Abstract of 6-10-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

For this one, I added cold wax medium but didn't use the hot air gun.  One or two of these might serve as springboards to large abstracts.  You never know.

Floral Abstract of 6-6-2024

oil on canvasboard, 10" x 8"

This is the first of an experimental abstract series I'm doing to refamiliarize myself with tools and techniques I first learned in 2014 but dropped the ball on for reasons I cannot fathom.  So, I'm going back to the drawing board here.  More to come...

Seagull Study

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Another in my series of bird portraits.

Redhead with Blue Bird

 

oil on canvas panel, 14" x 11"

I set myself a task with this head study of keeping it loose, not getting fussy, keeping it under 2 hours to bash in, and using wax medium .  I didn't go the full monty with the wax medium; that is, I didn't use the hot air gun for this one like I thought I might.  I plan to do more of these, though, so I'm hoping I'll get more daring as I go.  I'm not displeased with this one, for what it's worth.  Might do it again larger as part of my bird girl series.

The Skater

 

oil on panel, 12" x 9"

This one slipped through the cracks, I'm afraid.  I painted it in 2013 and somehow failed to post it all these years, but to me it represents a direction I'd like to go in as a painter.  I dropped the ball at that time, but I need to pick it up again and carry on from there.  I'll carry on with my current style, too, but want to be throwing in experimental pieces as much as possible, given the time.

Baila Me!

oil on panel, 20" x 20"

This painting is about 75% done, but I'm posting it because who knows when I'll be able to finish it.  It won't be next week, that's for sure.  Update 7.10.2024:  I've swapped in the more-or-less finished painting.

Satin Bowerbird Study

 

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Here's another bird portrait to add to the mix, mostly done with a palette knife like the last one.  I'm trying not to take more than a couple hours to do these studies.  The goal is to keep it simple and not labor over them or get fussy.

Orange Fruit Dove Study

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

I'm racking up the bird portraits with another one here.

Bathing Beauty with Fairy Wren

oil on canvas, 24" x 24"

This is another addition to my "bird girl" series of paintings.  It was a fun one to do.   Updated 5/30/24.  I yellowed up the foreground on this painting and added a bit of shadow.  I wanted the color scheme to be more distinct primaries.  I think doing this has brought out the reds more, and I wanted that red bow to be more noticeable.  I'm happy with it overall, especially with her face.

Barn Owl Study

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

This is another in a bird portrait series I'm accruing.  All are studies, all are done on canvas paper, and all are fairly quick studies, given no more than 2-3 hours to do.  This one was done in 1.5 hours.

Anok

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a portrait of Anok Yai, a model, in preparation for a narrative figure painting featuring her that I've got in mind as part of my "bird girl" series.  Can't wait to do that one!

La Demoiselle

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

The second in a series of bird portraits, this one of a demoiselle crane.

Scarlet Macaw Study

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

Didn't want to take too much time on this portrait study of a scarlet macaw, as I am not very much into realism as a painter; I find it quite tedious and boring to do, and so I stopped once I felt I'd gotten the "gist" of this bird.

Two Birds: Catch of the Day

oil on canvas, 20" x 30"

This is the latest in a series I've been working on for quite a while, in pairing birds with women.  I associate the two with freedom, or lack thereof.  Women often remind me of caged birds, there solely for the pleasure of those looking on. Here, I borrowed an image from a Nan Goldin photograph entitled "Odalisque of the Bowery" and tried to suggest with the bed sheet a fisherman's net she had fallen into, yet another trap.

Cordon Bleu Waxbill

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

This fat little bird was painted mostly with a palette knife.  The beautiful two-tone color scheme of the bird itself was what captivated me.

Buika on a Break

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a study of one of my favorite singers in the world, Concha Buika, for her soulful, Flamenco-inspired vocals.  Here she is smoking what looks like a spliff, which might account for the huskiness in her voice.  

