Keeping Time

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

This is a painting I just had to do for my own gratification of a Cuban guitarist in Santiago.  Aside from the cool green watch and of course the guitarist, I do really like that red door.

Before the Fall

oil on canvas, 10" x 10"

Finally getting around to this study of two little girls I spotted doing gymnastics on the beach at St. Ives in England.  I've wanted to paint them for quite a while as an expression of the exuberance and carefree joie de vivre of childhood, before puberty arrives and changes everything.

A Row of Roses

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is just another study in a series I'm doing of flowers in a vase, and again, mostly done with a palette knofe, just to refamiliarize myself with subject of still life, the least attempted of all my work. 

DayDreaming

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is an abstract piece I did today after a late start in the studio due to an appointment.  I like it.

Round the Bend: Road to Covelo

oil on canvasboard, 6" x 12"

This is just a quick little landscape study of a section of Highway 162, which is the road to Covelo in Mendocino County, where I was headed to spent some time with my friends at their ranch.  I had thought that the reference photo I worked from was taken somewhere in Sonoma County, as many of the local roads have a similar look.  But upon closer inspection, that is not Black Mountain in the distance but the mountains of Mendocino National Forest.

Smiley Me

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

This is a self portrait during my New York days.  I was at a party with my friend Armando and I was wearing a wig because I was auditioning everywhere I could for the part of Eponine in "Les Miserables."  I was obsessed with it and trying to convince anyone to give me a chance.  Eponine was a waif, a lonely character, and while I knew I could sing and act the part, I don't think I projected enough pathos . . . certainly not at this party!

No One Compares 2 U 2

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

For this version of a portrait of Sinead O'Connor, my second attempt, I used a grid.  In this version, she looks less vulnerable to me, more confident.  Not sure which one I prefer.

Havana Horn Player

 

oil on panel, 16" x 16"

I found an interesting photo online of a horn player in Havana, Cuba, and just wanted to make a painting of it, so I did.

Dying Daisy

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

This little mess of a painting of a dying daisy, I'm afraid to say, is now officially dead.  I destroyed it after an experiment that went kablooey.  Oh, well.  Just wanted to document it here for posterity, so its short life wasn't completely in vain.

Smoky Sky

oil on canvas panel, 14" x 11"

This is what I'd call a simplified landscape painting, not quite in the abstracted landscape ballpark, done mostly with a palette knife.  Nonetheless, I like the copper tones in this one.  I think they offset the buildings in the background nicely.  The scene is inspired by the smoke from the recent Canadian fires that drifted down into the U.S., especially along the East Coast.

No One Compares 2 U

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Upon hearing of the death of Sinead O'Connor at the young age of 56, I was moved to paint her portrait, as she was such a uniquely powerful singer, songwriter and activist.  I thought I would challenge myself by doing this portrait with a palette knife.  It was challenging.

Cottonwood Cluster

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Another trip down memory lane with this painting of cottonwood trees by the roadside I found so enchanting on a drive from Taos to Ojo Caliente.

Aglow in the Dark

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another botanical study.  Just playing around here, trying to push the abstract and botanical elements together.

Black-headed Gull

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Another bird study, just trying to keep it loose.

Exploding Petunia

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This was just a freeform bit of fun with the palette knife, starting with a photo reference but not adhering to it, just using it as a springboard to a more feeling-based treatment of the paint.

Green-eyed Girl

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Fooling around with a more sculptural look, at least in the background and the hair.  I've long seen myself as a more sculptural painter, and yet I rarely seem to apply that method to my work.  This is an attempt to break out of a mold and get more playful with the medium.

Lower Ranchitos

 

oil on canvasboard, 6" x 12"

This study is a rural scene from the lower end of Taos, New Mexico, mostly done with palette knife.  

Peonies in a Mauve Vase

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Continuing with this little burst of still life exploration that I'm going through, I'm trying to push more abstraction into the mix with the palette knife here.  I do like the warm textural effects of the background and the cool green foreground, but the mauve vase was what I was after.

Tina

Sharpie on paper, 12" x 9"

I just stumbled on this Sharpie drawing I had done of Tina Turner way back at the beginning of this art thing, in 2005.  She is really fun to try to capture.

 

Upon Reflection

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a palette knife study in progress, about 95% done.  I rarely do still life paintings, but I'm pushing myself to do them now in a way that is more expressive than representative.  Still, it's all about color for me.

 

She Blew Her Top

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

This is a piece I did for me, really.  A meditation from yesterday. 

Lioness

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

And speaking of lions, I've long thought of Tina Turner as a lioness.  Her fierceness, tenacity, chutzpah, and general badass veneer, while being deeply rooted in her Buddhist faith of love for all beings forms an intoxicating cocktail of inspiration to women everywhere.  Her message will live on for years to come.  Tina Turner is Simply the Best!  

Lion Head

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a quick and dirty study of a lion head.  

A Brief Interlude

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Another bird study, this one of a white-bellied sea eagle.  I was drawn to the intensity of the stare.

Pre-TINA

 

oil on panel, 18" x 18"

After hearing of Tina Turner's passing, I just had to paint her.  This is before she became Tina Turner, when she was still known as Anna Mae Bullock and probably in her late teens.  I've got one or two more of her in me yet to do.  What an inspiration she was, is, and will remain well into the future.

Springing

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a spontaneous "mood" painting to help me switch hats.

The Bard

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

This thing turned out better than I expected.  Bob Dylan is the real thing.  

