Tern, Tern, Tern

oil on panel, 8" x 10"

It's back to birds with this little study of three terns.  The title is a play on words of the title of the classic Byrds tune "Turn, Turn, Turn."  What can I say, I've had music on my mind a lot lately.

Amy, Amy, Amy

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

I must say, this was a fun painting to do.  Amy Winehouse was such a colorful character, in addition to her phenomenal talent as a singer, songwriter, and stylist.  I thought it befitting that her portrait should also be a riot of color.  She was completely unique, a singular force in a world that craved ever more of her, and in the end, it devoured her.  I hope the world will learn to cultivate and revere uniqueness such as hers, and at the very least, give a closer listen to her music.  I've titled this painting after one of her lesser known tunes but one of my absolute favorites for its sultry licks, clever lines, and fun sense of humor.  Give it a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIz15iovRjE. 

Great White Takes Flight

oil on panel, 14" x 18"

I started this painting of a great white heron taking off from a lagoon a few years ago, then set it aside and forgot about it, until the other day.  Just mainly playing around with color combos on this bird, seeing how far I can push it. 

Smokey the Koi

oil on canvas board, 8" x 8"

Another fish study, this one of a "pet" koi fish dubbed Smokey, who lives in a beautiful pond at my friends' property near Mendocino, California.  My friends have a bunch of border collies as well, and one of them, a handsome dude named Prodi, actually has a relationship with Smokey.  They're friends!  They go nose to nose whenever they meet up.  It's quite something to witness, so this is a very special fish.  I may try and do a larger version of him (or her?) on panel some day, but for now, this'll have to do.

A Day at the Fair

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This little abstract ditty reminds me of popcorn and cotton candy, two treats you would find at almost any county fair -- hence the title.  Not that I was thinking of edibles as I painted it.  These abstract studies are just fun, freeform exercises.

 

Merwin and Friend

 

oil on panel, 18" x 24"

I finally got around to painting a couple horses I encountered near the grounds of Taos Pueblo in the winter of 2018.  I'm pretty sure the light horse was named Merwin, as he looked just like the one in a photo I saw at Taos Plaza that year.  My heart went out to all the horses who had to tough out the long New Mexico winters without even a blanket for warmth.  At least these two didn't seem to be undernourished.

Snapper Study

oil on canvas board, 8" x 8"

Continuing with the fish theme, here's a study of a red snapper.

Trigger Happy

 

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

This quick little study of a colorful triggerfish was quite satisfying because it was something I could do within an hour.  I think he's happy, too.  Let's leave it at that.

Coastal Village

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Although you'd never know it from the colors, this abstract ditty was made from paint left over from the previous painting, Winter Garden.  When I finish a painting, if there is enough paint left over, I like to play with it and use it up because I customize my palette for the color needs of each painting and hate to waste the paint.  

Winter Garden

 

acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

This is a winter scene from the property in Arroyo Seco, New Mexico where I lived in 2018.  It was a magical 4-acre property, a sculpture garden with both natural and man-made sculptures dotted throughout, one of which (a wood totem) is visible beyond the stream on the right.  

Seahorse Study

 

oil on panel, 7" x 5"

With this quick little study of a seahorse, I'm just playing around a bit with composition, color, and techniques, using various tools for mark making, etc.  I find the seahorse to be such a magical little creature.  

Sunrise Over Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another landscape study of a local scene.  I travel this road frequently, and it never fails to enchant me with its ever-changing scenery and light conditions.  Thinking of new beginnings in 2022 here.

Denman Silo with Grapevines

 

acrylic on panel, 9" x 12"

Last year at Christmastime, I painted the one remaining old vine at Denman Ranch and donated it to the owner, Ulysses Torassa.  This year, I've painted the silo for her from a photo I had taken in 2014, before these vines were removed.  It was a charming visage, and while I'm sad the vines are no longer there, the white fence with the silo and the roof of the barn visible behind it remain intact.

Tucker

 

acrylic on panel, 10" x 10"

This is a portrait of my former housemate Christine's beautiful little Westie, Tucker, who passed away earlier this year.  He was a real looker, and a great partner in crime to my little dog Lola.  They were so much fun to watch together, and became the closest of friends and thick as thieves as they plotted their shenanigans in tandem.  He is sorely missed.  RIP, sweetheart!

Abstracted Landscape Study 12-8-2021

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another landscape ditty from my imagination, done with a palette knife.

Lorna

 

oil on canvas panel, 12" x 9"

This is a portrait of Lorna Simpson, an accomplished Black American multimedia artist who is known for her groundbreaking work in conceptual photography, which I'm including in a series of paintings of Black American artists, musicians, singers, poets, dancers and other creatives, many of whom I've only recently become aware of.

Black-necked Stork

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

This is a study of a black-necked stork I had started months ago, then got interrupted and lost my momentum on.  So, I gave it a time-out, then revisited the other day and decided to wrap it up.  I was intrigued by the name because this stork's neck actually has a beautiful blue-green irridescence, which plays beautifully off those vermillion legs.

