Art by John Sanchez

I continue to try and record this theme. The theme of looking for beauty in the banal. After all, this is the reality that exists outside the mind. My mind may be busy with all sorts of goings on, when it finally decides to engage outside itself it simply exists, it just observes, it tries to live in the moment. Art has as one of its components an idea of non utility where it has no purpose for something practical. It is meant only to be contemplated, to be stared at, to be engaged with it exactly at the moment. I know it may be a cliche to write this but a painting (the kind I strive to create) is there to take a break from the frantic social media checking, email replying, information gathering internet. I want to just stop and look. 

This was a fun commission. I nice couple that live near my studio remembered a painting I had donated for last year's Art Center of South Florida's raffle event. They had bought tickets for it but sadly did not win. This time they simply told me to create a new one in the spirit of that painting. Here it is! I first worked out the composition in a small charcoal and white pastel drawing. I found the drawing to be quaint so I just had it framed.

This little painting was a joy to make. I've said this before: what I increasingly love about painting is the texture that is built up through working and re-working a passage on the canvas. It isn't quite joyful while I am second guessing myself at the moment but the result is one that allows me to see the proof of my work and that lets me review what I have done. If only life was that concise for me that I can clearly see and remember where I made decisions that have led to certain outcomes! A pretty cool first for me occurred with this painting: A wonderful couple and now becoming one of my most valued collectors and friends, from Dorking England got to see most of the development of this painting as they were in and out of my studio during their yearly stay in South Beach last month. They decided to take this painting with them, which marks the first time I've sold a painting while it was still wet! Cheers indeed!