Head Series #1

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a challenge I've set myself to paint a series of imaginary portraits, each in under 30 minutes.  This is the first one.

Coit Tower at Dusk

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This is another in a series of urban scenes I've been painting lately, done mostly with a palette knife.

Floodlights

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Another palette knife study of a somewhat abstracted cityscape in the rain.  Just playing with abstract elements within a cityscape.

Sacto

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

A painting of downtown Sacramento.  I did it primarily for the warm color palette.

Go!

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

A somewhat abstracted cityscape.  

Torn

 

acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"

A narrative painting about conflicts of interest.

Streetwise

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

This was a little freeform experimental piece just for fun.  

Emily

oil on canvasboard, 11" x 14"

One of my favorite shows to watch is the BBC's Portrait Artist of the Year.  I decided to paint one of the sitters as an exercise.  The competition for each portrait is what can be accomplished in four hours.  I spent 3.5 hours on this one.  It could be good practice to do more of these, since many of the sitters are unfamiliar to me.  Emily is an award-winning singer/songwriter based in the U.K.  I thought she had a regal bearing and I liked the three-quarter angle.  Updated 5/29/2025:  I changed the background a wee bit with an overlay of lavender.  

Facade

 

acrylic on canvas, 20" x 20"

This is the finished painting of an abstract that I started way back when, then consigned it to the time-out room forever.  Patience.

Fierce

 

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

A portrait of a young Choctaw Indian woman.  I found her stare compelling.

A Heart of Gold

 

oil on panel, 24" x 18"

This painting has been in the making for a while.  It was a slow process as I sat with it and pondered how I wanted to paint it and what I wanted to say through it.  I'm happy with the result.

The Unfolding Universe

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

From flower to universe, an abstract study.

b-girling

oil on panel, 14" x 11"

Another painting of a break dancer to add to one I did a short while ago.

Le Quartier

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

Another in a series of urban night scenes, this is a neighborhood in Paris.

Yellow Frock

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This was an exercise in relinquishing control.  Sometimes you just need a reminder . . .

After an Afternoon Rain

oil on panel, 9" x 12"

sold

Another urban study here.  Updated 5/7/2025:  added some finishing touches.

The Unfolding Flower

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

A painting of a rose in closeup as it unfolds its petals.  I've done this before but thought I'd try it again because of its abstract quality.  Plus, I was jonesing to paint in reds, a color I find challenging to get right.  

Hip Hop Hooray!

oil on panel, 14" x 11"

This was a fun painting to do of a hip hop dancer.  I'm building quite a collection of dancer paintings, it seems.  I must like painting dancers!   Update 4/10/2025:  I had Jacob Dhein do a critique of this painting and I subsequently worked on it a bit more.  Now it's done.

Flippers

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

 This painting presented an interesting conundrum.  I originally painted it in landscape format, which would have rotated this image 90 degrees counterclockwise.  However, I found it a bit disconcerting to paint it in that format, so I flipped it to portrait format, which is the way you are seeing it.  I had painted another pair of swimmers in 2023, called "Floaters," and this one is the next incarnation visiting this theme.  I find these narrative two paintings quite amusing.  Updated 4/9/2025:  I decided I like it better in landscape format, which is how I originally meant it to be.  Works just fine this way.

Polina

oil on panel, 18" x 14"

This is a painting of the Russian ballerina Polina Seminova, who I used as the subject of a painting workshop conducted by Jacob Dhein on the figure in motion.  I may do more to it after the last layer of paint dries.  Lots of paint on this one.  Updated 4/14/2025:  Made some changes, adding a few more color notes here and there.

Fun 'n Games

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This started as an experiment (don't they all?) in abstraction that took on a life of its own.  So, there you go.  

Inner City Blues

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

This urban night scene might be done; I'm not sure yet.  I tried to keep it simple and focus on the depth of field in it.  These urban scenes are fun to do, so I'll be doing more of them.

Black Beauties

 

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

I get the urge to paint flowers every year at this time.  Ah, springtime!

Little House on the Prairie

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

An abstracted landscape that ended up more abstract than landscape.  Fine with me.

Bourbon Street Bar

acrylic on panel, 24" x 12"

A story of intrigue centered around the entrance to a bar.

Prodi

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

This is a portrait of my friend Ron's beloved border collie, who passed away in December not long after my own Lola died.  Prodi was Ron's first border collie, to be followed by many more.  He loves the breed.  Prodi was special, though.  He had a fondness for fish and befriended a yellow one in Ron's koi pond named Smokey.  I've painted Smokey before and suggested him here but this painting is all about Ron's beautiful boy.

Poisson Ange

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

Another little fish painting to add to my series of little fish paintings.  What can I say, they're fun!

Here's Lookin' at You

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Here's another painting of my little angel Lola, who passed away in early December last year.  I'm building up a series on her.  What an amazing little being she was.

Emerald City

oil on canvas, 12" x 36"

With all I've got going on right now, it's a miracle I've done any painting at all.  I might spend more time on this one later, but for now, I'm finished with it.  This is a scene I pass frequently on my way into San Francisco.  It's a view from the freeway looking east after passing through the bridge toll.  I love those curved streetlights.  Updated 5/21/2025:  I felt the need to warm up the green in the mid-distance.  I also added some pink highlights to the copse at the right end.   

Cornish Cows

oil on panel, 18" x 24"

This painting was a distraction that served a purpose. That's all I have to say about it.

Cerisehead with Black Bird

 

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

I thought I was done with these bird girl portraits, but I guess not.  Here's another one that wanted to come through, so I went with it.  This will be included in the upcoming show, if it dries in time.