"Last Days of Hopper"

14 x 10"
oil on masonite

whew...... this one took me a couple of days. I don't usually have the patience for that - hence the painting a day. Taken from the top floor in the American Art wing, patrons wait in line to see the Hopper exhibit - in the Art Institute of Chicago.

This painting will be included in 16 Patton's 'Figurative Allusions' Group Show in June-July. Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"East Coast"

11 x 4"

oil on masonite

After cutting a stack of masonite boards, and with several thinner pieces left over - I thought I'd experiment with a long format. Great fun. It seems to add more interest in many cityscapes/landscapes that I'd otherwise deem boring. This painting is testing the waters, forgive the pun. I'd like to hear what you think.

Also, the board is a tad rough on the edges - I actually liked it that way. Here's a few close-up for more detail.

Please click here to the auction page and a chance to place your bid.

"The Lookout"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite

My new painting today - a woman getting in some reading time while her group wanders around the museum. You may be familiar with the Art Institute, this was taken from the first floor Sculpture Gallery in the center of the American Art collection. You'll usually see people resting or reading on the benches and chairs - it's a beautiful, sky-lit sanctuary from the rest of the musuem - a nice place for a moment of Zen. The marble sculpture The Lost Pleiade by Randolph Rogers seemingly is keeping a lookout for the woman while she catches up on her novel.

This painting will be included in Howard/Mandville's Anniversary Show taking place during the month of June. Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Basket Case"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

There is great pleasure painting a Cezanne - thick forms, somewhat abstract, great colors - and the young lady for her long, wavy hair and natural beauty. Taken from the Art Institute of Chicago, with Cezanne's 'The Basket of Apples'.

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"Short Stop"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite

I particularly loved how this little kid had her coat and sweater wrapped around her waist. And how that little girl in Monet's 'The Artist's House at Argenteuil' totally caught her attention.

This painting will be included in Howard/Mandville's Anniversary Show coming in June.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Zen"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

Today was the first day back in my studio in over a week. I came from a chilly, crowded, noisy city - back to the warm, cozy, quiet sanctuary in my own backyard. Yay. It's good to be here. It's great to get busy again. It was also my last trip for a good while and I'm perfectly happy about that.

A few weeks ago, I was content staying home after traveling a good bit since February - then I realized I wouldn't - just couldn't - miss seeing the Hopper exhibit before it ended. So at the last minute I bolted to Chicago and I'm so glad I did it. I stood in front of paintings that I never experienced before - and felt as if I was meeting a celebrity in person. To face 'Early Sunday Morning' made my knees weak. The awe. The lessons. So much to learn from everything I saw. Mostly - it is the courage to put an unexpected color down and leave it. It's what gives a painting life. It's what we could see if we take the time to notice. It's how I want to paint for the rest of my days.

With that said, my painting today, as small as it is, has every color in the rainbow. Whether my brain made sense of it or not - like the lavender skin of the legs and the peachy reds of the skin on the shoulder. Paint what is there - not what you think is logical. I do that often, then I get too picky and representational - and I forget that magic. I'll stand before a Sargent or a Hopper and think I would have never thought of that color in that particular spot - but it makes it right. And I must remember that always when I'm the one with the brush in my hand.

This new piece wraps up my alphabet series, with the letter Z for Zen. A moment of Zen, something that we all need to seek out from time to time. Taken from the National Gallery of Art, in Washington DC.

Please click here to the auction page and a chance to place your bid.

"Metropolitan Grill"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

(detail)

I painted this back in April, a result of my curiosity with a value study technique - using burnt umber and olive green as the base color. A medium tone covers the entire board - then the lighter areas are a result of diluting the paint down to the white surface, likewise the darker areas are the umber/green with a touch of black. Near the end, I added a touch of white/gold to the highlights to give it a warm glow, very much the mood in reality. This interior scene is taken from a well-known steakhouse in Seattle, the Metropolitan Grill. Truth is, I wanted to keep this painting but I do need to make a living.


a note ...... I'm heading out of town for more picture-taking, my last trip before it gets too hot to enjoy walking around a city. Happy trails and I'll be back with a whole lot of new work next week.

"Yellow"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Winding up with the alphabet series, Y is for Yellow - a bright spot on the sidewalk of Seattle.

Home Runs

Despite all my flops this past week, I think I hit a home run. In the next breath I doubt my own judgement - there's been dozens I've beamed over only to have a smidgeon of interest. Another thing that comes with the job.

Now what you're seeing is less than a square inch of the finished painting. I just can't reveal the entire piece until the time is appropriate. I've taken on a new direction this year - staying loyal to several galleries and in between I jump in on a few competitions and accept other invitations to special exhibitions around the country. It's hard work and it's right at my comfort level. We'll see how it goes. And yes, I will always continue offering small work on auctions. Speaking of which, I'll get right on it.

"Greetings From Union Station"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

If you commute thru Union Station, in Washington DC, you might see this little guy at the top of the escalator. He waits, with great anticipation, for his dad at the end of every workday. How cool is that? This little piece was been donated to a fund-raising event, with the winning bid of $500.

I've been working hard on several pieces - honestly I've had several flops this week. It comes with the territory. Certainly more to show tomorrow.

