"Checks and Balances"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

Our United States Capitol Building in Washington DC.  A place where, hopefully, checks and balances will occur again.

"The Hill"

6 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

There is so much I'd like to express.

But this is my painting blog. 

Art does soothe the soul when it's needed most.

I've just returned from a trip to visit family and spent an afternoon soothing my soul in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.  As I crossed Constitution Avenue on my walk back to the car from the museum, I stopped to admire our newly-renovated, unscaffolded Capitol Building.  

"Fried Fish"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I got my Hopper on today.

What was once a neighborhood restaurant around East Atlanta.

"Emanuel A.M.E. at Dawn"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

Before I began heading home early in the morning, on my last visit to the beautiful city of Charleston,  I pulled over to look at the colorful, glowing sky and the church steeple of Emanuel A.M.E..

I suppose I painted this peaceful moment to make myself feel better.

"Nocturne"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

One of these days, or nights, I'll travel around and take photos for a long-desired series of nocturne paintings.   This new piece is an addition to my series A to Z.

From a quiet alley late at night in Savannah, Georgia.

"Industrial"

4 x 12"

oil on panel
sold

I'm back to painting in my spankin' clean studio - with this new addition to my series A to Z.  I played with a different technique, using a white ground rather than black,  painting different values of a grey-umber then scratching and washing and wiping out areas.   I love it.

From the industrial district outside of Seattle, Washington.

"Under The Dome"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

The sculpture 'Cloud Gate' in Millennium Park reflecting the Chicago skyline, visitors and the clouds above.

As I was going thru earlier photos of Chicago, back in 2004, on Halloween, Brett and I were at the new 'Cloud Gate' when about 50+ Star Wars fanatics descended on the scene.  People loved it, the guards, not so much.

Just thought you'd get a kick out of that.

"How Thoughtful"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

I'm so very pleased with this painting I did today.  It's just the right balance of tight and loose.  Yay.

From the side garden outside of the Art Institute of Chicago.

"A Rainy Night in Chicago"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

This was a tough one.

I started out wanting to keep it very impressionistic and loose, then I started painting in each window like a nutball - took a break for dinner - came back to it and forced myself to paint the remainder with a wide brush.  I'm kinda amazed I finished it, and just the way I pictured it in my head in the beginning.  Yay.

This view is from a high floor in the Fairmont Hotel on North Columbus Drive - on a very rainy night in the city.  You can make out the Sheraton Towers on the right with its glowing tower.

"That Toddling Town"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I have a great feeling of achievement when I can complete a cityscape like this.  I hold my breath a lot when I tackle the buildings and the traffic.  You can hear me chant 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming' the whole time.

"Reflections"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

One of the pleasures of painting is that it's an escape.  And that's what I needed, to concentrate on something else.   This is the sculpture "Cloud Gate" in Millennium Park in Chicago, locals call it 'The Bean'.  It was where I would meet up with my brother, Mike, whenever I was back in the city.  We marveled at it together many times in the past years.  It will always bring back good memories for me.

I also wanted to say to all who emailed and commented on my posting last week, about my brother's passing - every word meant something profound.  It lifted me up.  And I thank you all.  Mike's cat, Gizzmo, will be going home with a generous man who jumped at the chance.  A very meaningful ending to a difficult situation and I thank those who extended their help.

"Outer Sunset"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

When I was in San Francisco this past spring, to teach a workshop, our home base was a rental in the Outer Sunset district - about 15 blocks from the Pacific Ocean.  I loved staying in that neighborhood.  This view was a drive down Judah Street, heading straight to the sea at dusk.  It is that squinty light that caused my photo to turn out somewhat monochromatic - which I loved, so I gave it a shot with paint, which I love.

I also wanted to remind folks that the opening reception for my show Here Comes The Sun is next Friday night, from 5-8 at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville.  I'll be there and would greatly appreciate you stopping by to say hello and look at my new work.  A fellow artist, Mark Henry, will have his new paintings showing the same night.

"No. 1811"

4 x 12"

oil on masonite

I have this love affair with San Francisco's vintage cable cars - especially the No. 1811, an Italian-made car built in 1928.  As we were crossing the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building, here came the No. 1811, clang, clang, clang.  

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Old Jersey"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

A pair of old houses hovering above the New Jersey Turnpike, on a bright, blue-sky, Memorial Day weekend. This is an addition to my series ATL to NYC & Back.

"Arrivederci"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Whenever I'm approaching New York City and see the skyline, I get butterflies in my stomach - it is so enormous, so fantastic, so dense, so busy. It's kinda scary. I feel like I'm leaving one country and stepping into another. Once I'm there, that all turns into excitement and energy - and I am in awe. We were a part of the heartbeat for eleven days and it was unforgettable. My workshop was, again, a fantastic experience - it is the greatest city to photograph and paint.

Leaving the island, I usually feel a slight relief - back on familiar territory. This was our last glimpse of the skyline, from across the Hudson River - and we were now on our way to reunite with friends in New Jersey, and where we left our car. This isn't the end of my series ATL to NYC & Back - but it's the last glimpse of that amazing part of our trip.

"Driving While Suspended"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Not to whine, but this was downright tough. There was nearly a wipe off three different times, I just vowed to plug on.

This new painting is included in my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - as we were packed up and ready to leave the island, we wanted to see the Brooklyn Bridge just one more time. It is so iconic, so magnificent.

"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.

"Smooth Sailing"

8 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I was watching Curb Your Enthusiasm last night - Larry David was arguing with a couple of women, behind him, this (almost exact) view of the 'boat pond', blue skies, little, model sailboats and all. How cool is that.




This painting will be included in the upcoming group show at 16 Patton Gallery - my collection features New York Life.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Beacon"

4 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

During our stay in New York, Brett and I took a sunset cruise, giving us a mellow, colorful view of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty at dusk, then up the East River as darkness set in - it was breathtaking the entire time. This painting is included in my grouping New York Life, part of an upcoming group show at the 16 Patton Gallery, opening October 22nd.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Going Straight to Hell's Kitchen"

4 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

Last night I finished my last painting for the upcoming group show at the 16 Patton Gallery - all of my pieces are New York scenes, people, and a few dogs I met along the way. Included in the grouping is this new painting - a front seat view from a cab, going south on West End, heading straight to Hell's Kitchen to find a flea market.

Please click here for a larger view.

All of the new paintings can now be viewed on my website, please click here to the show pieces.