"Light Bulbs"

6x6" oil on masonite

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I did this painting a while ago but it never got posted. I work part time as an electrician so I guess this is appropriate subject matter. Maybe I'll do some fuses next. Actually that's not a bad idea!

"Crowded Houses" - SOLD

Up until now I've been making my own 6x6" panels out of masonite. It's actually quite a bit of work! I'd rather spend my time painting so I decided to try Gessobord by Ampersand and save myself the trouble. This is the first painting done on the new panels. They're a bit rougher than the ones I make myself so the paint handles a bit differently, but I like them. This painting was done from a photograph taken in Rockland, Maine in late October.

"Port Clyde Road" - SOLD

I bought a bunch of 36x36" canvases recently which I plan on for landscapes. It's nice to work out color and compositional ideas in the daily painting format. My goal is to paint landscapes that are representational yet have strong abstract qualities. I feel my paintings lean more towards painting "scenes" at this point. In the next few posts I'll be experimenting with pushing the abstract qualities.

"Lobster Shack" - SOLD

6x6" oil on masonite

This painting was done from a photo I took on Monhegan Island. It's the path to Fish Beach. I'm really enjoying doing landscapes again!

"Seaside Inn"

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Well this is my first 6x6" landscape and yet another submission to the DPW Challenge. I did this painting from a digital image taken while in Port Clyde, Maine this past summer. The orange/brown stroke of paint on the horizon is the Rose Cottage where we stay. 

"Cinnamon Apples" - SOLD

My goal with this painting, other than meeting the DPW Challenge requirements, was to capture the light dusting of cinnamon on the top of the shaker. I wanted to keep the painting as simple as possible but I decided to add a few holes on top because it just wasn't lookin' right without them. 

"Red Onions"

Yet another DPW Challenge entry. I really struggled to get the bright red/purple color I was seeing. I finally just accepted that maybe there are limits to what oil paint can do. Or maybe limits to what I can do! Either way I still had fun.

"Jar of Pickles" - SOLD

Here's another attempt at the DPW Challenge. I figured I'd try something a bit more difficult. More difficult for me anyway! Anyone else out there struggle with getting the tops of round objects (jar lids, mug openings, bowls, etc.) to look right?! Wow.. the digital image of this painting looks so RED.

"Two Grannys"

6x6" oil on masonite

This is my submission to the DPW Challenge for this week. In retrospect it would have been easier had I chosen objects that were different colors! Maybe I'll try it again. Anyway, this was such a fun challenge, I loved it. 

"French Press" - SOLD

6x6" - oil on masonite

I was thinking today about the concept of "favorite artists". I remember when I first started painting I kept reading the same two names over and over again cited as favorites. I probably don't need to tell you who they are. So I checked out one of the many books on Sargent at the library and yes, I was impressed. Sorolla's work on the other hand, is a lot harder to find. After much searching I've still only seen a few of his paintings so I'm a bit mystified as to how he's become so popular. Although I appreciate them both, there are so many wonderful artists doing such a variety of inspiring work that I couldn't possibly pick favorites. I feel every artist has something valuable and unique to offer, famous or not. What do you think?

"By the Bonfire"

This is the portrait that kept me up until two in the morning. I mentioned in my previous post that this was a learning experience. I learned that portrait drawings are incredibly sensitive. The smallest adjustment can make a huge difference in the appearance of the face. How you view the canvas while you paint it can throw off your whole drawing. While I was close to the painting it looked correct, but when I'd step back the drawing was off. I couldn't figure it out, I felt like I was losing my mind! Anyway, I realized this morning that I'd been looking down at the canvas at a slight angle, thereby distorting the image. Essentially what was happening was I was seeing the image artificially foreshortened as I painted it. This portrait is of my daughter by a bonfire on the beach in Pacific Grove.

"Bad Breakfast" - SOLD

It's 2am and I've got a bad cold. I started a portrait at 8:30pm and didn't finish until now. No brain cells left! Must sleep. The portrait was a "learning experience".

"Classic Lay's" - SOLD

I saw these at Target and thought they'd be a good challenge. I remember Wise potato chips when I was a kid growing up in New Jersey. There was also Charles Chips which used to deliver a large canister right to your doorstep! I'm not sure if either of these companies still exist. While at Target I also found a small glass dish and a jar of olives which I plan to paint and post soon.

"Mini Airstream" - SOLD

6x6" oil on masonite

I always thought it would be cool to own a little trailer like this. I've seen the interior of one that was beautifully restored and it was like stepping back in time. I like the idea of parking it in some beautiful spot and doing nothing but painting, reading, sleeping ... and of course eating! I found this little trailer in the small coastal town of Pescadero.

"Zippo"

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This is my submission to the Daily Paintworks Challenge. The challenge was to paint this zippo lighter using only burnt sienna, ultramarine blue and titanium white. I was surprised at how much can be done with only these three colors! 

This painting is a bit more detailed and took more time to finish than my usual daily paintings. Even though I generally strive for a looser painting style, it's fun to do something tight once in a while. I enjoy  exploring different styles and techniques. For me, experimentation and discovery is what keeps the painting process exciting.

"Two Eggs Left" - SOLD

When I finally ran out of eggs I went to Trader Joe's. I usually buy brown eggs but they were sold out. It then occurred to me that other than the color, I didn't really know the difference between white eggs and brown eggs. Are brown eggs healthier and more natural like brown rice?! Thank goodness for wikipedia. Turns out white hens lay white eggs and brown hens lay brown eggs, it's that simple. They vary in nutrition depending on what the hens are fed. I never knew! Here's another thing I discovered, they're not easy to paint.

"Interrogation" - n/a

It looks like the little orange bottle might be in trouble! Fellow painter Denise Rose was kind enough to send me these really cool bottles. I love all the color in the shadows, I can tell I'm going to have fun with these. Thanks Denise!!

"Bag of Fujis"

6x6" oil on Gessobord

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Well here it is, my first plastic bag painting. It looks as if these apples are caught in a wind storm. Very dramatic! 

"Pick a Color"

6x6" oil on masonite
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I remember seeing these things when I was a kid but I never knew they were called "Cootie Catchers". Was there some other name they went by as well?! I guess being a guy I was sort of out of the loop. My daughter is in 4th grade so naturally she knows how to fold one up. This was fun, I love painting unusual subject matter.

"Lemon Escape" - SOLD

I had a tough time getting this photo to look right. I think all the red overloaded my camera! My girlfriend Merci picked out the fabric on a trip to JoAnne's. I must admit I was skeptical, it was just SO red. What a surprise! I really like it and it was fun to paint. It's not often you can use Cad Red Light straight out of the tube! I did my best to get an accurate digital image, but I still think this one looks best in person.