm inspired by the wonders of the natural world around us. My Aspiration, however - has long been to create works of Art that cause  the viewer to catch their breath, step back from their previous concept of their perception of the world , and see things in new ways not previously considered .  To see the inherent aesthetic beauty that our Creator put in our midst. It is my deepest aspiration to inspire my viewers to take a few moments to slow down, take a walk in the outdoors and notice jewels they hadn't previously perceived before seeing my work.  To step "Out of the Box" !
     I am fascinated by Owls. Ghosts of the night! They represent a mystery that invites curiosity, yet evades complete comprehension. Like the elusive dance of the Northern Lights!

Arctic Night Ghost

The concept of dancing Light excites & inspires me and I am greatly enjoying exploring the various facets of jeweled color brought on by evening dusk lighting. I love the Oranges that emerge at that hour , juxtaposed by the blues & purples . It is interesting to note that the light / shadow relationships that are observable in nature correspond with what science & color theory teaches in academic Ateliers throughout history.  To Master this, is to master one's Artistic aesthetic.