Paintings
Painting has always been an art form that I have loved doing. As I became more involved with my clay work, however, painting went by the way-side for a while. My father, Karl Lehman, died in 2014. Not too long before he died, he suggested that I might like to try painting again. It was a few months after he passed that I was still having trouble getting back to my work. I was playing with some magazine pictures, placing them on my table in a collage formation. I became enthralled with the composition and could see it no other way than as a painting. That was the beginning of the newest painting period for me – Wary of the Cassowary. See in the composition the letters that are rising through the background – if sorted out they spell GENISIS – and so it begins. The following two were also created with a similar collage formation of images, whether from magazine images or a combination with my own photos, as well. From there I’ve broken out into another direction with my Giverny series. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next.
Giverny Deveau
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Gouache (opaque watercolor) vertical sheet of watercolor paper, deckle edge exposed, wide white mat, slightly textured and colored frame compliments painting.
Dimensions: 39" height x 20.25 wide
$2000
From the Giverny in Spring series from Monet's garden. Close-up view of the large leaves, exposing lots of detail in stylized-realism. with a blended sense of Art Deco and Nouveau. Appears monochrome with highlights of complements.
Giverny III
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Gouache (opaque watercolor) extra large full sheet of watercolor paper, deckle edge exposed, wide white mat, slightly textured and colored frame compliments painting
Dimensions: 37.5" height x 51.5" wide
$3200
From the Giverny in Spring series from Monet's garden. Close-up view of the large leaves, exposing lots of detail in stylized-realism set in a warm back-lit environment using semi-complementary colors.
Wary of the Cassowary
(click on image to enlarge)
Gouache (opaque watercolor); matted, simple light wood frame, glass
Dimensions: 19" height 26" width
$1800
Wary of the Cassowary is the first of my most recent gouache paintings, which grabbed me in my research by their expressive, colorful heads that were so prehistoric in appearance. Images are puzzled together, over and under one another, me enjoying the endless boundaries of my paint medium - from opaque to a transparent-look. I love birds, and this one's prehistoric-like head, lent itself to a fun stylized-realism, while juxtaposed with social issues of our own ancient societies.
Is It Worth It
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gouache (opaque watercolor); black floater frame
Dimensions: 28" height 34" width
$2200
Is It Worth It combines collaged ideas puzzled together to create an atmosphere of despair, and yet, hope. Here are African workers panning for gold with a heaven-like atmosphere of hope, yet the poverty in which they live is evident. And there on the hill, turned from the workers is the big house and fireworks for the 1%, and the one bird positioned up near the workers with his nugget of truth.
Currently on exhibit in the Farmington Hills City Hall, 11 Mile and Orchard Lake Road through 2020. Second floor across from the elevator.
April in Paris 2015 - Climate Conference
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Gouache (opaque watercolor); black floater frame
Dimensions: 26" height 34" width
$2200
April's 2015 Climate Conference is the inspiration for this collage of ideas puzzled together over and under one another. Hence, the Eiffel Tower, the clock and Paris buildings seen within the piece. But most importantly are the concerns illustrated by the polar bear with ice just out of his reach, the arid emptiness in Grenoble, the tangled underwater scenes, and the packed areas of manatees (fish areas). The clock - tick-tock - reminding us that time is running out.
Currently on exhibit in the Farmington Hills City Hall, 11 Mile and Orchard Lake Road through 2020. Second floor across from the elevator.
Giverny in Spring
(click on image to enlarge)
Gouache (opaque watercolor); full sheet, deckle edge exposed, framed, matted, glass
Dimensions: 30" height 36"width
$2400
Moody piece, originally envisioned in Monet's garden in Giverny on an early spring foggy day. Stylized-detailed flora and fauna.
Giverny II
(click on image to enlarge)
Gouache (opaque watercolor) full sheet, deckle edge exposed, wide white mat, slightly textured and colored frame compliments painting
Dimensions: 33" height 39" wide
$2500
The Giverny in Spring series from Monet's garden. Close-up view of the large leaves, exposing lots of detail in stylized-realism set in a warmly lit environment.
New Giverny
(click on image to enlarge)
Gouache (opaque watercolor);
Dimensions: 26" height 19" width
$2500
Fresh new painting to add to the Giverny in Spring series from Monet's garden. Close-up view of the large leaves, exposing lots of suggested detail in stylized-realism as the leaves dance through in a imaginary environment of color.