Opening at 16 Patton

I wanted to thank all those who came by the gallery last night, it was a pleasure meeting you - the opening was lively and fun, my good friends, Karen and Neil were there - Karen has beautiful work at the gallery as well. There's nothing better than seeing it all in person. Neil put up several photos of the event here as well.

I had a lucky night and so very grateful for those red dots - it's the finest compliment an artist can get. A big thanks to Douglas Hoover, an artist who took the time to come by for good conversation, my good friends, Juan and Dennis, and Danna, the owner of the gallery, you all make me very proud.

I've got a busy week, packing up the art stuff, taking some time to travel and photograph before my workshop starts - I hope to blog from the coast. See you soon.

Article on Lines & Colors Blog

Charley Parker's blog Lines & Colors is my favorite art blog, I read it every day. I can't tell you how much I've learned through his writings, not to mention the discoveries of contemporary artists I now follow religiously. Charley made me proud today, with a post about my new book Museum Hours. Thank you Charley - I greatly appreciate the mention of my New York Life paintings and the posting of my friend, Karen Hollingsworth's new work, who'll be showing tomorrow night at the same opening at 16 Patton, along with Suzy Shultz.

"Outdoor Dining"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm packing up my art stuff for a workshop, I won't be painting until I start that up November 1st - I'm really looking forward to it. Lots to do to prepare. Also heading to Asheville on Saturday to attend the opening for a group show at 16 Patton - hope to see you there.

Before I go, I want to show you one of the paintings that will be included in this year's Charleston Art Auction - a scene from my visit last November - some diners I spotted on East Bay Street, outside of Pearlz Oyster Bar, on a cool, autumn evening.

Please click here for a larger view.

Happy Trails ~ I'll be sure to blog from the coast. It's Zac and Joey's first beach trip, so they'll be blogging too.

"Entrenched"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

This painting will also be included in the upcoming group show, opening this Saturday at the 16 Patton Gallery - it's one of my personal favorites. I just love the form of the woman's trench coat and thin legs, the brown tones with the mustard-golds, and I love the artworks surrounding her -
William Nicholson's 'Mauve Primulas on a Table', with William Orpen's 'Self Portrait' to the right, donning a trench coat himself. Observed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Please click here for a larger view. To view my paintings included in the group show, please click here.

My New Book 'Museum Hours'

I've been working on this new book for a good while and it's finally finished and available on Blurb. Museum Hours features color images of 102 paintings (100 are full page and 2 are smaller included in the introduction). These are paintings I've done in the past several years, of my favorite subject to paint - art lovers and museum patrons. The book is 8 x 10" and available in soft-cover and hard-cover (image wrap) - I also included an index in the back of the book for those who like to know the featured artwork and what museum the scene is from. I wanted this to be just right, and I am so pleased with the entire book. I thank you for considering a purchase, it might be the perfect gift for someone you know.

Please click here to preview a portion of the book and to purchase your copy.

New York Dogs

New York Dogs, No. 1
5 x 5"
sold 

A big part of New York Life that delights me - the dogs. They brave the traffic, the noise, the crowds and soften the hard edges of the city.

New York Dogs, No. 2
5 x 5"
sold

New York Dogs, No. 3
5 x 5"
sold

New York Dogs, No. 4
5 x 5"
sold

These five darling dogs were some of those we met up with while walking around New York back in May. We lost our Petey to cancer this past February, and just the slightest eye contact or the feel of their fur convinced us we were missing that in our lives - and as soon as we returned home, we adopted Zac and Joey.

These four paintings will be included in my grouping titled New York Life - part of a group show opening next Saturday at the 16 Patton Gallery - please join us if you can.

"A Good Listener"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Adding to my series ATL to NYC & Back - after we hopped off the Roosevelt Tramway, we headed to Little Italy for an early dinner - stepped out of the cab and met this handsome, little guy playing it cool. Those ears were too cute, I figured he was a good listener.

"Bag Lady"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Part of my ongoing series ATL to NYC & Back - we took a very cool ride on the Roosevelt Island Tramway where you can get fabulous, elevated views of the city. Brett spotted this lady at a crosswalk, loaded down with shopping bags - a very fun composition of shapes, shadows and forms. My kinda scene.

Thank You Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs created what I call my 'power tools' - the Mac, the iPhone, the iPad, iWeb, iPhoto - all of these genius instruments and programs have profoundly changed my life. Thank you Steve. I am so grateful.

- photo by Art Streiber for Time

"Ledger"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Put anyone near a window, with good light, and I'll want to paint them. From inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art - and adding to my series ATL to NYC & Back.

"Daisy Chain"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Adding on to my series ATL to NYC & Back - a chain of school girls being led through the sculpture gallery in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love this painting :)

"Misfortune" & a New Book

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I got a little carried away with the details on this painting - the woman is viewing 'The Fortune Teller', by Georges de La Tour, one of my favorite works of art in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It amuses me - the gentleman in the center is unknowingly being pick-pocketed from behind as the crone is offering him his fortune. This piece will be included in my series ATL to NYC & Back.

