final round

5"x7" oil

Broke some rules on this finale. The fish is painted with all cool colors and the background is warm. When all 3 are viewed together there is cohesion. Off on a painting excursion tomorrow. Might do a bunch of small still life. It's so cold I think paint will freeze outside.

round 2

5"x7" oil

Call me crazy, I dug out the fish remnants from the garbage. (It's cold outside and in studio so stench is quite limited). I wanted to paint from direct observation. Yesterdays was from a photo before I cleaned the fish. So I layed out the striper and stuffed paper towels where the filets use to be. The cats are very excited and my light barrier will never smell the same. I smell a triptych............ 

dinner

5"x7" oil

A VERY rough sketch of a striped bass I had for dinner. I've seen so many others do fish very well. I like when you can see the sheen on the fish, however when "I" paint them I have little interest in that. In fact, I'm just now exploring the idea of painting fish. Yes, a shadow and more detail would make it sing. But I've played that song.

winter shipyard

30"x40" oil/linen

Really breaking down complex subject. I'm looking for less and less. Reality is not so important.

people are people

3 12"x12" oils

Interesting times. I'm pursuing gesture and figure again, my 3 ballerinas got best of show at the local Art Association of Harrisburg figure show, I bought a stellar coffee maker and am a victim of a lame cyber attack. Someone claims I'm ripping people off.To top it off they didn't contact me directly. Here is my open invitation to clarify. You should know that I know where all my web hits come from and when. Bring it on San Diego.............

cows on parade

3 6"x6" oils

It's farm show week in Harrisburg. What this means is all things agriculture come to town and display their items for the public to see. The local lore is that it snows this week. Well it did a nice 4 inches. Shouldn't be a surprise. Historically it's one of the coldest weeks in modern time for this area.

Here are some cows. Up close and personal.

Hangin' with the Govna'

I picked up my paintings from the Governors mansion tonight and they gave me this photo from the reception of the show. I didn't paint tonight but thought this would be fun to post. This is a group I paint with called the seven lively artists(none of us can count). The show ran all summer and fall and winter......the reception was wonderful and the Govna' is quite cool. Perhaps you've seen him portayed on the news(60 minutes) as a crazed looney lately. A gambling addict. They photoshop all that crap. He's a good dude. He lets his dogs run all over the mansion. Big labs and retrievers as I recall. And he gave us this show.

This is an eclectic group eh? I'm 4th from the left in the back(currently have much more hair and scruff, it's winter) and the Govna' is 5th from right. It's snowing heavily right now and I'm content staring out the window............

digging deep

3-7"x5" oils

What am I doing with these? Ok, when I have no particular painting or even subject in mind, it's time to delve into the mind. I'm a very visual person. I see things and they constantly register with me. So, when I take photos in my daily routine I save them. Now into studio...........Immediately it becomes apparent that a replica of the photo is not the beautiful thing that I witnessed. In fact the idea of trying to reproduce becomes sickening. My latest exercise is to do 3 studies of the photo and figure out my interest.The original photo of this scene had way more info. I tried to include it in the first piece(They are left to right in order) but immediately cut stuff out. I go mind numb yet attentive. Certain things show themselves. I continue to learn, making aggressive strokes and pondering lesser ones. A proactive experience. Don't ask me what the flaming orb is but I'm convinced I'm making progress!

barn

20"x24" oil/linen

At first I included all the barn doors, windows, trees etc... that were in the scene. The more I looked the less I wanted. Turned out doing very slow controlled strokes of paint laden brushes. Totally the opposite of yesterdays piece. Of course,  leaves on the ground would hardly be painted slowly and controlled. The Thiebaud influence showed up here.

hip hip HOORAY!!!

40"x30" oil/linen

We finally received an inch of snow and it made the landscape beautiful. By afternoon not a whole bunch left but this  was the view from dads driveway. I paint this place alot. The only good thing about a bad economy is the developers haven't moved in yet. Fingers crossed. It's snowing right now and is quite nice to look at. just another inch or so. Keeping things white yet negotiable.

twilight

11"x14" oil

more o' da same

fake snow

9"x12"oil

Nature is starving central PA. of snow, so I'm still in imagination mode and applying it to landscape. Hang in there, I think there is potential..........

figure and gesture

3 11"x14" oil

In a follow up to the ballerinas I continue to explore gesture and the human form from my imagination.

sailboats

30"x40" oil/linen

I liked how the arrangement of boats looked like a bridge in this one . Squint !-)

Happy New Year to all!

A rock cliff

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12"x12" oil

I failed to mention that the blizzard missed us. However the residual wind blew two train cars off the Rockville bridge into the river. Interesting eh?

A fine line of massing

5"x7" oil

This one was painted more gesturally. Total unfocus of eyes and look more at subject than canvas. This way light becomes the subject. I prefer this one. Of course I should do every painting this way but outside forces occassionally come into play.

This one was more drawn. Why? good question. I know better but it still happens. I think drawing skills are critical to learn. Painting is painting...not drawing. A good base of all skills will help immensely but one must decide ....draw or paint?

Thomas point lighthouse

5"x7" oil

A small study with intention of going larger. Keepin' it loose.

winter creek

20"x24" oil/linen

A quiet place where you here the occasional bank beaver splash into the water.

it's getting deep

11x14

Imagine the irony. After posting the last one and the comments, I woke up with a stomach flu. Last time I mention infamous stench........'nuff said. Was finally able to muster the energy to raise a brush and go into the cold bowels of my studio. Did this one on a super slick surface and used a reduction approach, wiping down the highlights. See the metaphor?

oh yeah, these guys are up to their you know whats in snow. HA

Biggie Smalls

5"x7" oil

From yesterdays 4 footer to todays little one. They all have their challenges..... I smell cows a comin'