Wild Raspberries

I did this while they were still in season.

Nest with Plums and Turkish Pot (sold)

Hot off the press... this one is 14"x18".

Study for a Stopwatch

Small Fish

Another Guy in a Suit

Here's my copy of Thomas Eakins' "Portrait of Frank B.A. Linton" (1904).























Copying great painters is a very enjoyable way to learn. I look forward to absorbing more of their secrets.

Blueberries and Cream

I recently completed this 10"x12" commission. I will post a larger image on my website soon.























Here's a detail:

Freud's Irishman

When it comes to painting portraits, I still have a lot to learn. I thought I'd take some lessons from the experts. Here's my copy of Lucian Freud's "Head of an Irishman" (1999).

This is a small painting (5"x7"), but it's kind of fun to look at the detail view, which you can do here.

Hidden Harbor Show, More Sketches

I had a great time yesterday with Miriam and Aram, who put together a very nice group exhibition in a fascinating location. If you're looking for an adventure next weekend, you can find them at the Hidden Harbor Retreat on Smith Island. The other attendees (Shel, Marcus, Gabrielle, Terry and Wendy, to name a few) were equally interesting. Thanks to the whole crew for a lovely day.

Here are the last two sketches from my figure drawing class. I'd like to thank Bennett for his sage guidance and the other class members for their encouragement.

Peony and Red Maple

Thanks to my neighbor Chris for this lovely peony and sprig of red maple. She has the best garden in the neighborhood!

Summer Fruit

Attention Richmonders: If you're at First Fridays this weekend, stop by Curated Culture at Cornerstone Gallery, where my work will be appearing in a juried group show of fellow Culture Vultures. (Details are here.) To whet your appetite, here are some peaches and strawberries.

Another figure drawing

Same model, same pose, different angle:

Figure drawing, Jen #1

Figuring it out

So I've been talking about this figure class. Here are some images from my first class several weeks ago. This is tough!


What's wrong with your leg, buddy? Might want to get that looked at.












And your face! What happened to your mouth??


















I'd be despondent too, if my mouth looked like that. Fortunately, you look a bit better after the long pose:






















I have some more images to share later.

Blueberries (Sold)

...Back into the world of inanimate objects for a spell. I'll post a larger version of this on the website sometime soon.


















Here's a detail:

I Swear I Wasn't Grumpy

Here's something I've been working on intermittently. It's not done yet... I actually made some changes last night, so I'll post another image soon.



















My first figure drawing / painting class was a lot of fun. It is a challenge to work quickly and have faith in how the lines work. I will post some sketches when I get a chance to photograph them.

Little update

I've been working hard on a figure study over the past few weeks. It's frustrating at times, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This painting is the first time I've ever worked from a photograph... not something I prefer to do, but - given my current location in the middle of nowhere - it's convenient. Anyway, I've been amazed by the range of colors and tones you can find on one person. It's funny/sad to think about how we have reduced our descriptions of skin tones down to "white" and "black," but then, it would be hard to spit out "alizarin crimson and cad yellow light with just a dot of ultramarine blue and burnt umber" in the middle of a sentence.

These latest projects have inspired me to take a figure painting class at the Delaware Art Museum, starting next week. This will be my first life drawing/painting class. Probably should have tackled this particular skill a bit earlier... Maybe, if I'm feeling brave, I will share some of the results with you.

Lots of words

I thought it would be a good idea to check in and tell you about what I'm working on and thinking about. Bear with me, since this one doesn't have any pictures.

Painting inanimate objects is great. It's kind of my thing. Nevertheless, I have lately been feeling the urge to stretch out into less familiar territory. So, I've been working on two different projects over the last several weeks: a self-portrait and a figure study / portrait of a friend. I don't have any images to share yet, but I promise I'll post something eventually. After that is finished, maybe I will work on some larger still-life pieces and some outstanding commissions.

I read a number of blogs on a (mostly) daily basis, and I am a fan and spectator of the current "painting a day" / alla prima phenomenon. Though you might not suspect this based on my work, some of my favorite larger paintings look like they could have been produced in one sitting, like this painting of peonies by Manet. Producing a painting in one or two sittings provides quick gratification since my time is at a premium. It can help preserve the immediacy and spontaneity of my impressions, like a sketch. The alla prima method appeals to my genuine enjoyment of new things and fresh experiences and bold brushwork, but - let's face it - also to my good ol' fashioned Protestant work ethic and my obsession with efficiency. As a fairly typical "type A" person, I am easily sucked into this feverish pace of modern life.

Sometimes you just can't knock out a masterpiece in three hours. Now that Spring is in the air, I need to take a deep breath, slow down a little, step back a bit. Be a little more patient with myself. Experiment. Give myself room to fail. We'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted.

Devil's Food Cupcake

Red Onion

O, Clementine

Tulip Poplar Cone

Bread and Water

My ode to survival in February. I'll post a larger copy on my website sometime soon.

Pomegranate (Sold)

And here's a detail:

Pears

Sorry, January was not what I'd call a productive month. Here's hoping that February will be, like, totally awesome.

Tatty Butterfly

Happy New Year! If you're at First Fridays tonight in Richmond, my stuff is still on the wall at Cornerstone Gallery (23 W. Broad Street, next to the restaurant "27").