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

 

acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

This narrative painting was rather hastily painted, I'll admit.  The concept was more important to me than the execution, almost done in cartoon fashion.  I don't think a more refined technique would have altered the impact substantially.  I find it funny myself.  In fact, it cracks me up!  

Atelier des Chevaux

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a horse paddock on a 4.5 acre property in Sonoma immersed in a vineyard.  The central portion of the paddock was converted to an art studio and for a couple years I was in nirvana there.  I painted Kate there, a painting which seems to have vanished, which is strange, since I love this painting and had her hanging in my kitchen in New Mexico as kind of my badass alterego, someone who took no shit.  I remember carefully boxing her up, yet now that I'm setting up my studio and unboxing all my paintings, there are only a few left and she has yet to turn up.  Fingers crossed I find her.

Dignity

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

A study of the great Tracy Chapman.  I'm going to play with it some more when I have a bit of time.  

Tricolored Heron with Bonsai Cherry Tree

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Yet another study.  Didn't spend a lot of time on this.  Hopefully one day in the not-too-distant future, my pet sitter will be able to take care of my restless dog again and I'll be able to work in my studio undisturbed where I can spend a chunk of time on actual paintings.  I miss my studio so much, I could cry.

Penguin Study

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

Another study . . .

 

The Caracal

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 9"

This is a study of the elusive caracal, an exotic wild cat found throughout Africa and Asia.  I punched up the colors but couldn't get them quite right.  Will retake photos in the morning and update this post.

Hola

oil on panel, 24" x 24"

This was a work in progress that stayed that way because it really was finished; it just took me a while to see it.  It sat in the time-out room for months because soon after starting it, I got pulled away for 4-5 days, during which time the paint had dried and I'd lost some momentum.  When I finally gave it a second look, it felt finished.  

Lavender Baby Rhino Study

 
oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

So I painted a pink elephant.  Why stop there?  Lavender is the perfect color for a baby rhino, don't you think?  I think this little guy is pretty cute.

Pink Elephant Study

 

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

This one was just for fun.

After Ophelia

acrylic on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

The reference for this painting was a thumbnail.  I'm getting lots of practice painting cars lately.  Not sure what's up with that, but there must be smething, right?  This scene is from Wilmington, North Carolina as tropical storm Ophelia was passing through.

Hastings at Dusk

 

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

I painted this scene of a sunset in Hastings, U.K. from a photo I cribbed from my Facebook feed just because I I loved the colors in it.  I distilled it down to the basics to simplify the composition.  Needs a couple tweaks, but otherwise I'm happy with it.  

I've been relegated to doing only small works since last November, ever since my pet sitter went out of commission.  I cannot work in the studio with my dog there, where she paces incessantly, which drives me nuts.  And I cannot work on larger pieces when I cannot work back-to-back 6-hour days minimum.  So for the time being, I must work at home instead where I only have a tabletop easel.  Looking forward to the day when I can sink my teeth into larger works again.

Banggai Cardinalfish 2

 

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Here's another little fish study to go with the one I did last week.  

To and Fro

 

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"
SOLD

This was an experiment (aren't they all?) with a palette knife, trying to keep it loose.  I wanted to create an after-the-rain atmosphere that I had liked in the reference photo.  

Banggai Cardinalfish

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

A little fish study of an endangered species found only around the Banggai Islands of Indonesia.  I love the opalescence of this little fish, which only reaches 3 inches end to end.

Morning Commute

oil on panel, 9" x 12"
SOLD

This painting of my morning commute to work in San Francisco was done from a poor quality photo I took from my car with an old point-and-shoot camera.  I challenged myself to see if I could still produce a viable painting from it.  I'm happy with the overall composition, although it proved nearly impossible to get an accurate photo of the painting, since it was done on a smooth pre-gessoed panel that made the paint look slick and shiny. 

Bluebeard

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

The first pass at this painting was strictly palette knife, but then I went in with a brush the next day, before the paint had dried, and swiped some areas, to a beautiful effect, I thought.  I love this painting.  I'm amazed at its magic, especially when viewed live.  The black background was a combo of pthalo green and alizarin crimson, always an interesting black, and I think it sets off the intense blue violet of the iris to great effect.

