'da hood

8"x10" oil/linen

This is a view towards the capitol dome from a less than desirable section of the city. I find boarded up buildings and junk cars incredibly interesting all the while recognizing the depressing state of things that create this situation. Finding beauty in the ugly. An artists job indeed!

I'm getting grounded again and can see things I need to do.

ps. I left the dome out.

plutonium

5"x7" oil

A quick sketch based on an image burned in my brain predawn today. It's ok to play I say. Formula may please the mind, and representation might pay the rent, appreciating paint for what it is is what soothes my soul when all is said. Done.

St. Patricks Cathedral

24"x20" oil/linen

Yet another attempt at the local dome I see from my house. It is a truly impressive church to see in person. I still try to capture it. I suppose most cities have similar structures. I'm sure others are as fascinated with their own as I am with this one.........

orchard

20"x24" oil/linen

This is a theme I do every spring. I love Van Goghs orchard paintings. I just have a different approach and result. More tonalist I suppose. Minimalist perhaps. At any rate, spring is close and snow is in the forecast. @$fu#@. Yes, I've had enough of winter. This creepy spring orchard piece found its way out of me today. We will see if any more do.

wreck-less abandon

40"x30" oil/linen

I am painting like a mad man. A brief thought leads to multiple strokes. Big brush.... hint of light.... a structure perhaps... it's all  meaningless unless there is cohesion...a few thoughts along the way....

still kickin'

40"x30" oil/linen

Trying to get back in the groove.

different mindsets and perceptions

14"x12" oil/panel

As my mind altering cold fades I find the energy to at least tweak 2 pieces that I felt needed changes. The top is a piece that is a Gruppe study. The bottom is from 2 posts ago. I couldn't stand that dark value in the water. Somehow I saw like that when painting but thankfully I see it differently now!

5"x7" oil

still sick

24"x30" oil

My apologies. These new cold bugs seem to be "super bugs". Everyone I know thats had this one is down for a week and I'm on track with that. This is a piece from a few years back. It represents clarity, which I wish I had in my head right now.

On a sad note, the first neighbor that I ever had at an art show passed away from lymphoma the 27th of February. A mere 2 years ago he and his wife Trilla stayed at our house while doing the Longs Park show in Lancaster with no signs of illness. It's amazing how quickly artists form bonds and just as amazing how quickly they can be dissolved.

You will be missed Robert. 

in the sun

5"x7" oil

Here is another take on Sherman Creek. This time the sun is behind me as opposed to the last few which were backlit. More warm colors in this even though it's still a cold day. I stick to the sun is warm theory so anything the sun is hitting will be from the warm side of my palette. Been fighting a touch of a cold, so just started back painting small scale. The energy that large work requires would have been too depleting.

light

5"x7" oil

So This is what happens when I throw architecture out the window and try to catch light. This is a tough time of year for me to paint. I am, however, excited about the future. Actually, I'm not. Stay in the present............

Sherman Creek "revisited"

a>

12"x12" oil/canvas

Silly me decided to do another frozen scene from my trip to Warm Springs Lodge. The only reason there is some open water is because the warm springs flow into the creek here.

There is a general consensus that people prefer warm paintings to cool ones. I prefer to paint all conditions. This winter has been frigid and I'm painting frigid. You might think in summer these would cool people down. We'll see. The big seller in summer is food on a stick. The artists don't have a prayer............I'm looking into a portable deep fryer.......just kidding.

spring hemlocks

40"x30" oil/linen

A client recently requested a vertical version of a plein air piece I did a couple of years ago. I have to say I was very happy to revisit the scene and I truly felt like I was there. Minus the black flies :) It felt good....there are no insects in this one!

essentials

12"x12" oil

While painting a few weeks ago with the seven livelies group I took a break and drove/walked around snapping photos left, right and sideways. It was brutally cold so I did most work inside. Enjoyed the stroll though while snapping pics. I'll say this about working from photos. They are a departure point. I see the light, composition, line and massing. I use a temperature controlled palette and leave a whole bunch out. I see my take on the scene develope from the first dark stroke. I work from dark to light. The goal is to "feel" the piece come to fruition I think. If you don't feel it do something else for the time being. Someone else recently said this on a blog and I couldn't agree more. I'd research it but spent the morning putting a serpentine belt in the jetta and afternoon painting. Now I gots to eat.............

Trails

5"x7" oil

So as I gaze at the work after I feel I've done enough, I start to feel an influence. Don't know whom. This piece is getting close to some recent 'mental" paintings. Intuition, fruition, institution. Who's to say what's next. This is an observation piece...........My eyesight is deteriorating.......

Intuition

5"x7" oil

Haven't painted in awhile for a multitude of reasons. Was finally able to empty my head and get into studio. I say empty my head because for me painting depends a lot on intuition. I had many flashes while doing this small piece. I'd like to say I'll remember them but I won't. The key will be to allow flashes in the next piece. "Minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are open".

On the road again....

The van is loaded. Off to the CBA Art Show in Lincroft, NJ. Been framing and organizing lately so not much painting in the last few days. On the ground here is a 36"x48" of the goldfish pond I paint every now and then.

Believe it or not ,yesterday there was a 1/2" covering of ice on EVERYTHING. You may remember last year I did the show and we had a blizzard. Sat in the hotel watching a flag get ripped to shreds and snowmobiles on the road all day Saturday. Snow and ice are forecast again . Hopefully not much though.

Phoenix

24"x30" oil/canvas

Dug this one out of the ashes and touched up a woefully dark foreground. A summer farm scene in Pennsylvania. Back when the cicadas were buzzing and the stink bugs were stinking. If you haven't heard about stink bugs...you will.

struggles and letting go

11"x14" oil/canvas

So after working for hours on trying to do a better version of yesterdays piece frustration set in. I was working on top of an old piece that I liked the sky and nothing else. The front lighting of yesterdays perspective could not have this sky and the sky I wanted to keep. So I went ballistic with the wipedown and let feeling take over. Not recommended but sometimes needed.....

The Tin Man

11"x14" oil

I could use some oil. Haven't painted in a few days and feel rusty. It's snowing cats and dogs and silver dollars. This scene was from last weeks excursion. It's the splitting of a creek. The right branch reads too dark in photo. It's the warm side being sunlit, the left branch is cool edged but sunlit down the middle. I ramble........... Should do this abstracted and only focus on temperature. Off to stare at the snow.................

3 apples

3 6"x6" oils

Spent Saturday painting with the seven livelies group. Mostly just reconnecting with the gang. Found a dark table with north light and produced these pieces. Very low light and only the reflections hinted at where these apples were. They almost appeared to be floating.