"Tuters"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Sometimes I just want to see a setting in miniature form - playing with multiple daubs of paint and not worrying so much about details. I think the color and light make it work and up close, there are nice sweet spots to enjoy.

A scene from the Art Institute of Chicago - I like to call it 'The Tute'.

"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.

A Possible Future Workshop

I'm thinking about holding a 5-day workshop in mid-October to late-October, the location would possibly be Savannah, Georgia - although I'm still doing my homework. I'd like for the event to be held in a hotel, with sleeping accommodations included, as well as a nearby airport, easy parking, easy to find meals, etc.

My early plans are:
- The workshop would concentrate on painting small pieces - with oils - and with an individual's choice of working from life or photos.
- Each day would begin with breakfast together, followed by several hours of discussions about painting, blogging, eBay, the business of selling, working with galleries, etc.
- That would be followed by a demo and several hours of all the students painting.
- A late lunch break, then more painting, followed by more discussions.
- I'd like to carve out some time to walk around the city and take photos - perhaps on the 3rd day we could all venture out to Tybee Island for a walk on the beach and more photos. There is a possibility of using one morning or afternoon during the week for plein air painting in one of the city parks, which I've never done, but would love to try.

Here's what I'm asking today - if you strongly believe you would participate, please email me and I will start working on a budget - and get back to you with the total cost of the workshop & accommodations. If I can come up with a minimum of 18 committed students (22 max) - it's a go.

Email me at kjurick@mac.com. Thank you.

Updated info: Nothing is going to happen in October - most likely my plans will shift to March or April. If you'd like me to keep you on a list, having an interest in future workshops, email me with 'workshop' as the subject. Please keep in mind, students would have to be experienced in painting with oils.

"Trolley Tour"

24 x 7"
oil on masonite
sold

I was asked to do a painting for an upcoming art auction, a pretty big event - and I want to make a splash - it's my first piece shown to a large audience of this type. So I've been working on this for 3 days - unheard of for me.

The event I'm speaking of is the Charleston Art Auction, held on November 8th - my work will be represented by the Morris & Whiteside Gallery. Bids can be placed before the event as well as during the live auction. If you are interested in placing a bid on this painting, please contact the gallery directly - an email link and phone number are provided here for your convenience, as well as a larger view of the painting.

"Mother Superior"

12 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

My good friends were in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and captured these three young women looking at James Whistler's 'Arrangement in Grey & Black: The Artist's Mother' - most of us know it as 'Whistler's Mother'. I usually paint the figures head to toe - I do love the zoomed in view on this image with the different postures and clothing. Very fun to paint.

Please click here for a larger view.

American Artist Self Portrait Competition

Back in February, I entered my painting in American Artist Magazine's Self-Portrait Competition - and I got word yesterday, from the managing editor that I was chosen as a finalist. The article and the winning entries will be published in the October issue. How cool is that?

Update ~ I did not make the final cut after all, but looking at the work that did, I can only be extremely proud that I was considered in the final round.

"Jam Session"

12 x 7"
oil on masonite

Well I figured if I could tackle the Georgetown scene in Seattle, I could take on 6th Avenue in New York City. I've learned to just do it. If it fails, it fails. I wipe it off and try again. This painting will be included in the upcoming group show titled Cityscapes & Nightscapes at 16 Patton in Asheville.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

A note about Jack...... he's had a couple of really good days and we're all loving every minute of it. Thanks for sending the positive vibes our way.

"So In Love"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I had read this comment, about Marc Chagall's painting 'Birthday' - and it kinda stuck with me. It's one person's interpretation and I fell for it hook, line and sinker. Well that painting came to mind this morning and I ended up getting lost in it for the day. I needed to paint something sweet. And again, thank you all for your warm wishes. It means a lot to me.

The quote I'm speaking of :
"When I see this picture I can imagine a couple that have been separated for long time because of his death. Now on her birthday he comes to give her flowers and pick her up and take her away to heaven, so they can be together again.

They used to live together in this house, but when he passed away, her life never was the same, because she missed a lot. She was sad living as a widow, she always wore black clothes, and was alone. For her birthday she wants to die to be with her husband again. And he came as a ghost.

The painter probably, with this dark colors, wants to express the sadness about missing somebody beloved, like a husband. And the red carpet gives the loving touch, because this color is known worldwide as a color of love."

Please click here for a larger view.

To my friends out there.

If you've followed my posts for a while, you know I have two dogs, Jack & Petey. We adopted them 9 years ago from the pound - they've been the best companions for years. Jack is our hound, who had knee surgery about a year and a half ago. He was a trooper - and after about 6 months, he was running like a champ. Petey had a cancer scare a few months back and is doing really well, seemingly free of disease.

Out of the blue, Jack had a seizure on Monday. A small one, but he'd been showing signs of a personality change for a week or so, with a vet appointment in the future to check him out. But we didn't expect this. Our beloved Jack has cancer. He's home and resting and we're cherishing every minute left with him.

