Q & A Weekend

If there's something I can help with or answer, I'll do it.  Please leave your question in the comments and take a minute to read my FAQ's - you may find the answer there.

and another thing..... a fellow artist, Taryn Day,  runs a most-excellent blog called The Art Room - where you'll find artists' interviews and discussions.  Taryn invited me to contribute to today's post - asking me to choose two of my personal favorites from last year followed by her two favorites.  Take time to read past posts, it's so very interesting.  Thanks to Taryn for her time.

"H Street"

8 x 8"

oil on panel

sold

Last visit to Washington DC, after drooling over the art in the National Portrait Gallery, we took a walk around the neighborhood and I stopped in my tracks across from this old, painted-brick building on H Street.  The wall was a perfect backdrop for seeing figures clearly.  Love it. This gentleman was standing in front of that old building on H Street.

It also was a good lesson in how to paint a brick wall.  I usually avoid it.  This time I tried a hint at it, with thick paint behind him, put on with a palette knife and carved in loose grooves.  It's cool in person.  And a good solution I think

"George"

8 x 8"

oil on panel
nfs

I tried my hand on a more classic painting - an all-day cow affair.  What an awesome beast.  It is a gift.

"Book Club"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

The surface you paint on can determine the outcome or effect.  Personally, I detest canvas.  I feel like I'm pushing the paint into the surface - it's like buttering a cold waffle.  So I prefer smooth, hard boards - like spreading warm butter on a warm pancake if you will.

I had this little panel I had painted black, but there was a bumpy texture, kinda sandpaper-like and I wanted that rougher texture for the steps and it worked out pretty well.

You certainly can't nit-pick with details and it kept me loose.  And I like that.

From Central Park in New York City on a summer day.

"Reading Up On"

7 x 8"

oil on panel
sold

I've been playing with this piece for a couple of days while watching multiple reruns of Cash Cab.  Obsessing really.  Sometimes I finish something and it's just too predictable, color-wise.  Bland.  So I mixed up some unexpected colors and played.  I like it now.  Time to start another one.

I spotted this young woman reading around Central Park, New York City.

 

Happy New Year

I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and website.  I am grateful.

~ Cheers

"Leo"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

This guy looked like a Leo to me.  Maybe he reminded me of Uncle Leo on Seinfeld.  Maybe a combination of several characters on Seinfeld.  Still, the best show on TV.

"Krystle"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

That sweet little blond tuft on her head reminded me of Krystle Carrington from Dynasty.  Another cow to make the afternoon fun.

"Violet"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

Hello to all - I trust you've enjoyed your holiday.  My aching back is healing nicely, thank you for your kind wishes.  I wanted to paint, I really did.  I squirted out my pizza pan palette of paint several times and nothing.  I don't know why.  My brain's been fried I guess.  To tell you the truth, it's nice to just chill in December for a change.  I spent most of my adult life as a picture framer and December was hell.   Now it's beautifully calm and I've enjoyed every minute of it.

My friend Neil Hollingsworth offered some photos of his to paint (thank you Neil) and I've been playing with cows.  Such great, natural sculptures - I'm in awe of them.  I'm doing more and I felt compelled to name each one, whatever comes to mind as I'm spending time with them.

This kicks off the first of many little studies I hope to get on with.  The juices are flowing again.  Yay.

"Green With Envy"

6 x 10"

oil on panel
sold

Included in my new show 'Met Life' - a woman viewing John White Alexander's 'Study in Black and Green' in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

detail

Please click here for a larger view.

"Art Lovers"

8 x 8"

oil on panel

sold

The last time I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art I obsessed over the higher-floor view of the lobby, what they call the Great Hall.   Floods of humanity moving in and out as the wooden benches are almost always occupied with tired tourists.   Below is a screen shot of the Great Hall from Google Maps.  By the way, you can tour the entire museum with Street View.  

With this new painting, I zoomed in a bit more on a couple taking a break from touring the museum, I found their interlocking hands so sweet and the main inspiration for this painting.  This piece will be included in my grouping 'Met Life', opening this Friday at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery.

detail

Please click here for a larger view.

Catching Up

Thanksgiving's a few days away and I'm psyched for the way the kitchen smells when the turkey's roasting and eating my weight in sweet potato casserole. 

I've spent the past weeks finishing up the new work for a dual show in December with Ken Auster - and I've put my paints away for a short while to simply enjoy the holiday week.  Before I get busy in the kitchen, I wanted to post the paintings I did at the recent workshop - a demo and sometimes two every day - which I try to include a variety of subjects.

Starting with Monday's demo, which I share the original reference photo and the students paint their versions the following day .....

10 x 8"

sold

Tuesday's demo...

 

 8 x 8"

sold

Wednesday morning's demo...

 

6 x 6"

sold

Wednesday afternoon's demo, starring our dog Joey...

7 x 5"

sold

Thursday's demo, from a police mugshot...

4 x 4"

sold

and Friday's demo.

8 x 8"

sold

My next workshop is in New York City, held at the National Academy on 5th Avenue - an amazing place to paint, a goldmine of imagery to capture.  The date is next May, the Tuesday after Memorial Day - and Sedona Arts Center is who you want to contact if you're interested in signing up.  The details are on the right-side column of this blog.

Another reminder that Brett has brand-new Tabletop Easels available as well as brand-new AlterEasels --- now there's a perfect gift for an artist if someone needs a hint.

