"Up Close"

 

 

10 x 8"

oil on panel

sold

Your Moment of Zen today featuring Claude Monet's landscapes.

 

I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art years ago but I do remember this gentleman.  He stood inches from each and every painting, seemingly captivated by Monet's layered and impressionistic brush strokes in this case.  And for good reason. The gist of impressionism is those layered, tiny, angled brush strokes.  It results in life.  Movement.  Light.  

The painting on the left is Bend in the Epte River Near Giverny and to the right is Morning at Antibes - both by the Impressionist painter Claude Monet.

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"Chill Factor"

 

 

6 x 8"

oil on panel

sold

Every winter I obsess about wanting snow fall here in Atlanta.  I scroll through the Twitter posts of photos during snowstorms with deep envy.  Hence my inspiration for this new painting - bringing to mind one of my favorite landscapes by Claude Monet, The Magpie.

The low level sun behind the fence. The shadows of icy-blues and lavenders. You can imagine how quiet it was when Monet worked on this winter landscape.  The tiny hint of life of the magpie, perched on the gate completely in its element.  It is a perfect painting.

From the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. 

" Connoisseur"

6 x 8"

oil on panel

sold

I had started a smaller study for Penguin Zen and decided to finish it because you have to find joy wherever you can.  Painting an animal does it for me.

Someone let me know the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri also invited some penguins as guests to browse their galleries during their shutdown, like the Art Institute of Chicago had.  The most charming result is these penguins stopped and seemingly took in many of the works of art, much like this little guy.  Claude Monet's Water Lilies spoke to him.  Or her.

"Back to Nature" (study)

4 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

Another study with a taller, slimmer format - which I really like, to center on the figure with a backdrop of color.  

The painting featured is Irises by Claude Monet, a nearly 7 x 7' treasure acquired by the Art Institute of Chicago in 1956.

"Repose"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I spent a WEEK on a painting - yikes - then took a few days off and today I really, really enjoyed painting loose for a change.  I concentrated less on the art and more on the space.  

A woman resting on a bench in the French Impressionists gallery in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

"Garden Variety"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

In need of a moment of Zen?  Spend some time in an art museum.  Put your phone on silent.  Step into another time.  That's what painting can be like.  A removal from the present.  Imagine painting a huge canvas with your garden surrounding you.  Nice thought.

Claude Monet was 74 years old when he began painting Irises in 1914.  He had gained financial and critical success in the late 1800's, he and his second wife and their combined family were living in Giverny where he frequently painted outdoors in the gardens he helped create.  In 1911, his wife Alice passed away, he had developed cataracts in one eye - yet he took on a large commission by the Orangerie des Tuileries museum in Paris to complete twelve waterlily paintings.  He wanted his pieces to serve as a 'haven of peaceful meditation' to soothe the 'overworked nerves' of the visitors.

Irises stands out as more painterly, with almost a stucco surface of thick, broad brushstrokes capturing the light and color Monet struggled to see clearly.  Stand in front of it and you can see his progressions and strokes as he works on layers upon layers.  

From the Art Institute of Chicago, where you can find many extraordinary works by Monet.

"For the Love of Monet"

10 x 10"

oil on panel
sold 

A woman reading the details of Claude Monet's 'Irises', from the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Please click here for a larger view.

"The Blues"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Often I am asked how I am so prolific with painting.  First there's motivation and mine, right now, is to raise enough money to take a trip to Chicago in September.

As for prolific - I have a simple method - I find something to binge-watch while I'm painting.  I once finished 32 paintings in 2 months while watching the entire series of The Sopranos.  I kid you not.  The trick is, I stay put in my seat and cut out any distractions except what's on the tube and on my easel.

Lately,  I've gone thru Top of the Lake, Durham County and now Lost.  I will take this opportunity to plug Roku, which streams in Netflix and tons of others.  

And that's my method of cranking out painting after painting.

