"Big Red"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

There comes a day when you want to paint a cow.

From a farm in southern Georgia.

"Fried Fish"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I got my Hopper on today.

What was once a neighborhood restaurant around East Atlanta.

"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.

"Goodness"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

I needed a sweet, positive image to paint today and this darling woman just embodies goodness.

From Atlanta, Georgia.

"George"

8 x 8"

oil on panel
nfs

I tried my hand on a more classic painting - an all-day cow affair.  What an awesome beast.  It is a gift.

"Leo"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

This guy looked like a Leo to me.  Maybe he reminded me of Uncle Leo on Seinfeld.  Maybe a combination of several characters on Seinfeld.  Still, the best show on TV.

"Krystle"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

That sweet little blond tuft on her head reminded me of Krystle Carrington from Dynasty.  Another cow to make the afternoon fun.

"Violet"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Hello to all - I trust you've enjoyed your holiday.  My aching back is healing nicely, thank you for your kind wishes.  I wanted to paint, I really did.  I squirted out my pizza pan palette of paint several times and nothing.  I don't know why.  My brain's been fried I guess.  To tell you the truth, it's nice to just chill in December for a change.  I spent most of my adult life as a picture framer and December was hell.   Now it's beautifully calm and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

My friend Neil Hollingsworth offered some photos of his to paint (thank you Neil) and I've been playing with cows.  Such great, natural sculptures - I'm in awe of them.  I'm doing more and I felt compelled to name each one, whatever comes to mind as I'm spending time with them.

This kicks off the first of many little studies I hope to get on with.  The juices are flowing again.  Yay.

"Pasturized"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

All this talk Neil Hollingsworth's been doing about painting cows persuaded me to put the felons aside for a bit and join in. There's a good reason artists love this subject - it's a patchwork of every color on the palette.

My aim was to keep loose, like with the faces, and keep the brush moving fast and furious. No sketching, no pausing, just motor on. Very fun and liberating.

and..... my good friend, Karen Hollingsworth, has small works on auction that are delightful. And she has a new blog.

"Cuttings"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

From where I sit and paint, I can see the one Dogwood tree that was here when I first bought my house fifteen years ago. It was the only tree in my back yard. Now it lives among Cherry trees, Crepe Myrtles, River Birches, Japanese Maples and a Lilac tree. It's happy.

"Hawkeye"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Our hawk is very fond of our back yard, evidently he likes the menu items. We also have a resident Great Horned Owl, who we named Hooty months ago - so it's only fit we name this guy Hawkeye. Something told me he was prodding me to paint him and out of great respect, I have.

"Where Max & Will Walk"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

A good friend of mine walks his dog Max on this beautiful path every day - one of the pleasures of living in North Georgia.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving, my friends.

"Perry Man"

8 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

Some of my favorite paintings have that element of disappearing lines - more emphasis on the face and the hands. Notably, the studies by Degas of dancers and musicians. It gives me great pleasure painting this way.

A gentleman I spotted at a state fair in Perry, Georgia.

"Peaceful Read"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

A quiet, peaceful read in my local public library.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

"Aqua Broads"

12 x 9"
oil on masonite
sold

A few summers back, I stepped into the shaded Telfair Square, one of the small city parks in Savannah. It was around 90 degrees at lunchtime, actually the more comfortable time of the day - and people were spilling out of their offices while a rather large group of senior ladies, all dressed in aquas, had set up their lawn chairs to listen to a little jazz ensemble. When I came on the scene, the sidewalk was lined with them and passerbys, enjoy the 'In Crowd', one of my favorite tunes.

Please click here for a larger view.

"In Like a Lion"

6 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

I didn't believe those weathermen - I admit. It hasn't snowed on my street in ...... maybe 6 years. I wish for it all winter long - every winter. What a sight. What a sound.

This had to be done. Today. My first painting of snow from the street where I live. And... I'm hurrying up to get out of my little studio in case a tree branch does fall. One never knows.

"Easy Riders"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Folks - I've begun working on a collection of paintings, about twenty, for a solo show that opens March 13th at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery. The tough part is, they won't be revealed until the date nears - I'm already bursting with anticipation. Meanwhile, my moments of Zen will come at the end of the day when I've finished a piece and let loose on a smaller panel. It gives me the chance to try out some ideas and play with the color combinations - it's very beneficial. And I'll do it as often as possible.

From Savannah, Georgia - tourists enjoying the sights while someone else does the driving.

"Beefy"

5 x 5"
oil on masonite
sold

Another fascinating creature - spotted in the countryside of south Georgia. My first cow.

"Georgia Girl"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

A cute, young lady eagerly waiting for a summer parade - from south Georgia.

"Shop Girl"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

This new painting was a nice change of pace for me. Using a white surface, I washed a mixture of asphaltum, burnt sienna and olive green over the board - removed the color with thinner where I wanted light and added thicker paint with a tad of black for the darker areas. In the end, I added a smidgeon of indian red in the woman's skin - a subtle touch similar to a tinted photograph. I think everyone out there who paints with oils should try this occasionally. It's a great exercise.

The scene was taken from Phipps Plaza in Atlanta.