"Moonstones"

Today I went on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the work of Antonio Mancini, the late 19th century Italian realist. If you don't know his work, you owe it to yourself to check him out. His early work, including a piece he did at age 16(!) was spectacular! He got a bit crazy later in life, but then don't we all?
Yesterday's painting presented me with a new challenge: making a cluster of unopened oysters visually interesting. The daily paintings have hitherto been ala prima - direct paint with no glazing or scumbling. Painting the outer beauty of the oyster requires the richness and depth that only glazing and scumbling can give. Watch for the Cape May Salts to deepen in a week or two. I give you as an example "moonstones" - which benefited from a similar treatment.

"Ashton vSg"

In Oscar Wilde’s play, "The Importance of Being Earnest," Lady Bracknell asks Jack if he smokes. He replies, “Well, yes, I must admit I smoke.” “I am glad to hear it,” she says, “a man should always have an occupation of some kind.” I too, must admit I smoke [cigars] when I paint. Not always as nice a cigar as this Ashton. Painting in the smoke was an act of faith as I pulled the soft brush through the gradient background. I only had one shot and I had never really tried to do what I was attempting. It worked! A simple yet satisfying little painting.

"Ryleigh's oysters - Baltimore"

I went to Ryleigh’s Oyster Bar in Baltimore this summer for their First Annual Oyster Festival. There were quite a few varieties of oysters being offered that day and I don’t recall from whence these guys came. We ate al fresco and the sun raked across the pretty mother of pearl shells and danced on the ice. I like the bits of blue. I toyed with the idea of hinting at the “Sunkist” logo on the lemon for a small splash of green but thought the better of it. If you look hard you can see two chrome sauce cups reflected in the ice at the top.

"The Enchanted Oyster"

Once upon a time there was a magical place called New Orleans. In this enchanted city you could indulge your wildest fantasies, be they musical, artistic, culinary…whatever. The pace was slow and easy. Indeed, the "Big Easy" was its name. Then one day an ill wind named Katrina blew into town and much that once was, was lost. No longer could you hear the sound of the street cars on St. Charles Avenue. No longer could you go to Mike Anderson’s on Bourbon St and get 25 cent oysters in the afternoon. Alas, those glorious chilled pewter plates of delicious, glistening mollusks are a fading memory. No longer do the neon lights bounce off the copper-topped bar and onto the sweet flesh of the freshly shucked local oysters. Oh sure, the Acme is still there, but sadly it has become somewhat of a tourist destination. This lone oyster is tangible evidence of bygone days. Enjoy and remember.

"Oyster"

Oil on panel 5" x 5"

One plump, salty oyster shucked at Nick's in Cross Street Market in Baltimore...yum!