Casual Conversation

My latest painting is titled "Casual Conversation", it is a very simple color palette with texture flowing thru the field of 10 layers. The inspiration for this painting comes from the time spent with my best friend, and brother, while in Fort Lauderdale for my artist reception.

We both slowed down from our very busy lives to spend 36 hours together. He has a home full of boys and a wife who gives endlessly to the care of this kingdom. He also has a "big boy" job with a lot of responsibility and hours to boot. His time is of great value and for him to take a slice of his pie to give to me means a world of treasure in my heart.

He has traveled from coast to coast be at my artist receptions in the different galleries and now we had another moment to be best friends and brothers.

Like my paintings there are many layers in our relationship. We have had great times and not so great times. Like being pushed out of the car while exiting the parking lot at church. Sorry bro couldn't resist!! :)

When layering my paintings they go thru the "ugly" layers, then there are some "so so" layers and finally I stop at the "beautiful" layer. Capturing the moment in time that beauty has beheld the painting and it is finished!!

This is what I find to be beauty in a 36 hour weekend with my brother. We laugh... a lot, we talk and we sit in silence just knowing that no matter what he does or I do we will choose to love each other unconditionally. We accept each other, we correct our wrongs, we inspire and challenge each other.

The color palette is simple, as life should be.

Taking time out of your busy day to have a "Casual Conversation" with someone you love!

I Am Vertical

In October of 2007 I began this painting at the Meeting Of The Masters in Dallas Texas.

With most of my paintings I have a direction that I'm heading but as time goes by that can change into a new meaning, a new passion and a new vision.

I began this as a painting to show how I must decrease and He must increase. As I added layer upon layer, through the ugly stages and through the woods I found myself fighting to finally finish this painting in 2011. Darkened by deep emotions that poured from my soul yet lightened by the Truth that keeps me always looking vertically. Getting up day after day, setting out to finish well, I would strive to finish this journey.

Then with a swift palette knife of bright gold, I find the meaning of a story told.

A new name yet the meaning is the same, for the more I bow down

The more I Am Vertical!

This painting is called Fragmentary Blue and is currently on display at the Artist Eye Laguna Gallery. It has been the eye catcher that pulls many in to view from all sides. I was asked yesterday what I was feeling when I was working on this painting and the reason for the title. I was actually working on five paintings, at the same time, for the Wyndham Hotel in OC. There were no special moments of pain or struggle, I was not filled with great joy or excitement, just simply doing what comes natural as I layer and experiment.

Simplicity is best described by not over thinking to find depth of meaning, just enjoy the beauty.

Every sunset is beautiful, and yet if we try to figure out the meaning or how God makes them happen, we lose the enjoyment of what is ours to behold.

Fragmentary Blue was the title given by my wonderful wife Adda, a Robert Frost fan, and so it comes from the title of one of his poems, like many of my paintings.

Fragmentary Blue

Why make so much of fragmentary blue
In here and there a bird, or butterfly,
Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye,
When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?

Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (as yet)--
Though some savants make earth include the sky;
And blue so far above us comes so high,
It only gives our wish for blue a whet.

Robert Frost

Reflection

As every new year begins, we reflect on where we have been, and look forward to where we are headed. Tonight is the eve of my flight to New York where I will be celebrating my debut on Thursday night. I never even imagined, at the beginning of 2009, that I would be showing my paintings in New York. As a matter of fact, Laguna was just as much a surprise to me as this New York thing. Last year I had no game plan and was not even publicly selling my paintings. I had some sales to clients and family but was unknown to people outside of my world.

Since May of 2009 I have now sold over twenty paintings and now have clients in other states. With the opening in New York I will have work on both coasts of our great country. What a wonderful blessing it is to be in the hands of God, using His talents to create works of art that, I hope, reflect His beauty grace and love. I stand in awe, filled with tears of joy, at the hope of what tomorrow brings. May He touch lives through the simplicity of my art and life!

Steps To The Unknown

When my wife and I take road trips, we love to explore. We know where our final destination is each day but we love to travel down the unknown and find what is needing to be found. This photo was taken in Gloucester, MA and is part of an old castle by the ocean.

Where do these steps lead?

What is around the next turn?

I'm feeling very on edge at this moment as I wait for a phone call to tell me that my paintings have been found. Sure there is insurance on them, and I would be paid for them if they are lost, but what about my New York debut? The final painting called "Amazing Grace" was just finished for NY and the three of them fit together like a beautiful symphony. I have a lot of available paintings, here, and seven in Laguna, but these three were it.

God in His all knowing power sees where they sit, probably safely on a truck to NY, but I can only wait upon Him to see me through this step to the unknown. All of this is happening so fast - from nowhere to Laguna and now New York, 2009 has been one year leaving me in a state of AWE!!!

I'm now ready for the New York opening next month and will be shipping my three paintings on Monday. The newest painting is "Amazing Grace", shown here to the right.

You have to see this painting to really appreciate the change that takes place when the lighting changes. I have posted two photos on my website (www.evanroy.com) that show you low light and natural light. Even with the two photos being different there are still depths to explore as you change the lighting.

In the low light you can travel down abstract roads, deep textures and colorful paths. We all have been down roads that are dark, maybe even now we find our soul trapped in a place of hopelessness. Searching for a way out or grasping for a breath as our eyes look across the water horizon.

Turning to the full light fades the darkness and brings a golden glory to the hopelessness inside. Touches of crimson red take away the missed mark road we have traveled and set our soul to be at peace with the warm tones of life.

Busy and blogging

I find myself sitting here on December 12th with some time to write. So much has happened since my last entry and the moments of free time often become a "happy nappy" instead of writing my blog. LA was a so so show and I am happy with the way things are going in Laguna Beach California. In September I was trying to figure out which city I should head to next for a gallery representation and a gallery came knocking on my door. Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, in the Chelsea district of New York, asked me to submit my portfolio and I sent it to them. They quickly sent me a contract, we went to NY to meet with the gallery owner Ruthie Tucker, and now all is set. My showing will be from January 8th - February 2nd and my reception will be on the 14th. The gallery will represent me for a year with my portfolio being available for view by collectors. I'm really excited to see the reaction to my style of art from the people of New York. Pictures and web pages can not fully give someone the impact of the original painting. I had two paintings ready to go and just finished the third for my show. I had started on this painting back in September to be a horizontal piece and after realizing that there would not be enough room in my show to accommodate the width, I changed it to be vertical. This is what I love about my life, every turn brings a new image to enjoy. I was going in the direction of a painting called "Narrow Road" or "The Narrow" and as the layers began to blend on top of each other, I found a new painting emerging. The last layer was dry and I brought it into my living room for a "in the room" view. I was speechless as I walked from one side of the room to the other. The painting goes from this depth of color, with many roads to travel down, to a beautiful blend of gold covering all the deep roads we traveled before. Touches of red in this golden light told a story that made my soul marvel at His Amazing Grace.