The Futile Crescent - WIP

This is another work in progress. It is an oil painting on an 18X24 lauan panel. My son, who is currently deployed with the Army Infantry in Baghdad, suggested the painting. I think that I have all of the elements in place, with the possible exception of a crescent moon in the upper right corner.

The Blessed Trinity-WIP

This is my latest painting, which is still a work in progress, titled Blessed Trinity. It is an abstract representation of the christian dogma of the Blessed Trinity - three unique and distinct divine Persons who form the single God. I am still trying to work out the composition and the symbolism, so any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Fall of Lucifer

I just completed the oil painting at the left. It is a 24X36 abstract image of St. Michael defeating Lucifer and casting him into the emptiness of hell. The painting is executed in painting knife on stretched canvas. The concept is to use multiple layers of thick paint with an emphasis on primary colors to depict the violence of combat between the two spiritual beings.

This is a continuation of my desire to bring modern techniques and materials to traditional Catholic themes.

The Annunciation

Here is the more or less completed version of The Annunciation. It is charcoal and acrylic paint on a 24X30 lauan panel. A cord rosary has been pressed into a thick layer of gesso to leave its impression in the painting.

Study for The Annunciation

This is a rough study for a painting of the Annunciation that I am beginning. The idea is to portray the moment that the Blessed Mother accepts the responsibility for concieving, giving birth to and raising our Savior.

I intend to keep the image loose with the original charcoal sketch visible over the glazing. This is a project that I discussed in an earlier blog entry; to execute a series of paintings that portray the Mysteries of the Rosary in a way that will help the viewer meditate on each Mystery.

Creation of Eve

This is my newest creation, which is titled Creation of Eve. The image depicts the moment when God created Eve from the side or rib of Adam.
The painting is on a 26X16 stretched canvas. There is a thick oil ground that provides some texture under the painted image. Comments are as always appreciated.

What's in a name?

After using my last name "McNeel" as my artist signature, I have decided on a new signature. Beginning with the painting titled The Fishing Party, I have changed my signature to "Lefty" as shown above. I have always believed that my left-handedness was an important element of my artwork and one of the defining characteristics of my life, which is why it makes a lot of sense to make this change.

Gypsy

I have finished another painting that I call Gypsy. It is primarily executed in painting knife for a heavy impasto effect. I like to use the knife for a couple of reasons; it reduces my tendency to obsess over details, and it keeps the colors fresh.

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Santa Fe, NM on business. I was amazed at the intensity of the Flamenco dancers and especially the guitarists. I have wanted to capture that frenzy of sound and motion on canvas ever since.

The Fishing Party

This is my latest painting, which was completed a couple of weeks ago. I am currently working on two new paintings; an abstract image of a flamenco dancer, and a painting of the torso Ishtar.

I continue to be drawn to images from my Catholic tradition, and plan to execute a series of paintings depicting these themes.

Two New Paintings

I apologize for my lack of posts over the last several months. I plan to post much more frequently in the future. I have completed two new paintings over the last couple of months. I have been very busy with work, and the frame shop that my wife and I own, so I haven't had a lot of time to paint. I am experimenting with Acrylic paint to help me produce artwork with my time limitations.

The following are a landscape and a seascape that have been pushed a little beyond representational images, but not quite as far as abstraction. The first is titled Forest Landscape, and it is based on local east Texas scenery. The second is titled St. Somewhere and it is based on images from the Caribbean.

At last, a new painting

After several months focusing on other areas of my life, I have finally taken some time to paint. This is an inspirational painting that I have named The Fisherman.

It represents the image of Saint Peter with the netting of his former trade draped around him. His facial expression shows a combination of sadness at our weakness, as well as an understanding of our human nature.

Finally Finished

Here is the finished version of the Mardi Gras painting. I have changed the title to Mardi Gras 2006 to be consistant with Mardi Gras 2005. I will be exhibiting this and other paintings at Art in the Park in Galveston, TX on March 4, 2006. I hope that it will be a nice day with a good turnout.

Work in Progress

This is a work in progress for my 2006 Mardi Gras painting. I am planning on calling it New Orleans Reborn in honor of the great work being done to bring New Orleans back from the Katrina disaster. I have another couple of weeks work on it, and will post the finished version later.

Checking In

It has been quite a while since my last entry. I am currently working on a large figurative painting for Mardi Gras 2006. I intend to complete one of these each year to celebrate Mardi Gras in general and the Galveston version of the feast in particular.

The image to the left is my first Mardi Gras painting Mardi Gras 2005. I will submit an work in process for the new painting later in the week.

Bayou City Arts Festival

I went to the Bayou City Arts Festival today in downtown Houston. The weather was perfect, and the art was great. It is always an inspiration to see such a volume of really good artwork.

Changing Completed Paintings

I just finished making some changes to a painting that I "completed" a couple of years ago. The standard logic warns against doing this because you are going against your initial determination that the painting is finished. I have many paintings that I have completed, but not to my satisfaction. Typically it is a compositional problem. A little time and enough thought will usually allow me to work through the solution, and then I can finish the painting to my satisfaction.

The Third Sorrowful Mystery

This is the first in a series of Rosary Mysteries. The intent is for them to be abstract images that assist in meditation and prayer. I will probably increase the contrast on this a little and then it will be complete. For those of you interested in the mysteries, here is a link -
Rosary Mysteries.

Hurricane Katrina

The photos and reports are so awful! What a tragedy.

Meditative Art

I reported in an earlier post that I was going to begin a series of painting based on fabric folds and textures - sort of a representation abstraction. I still may do that, but I have begun a new project that I plan to devote most of my time and energy to. I am going to begin a series of abstract images based on the Mysteries of the Rosary. Hopefully they help the viewer reflect on the mysteries while in prayer or meditation. My first painting will be titled The Crowning with Thorns, and I should be able to post a photo within the next week or so.

Painting Surfaces

I am in the process of stretching and preparing a new canvas. I am planning on using it for a portrait of my son who will be finishing basic training at Fort Benning, GA this week. I generally use stretched canvas or wood panel for oil paintings. The canvas works better for brush work, but I prefer wood panels for thick, impasto paintings - especially when using painting knives. I generally prepare the surface with acrylic gesso, and I am very fussy about the application. Paintings executed on a surface that has been prepared properly should last hundreds of years.