sketch

5"x7" oil

A quick study. I'm planning a large city scene, preferably in the rain. Possibly a nocturne. Haven't done a cityscape in awhile. This one felt good. Same approach as the coastal scene but a totally differnt feel. Feels abstract but recognizable. AAHHH, that is my goal! Create a tension then balance it.

Goin' Coastal (not postal)

16"x20" oil


I've regained my composure. Loose but delibrate brushwork on this one. It reads a bit tight but blow up image and see the strokes. Its probably more about the edges than anything. I can say my mind didn't wander a bit on this one. I still like that last one......whatever I was thinking...

a rare one (for me)

5"x7" oil

So here is a glimpse at a piece that I almost never let the public see. I've mentioned before that when I paint my mind rarely wanders on anything other than the next stroke. Well this one was scrubbed down once... sworn at multiple times....given a total death sentence.... all premixed paint was disregarded... my mind was all over the place...I finally said fU@me.com. Typically, I destroy these immediately. For some unknown reason this one still lives. I actually want to see what's inside this structure. I'm actually tempted to let my mind get in the way again. Perhaps some level of consciousness wants to be awoken. Just when you think your approach to painting is becoming "solidified" this happens. I'll sleep on it and see what happens tomorrow.

fall foliage

30"x40" oil

I had a bunch of paint on the palette and did not want to waste it. To be honest I struggled with a subject to paint. It reminds me of athletes that have to perform even on their off days. It felt like one of those days. You have to step up whether you like it or not. So I went big again. Contrast in edge work is significant. Below is a book that I find amazing and recommend for anyone who appreciates painting.

This book showcases a group that predates William Wendt and Diebenkorn. California colorists that sum up painting better than I could ever do. I wish my artist statement could be as well described as this groups. Here's a quote from the book that Wayne Thiebaud coined..,"the issue of transposition, where the painting always stays a painting, but there is this kind of duplicity of both being paint and material at the same time, sort of a simultaniety of variables. For instance, When Gile is painting a tree. yes it is clearly a brushstroke, but it's a brushstroke that periodically right in the middle of its being a brushstroke turns into a branch. It is that capacity and propensity for the paint to become the actual objectification of materials that I think are quite extraodinary."

happy birthday to me

30"x40" oil

Ok. So it's my birthday. Well, when you throw in leap years and time changes technically it's not. Frankly, I no longer remember my age. I really do have to do the math from my birth year. Turns out I'm 43. Anyway, I did this larger piece with the intent of keeping the looseness of the smaller ones. I think this one turned out well. I stuck with the large brush for almost everything. Keeping to the 1/7th size brush relative to canvas size. Indeed, up close one wonders what they are looking at. From a distance it becomes apparent. Again I took the photo indoors. Left side is a bit lighter but not a bunch.

Defining the artist

5"x7" oil

one last little guy before I go large tomorrow in studio. The wind is howling right now and will continue through tomorrow so plein air is on hold. (yeah the van would work but I'm staying in studio) I've been contemplating what makes an artist recognizable as an individual. Think about it. All the greats have a destinguishable body of work. When you see it you know who done it! Aside from the pop art stuff(find a niche and fill it) I'm intrigued by landscape painters that are identifiable by their work. What makes this so? Subject matter.....application....perspective....composition... palette....indeed all these things describe the artist. The ones we remember......did their own thing. Just a thought.....but one that I continually have.

feeling fine

5"x7" oil

I'm back to feeling good about pushing paint. Things are starting to click. Will approach large work this weekend..... Painting can solve many... many... issues. Painting can create many..... many..... issues.. Yes, we create our own environment!

backwoods

5"x7" oil

This scene reminds me of our family fishing trips to Ontario, Canada. There would be outpost camps along the lakes for the hunters and fishermen to camp. We stayed at the main lodge and boated in.

