Four Palms at Twilight

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

Continuing with the palm tree theme . . .

White Ibis

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

The white ibis is said to be a symbol of optimism and good luck, which I could use a bit of right now.  With this painting, here's hoping the new year uplifts the spirit and brings good luck to all.

Black and Yellow Irises

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Flower study.

St. John

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This portrait of the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane is the latest in a portrait series I'm doing on extraordinary Black American musicians, artists, and other creative types.  In addition to being a trail blazer in contemporary jazz, Coltrane was a spiritual seeker and wanted to bless people through his music.  Years after his death, he was canonized by the African Orthodox Church.

Hanalei Palms

 

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

I'm on a palm tree kick right now, as I gear up for a narrative painting that includes palm trees.  This one is of palm trees near Hanalei, Hawaii on the island of Kauai.

Japanese Moon Moth

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

It's been a while since I last painted a butterfly or moth, so here's a little painting of a beautiful moth.

Landscape in Green and Gold

oil on panel, 8" x 16"

Just trying to work quickly and intuitively with this study, not get fussy.  I especially like the gradation of colors from the minty green foreground to the pale yellow hills in mid-distance, to the gold ochre sky.

Capped Heron in Flight

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

The capped heron is, to me, one of the most beautiful birds in the world.  The colors, I mean, c'mon, that turquoise beak against the warm yellow of the breast is inspired!  

Of Beauty and Bravery

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

This is an alla prima portrait of Waris Dirie, a Somali model and activist who was the subject of the film "Desert Flower."  I saw that film some years ago and had nightmares over it.  The subject matter was, essentially, female genital mutilation (FGM), a horror that was visited on Waris at the age of 5.  As a teenager, she fled her homeland, scraped by in England for a while, and was eventually saved by her beauty, forging a very successful modeling career.  Later, she opened up about her early childhood trauma, helping to bring the issue of FGM out into the open.  Her bravery is simply staggering.   

The Comfort of Strangers

oil on panel, 9" x 12"

Just a fun, quick study.

Down in Dreamland

oil on canvas, 20" x 30"

I've had it in mind to do this painting for a long time, so it shouldn't have surprised me how quickly it came about.  I had done a loose digital version of this figure a long while back that I quite liked, but I'm happy with this version, too.  My aim was to evoke a sense of deep relaxation, and I achieved that, at least to my satisfaction.

Pedernal with Cottonwoods

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Taking a trip down memory lane with this little painting of Cerro Pedernal from a photo I had taken from Ghost Ranch in New Mexico a few years ago.

Smoke and Mirrors

 

oil on canvas, 20" x 20"

Don't know what got into me, but here it is, a narrative painting of a love triangle.  I used a still from the French film, "La Baie des Anges," for the two figures on the left, then added a third figure to complete the story.  I decided to leave her hair sketchy and barely painted because when I stepped back to look with fresh eyes, it seemed to shimmer and glow, so what you see is mostly bare canvas.  Overall, I'm happy that I pretty much was able to execute my vision for this painting. 

Abstracted Landscape Study 10.30.22

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

A study in greens was the purpose of this exercise.  I like pairing cool and warm greens side by side.  

Melodious

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

It's back to the birds with this painting of an Australian magpie, an accomplished songbird, apparently, with quite an array of vocalizations.  Having never heard its song, at least I tried to make the painting sing.

Letting Go

 

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

I took the opportunity to work through some issues in paint here.  It was cathartic.

Under a Blue Moon

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

 I had wanted to do a version of this subject on a large panel but didn't have the right format in my inventory, so I did a study instead.  It was a useful experiment.

Wingin' It

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a quick little free form piece done at the end of an intense painting day.  

Complementary Couple

acrylic on panel, 6" x 12"

This is the result of my desire to make a painting with the complementary pairing of reds and greens exclusively.  I chose these two red hollyhocks because they are among my favorites.

Black Heron Study

 

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

I started this study months ago, then got distracted and so it went into the timeout zone.  When that happens, sometimes the painting becomes a guinea pig for experimentation.  Such was the case with this one.

Abstracted Landscape Study 10.3.2022

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Another quick little palette knife study of an imaginary landscape.

Abstracted Landscape Study 9.28.2022

 

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Just a quick little palette knife study of a cloud system over a flat landscape.  I like the role the gray plays in this one.

Butterfly Koi Study

 

oil on aluminum panel, 8" x 10"

Here's a quick little fish study, just trying to loosen up here and push some paint around.  This was painted in my new (old) art studio on the property where I live.  I'm excited to be in that bright space once again, having toughed it out the last 3+ years working under artificial light.  Updated 9.28.2022:  Made a few tweaks here and there.

Ripe for the Picking

oil on aluminum panel, 12" x 9"

Another bird study, this one of a wompoo fruit dove which is native to New Guinea and Australia.  Such a beautiful red breast, I had to paint it!

Asian Arrangement

oil on aluminum panel, 6" x 12"

Just having some fun here with a semi-abstract rendition of a short round green vase with pink and white flowers of an indeterminate genus. 

Fish Nor Fowl

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a little abstract doodle.

Kindred Spirits

 

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

Been wanting to paint these two compadres for a while, and just decided to jump in and get it done.  The aptly named cattle egret consumes the ticks and flies it finds on its bovine buddy, which makes them perfect for each other!

Blue Angel

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Study of an angelfish.