Mare with Mustard

 

acrylic on canvas, 20" x 20"

This painting was meant as a companion piece to another horse painting I did a while back, a portrait entitled "Just Horsing Around."  

Gold Fish

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This was a quick study of a koi fish, and a great subject for limited time, which is all I seem to have lately.

Red and White Roses

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Sometimes I just need to paint without the least concern for details or the viability of the end result, and such was the case with this palette knife painting.  The inspiration for it came from a photo I had taken of a vase of roses on my outdoor table, and I wanted to see if I could push it toward abstraction.  As far as that goes, I think I achieved what I was after, which was a very satisfying experience.  Update, 11.22.2021:  I revisited this painting and felt the urge to add a few leaves, which I did with a brush.  Now it's done!

Hot Lava

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

I've learned of yet another great under-appreciated Black American artist, Stanley Whitney, an abstract colorist painter.  Pouring over images of his beautiful paintings drove me to my easel to create my own colorful abstract piece.

Desert Flowers

 

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

This is a quick warmup painting for returning to oils after a long stretch of painting almost exclusively in acrylics.  Also a warmup for returning to landscapes, which I prefer to do in oil.

Beauford

 

acrylic on canvas panel, 12" x 9"

I was completely unaware of the great Black American painter Beauford Delaney (1901 - 1979) until I recently read an article on him in the New York Times.  He was a modernist painter and a colorist, and so I felt compelled to paint a colorful portrait of him as a way of paying homage to someone who should have been recognized and admired for his singular contribution to art long ago. 

A Warm Sunny Day

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's a little abstract composition I doodled the other day while bemoaning the end of summer.

Ringed Kingfisher

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Yet another bird study, this one is of a ringed kingfisher.  These little guys with their long beaks are found in habitats ranging from the southern U.S. to Mexico.  I think they're really cute.

A Perfect World

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 18" x 12"

This is a study of a flamingo resting on one leg, something flamingoes love to do.  I wanted to get the colors just right, but seeing as this is just a study, I stopped short of my objective.  I have enough to go on, though, if I want to try this again on panel.

Red-crested Pochard

acrylic on canvas paper, 6" x 6"

This is a little study of a male red-crested pochard, which I wanted to paint because I was charmed by the red beak set against the yellow-orange crown and cool green water.  The red-crested pochard is found in southern Europe and I have never seen one but would love to.

Pearl

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Pearl is the sole rooster at Denman Ranch, with a brood of about 7 hens (I think), and he is a standout in more ways than one.  Aside from his striking colors, he has a reputation, shall we say, of assertiveness and has been known to slam into human legs for no apparent reason other than as a crude form of greeting.  Some even find it charming.  This guy is full of attitude, and he's not bad looking, either!

 

Abstracted Landscape Study 9-16-2021

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This was just a quick study using a palette knife, having a bit of fun using a palette of cad yellow, cad orange, light green permanent, pthalo blue, viridian and ivory black.  I've had very limited time to paint these last few days, so when I went to my easel, I had to work fast and furious.  Let's just say I'm not unhappy with the result.

Landscape Study 9-13-2021

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a study of a scene I pass by often while walking my dog along the Lynch Creek Trail in eastern Petaluma.  It is a study of the particular light that hits these hills at dusk, creating beautiful grays, with an intense strip of sun glow at the top of the hills.  I had a difficult time getting the values that I wanted, mostly because I was using ivory black in my color mixes to dull the colors down a bit, which tends to darken as it dries.  If I paint this scene again, I will do it in oil, not acrylic.  That'll solve that problem!

Springers in Spring

acrylic on panel, 10" x 20"

I've heard young cows who have yet to give birth referred to as "springers."  I've been wanting to paint these springers in this scene since last spring, in fact.  So, now I've done it and I kinda like it.

Landscape Study 9.6.2021

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a simple landscape study done without a reference.  It's been a while since my last oil painting, and whenever I feel the urge to get back to it, I often opt for palette knife compositions where detail work is discouraged.

Peggy

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just for fun.

Oropendola

acrylic on panel, 12" x 9"

I've been fascinated by exotic birds for a few years now, and it seems I'm always finding new ones.  Here's one I stumbled across recently and, of course, I had to paint her!  The Oropendola is part of the blackbird family and native to the forests of Central and South America.  There are variations in color among them, but they all have a bright yellow tail.  The face is what I'm most drawn to, however.  How does Nature come up with these designs?  Amazing.

Another World

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a study of a tropical scene that I am playing around with, hoping to adapt it to a larger composition.  Fish are fun to paint, so I'm betting I'll be painting more of them.

Light on Light

 

acrylic on panel, 12" x 12"

This simple study of a snowy egret on sand was trickier than I expected it to be.  The subtle color gradations were problematic because of the drying properties of acrylic paint, in which some colors darken slightly as they dry.  Still, I'm happy with the overall effect.