along the lake

5"x7" oil

Feeling better. It's strange. As my health improves I feel I need to slowly develope my work all over again. I have multiple large canvases ready but fear a relapse. I still tend to overheat while working. At any rate the process feels intact again and I have a positive approach to the direction the work is heading.

adirondacks

12"x12" oil

So I'm feeling a good bit better. Can't resist the metaphor of feeling like being up against a mountain while fighting illness. So here's a view in the Adirondacks. Painted it tonight.

the flu sucks

3 6"x6" oils on panels


So I spent 3 days running through the woods of upstate New York chasing turkeys in the rain. Yes I eat them. Came home with a sore throat. Woke up with the flu. Barely could stand up for a few days. No energy to raise a brush. Today I finally limped into studio highly medicated. Did these 3 pieces. Go figure, the weather is nice and I still can't go out. At any rate things seem to be improving. These are loose, maybe too loose. Still trying to get my act together.

new work

6"x6" oil

6"x6" oil

16"x20" oil amazing, the difference from looking toward the sun and away.

The summer show season has come and gone. The van is empty and ready for some "plein van" work. Looking forward to getting back to some plein air work and cleaning up the studio. Here are some new pieces.

winter farm 2

6"x6" oil

Little more dynamic with this one. I've let the paint do the describing. I want to do the same with the larger ones but as you can tell there is still work to do. Will do 2 more this size than a 16x20 with more energy.

Off to the Armonk outdoor art show. Last one of the season for me. Will finally be able to get back outside and paint as well as intense studio work.

winter farm

16"x20" oil

It will be here before you know it.

Cape Cod Grays Beach

3 6"x6" panels oil

Trying to find beauty in the ordinary. I liked the scene very much in person. We'll see how the piece stands up over time.

still working

24"x24" oil

Another Cape piece. Not so sure the "island" patch is necessary. Will probably wipe it out.

24"x24" oil

Trying to capture the energy and brushwork of the 6x6. Increased brush size and amount of paint. Off to Rittenhouse fine art show. Friday-Sunday.

cape cod boats different elevation

16"x20"

A new perspective of yesterdays piece. I like this one much more. Boats always seem stronger when they are higher in the picture plane. I layed more paint and used bigger brushes. I've felt lately that my small paintings have more impact. I realized that relative brush size meant my bigger pieces were undersized in the brush department. Still room to improve for sure but I'm excited to continue on with this in mind.

Off to the Alexandria festival of the Arts tomorrow.

cape cod boats

16"x 20" oil

I find rows of boats to be like Philip Glass' music. Orchestrations of the same things over and over and over again with very small changes. For some people it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. For me it's like getting out of school. I already want to tweak this but will leave it and do a variation from a different perspective.

Last weeks show in Westhampton was fantastic. Good sales and met great people with all kinds of future possibilities, including a cottage to stay in when I go up to Plein air paint.(I just need to give her a little painting for rent. I'm cool with that!) Also, just received the letter from Old town Chicago. I passed the show jury and will be doing that show next year! Slammin! It's one of the top shows in the country and so far was my best show this year. Here's the clincher, I may be doing a commission for the Hotel Hershey. Yep, Hershey Pa. It's a very high end establishment. They're renovating the whole place and want me to do a painting of the original hotel including some of the landscape. They buy the painting and next thing you know they have giclees in various rooms around the hotel of my piece. Pretty cool. I gave 'em a price and haven't heard back. Fingers crossed, I'd love that gig....The Alexandria show is this weekend but I plan on another post and a link to the show.

Grays Beach...Again...Low tide

16"x20" oil

I really enjoy this area. Did this one this morning. Off to the Westhampton show. It runs Saturday and Sunday. Looks like the storm will be done there tonight.

Grays beach

24"x36" oil

I gathered a ton of material last week on the cape. Here's the first piece. I love the lost and found edges in the marshes. One feels as if they are an inch away from something unknown. I'll get to paint again tomorrow morning then off to the West Hampton Beach show. Hope the hurricane goes east....................