From the Art Institute of Chicago, a woman in blue views Claude Monet's 'Irises'.

"Fruit Stand"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

A museum visitor standing before Claude Monet's 'Apples & Grapes', inside the Art Institute of Chicago.

"Stared Straight"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

After painting the cool, swirly water around "Minnie", it prompted me to add to my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - a woman enchanted with Monet's brush strokes on his "Water Lilies", which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"For the Love of Monet"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

First - pardon me for two things. The title is corny, I know it. But it's the first thing to pop into my head and I usually go with it. And pardon the absence, I appreciate your frequent visits - I've been creating some fun things for my upcoming 30th high school reunion.
DVD's......soundtracks........posters......... tracking people down, and in between, I paint. It's been busy and fun.

This new piece is a scene from the Art Institute of Chicago - my favorite museum where I should be a week from today. I can't wait. This young couple stands before Monet's London paintings - on the left is 'Houses of Parliament' and on the right is 'Charing Cross Bridge', both showstoppers.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Tiny Dancers"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite
sold

Degas' 'Little Dancer' is always a chick magnet in any museum - the Philadelphia Museum of Art has an unobstructed view of the sculpture, which is quite pleasing. The painting behind the little patron is Monet's 'The Sheltered Path'.

Please click here for a larger view.

Have a great holiday -

"Chin Up"

4 x 11"
oil on masonite
sold

As I'm reading my own words in that article, I realized I wasn't practicing what I preach - to not zoom in on the reference photo too much - it makes me nit-pick. And I end up drawing with the brush, rather than painting. I'm trying to hard. Time for an exercise. After going back to the other painting I was nit-picking at, it started to flow. Oh that flow.

A little girl standing before (under) Claude Monet's 'Stacks of Wheat', which hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

"Waterproof"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

The Monets are the most popular gallery in the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum made a smart change and moved them all into a larger room, with a few other Impressionists' works. It's important with Impressionism - to be able to view the scene from a 5 to 10 feet distance from the canvas. More importantly, to be able to hone in on the thousands of brushstrokes that it took to get there. This woman, seemingly taking a long lunchbreak, was enjoying Monet's 'Iris'.

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"Short Stop"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

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.

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"Direct Connect"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

As I was working on this new piece, I thought this was a good example of a key element to figure drawing/painting and I wanted to share it with you. I drew a red line connecting the center of the neckbone, to the tailbone and down to the heel of the foot to show that weight and balance, no matter what the size of a person is, always lines up this way. Naturally. In other words, when we stand up, the weight of our body either rests on one leg/foot or on both. Where the weight is put on should connect straight up to the center of the back of the neck. I learned that a million years ago and never forgot it.

This painting hopefully conveys the direct connection we feel when we have the pleasure of viewing a work of art in person.

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"Stand By"

7 x 5"

oil on masonite

This little painting was done for a fund-raising event called Postcards from the Ledge, held in Asheville, North Carolina. Sponsored by the city's Public Art Board, postcard-size artwork will sell for $25 each. If you're interested in donating a work of art or would like to attend this event, click here for details.

"Impressionable"

11 x 14"

oil on masonite

sold

Clearly, an irresistable painting subject - a pretty, little girl admiring Claude Monet's "Water Lily Pond". I watched her and her sister look and talk about the art, accompanied by a wise grandmother. Most kids fidget and become bored in an art museum - those two girls were soaking it all up, like a sponge.

Please click here for a larger view.

"The Blues"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I recently joined a gallery in Kirkland, Washington (state) - the Howard/Mandville Gallery. I think it'll be a great fit for me - I'm particularly proud to be amongst some of my personal favorite painters - Ken Auster, Pam Ingalls & Mark Lague. This new painting will be added to their gallery in mid-July, with others following, so if you're in the area, please stop in and see some of my work. Kirkland is about 15 minutes from Seattle and situated on Lake Washington. It sounds like a beautiful place, I can't wait to visit it one day.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.