Blue Hippo

"Blue Hippo", 6 x 6, oil on linen


Lest you think I am only doing portraits these days . . .!  I am still working on my landscapes and small still lifes though not as much as I was in previous years.  This is little ceramic sculpture that was done by my father when he was five years old.  I've always just called him Blue Hippo.  He may not actually be a hippo.... who knows.  This piece is available through the Daily Paintworks website.  They manage art sales and auctions for artists.  I have been a member for a long time but haven't actively used it so I am looking forward to finally getting involved with them again.

Study of Zoe

Study for "Zoe", oil on linen, 8 x 8 (cropped)

Another children's portrait for you!  I am updating my website this week to reflect the new portrait business and feature some more recent examples of my portrait work.  Please forgive the glare in this.  I only have my iPhone right now and have to shoot outside so it is difficult to get correct color.  This piece is actually based on an old black and white photo that I have had for a long time.  I am going to offer small pieces such as the one above for people who are not in my area or want an affordable alternative to the larger, full commission portraits.  These pieces will be done from client provided photos and will not involve a photo shoot or life sittings.  I will describe what constitutes a "good" photo on my website under the "commissions" heading.  Please visit my website for more information.   

Compton Portraits

"Coltrane", Oil on Panel, 16 x 20

Hello to anyone who is still left out there!  Hard to believe it has been a full four months since I have posted to this blog.   A lot of you know that I post primarily on instagram these days as do a lot of other artists.  It is an easier platform and can be done more quickly than blogspot.  That said, I do like the blog format for announcements and other things that require more than a one line description.   I am still painting though my focus has been shifting from the plein air landscape work of the past several years to more personal subject matter.   I have decided to start my portrait business up again in the upstate New York area (though I can do portraits for people in any area of the country).  Some of you may remember that I was the artist in residence at a resort in the Florida Keys where I specialized in children's portraiture.  I will post more information on my portrait process in future posts.  Hopefully some of you are still around to read my blog!

And Now For Something Completely Different . . .

"Sunflower", Oil on Panel, 16 x 20

I took a little break from the drizzle of my rainy cityscapes to revisit my Caribbean market ladies.  I did a series of these paintings in pastel several years ago based on our trips to the island of St. Martin. We have not been back to St. Martin in several years so I more or less abandoned this subject matter.  But, I was feeling like doing something a little different so I pulled out the reference files.  This is probably a little more contrasty and saturated in some areas than the actual painting but I am pleased with it overall.  Shout out to Greg Little for the helpful advice!

Cityscape Work In Progress

I don't usually post works in progress because it bothers me to see all the things I need to fix but it has been two weeks since the last post and I wanted to post something!  This is an 18 x 24 oil on linen cityscape of NYC on a late September afternoon.  There is a lot of scumbling, scraping and repainting here.  I like to build up texture slowly with thin layers which is why it takes so long to finish these paintings!!  Hope to have the finished version in a couple of days.

Time Square Nocturne

Well, it has been a long Summer and Fall!  I have just finally been able to get back into a regular painting schedule after several months of personal obligations and travel.  I did manage to get a workshop in with Donald Jurney last month in the Adirondacks in the midst of everything.  I will post some of those paintings in the coming days.  The painting above is finally finished!  it is the oil version of the pastel study posted back in July.  It is 20 x 20 and looks great in my new gray green frames from Randy Higbee in California.   I am happy to be back painting and back to blogging!  Hope some of you are still around ; ) !

New Cityscapes

"Times Square Glow", Pastel, 12 x 12

I'm finally getting some new work done and should have a few new pieces to show over the next couple of weeks.  This painting is a study for a 20 x 20 oil on linen.  I like the soft glow in the distance.  I hope I can keep that effect!  Stay tuned.