"Little Surfer"

7 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

A girl and her boogie board in the ocean in Miami Beach, Florida.

"The Dive"

8 x 8"

oil on panel
sold
 

A boy snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

"Umbrella Coverage"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

This is about that time of the year when my palette seems to favor the brighter colors that summer brings. From South Beach in Miami - on a clear, blue, gorgeous afternoon.

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"Summer VI"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

This is probably the end of my little beach paintings - at least for a while. I'm deep in the progress of painting for a dual show coming up in May and there comes a point where any distraction cuts into my time. Yikes. Meanwhile I'll stare at these little gems and dream of being barefoot and tan.


ps - Thank you all for the comments on the little movie I posted this morning. It's just something I wanted to do - keeping myself familiar with movie editing and putting images in a different context. Hope you enjoyed it.

"Summer III"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Another small study I enjoyed painting in between the more detailed work.

"Summer I"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Working on larger paintings can be daunting sometimes - and frankly, I occasionally need to paint something less detailed, less challenging - something that will take an hour or so. It tends to rev me back up and I can resume what I'm doing with the larger pieces. I like to call them my 'in betweens'. So having summer and the beach on the brain, I started this summer series - small 4-inchers that transport me to another place, if only for a little while. Look for more to come.

"South Beach"

11 x 6"
oil on masonite

The need to paint looser is like the need for a chocolate milkshake - I have to do it occasionally. It's liberating, it's fun, it's a pleasure. On a long list of artists that inspire me, Michelle Torrez reminds me to take that wide brush and create a scene based on shapes and brush strokes - a perfect technique for a casual setting like the beach. This can only be accomplished with hours of squinting and holding back on what I think is there.

This scene was taken from South Beach, Miami.

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"Schools"

11 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

It seems like after a long day, my alter ego comes out in paintings. The looser side of me. I want to see less detail and more impact with bigger strokes. Great fun. Especially with this subject matter. Here are a few close-ups of the two women.

(detail)

(detail)

"East Coast"

11 x 4"

oil on masonite
sold

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.

"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.

"Refresher Course"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

I think we all need a taste of summer today. Forget the snow and ice and sweaters and coats, just for a moment. Think of warm sun on your skin - bright, blue skies above - the hot sand under your feet - the dire need for a cold, refreshing drink. Mmmmmmm.

This painting is currently showing at the Howard/Mandville Gallery - the scene is taken from a smoothie stand on South Beach, in Miami.

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"Labor Day"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite

I said I was going to take a few days off but today's been a perfect, mellow, end-of-the-summer day. A good day for painting. I enjoyed the free-hand piece so much yesterday, that I did another, staying as loose as possible. After all, it's a day at the beach. Real people, real life. Enjoy your holiday.

This scene is from South Beach, Miami.

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"Away From It All"

10 x 8"

oil on masonite

sold

It's true. I said I wasn't going to paint any more summer, beach paintings for a good while. But it was Sunday afternoon, still hot as hell outside, and this was my moment of Zen.

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"Mother Duck"

detail

8 x 8"

oil on masonite

sold

The simplest moments can be the best paintings. Aside from the charming procession of the girls following their mother, the colors of the sky, the ocean and the sand seem to marry so well with the figures and what they're wearing and hauling. I tried this scene on a 6 x 6" format and failed - so I painted this on a little larger of a board and it worked perfectly. Another ode to summertime.

"Surfcomber"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

More colorful visions of Miami Beach - with bright yellows against purple-blue skies. A scene taken from the beachfront of the Surfcomber hotel, on a crystal-clear, summer's day.

"Miami"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

There's nothing like a hot day in Atlanta to make me daydream of swimming in the ocean. I took a trip to South Beach a while back, first time I'd ever been. Visually speaking, it was non-stop inspiration for future paintings. Colors that don't present themselves in my normal day. Aquas, blues, purple-blues, yellows, golds - everything seemed intensified, especially from the sun.

"Summertime"

Three 7 x 7" paintings

oil on masonite

all 3 have sold

I painted these three pieces with the intentions of creating a grouping, but still wanting each to stand alone. Summer images are great fun to paint - the color of water, the stronger skin tones - it takes you right to the spot.