Victor

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This painting is in tribute to my great friend Marilyn.  She is a total horse lover, and Victor was her quarter horse sweetheart.  Quite a handsome fella, and once upon a time, he was a race horse.

Owl Love

 

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Finally getting around to doing a painting of this little owlet pair which, in their kiss, form a beautiful heart-shaped face.

El Lobo

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is just a quick study of a white wolf.  

Mark

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

This is another addition to the series of portraits I've been amassing on Black American artists, musicians, poets, and other notable creatives.  Mark Bradford is an accomplished abstract artist known for his collage paintings.  He also incorporates video, print and installation in his process.  

Isolation Isle

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

I started this painting in 2020 during the COVID lockdown period.  I kept imagining a little piece of paradise floating in tropical waters.  It was all but finished except that it needed a figure, and I remained undecided forever about it . . . that is, until recently.  Even though isolation can foster a feeling of NOT belonging, I wanted the figure in this scene to have a sense of place, of belonging there, as if isolation is a chosen thing.  

Nude Study - 4.27.2023

oil on canvasboard, 16" x 8"

This nude study is based on a painting by Guillaume Seignac, entitled "The Awakening of Psyche."  I'm planning to attend a figure painting workshop this summer and feel the need to paint nudes to kind of get in shape for the workshop.

Abstracted Landscape Study 4.5.2023

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just a doodle based on a Peter Wileman painting, playing around with color and shape here.  I like the color combos and the overall composition.

Daddy's Girl

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is my third portrait of Amy Winehouse, who never ceases to fascinate me.  With this portrait, I wanted to capture her edgier side.  She came off much more innocent in my first try, then the second I left unfinished, as I wasn't happy with it.  I like this one, though.  I feel I got what I was after with it.  There was often an undercurrent of anger in her, but that was also part of her appeal, her fire.  A highly emotional singer, she didn't hold back.

After Matisse, Reclining Nude

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 18"

This is a quick study that I rendered for a larger painting I envision that may not look much like this one when I'm done.  This was just to get familiar with the figure's contours.  I wanted an elongated torso a la Modigliani, so I exaggerated it on this figure based on the Matisse sculpture "Reclining Nude."

Sunset in Seco

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Here's another painting from New Mexico. I used to drive by this scene in Arroyo Seco on my way to  Taos Ski Valley, and as the sun was setting, it would light up Taos Mountain with shades of pink, crimson, and maroon as the sun slowly sank out of sight, giving credence to the monicker Sangre de Cristo.

Casa Azul with Taos Mountain, Early Spring

oil on panel, 10" x 10"

This is the view I had from my kitchen window in Arroyo Seco, NM.  This scene frequently mesmerized me with the ever-changing moods of that mountain.  It seemed like a living, breathing thing.

Kiss This

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This portrait was done from a photo of my deceased partner's daughter, Rose, when she was around 20 years old and still living in the U.K.  I thought it would make a fun portrait.  She is a fantastic person, funny and cheeky, and feels like a sister to me.

Convergence

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"
SOLD

Here's another attempt at a cityscape, this one of downtown San Francisco at night.  This type of urban one-point perspective scene is new to me and quite challenging, so it's a useful learning experience.

Urban Study - Chicago

oil on panel, 16" x 20"

This painting is the result of a workshop I took recently in urban landscapes with Jacob Dhein.  I may tweak it here and there, but this is pretty much as far as I can go with it.  I found the workshop challenging, but that's because this kind of painting is new to me.  I can recall only having done one other urban landscape before.  I've got another one in mind to do, which hopefully won't take nearly as long as this one did.  

Warbler in a Window

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This painting started life as an abstract exploration of yellow, black and grey, inspired by the colors of a MiniCooper I had seen on the road that was mostly grey with black accents, a yellow grill and yellow ears.  I like this particular color combo with the various mixes it produces, especially the green/greys.  The yellow warbler just seemed like a natural fit.

Let Me In

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another painting on the theme of feminine mystique, which is turning into a series, it seems.  I get a kick out of paintings that tell a story, and this one is up for grabs -- my favorite kind!  

Venus and Friends

 

oil on panel, 14" x 11"

This was just an exercise to loosen up with some figures and experiment with composition.  A loose interpretation of Bouguereau's The Birth of Venus, I simplified and went more abstract in places just to see how far I could push it.

Swimmers

oil on zinc plate, 6" x 9"

Another fish study on metal, my favorite type of surface.

Green Dog

oil on aluminum panel, 12" x 12"

Just playing with color here, and abstract shapes.  Somehow, a dog insisted on making an appearance.  There you go!

Garden of Earthly Delights

oil on panel, 16" x 12"

This painting was inspired by the work of Flora Yukhnovich, a British painter who pushes disrupted realism to a new level.  After reading about her and pouring over her pieces, I felt like playing with paint and pushing the boundaries of realism myself.  It was fun and freeing, and I plan to do more of it!

Sunset with Palm Tree

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Here's another palm tree study.

Blue Heron at Ellis Creek

 

oil on panel, 8" x 6"

Ellis Creek in Petaluma has long been a favorite source of landscape painting inspiration for me, with its great variety of terrain, including marshes, ponds, grasses and distant hills, not to mention avian wildlife in the form of herons, egrets, swans, stilts, and many other winged species.  It's an ever changing ecosystem there and I never get tired of it.

White-necked Heron

oil on canvas, 12" x 6"

Another bird painting, a favorite subject of mine.