Jazz Queen

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This portrait of Ella Fitzgerald is the last in a series of four portraits of Black American singers who served as early inspirations to me as a singer.  Ella was often referred to as the Queen of Jazz for her supple, horn-like voice, impeccable diction, and awesome improvisational chops.  Among many others, I just love her swinging version of one of my all-time favorites, "No Moon at All." 

Pete and Roy

acrylic on panel, 24" x 12"

This painting of my deceased partner Roy and his great friend Pete was done from a rather poor quality photo I had taken of them walking down a lane in Bodmin, Cornwall and approaching a group of Morris Dancers off to the right.  I loved how in sync these great friends were in their body language and movements, complete with hands in pockets, strides, and visual focus, as if they were choreographed!

From China, with Love

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Another hollyhock painting, this one of a crimson hollyhock that I planted by the white fence in my front garden.  Hollyhocks originated in China, and I will forever be grateful that they made their way here.  Hollyhocks make me happy, and I just love this particular rich dark red against the various warm and cool greens of leaves and their shadows surrounding it, and all of that offset by the white fence behind.

The Watchman

acrylic on panel, 10" x 8"

The Watchman hollyhock is a dark, almost black maroon flower which, when it hits the light just right, shows an array of colors ranging from ultramarine violet to plum and even magenta.  I've painted hollyhocks a few times before, and I'm not done with them; I just love their tall stalks, large leaves and prolific blossoms.  So majestic!

Rosefinch Study

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 6" x 6"

Life's demands have yanked me away from my easel again, and I won't be back in the swing of it until this weekend.  Oh well,  In the meantime, here's a study of a little rosefinch I did about a week ago.

Wonder Boy

 

acrylic on canvas paper mounted on board, 12" x 12"

This is a painting of my musical idol, a young Stevie Wonder.  I love this man so much, not only for his incredible R&B pipes, staggering body of work and virtuosic mastery of songwriting, but for his activism and social conscience as well.  You don't need eyes to see his genius, just a heart and an open mind.

The Coolest Cat

acrylic on canvas paper mounted on board, 12" x 12"

This portrait of Nat King Cole is the second in a series I'm doing of Black American singers and musicians, and I've decided to expand the category to include Black artists of all stripes.  This one was painted with a very limited palette of burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, ivory black, and white.  The portrait of Billie Holiday was also done with a limited palette, the same as this with the addition of Indian yellow.  

Nat King Cole is one of my all-time favorite singers, and his version of "Nature Boy" is, quite frankly, one for a time capsule; it is the definitive rendition of one of the most poignantly beautiful songs ever written, and NKC's voice lifts it to the heavens.

Songbird

 

acrylic on canvas paper mounted on board, 12" x 12"

Changing gears here with a portrait of Billie Holiday.  I have it in mind to do a series of portraits of Black American singers and musicians as a way to honor their colossal contributions to American music.  I was once a singer myself, and Billie Holiday (aka "Lady Day," aka Eleanora Fagan) was a great inspiration in my younger days.

Blue-winged Mountain Tanager

 

acrylic on panel, 6" x 6"

Tanagers are some of the most colorful birds around.  Like many colorful birds, this little fruit-eating bird lives in Central and South America.  The color patterns vary wildly in this species, which is related to the cardinal.  I would like to paint them all!

Breakfast

 

acrylic on panel, 8" x 8"

Matillija poppies always remind me of fried eggs, and I just love their papery white petals that are so big, they just flop wherever they please.

Petit Perroquet

 

acrylic on panel, 6" x 6"

This 6" x 6" painting of a parrotlet is a life-size depiction of this cute little bird.  Parrotlets are tiny!  There is a special place in my heart for parrots in general.  Years ago, I kept a red-lored Amazon parrot when I lived in New York and then Florida, but I later came to feel strongly that all birds should be free.  In fact, I believe all wild animals should be free and not kept in cages or zoos. 

Himalayan Blue Poppy

 

acrylic on panel, 8" x 8"

Continuing with my current flower theme, here's a little painting of a flower that I wish was in my garden. I love all kinds of poppies.  Alas, this is one I've never seen; it was painted from a photo.  Apparently, this rare poppy is difficult to grow, but it can be found in gardens in the U.K.  

Cineraria with Daffodils

 

acrylic on panel, 8" x 8"

Another recent addition to my garden has been a gorgeous deep violet cineraria, which I paired with lemony daffodils for this composition.  You just can't get more complementary than that, can you?  I do love the colors in this one.

Mexican Evening Primrose

 

acrylic on panel, 8" x 8"

This is one of my favourite flowers, and it is currently carpeting a section of my garden.  I find this flower enchanting, and it is hearty, easy to grow, requires little watering, and is a prolific bloomer.  I chose to paint this as if in the black of night because these pale pink flowers turn a neon pink as the sun sets, and I wanted to emphasize their very "pinkness."