And I'll be back to painting next weekend, meanwhile ~

 wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving

Live, Work & Play Time

My apologies for not posting during the past two weeks.  By the time we arrived in Hilton Head - after days of packing and go-go-go,  I just removed myself from the real world including my iPad, email, laptop, phone and took a long, deep breath and relaxed for a change.

 our little slice of heaven

 Our Beach Boys - Zac and Joey

A couple of days later our friends, Karen and Neil Hollingsworth, joined us for a much-needed break from the routine.

 Brett and Karen

 Brett, the dogs and Neil

After they left, the weather reports started coming in about Sandy, and for a while, we weren't sure if we were in the path of the storm - just glued to the ever-changing news and hoping for the best.  I was mainly concerned about my workshop students who were on their way - turned out everyone arrived safe and sound during the weekend which was a great relief.

 rougher seas

The workshop started last Monday, I was joined by my assistant, Kelli, from the Sedona Arts Center and twenty-one of the most warm, friendly, eager and talented women - five which came back for another round.  I knew after the first day how very lucky I was to have such a great group of broads and they made my week so enjoyable.  Thanks to all who spent the week with me, I am recharged and more motivated than ever.

 my gals hard at work

 an exercise painting mugshots

 immersed in our stuff, enjoying the paints

It needs to be said - being at the beach for two weeks, watching the sun rise right outside my window every morning and the moon rise every evening to wish us a good night's sleep - being in the company of strong, fabulous women who love to paint and talk about art - sharing my down-time with the guy and the pups I love so much - knowing the storm and that mighty sea we walked beside every day reeked havoc in many lives and destroyed those homes they've worked hard to build and nurture - it was humbling and a profound reminder of how grateful we are for being back home safe and sound and having each other.

Peace to All

Please donate to the Red Cross today and help all those affected by Sandy.

Working...

I'm on a painting marathon these days, working on new pieces for a dual show in early December with the artist Ken Auster - taking place at the Morris & Whiteside Gallery on Hilton Head Island. I'm very excited about it.  Hope to do a few small pieces in between.  See you soon.

"Foot Rest"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

It is a happy painting day when I can balance the loose with the tight.   A woman resting her feet on a park bench around Charleston, South Carolina.

"Alongside Highway 30"

8 x 10"

oil on panel
sold

Occasionally, I finish a painting and don't quite like - so I rest it nearby my easel and obsess about it in between working on other pieces.   Then I continue to tinker with it from time to time.  This is one of those tinkered paintings.

The first time I 'completed' it, I was irritated with how tight it was - it looks too much like a photo and not really an oil painting.  I like more brushwork, I like moving oil paint around.  I must have tinkered over five different times during August and in the end, something you probably can't detect in the image above, is the texture - which I'm happy with.  A little palette knife action, dry-brushing on top of dry paint is what turned it into more of an oil painting and that's the ticket.

This scene was from middle America, alongside Hwy 30, the Lincoln Highway, in Brule, Nebraska.

"Bay Watch"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

A splendid day for a bird looking towards the Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco.

"Met Fatigue"

16 x 4"

oil on panel
sold

A special offering from my own collection, visitors resting in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

"Hip"

12 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

A special offering from my collection, a woman standing firm in front of Mark Rothko's 'No. 7', which hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

"Outer Sunset"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

When I was in San Francisco this past spring, to teach a workshop, our home base was a rental in the Outer Sunset district - about 15 blocks from the Pacific Ocean.  I loved staying in that neighborhood.  This view was a drive down Judah Street, heading straight to the sea at dusk.  It is that squinty light that caused my photo to turn out somewhat monochromatic - which I loved, so I gave it a shot with paint, which I love.

I also wanted to remind folks that the opening reception for my show Here Comes The Sun is next Friday night, from 5-8 at the 16 Patton Gallery in Asheville.  I'll be there and would greatly appreciate you stopping by to say hello and look at my new work.  A fellow artist, Mark Henry, will have his new paintings showing the same night.

"Little Buddha"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

Meet 'Little Buddha' - a pug we met on our visit to San Francisco.

"Cooling Her Heels"

4 x 12"

oil on masonite
sold

I'm noticeably having fun with the blues and turquoises of the ocean and painted this loose one today.  From the ocean at Hilton Head Island.

"Keeper of the Lures"

5 x 5"

oil on panel
sold

A loose, painterly study of a woman keeping watch over the tackle box - from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

"Figure 1"

5 x 7"

oil on panel
sold

I absolutely love figure drawing and miss going to sessions with models - it's been years.  There are a couple of websites that provide figures in multitudes of poses, with clothes and without - it's a great means to practicing painting or drawing the human body.   Charley Parker has a good article about this on Lines & Colors if you're interested.  This study was done from one of the poses on this site - which is free for artists and survives on donations.  It's good exercise, I'd highly recommend it.

I don't have a clever title, I thought I'd do more in the future, starting with this new piece. 

"Pro Tractor"

6 x 6"

oil on panel
sold

What I was dazzled with out west was the expansive views - seeing forever - noticing how color and tones define distance.  It's a whole other learning curve for me.   I tell you, if I lived in California, I'd be taking long drives all the time - out to nowheresville and back with my camera.  It's inspiring.  

This new painting is from southern California where the berry farms make the landscape look like patterned fabric.  I felt a little Van Gogh-ish with the brush, lots of pleasure doing this piece.