I Hear You

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

Just felt like painting a cow, this time a young Holstein (my favorite!).  I love the sweetness that comes through their eyes.

Dancing Girl

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oil on aluminum panel, 12" x 12"

This is a rough experiment of an oil sketch that I felt disinclined to take beyond the initial phase.  There are some things I like about it that I wanted to keep, and messing with it further would likely alter them.

Lime Rickey

 

oil on aluminum panel, 6" x 6"

With so much of the country sweltering this summer, I thought I'd put a cool drink out there to meditate on.

Persistence

 

oil on panel, 24" x 12"

I've gone as far as I can go for now on this painting of a stalk of black hollyhocks.  It may be done; then again, it may not.  Whenever I feel this way, it's best to step away.

Ely Road at Dusk

 

oil on aluminum panel, 6" x 6"

This little landscape painting is a loose interpretation of a view from Denman Ranch to a knoll that Ely Road cuts through.  I wanted to paint that pink sky I saw over Ely Road a while back, and I particularly like the color pairing of that light magenta sky with the neon light green in the foreground.  

Coy Little Koi

 

oil on aluminum panel, 8" x 6"

Angelfish come in many stripes, and even some without, such as this little koi angelfish.  I love them all, but this one in particular was fun to paint!  

Coneflower with Bee

 

oil on aluminum panel, 8" x 8"

Continuing my love affair with the metal surface, here's a little expression of summer for me.  I attempted this painting a few years ago but wiped it when I wasn't happy with the result.  I guess it was just waiting for the opportunity to be painted on metal!

Summer Song

oil on aluminum panel, 6" x 6"

This little palette knife painting was just me playing with my new love, the metal surface.  

Oasis

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Here's a little ditty of an abstracted landscape, which perhaps speaks to my state of mind currently . . .

Morning Glowy

 

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

I am very drawn to the morning glory, with that preternatural glow emanating from its center, and wanted to try to capture it in paint.

Cocky

oil on aluminum panel, 10" x 10"

Here's a quick study of a cockerel painted on a metal surface.  I find it deeply satisfying to paint on metal, and how easily I can get the paint to move around.  There are some flashes of silver poking through on this one as well, which can only be seen in certain light.

Lynch Creek Cow

 

oil on copper plate, 8" x 10"

It was such fun to slap oil paint on a metal surface, I had to do another one straight away!  This painting came about super fast, and I left some bits of the copper plate showing through the background hills.  You can't see that in this photo, but in good light at the right angle, you can make out the shiny copper surface in a patchwork pattern within the background and the cow.  I've done metal paintings before and each time it has been an extremely satisfying experience.  Can't wait to do it again!

Hippy Holstein

oil on zinc plate, 8" x 6"

The demands of life, once again, have pulled me away from my easel for a good spell, and so I thought I'd do a simple painting to get back in the swing of it.  I may tweak this one later, but for now I'm calling it done.  Updated image 7/4/2022:  I've done more work on the background to create a sense of distance and added more textural elements to the grass around the cow.  Now it's done!

Map of the World

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's an abstract piece using the leftover paint from Fifth Street Flowers.

Purple Honeycreepers

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

My fascination with tropical birds continues unabated.  The purple honeycreeper is native to northern South America, mostly in the Amazon Basin.  Honestly, how does Mother Nature come up with these gorgeous designs and their astounding colors?

Fifth Street Flowers

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

The other day, I passed by a section of sidewalk on Fifth Street in Petaluma with the most amazing collection of wild flowers which inspired this floral study.  I may attempt another version, as I found the scene utterly enchanting.

Indian Ringneck Parrot

 

oil on panel, 12" x 6"

The rose-winged parakeet (commonly known as the Indian Ringneck Parrot) is one that I've wanted to p for a long time, and just now getting around to it with this experimental piece.  These parakeets come in a variety of gorgeous colors, from a pale teal like this one, to violet, bright green, and yellow.  They are able to adapt to many climates and habitats in the wild, as well as in captivity as pets.  I find these birds to be extraordinarily beautiful.

Brother Ray

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is another portrait I'm adding to my series of influential Black American artists, musicians, singers and other creative trailblazers.  Ray Charles was considered a genius by many in the music industry and was often referred to as "The Genius," but he preferred to be known rather as "Brother Ray."  His powerful baritone packed an emotional punch with a singular style all his own.  He is a giant among giants in music and will likely always be.

Purple Parrot Tulip

acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"

This felt like an exercise in speed painting, as I had precious little time in which to do it.  That said, it came together quickly and I'm actually quite happy with the result. 

Dark on Dark

acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"

This painting of a black iris was an exercise in disappearing edges which I found exceedingly hard to photograph without glare.  I wanted to offset the background slightly with a reddish black tinge, so I used a mix of alizarin crimson, ivory black and a touch of diox purple, but I'm not sure it comes across.  

The Fire Within

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This little abstract piece started out light an airy, with lots of white, pale pinks and greens, and somewhere along the way, it took a turn and ended up like this.   Not sure what to make of it, but I kinda like it.

Magnolia Blossom

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Here's another quick little piece.  Because my time is so limited lately, I don't have the luxury of spending time on details or working in layers which require drying time.  When I only have 1-2 hours/day for painting, I'd rather work fast and see how far I get in one session.  Alla prima work is ultimately more satisfying to me, anyway.