Fragrant

 

oil on panel, 9" x 12"

This was an attempt to meld abstract and realist elements in a still life.  I was working from a bouquet of lilies on the kitchen table and didn't want to get too realistic but did want to suggest lilies.  More importantly, I wanted to convey their scent in pictorial form.  I'm already longing for spring.  Can you tell?

Gary's Friend

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

This is a quick portrait study from an image another student used in the portrait workshop from last October.  I thought she had an interesting face and her deep inward gaze pulled me in.  Had to try and paint that!

Cheeky!

 

oil on canvas, 36" x 42"

This is a narrative painting that I actually started late last year and never quite finished.  It's been languishing in the time-out room for months now.  I did it for a laugh, especially for the guy in the mid-distance.  He cracks me up.  I was also going though a phase then, living vicariously through her, lol!  I hope to finish it before too long.

You're Kidding, Right?

oil on panel, 8" x 10"

At the risk of anthropomorphizing my dog, here's a painting of her I did from a photo that seemed to capture her almost human-like stare.  Even though it came together very quickly, I may tweak this one with some details in the near future.  I love her little mouth in this one and the stray hairs over her right eye.

Feliz Navidad

oil on canvaspaper, 12" x 12"

A little Christmas composition.  Sending out some lights within the darkness...

Tiger in Water

oil on canvaspaper, 12" x 12"

This study of a Royal Bengal tiger was just for fun.  I love the interplay of colors throughout.  Don't have time to do more ambitious pieces right now, just small works that don't take a lot of time to complete.  Temporary circumstances force me to curtail work on larger, more labor-intensive pieces and focus instead on simple studies and paintings that evoke a particular mood.  Update 12.25.2023:  I tweaked this painting a bit in places where I cut into the face with a few green shards to integrate the tiger with the water more and also hopefully emphasize the eye on the left a bit more.

El Prado

 

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

ON LOAN

This study is a scene that became very familiar to me when I lived near Taos, New Mexico.  I needed to find safe areas to walk my little dog Lola and maybe let her enjoy some off-leash time, something she loves.  El Prado is a high-end neighborhood in the north section of Taos as you're heading toward Taos Ski Valley.  It is dotted with well-kept modern adobe homes, the only drawback for me being that there are no paved roads in that area; in fact, much of Taos is unpaved, a bit of a nightmare in winter.  That's why many of these nice homes are either unoccupied or rented out for the duration of what can sometimes be a brutal winter.  I lived there for only one year in 2018, but it was a heavy snowfall that winter and I found it to be a deal breaker, coming as I did from the California coast, where snowfall is unheard of.  Alas, even in El Prado, I found free-roaming dogs on occasion.  I always had to be vigilant for my dog's safety everywhere I went, which was psychically exhausting.  The views of Taos Mountain and the Ski Valley were always breathtaking, though, with the high desert carpeted in sagebrush.

Moonface

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

This was an experiment that didn't go as planned, so I adapted the composition accordingly.  The subject is an African moon moth, a fascinating flying creature with eerie eyespots giving a human-like appearance.  For some reason, I found it very difficult to get a decent photograph of it.  Ah, the elusive moon moth!

Piglet Pals

oil on panel, 8" x 8"

A simple study of two little piglets I've been wanting to do for a while in a warm composition.

The Stare

oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Persian cats all seem to have attitude, and this one is no exception.  They're fun to paint.

White Wolf

oil on canvas paper, 12" x 12"

Continuing with the wolf theme here.  This study wanted to be impasto, so I let it.  

Arctic Fox

 

oil on panel, 12" x 24"

Here's a painting of an arctic fox on a bed of icy snow.  I'm on an animal kick right now.  We'll see how long it lasts.

Trailblazer

 

oil on panel, 24" x 18"

This is an experimental piece that I see as largely successful.  I may do more to it, but I'm happy with the overall composition.

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.