"Higher Up"

5 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

Never fails, when I start painting a cityscape like this, I question my sanity. The trick is to remember when you're standing there, on a high-floor balcony, looking out at this scene, everything is somewhat of a blur, a series of little blips, daubs of color and light. I look at my photograph and proceed to squint for several hours, hoping it all makes sense in the end. I'm pretty happy and honestly surprised that it turned out as I imagined.

This lofty view was compliments of one of my workshop students who had an evening get-together at her home. Basically you're looking at the East River, Hellgate Park and the Triborough Bridge - just an outstanding spot to see the city in a whole different way.

This painting is included in my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back.

"Lean To"

7-1/2 x 14"
oil on masonite
sold

Oh my...... this was a tough one, unexpectedly so. To paint a Picasso should be fairly easy, but not 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon'. It's a complex, colorful, geometric masterpiece. Very fun, hard, but very fun.

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"Horsemen"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

A gentleman standing before the enormous painting 'Agrarian Leader Zapata' by Diego Rivera, one of my favorite works of art, in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

detail

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"It's Subjective"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

A new piece - taken from New York's Museum of Modern Art, a couple looking at Mark Rothko's 'No. 2/No. 13'.

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"METamorphist"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm happy to have the green-light to show more of the new paintings - this piece will be one of four included in the 2010 Charleston Art Auction taking place Saturday, November 6th - a moment captured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

detail

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"Park It"

12 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

A summer afternoon in Washington Square Park, New York City - not an empty spot on the bench.

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"The News in Black & White"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

Reporting in, from an unintended absence - I did take about a week off from painting, went on a road trip to visit family and oddly enough, I didn't go off with my camera. I just enjoyed the time with my favorite people. Haven't done that in a l-o-n-g time.

When I got home, I jumped right back into the studio ready to work. I painted a new piece, which has been set aside for the Charleston Art Auction in November, then proceeded to paint two failures. I worked them over and over, liked them, hated them again and put my brushes away and sulked. Yes, it happens to me too.

So...... I did paperwork, worked on the details for my November workshop, cleaned my house, did my laundry and all those other mundane chores until I was ready to paint again. And I failed. Again. Yes, it happens to me too. I could blame it on the heat index for frying my brain - although it's just plain normal to go through these times.

What I do know is, when you hit a plateau, change it up. So I worked with a more desaturated, value study if you will - using thick paint, palette knives and brushes and just went at it. Tomorrow I'll face it again.

On a more positive note, I was interviewed by Southwest Art Magazine, for a featured article coming up in their October issue. I'm so excited. I am clearly not a southwest-themed painter, they do include events and artists east of the Mississippi. How cool is that?

This new painting is a scene from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an elegant woman relaxing with the daily newspaper in the sculpture gallery.

"Big Boned"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I remember this woman - she towered over me. She had quite a presence, much like the figures in Picasso's 'Three Women at the Spring, Fontainebleau', which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York.

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"X"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I think I needed to see warm, autumn colors - I'm sooooo ready for fall. John Singer Sargent's painting 'Madame X' was my top choice, one of my personal favorites, a work of art that takes my breath away. This portrait of Virginia Amelie Avegno Gautreau hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a must-see. Sargent had to endure the scandalous response to this painting, even from the sitter's mother, who insisted the portrait not be exhibited in the Paris Salon. He did alter the shoulder straps, lessening the amount of flesh to please the masses.

In the flesh (pardon the pun), the skin is masterful, as Sargent accentuates the lavender-powdered, pale tones against the black and rich, warm surroundings. Perfection.

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"Modigs"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I grew up with torn-out pages of Modigliani's works pinned on the walls of my mother's studio - she was a big fan. You see the influence in her oil paintings. When I see his pieces in museums, I think of my mom.

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Happy Valentine's Day.

"On the Sunny Side of the Street"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

This man I love. He's as real as it gets. The painting before him, Edward Hopper's "New York Office", seems to evoke long-ago memories.

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"Elbow Room"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

This new piece will be arriving at the 16 Patton Gallery, in Asheville, around mid-February. It includes a painting by one of my favorite artists, John White Alexander.

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"New York Times"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I did finally see the article in American Art Collector magazine - thanks for sending it to me. This painting is one of several featured - I wish you could see it in person. I had painted this woman before - this time changing the format, adding a bit more detail - I love this image.

I normally stay away from the blue/red/yellow dominating a scene, all I think of is primary colors. Yet, when those three are warmed up, toned down - tweaked - it pleases me.

This moment was taken from the lobby of a Manhattan hotel. For a larger view, please click here.

"Star Gazers"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

What I should be doing is finding something to wear at the opening Saturday night - but I wanted to paint instead. My way of staying calm. This new piece is a couple standing close to Vincent Van Gogh's masterpiece "The Starry Night", which hangs in the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City.

I'll be gone for a few days, thanks to all who wished me a great opening. I'm very excited and I'll let you know how it all went as soon as I get back home. Have a good weekend.

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"Big Hair"

8 x 10"

oil on masonite

sold

Here is another painting I manage to complete - no warming up today - I just jumped right in. These two young women were intrigued with Andy Warhol's "Gold Marilyn Monroe", which hangs in the MOMA in New York.

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Warm Up of the Day

Thursdays and Mondays are work days for me - at my shop that is. At least I got to enjoy a quick warm-up. These ladies were walking into the sunshine, around Broadway and Wall Street in Lower Manhattan. It's a combination of a Sharpie (God Bless the Sharpie) and oil on watercolor paper.

"A New York Minute"

11 x 14"

oil on masonite

sold

I can tell you, as I stood in the same spot as this woman, looking at Georgia O'Keeffe's "Manhattan", I was in awe.I can't say I'm particularly crazy about modern art or O'Keeffe's flower paintings - but this is the exception. All of her cityscapes blow me away. One of the features I love about the Smithsonian American Art Museum is their placement of quotes on the walls. On the upper right of my painting, I wanted to hint at that, but not nit-pick at the accuracy of the lettering. Tough call to include it or not. But I did like the quote enough to accompany the painting. It is a quote from Georgia O'Keeffe reading "One can't paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt".

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"A Banner Day"

8 x 10"

oil on masonite

sold

I watched a lot of people approach Jasper John's "Flag" - icons generally draw everyone in. Kids especially. Me? I'm not so much a fan of Pop Art, but I will say John's painting is really impressive, in person. From the Museum of Modern Art, in New York.

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"Curb Appeal"

16 x 8"

oil on masonite

I'm finally getting around to taking some photographs of the work I've been doing for my upcoming show. Here's one I really love. I cannot tell you how much fun I had painting these people - all so unique. My view was from the rooftop of a tour bus, this was a group of people at a crosswalk a couple of blocks south of Wall Street. It was a glary, bright, sunny morning - giving me those great shadows and color. Hope you enjoy this one.

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