"Scarfed Down"

4 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

Recently, I've used my iPhone for inspiration - very much a tool for exercise or what I would call warm-ups. I observe from webcams all over the world, and when my brain sees interesting patterns or colors, I freeze frame the moment and paint. Most are landscapes, a lot turn out to be very abstract in a sense - much like this one. Once I've passed the point of not needing a reference, I play with the color until I'm happy.

This painting pleased me - very much a glimpse, a split second somewhere else far away - on a busy street corner in downtown Manhattan a few days before Christmas day.

"Red Carpet"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

This is one of those 'must see in person' pieces - it's the red. I was bored with the brush strokes of the carpet at first - it wasn't quite enough. So I scraped on more reds with the edge of a business card and the color became more vivid, more textured and more realistic. Very, very cool. I love it.

Please click here for a larger view.

Charley Parker's art blog 'Lines & Colors' has featured my Different Strokes from Different Folks blog - I appreciate it Charley - you make me proud.

"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.