International Artist Magazine Competition

I really had to see it to believe it - and today, the new issue of International Artist arrived in my stack of mail. Wow. Gulp. I'm officially a "Finalist" in the competition for "People & Figures", my painting "Strictly Pedestrian" was chosen as one of the featured pieces in the Dec/Jan issue. How cool is that?

If you don't have a copy handy, you can see the winners on their website by clicking on 'art competitions' on the left column, find the link 'past winners in all categories' then choose 'challenge 42' in the scroll bar. If you'd like a larger view of my painting, click here to go to my website page.

My First iMovie

I finally got a camcorder and I made my very first iMovie. It's completely raw, amateur and 19 minutes long. But.... it's about my palette and it may be of interest to you. I'll tell you this - I have DSL(light) and the downloading takes about 7-9 minutes - yours may be a faster speed. I'd suggest that you open the page, go grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and when you return, the frame should be there (instead of the Q) and you can play the movie. Forgive me for the length and the awkward editing - I'm brand new at this.

An update..... this little movie can now be viewed on YouTube. Please click here for that link.

"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.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Unimpressed"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I mostly love the young woman's form in this painting - the slumped over posture, the weight on her arm, the strands of hair falling forward. She is seemingly unimpressed with the painting before her, done by the modernist Marsden Hartley, titled "Madawaska-Acadian Light-Heavy", which hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Please click here for a larger view.

A big thank-you to Anne B. for helping me identify the painting on the wall in front of the woman.

"A Lullaby"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I know I could paint a lot more if this HOT WEATHER would go away. Ugh. Before I call it a day, I'll post my newest piece, which has such a nice, quiet feel to it. A young lady is viewing Vincent Van Gogh's "Lullaby (Portrait of Madame Roulin"), which hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Patrons of the Avant-Garde"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I'm going to tell you the truth here - I'd like to keep this painting. I think it's one of my all-time favorites. The space, the individuals, the quietness..... all of it. These patrons were standing in a long line, on the last day of the exhibition titled "Cezanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde", which took place in the Art Institute of Chicago. I included a couple of close-ups of the people, to show you how wonderfully unique we all are.

This new painting will be included in my July show at 16 Patton, in Asheville.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Wing Tip"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I hope you like the title I decided on - my big brother actually suggested it and I immediately loved it. It also sold quickly and I thank all of you who asked about it.

The scene is from the Legion of Honor, in San Francisco, where this magnificent painting, "Love and the Maiden", by John Rodham Spencer Stanhope.

Thanks to everyone who suggested a title and helped me identify the painting and the artist.

Click here if you'd like a larger view.

"Golden Gate Bridge"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I took this painting back from a gallery to make room for new work - I like my selection to stay fresh and current. It is a view from Vista Point, on the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge - the day was a typical spring day in San Francisco, a mixture of storm clouds and breaks of sunshine that lit the distance hills south of the city. An added note: this painting was removed from a frame and the edges are slightly marked, but those blemishes will be covered up by the lip of your frame.

"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.

Click here if you'd like a larger view.

"The Sentinel"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I do paint a lot of this subject - people inside of art museums - and I want to give you some insight on that. I love being in a museum looking at artworks. It's good for the soul, always. So I particularly enjoy painting the scenes I witness. Although some may see redundance - I can tell you, in person, there's more to it.

With some, I am so interested in the painting within my painting - most of the time, I choose my favorite works. And when reproducing those paintings, my mind wanders to what the artist was thinking. With some pieces, I focus more on the figures - how they relate to the artwork that they were viewing. And with some, the artwork is secondary, the figures were just there, but the area or lighting or brushstrokes are my main focus. And this painting is just that to me. I love the strong physique of the guard, the horizontal lines and the brushwork staying just loose enough for my liking. Taken from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Click here if you'd like a larger view and more info.

"Drawn To The Song Of The Lark"

9 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

I got in a full day of painting today - I love that. This is a piece done for my upcoming show - I really love this one. It's frustrating to know that the photo image doesn't do it justice, as with many paintings. The rich golds in the frame and the painting, next to the aqua blues and warm browns really feels right to me.

I have always admired Jules Breton's painting "The Song of the Lark". I spend years framing the print before I saw it in real life. And wow. To quote a description, "It is said that the artist, Jules Breton, was walking in the fields of France early one morning when suddenly there burst forth the joyous song of a lark singing high in the air. As he looked about him, trying to discover the bird, he soon found it by following the rapt gaze of a peasant girl who had stopped to look and listen. As you know, an English lark sings while flying high in the air instead of in the treetops as other birds do. Its song, too, is longer and far more beautiful than that of our lark, and has been the subject of many poems."

Click here if you'd like a larger view and more info.

"Bookies"

8 x 16"

oil on masonite

sold

I mentioned that I was working on a larger piece with the same woman as in the small painting "Rummaging" - thought you'd like to see it as well. It was done for my upcoming gallery show. It may be hard to see, but I had a lot of fun with the book covers in the foreground.

Click here if you'd like a larger view and more info.

"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.

Click here if you'd like more info.

"Majestic"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

This is one of the pieces that will be in my February show at the Cohen-Rese Gallery. The scene was taken from my visit to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston - the young men on the floor were part of a school field trip that day, the assignment was to write about their favorite piece of art and the two chose this mammoth painting. I'm trying to find the title and artist of this particular painting - if there's anyone out there who can tell me this, I'd be grateful. I thought it was Napoleon, but I think the man was much shorter.

Thank you Adam - you helped me identify the painting in question. Read Adam's comment for the title and artist.

For a larger view of "Majestic", please click on the title above the image.

"Field Trip"

16 x 8"

oil on masonite

sold

I was so happy to return to painting today, it's been too long without. But now the retail part of my life has calmed down and I start back to work in my studio - getting new pieces done for a solo show in February. I'm very excited.

This painting depicts a single-file line of school kids waiting to get into an exhibit in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It will be included in my show as well.

For a larger view of this painting, click on the title above the image.

I know a lot of you are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and I wanted to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday. I hope you'll return back after Christmas to see the new daily paintings coming up.

"An Open Book"

12 x 12"

oil on masonite

sold

This was one of those moments when I saw the finished painting in my head. I was waiting on a guest, in the hotel's lobby, and spotted this young woman nestled in a big chair in the corner, getting in some good reading time.

This painting is available for purchase through the Cohen-Rese Gallery. Please click on the title to forward to a larger image and contact information.

Meeting Place

8 x 10"

oil on masonite

sold

I wanted to do something special here - a little larger than my usual. It being my busy time at work, these little, daily paintings will have to resume after Christmas, but I promise to get back to a normal pace of doing four or five a week. I chose this scene in memory of my dad. You see, he worked in the "Bob Newhart Building", as we called it, next to the Wrigley Building (that area of white on the left). Occasionally, I'd go downtown during the week, and my dad and I would meet for lunch or a walk back to the train station together. I think of that meeting place every time I cross that bridge over the Chicago River.

In memory of my dad, the proceeds for this painting will be donated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, here in Atlanta. The sisters took great care of my dad in his last weeks and I'm forever grateful.
In addition, I'll match the winning bid. I appreciate your input and I wish you a Happy Holiday Time.