"That Toddling Town"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

I have a great feeling of achievement when I can complete a cityscape like this.  I hold my breath a lot when I tackle the buildings and the traffic.  You can hear me chant 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming' the whole time.

"Walking the Walk"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Part of my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - a morning walk to Central Park on the Upper East Side of the city.

100% of the sale of this painting was donated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home - a cancer hospice, here in Atlanta. The hospice depends of private donations to care for terminally ill patients - the Sisters cared for my dad 21 years ago. Thanks to all who participated in the auction, I am grateful.

"Going Straight to Hell's Kitchen"

4 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

Last night I finished my last painting for the upcoming group show at the 16 Patton Gallery - all of my pieces are New York scenes, people, and a few dogs I met along the way. Included in the grouping is this new painting - a front seat view from a cab, going south on West End, heading straight to Hell's Kitchen to find a flea market.

Please click here for a larger view.

All of the new paintings can now be viewed on my website, please click here to the show pieces.

"Welcome To The Jungle"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Maybe I'm distracted with the new pups - maybe it's just too hot. It's been tough getting a painting done that I like. Then I turned on a couple of old episodes of Columbo, and it just flowed. I should know by now that's what makes me tick, some good television going while I paint.

Anyways...... this new piece is part of my new series ATL to NYC & Back - our first glimpse of the Concrete Jungle as we arrived in the pouring rain.

"Chaos"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm back in my little painting hut again - with immediate work to do, finishing up the group of new work for a mini-solo show opening June 19th at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville. I purposely picked this scene to warm up the brain and brushes - the beginning of my experience in New York City, as I was driving in on that first Saturday afternoon in Crazytown USA.

I hope to balance my time with some small, very loose pieces along with more-realized, larger work - those you'll see closer to the opening of the show. So I hope you'll check back often, I'm raring to go.

"Cab City"

5 x 10"
oil on masonite
sold

Painting cityscapes is daunting, no doubt - although the more I do, the more confident I get. Before I start each one, the decision is made as to what I want the end result to be - more realistic or more impressionistic. Either way, my goal is to portray the atmosphere and try not to get hung up on the details - and I've learned there's several ways to accomplish that. Ways that force me to stay loose.

One way is to stay small. If I had a larger panel in front of me, I know I'd labor over every square inch, every window, every streetlight. Another way is to use a wide brush for every single dab and stroke. You can't nitpick with a honker brush. Sticking with a smaller format is good for learning, practicing - and often can lead to larger, more realized versions.

This scene was taken from Madison Avenue, around 39th Street, facing north - in downtown Manhattan.