Happy New Year

I've had a good day of painting today. A good year of painting. I figured I have done, in a year's time, 259 paintings. Two of which I gave as gifts and one that I painted over. It's also been a classic "be careful what you wish for" year. All I can say is, the timing was right, for me, and that's everything. If it's not possible for you to paint every day or even half the week - it will be someday. I spend my entire 20's and 30's working 7 days a week. I never imagined that I would, one day, make a living as a painter. And here I am. The timing was right and I was more than ready.

So I guess what I've learned most, especially this year, is that if you're not quite where you want to be, dream to be, it takes a lot of unnoticed steps, some luck and an intense amount of dedication to get there - but it's possible.

It's time for me to clean up and get ready to shoot off some fireworks and bang those pots and pans at midnight. And wish for the impossible. Happy New Year my friends.

"Alone With Nature"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

I really want to do a larger version of this scene, so I thought to try it out in a small format first, to see how it comes across. I like it. Alot. There's something so unexpectedly amazing about viewing a Bierstadt painting in person. After seeing it in books or in print - the real thing is epic to say the least. This scene was taken from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, in Washington, D.C.

"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.

"Vested Interest"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite

sold

There's something about this woman that I really like. I want to paint her in a couple of poses. She was alone in the museum, seriously studying every piece of art. I love watching people really soak up the paintings and she certainly was. Behind her is an Edvard Munch painting - a lone figure of a woman as well. This scene was taken from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Red Velvet & Fur

This is only a portion of the newest painting - I'm still working on it, but wanted to show you the red velvet cloak and fur that I was talking about. I think it's Napoleon. I'm looking into that.
I'll be back tomorrow night with another.

Click here to see the final painting.

"Waterlilies"

5 x 7"

oil on masonite

sold

After four or so hours of painting a fairly tight piece, which involves a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte in his red velvet cloak and white fur, (I love that part) I promised myself I'd break off and do a small, daily piece and stay as loose as I could. After all, these daily paintings serve as an exercise for me - to use the oils much more as they're intended to be used. This was a glimpse of a few people on a rainy F Street, in Washington, DC. I suspect the woman's Monet's Waterlilies umbrella was just purchased in the museum across the street.

"Waiting on Lasagna"

5 x 7"

oil on masonite

sold

It is so great to be back to painting again. On Christmas day, I made lasagna, put it in the oven, came out to my studio and squeezed out a brand new palette of paint. Honestly, the colors were so intoxicating - I just dabbled in a little bit of everything.
This was a little restaurant I spotted in Savannah, back in the spring.

"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.

If you happen to be familiar with me and my paintings, you'd know my original blog existed on my website, created on Apple's iWeb program. That all ended unexpectedly a couple of days ago, when my program crashed and my year-long developed site disappeared. Not from the internet, mind you, but from my program. Do you feel my pain yet? Well..... the solution to this awful event is for me to recreate the entire site - and I'll get that done - but the blog may be replaced with this blog. It seems the culprit of my crashing had everything to do with that blog and I don't want to go through this agony again. So..... for the time being and possibly permanently, this is where you'll find my daily paintings for eBay auctions and much more included along the way. In the grand scheme of things, it ain't no big deal. I look at it as an opportunity to join in on the blogger world with a lot of features that could benefit both you and me.

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.