On the Lookout

 

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

Another palette knife project, working on a rough surface.  I like it more than I thought I would.

Floralescent

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

The title of this painting contains a double entendre, as the inspiration for it is a painter named Flora Yukhovich.  It's another in my abstracted botanicals series.

My Cup Runneth Over

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

This is the next in my abstracted botanical series of paintings, originally inspired by those garbage can bouquets in New York City created by Lewis Miller.

Arden

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

A portrait of the actor Arden Cho done using a mix of brush and palette knife.

Mixed Breeds

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

This composition is for me a meditation on springtime.

On Fremont

oil on panel, 8" x 16"

I'm not sure if this is Fremont Street in San Francisco or not, but I've dubbed it as such for this little palette knife composition.  

Hill City Glare

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This is a palette knife painting of a particularly enchanting view of San Francisco with the East Bay hills in the distance, based on a "drive-by shooting."  I got two shots from it, each slightly different.  I may paint the other scene at some point.  Updated 3/27:  I made a few minor tweaks to the foliage here and there.

Sylvie

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

This is a portrait study of Sylvie Vartan, the French actress and singer popular in the 1960s and 1970s.  I did it in palette knife, with a few minor refinements in brush at the end.  I was surprised how willing she was to be painted.  I sometimes get a definite vibe when painting a portrait (without their permisison), and this one was all in for it.  So, yay!

Grand Old Ginkgo

oil on canvas, 22" x 28"

A palette knife landscape.  I just needed to see some yellow.  More of these big trees to follow.

Abstracted Landscape of 10-27-2025

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

A loose palette knife study to distract me from the urban scene I'm currently struggling with.

La La Land in the Light

 

oil on panel, 12" x 16"

This is a somewhat abstracted landscape of the LA skyline done mostly with palette knife.  

Neon Jungle

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

An experiment in pushing abstraction within an urban landscape.  

Umbrella Brigade

 

oil on panel, 16" x 8"

A palette knife painting of an urban scene.

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.  Updated 8/1/2025:  I toned down some of the oranges to draw more attention to the tower.

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.

Cloudy Landscape Study

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

A palette knife landscape study of clouds.  It's been a hard week, having lost my fur baby of 17+ years a week ago last Friday.  She was my constant companion for nearly all of that time.  I've been grieving ever since.  Forced myself to work in the studio for a wee bit yesterday, when I did this study, and was able to work longer in there today on a new painting.  

Floral Abstract of 11-23-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Here's another little abstracted floral painting done with a palette knife.  I like doing these freeform compositions in between more planned ones.  It loosens me up and sometimes gives me ideas.

 

Floral Abstract of 10-10-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Here's another in my series of floral abstract studies done with a palette knife.  This one recalls for me a memory of seeing bougainvillea against a white stucco garden wall.

Abstracted Landscape of 9-28-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"
private collection

A palette knife abstracted landscape study which I did while having a nice phone conversation with a friend.  I should talk on the phone more often while painting.

Greenhead with Violet Bird

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

This is the sixth quick-sketch palette knife portrait painting I've done pairing women with updo hairstyles and indeterminate little birds.  I've tried to set a time limit of 2 hours to complete them, but a few went over that limit.  I got halfway through this one then had to abandon it for days, which made it hard to complete the way I wanted to, working wet on wet.