March 28, 2014

Renaissance Faerie Blowing Bubbles"


Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel
8" x 8"
2014

I had fun with this painting of a faerie girl blowing bubbles at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.  As many of you know, I really get into the spirit when I go the the RenFest and always dress in period costume.   Indeed, it will surprise no one that I have more costumes than clothes hanging in my closet.  Sadly, most attendees to our Renaissance Fair are dressed more appropriately for a trip to the local Walmart than a trip back in time to jolly olde England in the 15th century.  It was a pleasure to remove mom in her stretch pants, pushing a stroller and dad in his Orioles tee shirt, etc., from behind this model.  The background certainly gives her a more celestial countenance.

March 25, 2014

'"Things are looking up"


Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel
8" x 8"
2014
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My little studio companion in happier days.  I lost my Sammy last May.  A day doesn't go by that I don't think of him...or Vincent, or Theo, or China, or Titian, or Frankie...

March 20, 2014

"Laura and Miriam"


Oil on canvas
24" x 36"
2013

Those who have been frequent visitors to my blog may think that all I paint are small studies of animals and oysters.  Visitors to the studio get a different picture of the artist.  My work is actually quite varied in size and scope.  For example; all of the "Confetti Series", canvases portraying contemporary American fashion from the late 80's, were a massive 40" x 60".  Hung together at the Zenith Gallery in Washington, DC, they made quite a powerful statement.  The little panels have been an important bridge between series and a way for more people to have access to my work.  Of course selling tiny studies has not been without consequences.  The price of a complicated portrait is many many times more than an oil sketch that took a few hours.  I am having a hard time juggling the two.  I'd hate to give up the small work since the immediate pleasure of posting something new is more exciting than commission work where only you and the client see the finished painting.  Well...and all my Facebook friends usually get a peek.

March 18, 2014

"Do you like my toy?"

Oil on museum quality Ampersand Gessobord panel
2013
8" x 8"

Painted last year as part of the rescue series, this little pit bull puppy is looking for someone to play fetch.  The blue bandana adds a bit of needed color.

March 12, 2014

"Oyster, knife and block"


Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel
2012  
6" x 8"



If some of these paintings look familiar it is because and I phasing out the "small paintings" blog and repopulating the work here.  That said, I have always liked this oyster painting and it has happily lived in the studio for two years but it is time to give it some air so I  am putting it and some other old friends up in my daily paintworks gallery. 


 

March 8, 2014

"Foggy Paris Afternoon"

Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel
2014 
8" x 10"

  The cupids and sea monsters that festoon this ornamental candelabra were produced by artist, H Gauquic.  There are four of these unique lamp posts located on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris.  It was a particularly foggy autumn afternoon when I stood on the bridge and the Eiffel Tower in the distance was shrouded in mist. 

March 5, 2014

"Puss in Boots"


Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel
2014
8" x 10"
 Last Wednesday I spent the entire day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  To say that I was invigorated would be an understatement.  Room after room, gallery after gallery of paintings from art history were there before my eyes.  Captivated by the bravado brushwork of artists whose work I thought I knew so well, I brought home to the studio a clear vision and renewed desire to splash around and show the paint like never before.  Today's painting gave me the opportunity to do just that. The subject is a marble figure of Puss in Boots, part of a monument to the author Charles Perrault located in Paris in the Tuileries Gardens. It was late autumn when this reference was taken and the bare ground and sparse greenery allowed for some fun brushwork behind the statue.  I hinted at a small carousel that was in the background for a bit of needed color.