For now, my pals are sleeping next to me while I paint. Keep us in your thoughts.

"Meep Meep"

8 x 8"
oil on masonite
sold

The horn of the Vespa and the sunny streets of Asheville - at the corner of College & Haywood Streets. This painting will be included in the upcoming show at 16 Patton.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Georgetown Rooftops"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

For the next couple of weeks, I'll be working on paintings for a group show at 16 Patton, in Asheville - titled 'Escapes: Day to Night'. I love/hate painting landscapes and nightscapes.
I start each piece with great hopes of creating something different than the usual, then an hour into it, I lose my confidence. Invariably I start tightening up, then I wipe it off and start again.

This is the first finished painting - the industrial neighborhood of Seattle, what I think is Georgetown, if I remember correctly. I was dazzled by it. After driving around the area, I got a higher perspective - around the time the sun was setting, which made for glistening light and a smoky atmosphere.

Please click here for a larger view.

New ArtBooks

A quick mention - I have new copies of my Alphabet Series ArtBook available - they turned out very cool. Click here for purchase information and more details.

I also have copies of 'a painting a day - volume five' for sale, click here for purchase information and more details. Volumes 2 - 4 are also available - those links are to your right. Volume 1 will be arriving soon.

"Gotham Gazette"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

detail

Despite that I feel like crap, this little painting came easy. I always feel lucky when that happens. I didn't stress over what to paint today - I just picked a photo and did it. I didn't stress over the details, I didn't put on my reading glasses and I didn't even sketch it out. Maybe that's what it takes, although I could do without the 'feeling like crap' part.

From an outdoor cafe in Lower Manhattan.

"Wired"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Forgive the lapse in painting - I took a break and actually had some holiday fun, then caught a bad cold. That's what I get. I'd like to think that wouldn't stop me from working, but it resulted in a mess. The brain just didn't work. Slowing climbing out of it - good enough to enjoy painting this little, white, grandma house - which is right around the corner from where I live. Whether it's the morning or evening sun hitting the stark white, it always captures my attention. Especially set in front of the huge wall of dark trees, my eyes (going 45 mph) get a fast glimpse of whites, blues, greens and multitudes of wires.

some really nice small works of art....

'A New Hat' by Margaret Dyer

Margaret's got some beautiful pastels on auction. I want them all. Take a look when you have a minute.

'Lilacs on the Corner' by Christopher Greco

I like Christopher Greco's paintings and his prices are really reasonable. He sells his work directly from his website/blog. He always paints a variety of subjects, and I love that.

'Bulb Vase No. 3' by Neil Hollingsworth

Neil's auctioned paintings are always outstanding. Every one of them.

"Waterproof"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

The Monets are the most popular gallery in the Art Institute of Chicago. The museum made a smart change and moved them all into a larger room, with a few other Impressionists' works. It's important with Impressionism - to be able to view the scene from a 5 to 10 feet distance from the canvas. More importantly, to be able to hone in on the thousands of brushstrokes that it took to get there. This woman, seemingly taking a long lunchbreak, was enjoying Monet's 'Iris'.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Barely Visible"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite

This new painting was huge fun to paint - I spent hours on the women in Bouguereau's 'The Bathers', which is a splendid masterpiece that always stops me in my tracks when I'm at the Art Institute of Chicago. I've framed posters & prints of his work for years at my shop, but there's nothing like seeing one in real-life. The skin tones are generally pale, mixtures of white, green, ochre and touches of red in all the right places - much like Sargent's skin. Equally so, I love painting interesting clothing - the long, gauzy sari fabric on the viewer.

Please click here for a larger view and purchase information.

Happy 4th to all. Hope you enjoy the holiday.

"Little People"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

A little museum patron in her summer dress standing beside John Singer Sargent's 'Portrait of Edouard & Marie-Louise Pailleron'. I absolutely love including a Sargent painting in my work. They're are great fun to reproduce, with flesh-gray skin tones and strong compositions.

This painting is also included in the Summer Collection at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery. Please click here for a larger view.

A New YouTube Painting Video

watch the video

My newest video is a sped-up version of the creation of my painting 'Vacation' - a process that took about an hour and a half condensed into ten minutes. When you watch it, keep in mind that it's a method of adding and subtracting the paint, starting with a medium value of burnt sienna and umber painted over a white surface. You'll see the darker areas are done with applied paint (with a tad of black and white), yet the light areas are done by dipping the brush in thinner and 'pulling' the color out to reveal the original white surface of the board. It's totally unpredictable and a good exercise in control. Great fun.

So please click here to the YouTube page, go grab a cup of coffee while it's loading and it'll be ready to go. Don't forget to turn up the volume and groove to the bossa nova by Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto. If you listen carefully, there was a thunderstorm going on while I was painting. Hope you enjoy it.