"X-ing"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Sundays are usually devoted to domestic chores that I've neglected all week. Today I sherked the mundane and devoted my day to the letter X. Crosswalks are a visual obsession with me. Especially on a bright day - where pedestrians create wiggly shadows that fall over the painted stripes. It's a subject that I can play with edges and unexpected colors and I just love that.

"Three Musketeers"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite

I almost feel like I drove 620 miles to the National Gallery of Art to be able to witness this.

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Dog Show

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

This little guy wraps up my work for an upcoming group show at 16 Patton ~ the theme is contemporary portraits and still lifes. I'm anxious to see the other artists' works too.

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I also wanted to thank my friend Laura Sweet for today's blog post 'The Art of Art Appreciation: Paintings of People Looking at Paintings' on her fabulous blog 'If It's Hip, It's Here'. I appreciate being featured along with several artists' interpretations of this subject.

Dog Show

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I know ...... it's different than you may expect of me. That intense color surrounding the whippet just happened. Whippets are pretty intense - perhaps it's fitting. I like it.

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Dog Show

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

One more darling dog for the grouping. Please click here for a larger view and purchase info.

Dog Show

6 x 6"
oil on masonite

Hi to all - I'm back home and very psyched about painting again. It was just the trip I needed. Here's a new dog to add to my grouping for the upcoming show in May.

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"Dog Show"

each is 6 x 6"

Real quick....... before I hit the road....... here's a couple of little dogs I bumped into at a local dog show. I hope to have a set of six, for an upcoming group show at 16 Patton, in Asheville.
Even more will be going in a few other galleries. Hope you enjoy them.

Please click here and here for a larger view and purchase information.

Happy Trails - I'll be back with something new Monday night.

"Deep Subject"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite

Geezlois ...... it's been one of those weeks. Vet appointments for Petey have come down to a decision to proceed with chemo or take a wait-and-see approach if a new tumor develops. We opted for the latter after a positive check-up today - hoping he's got some good years ahead. Thanks to all for your kind emails - our pets are so dear to us and it's nice to hear from others.

I'm also heading out of town - partly for a big celebration of my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary - what a beautiful thing to be married and happy for so many many years. Hoping to take photos around Washington DC, in between the festivities.

I also spent an afternoon at a huge dog show - which means I'll be painting a new series like the "Dogs Rule" that I did last summer. Surely one of my favorite subjects to paint.

This new piece is a scene from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston - with the dramatic painting by John Singleton Copley titled 'Watson and the Shark' behind the group of girls who were all writing their paper on the same deep subject.

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"In The Round"

14 x 9"
oil on masonite
sold

I've held on to this painting for several years, and frankly, an impending tax return is motivating me to sell it. The scene is from the World War II Memorial, in Washington DC - and as I stood on the higher level, looking down on the people on the bench, I was completely mesmerized by the stark shadows zigzagging behind their legs. You know I love those shadows.

"Wall Street"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm winding up the alphabet series, with W for Wall Street - smack dab in the center of the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. What an experience it was to watch and photograph this place - constant motion, frenzied activity starting as soon as that bell dings - then it all calms down as hundreds of men (and a few women) have done what they came to do, with nothing left but paper strewn all over the floor and discussions of what's for lunch are heard throughout the massive room. Awesome place.

"By George"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

When I was asked to do a painting for an upcoming show at 16 Patton, titled 'Contemporary Visions: Portraits & Still Lifes', I knew I would sway to the subject of portraits rather than the latter. And whether I was persuaded by watching the 'John Adams' series (which is incredible) or my reverence for Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, (formally known as the Landsdowne Portrait) - it seemed like a great opportunity to paint this piece.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Wise One"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

I usually beeline to Jean Leon Gerome's paintings in museums - they are all extraordinary. His 'Portrait of a Woman' is like an old friend. I say my formal hello to this unknown, wise woman on my visits to the 'Tute'. On this occasion, she almost looks as if she disapproves of the modern-day, casual clothes on the two woman before her - bra straps and all. Or maybe she's thinking how lucky the future generations are.

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"Metropolitan Grill"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

Yesterday was a difficult day here at home. Our dog, Petey, was having tests done at the vet - to determine if cancer had spread beyond what was removed several weeks ago. Honestly, all I could do to stay sane was to get lost in a painting. And with the recent exercises I'd done with the umber, I tried a larger scene, adding just a tint of warmth. I haven't decided if I'll keep working with more color or leave as is. For now, I just like looking at it.

At the end of the day, the news was pretty positive for our Petey - a great chance that we caught it early enough. Good news and hopefully many years ahead of chasing chipmunks.

"Labor Day"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I painted this piece last September, a farewell to hot days and summer colors. Right about now, it looks like a welcomed change.

"Vacation"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

Really, V could be for vacation or values - I like the concept of vacation, a word that either evokes envy or better yet, rubbing it in when you're about to embark on your own. Again, I worked with the values study, totally enjoying the unpredictable results. Brush strokes really matter, they show even more so as you are washing the paint rather than layering. It's a constant adding and subtracting of color, with the highlights being the original surface. It's challenging. I did record the process - a video that needs to be edited from an hour down to ten minutes - so that'll be coming as soon as I have the time.