Origami II

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This abstract study has grown on me.   I did a similar one back in 2017.

Soul Sistahs

 

acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

This is actually two paintings on canvas, 30" x 20" each, but I put them together here as a kind of diptych, to showcase the mirror effect of the stark similarities in manners of expression between Tina Turner and Beyonce.  These two are aligned in the ether, and so I thought I'd put them together here.  

Dana

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

This is the finished second portrait of Dana in Jacob Dhein's portrait workshop.  It was challenging in that the light sources were multiple.  I worked from a photo taken indoors during the day and with ambient light sources coming in on three sides, plus an overhead light.  I tried to evoke a sense of balance with it, but more importantly with this one, I wanted to capture her innate sweetness of nature, and in that regard, I'm happy with how it turned out.  I also tried to incorporate a bit of abstraction but not confident enough with the technique yet to know how far to push it.  That's why I'm taking his class. Remains to be seen what Jacob thinks.   Update 12.5.2023:  Just swapped in the finished portrait after applying a few refinements suggested by Jacob.  

Dana Study

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

I'm taking a portrait painting workshop with Jacob Dhein, an amazing figure painter, and this is the first of what will probably be three portraits in all.  It is a portrait of a wonderful ex-neighbor of mine, Dana, who still lives close by, so I may try her again in an interior space.  The reference photo for this was taken outdoors on a sunny day.  Jacob told us not to spend too much time on these, as they are skill-building exercises.  This one took a couple hours and I've got a few more details to add, but it's essentially done.  I'm pretty happy with it. Update 10/12/2023:  I've completed the study, applying Jacob's suggestions from his critique.  I still want to incorporate abstraction, but I think I'll leave it to the next one for that.

Poor Little Rich Girl

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"
SOLD

This is a rough portrait study of Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol's muse and star in a series of short films he produced and directed, one of which was titled, "Poor Little Rich Girl."  Edie herself was born into a wealthy ranching family in Santa Barbara, California.  Around the age of 20, she made her way back East and eventually to New York City, where she found work as a model and met Andy Warhol.  Sadly, she suffered from mental health problems, and died at the age of 32 of a drug overdose.

Damsel in Distress

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

This little painting of a damselfish kinda captures how I feel right now, but I'm really happy with the colors.  Thought I'd jump in on the "ring" bandwagon while I'm at it.   I may tweak it later.

Blowin' Off Steam

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

This is the third and final incarnation of an abstract whose second incarnation was very different from this painting.  I was frustrated when I first arrived in the studio but was determined to make the most of my precious painting day.  I'm happy with how it turned out, although looking back, had I stepped away before barreling ahead and drastically changing the whole thing, I would have stopped there and called it good, and would later have seen its merits.  This is why I take photos of my work at every stage.  There's always something to learn. 

Floaters

oil on panel, 9" x 12"
SOLD

This was just for a hoot.  I tried to keep it kinda loose, but these two do look a bit to me like Barbie and a rather bloated Ken in the pool, ha ha!  Makes me smile, anyway.

Abstract in Yellow and Green

 

acrylic on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Just playing around with layers and depth here.

Girl with Yellow Umbrella

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

I'm already getting nostalgic for summer and it's not over yet.  An end-of summer scene here of a girl in an undisclosed European coastal region.  The bright yellow umbrella against that dark azure sky really appealed to me.

Not Buyin' It

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Sold

This study of my little dog Lola was done from a photo I took a few years ago.  That sidelong glance of hers has always amused me and I wanted to capture the spirit of that skeptical look.

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.