"Girl Talk"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

I'm planning out an upcoming solo show that will feature the ladies of the art world.  Not so much the artists but the portrayals of women through the ages.  One that first came to mind on my now-long list of possibilities was Edward Hopper's Chop Suey - which, by the way, just broke a record in a Christie's art auction.  Painted in 1929, Chop Suey became the most expensive work of pre-war American art, selling for nearly $92 million.

Chop Suey is quintessential Hopper for a couple of reasons.  Hopper loved the spaces of restaurants, not so much the food - hence, the empty table except for the teapot.  Hopper was famously uninterested in food and known to eat his meals right out of a can.  Chop Suey restaurants were the rage in the 1920's, mostly frequented by young, working-class women dining together.  Another usual subject matter of Hopper's.  He and his wife went to this particular restaurant often, The Far East Tea Garden, once located in the Upper West side of Manhattan, no longer there.  Hopper's wife posed for all three of the women figures in the painting, also a usual habit.

Fun fact - Chop Suey means 'odds and ends' in Cantonese.

"Call It a Night"

10 x 10"

oil on panel
sold

If you have a bucket list, add seeing the painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper in the Art Institute of Chicago.  

Hopper's iconic painting done in 1942 is one of the most recognizable paintings in American art.  Hopper and his wife Jo attended an exhibit of paintings by Henri Rousseau at the Museum of Modern Art - about a month after Nighthawks was hung in a New York gallery - and in attendance was Daniel Catton Rich, the director of the Art Institute of Chicago and Alfred Barr, the director of MOMA.  Jo told Barr he just had to go see Edward's new painting Nighthawks.  It was Rich who went to see it shortly after and purchased it for $3000 and the painting has hung in the Art Institute ever since.

Please click here for a larger view.

Good Publicity Almost By Accident

American Art February 2009 Issue

I'm still in disbelief. Really. I would have never thought I would be featured in this magazine - the same one my mom had stacks and stacks of back in the 70's and 80's. And under the heading 'You never know where things will lead to', this opportunity was a result of my entering a painting in the magazine's Portrait Competition last summer. I didn't make the final cut, but the editor, Bob Bahr, emailed and asked me if I'd like to be featured in the magazine some time down the road. Gulp. 'Yes I certainly would be proud to' I typed, as I'm totally flipping out. A couple of months later it was a done deal. I got their attention, all because I entered a competition. Mind you, there's never been a day when I entered my work in a contest and thought 'I'm definitely gonna win this'. Never. But I do it anyway. A big Thank You to Bob Bahr for noticing my work, for writing a really nice article, for spelling my name correctly (inside) and for landing me on the cover. I am very proud.

For a readable view of this article, click here.

Southwest Art January 2009

My Different Strokes From Different Folks blog was included in the Southwest Art magazine - part of the 2009 Guide to an Artful New Year. The blog itself goes under the same heading 'You never know where things will lead to' - back in September, my dog Jack died. I posted a photo and a painting of him on this blog and within a week, over 15 artists had painted Jack from that photograph and emailed me their images. In fact, every day I got another one and another one, and they were all very different. The idea that one photograph could inspire so many artists to paint or draw was unexpected and heart warming. So in five minutes, I created the blog and posted the many versions of Jack. And that's how it got started. Thanks to the editors of the magazine for taking notice. I do appreciate it.

For a readable view of this article, click here.

"Cornucopia"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

It is a rare thing for me to paint someone I know - honestly, I'm usually traveling alone, so everyone's a stranger. But on this occasion, inside the Smithsonian American Art Museum, I caught a glimpse of my boyfriend underneath the massive mural 'Achelous and Hercules', painted by Thomas Hart Benton - an artist we both have a great affection for. When I was around 15 years old, I convinced my art teacher and the principal of the school to allow me to paint a 50 foot by 2 foot mural in the hallway - depicting American history events. A large portion of it was painted much like Benton - those recognizable, exaggerated figures with vivid colors. It got me out of gym class for three months, which was my intention in the first place.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Bluecoat"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

What attracted my attention here was the touch of elegance - the curves and form of the woman in the blue coat, the stark white with the browns and blues and the quiet nature of the moment.

Please click here for a larger view.

"A Tunic and a Tuna"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

This scene is from the American Art Wing in the Art Institute - a gallery that has a bit more dimmed lighting overall, and strong spotlighting on the art and it's personal space. It does make for a striking visual, especially accenting the woman's grey hair and the patterns on her long blouse. I really like the overall feel of this piece.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Bare Back"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

Of all the hundreds of photographs I came home with - some stand out immediately and I'm anxious to paint those first. This young lady is one of those. There is an awkward elegance about her, mostly, it's the strong light on her bare back that is striking to me.