I also have a new book titled 'a shore thing' - it is 7 x 7" and includes 48 color reproductions of paintings inspired from my visits to the beach. It might be a good thing to have around when winter is too much to bear. Please click here to purchase your own copy.

"Smooth Sailing"

8 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

I was watching Curb Your Enthusiasm last night - Larry David was arguing with a couple of women, behind him, this (almost exact) view of the 'boat pond', blue skies, little, model sailboats and all. How cool is that.




This painting will be included in the upcoming group show at 16 Patton Gallery - my collection features New York Life.

Please click here for a larger view.

New York Life Book

I created a show book for my New York Life paintings - there are 14 included in an upcoming group show, the book includes an additional 13 images of pieces currently hanging in the 16 Patton Gallery. The size of the book is 8 x 10", full-color, available in soft-cover and hard-cover on Blurb. I'll have 12 signed copies available at the opening on October 22nd - I would love for you to come by.

My good friend, Karen Hollingsworth, has six, large paintings in the same group show - below is one of my all-time favorites of hers, titled 'Wisdom'.

36 x 36"
oil on canvas

~ Happy Autumn

"In The Pink"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Adding to my series ATL to NYC & Back - a small study of two girls, seemingly sisters, both dressed alike in their pink. They were transfixed on Johannes Vermeer's 'Study of a Young Woman', in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"Cheers"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

The morning after I finished this painting, I opened up the New York Times and saw an advertisement for 'Frans Hals in the Metropolitan Museum', featuring his painting 'Yonker Ramp and His Sweetheart' - the same as in my painting. That was cool - I love Frans Hals's work, it's dark and somewhat creepy.

This piece will be included in the upcoming group show at 16 Patton in Asheville, my collection is New York Life.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Listen Up"

6 x 6"

oil on masonite
sold

While I'm getting all these new paintings ready for the show in October, I'm keeping busy with the brush, loosening up with more of my series ATL to NYC & Back. Picking up where I left off..... one of my stops, after the workshop wrapped up early afternoon on Tuesday, was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have this love/hate for the museum - it's almost too big to take in but filled with the most inspiring works of art. I'm mostly drawn to American Art, but the stuffy portraits of the European privileged amuse me, especially this little painting in my painting - by Diego Velazquez - a portrait of 'The Infanta Maria Theresa, daughter of Philip IV of Spain'. The detail is remarkable, her hair adorned with butterflies and cocoons - an fascinating portrait of a young girl who led an interesting, complicated life.

"Beacon"

4 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

During our stay in New York, Brett and I took a sunset cruise, giving us a mellow, colorful view of the city skyline and the Statue of Liberty at dusk, then up the East River as darkness set in - it was breathtaking the entire time. This painting is included in my grouping New York Life, part of an upcoming group show at the 16 Patton Gallery, opening October 22nd.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Away From His Desk"

9 x 12"
oil on masonite
sold

Included in the upcoming group show in October, at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville, is this new painting - a gentleman sitting in the warm sunshine with a National Geographic.

Please click here for a larger view.

"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.

"Wine:30"

10 x 10"

oil on masonite
sold

The scene was from an open-air restaurant on Mulberry Street, in Little Italy, New York City.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Four Ways to Brooklyn"

16 x 4"
oil on masonite
sold

On this somber day, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to give all of you a peaceful, colorful, serene image of New York City, and give all due respect to the beauty that surrounds us today.

This is one of the most awe-inspiring views I know - from lower Manhattan looking at the East River where you can see the three bridges - in the far distance, the Williamsburg Bridge, in the center, the Manhattan Bridge, and in the front, the iconic and stunning Brooklyn Bridge.

I've been working hard on paintings for an upcoming show - featuring three women artists, Karen Hollingsworth, Suzy Shultz and myself, titled 'Woman's Work'. My collection is titled 'New York Life' - streetscenes, people, dogs, landmarks all inspired from my trip back in May.
This new painting will be included in the collection.

The show will be held at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville - the opening reception is October 22nd from 5-8. I hope you can stop by the gallery and see the work in person.

Please click here for a larger view.

"Fully Booked"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

Part of my series ATL to NYC & Back - it was Monday morning, my first day teaching a workshop. Brett helped me set up and went on his way with his camera while I did my thing. This gentleman was spotted reading a good book on a stoop of a brownstone, somewhere in the Upper East Side of the city.

Help for our Good Friends

A shout-out to the artists community - Carol and David Marine and their son lost their home in the Bastrop, Texas wildfires on Sunday. Their entire subdivision was wiped out, up to 300 homes. I hear they are all safe, that's great news.

A close family friend, Jennifer, has organized a fund to immediately assist Carol & David - please click here for the details and give what you can to help this family get back on their feet.

~ Thank you all

"Flour Arrangement"

6 x 6"
oil on masonite
sold

I'm happy to report my Mac is back home, I missed it more than ever. Moving on with my series ATL to NYC & Back - a glimpse of a bakery worker inside Eataly, surrounded by stacks of flour. One of those moments when I suddenly saw a painting in my head.