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.

 

Seated Nude

 

oil on panel, 20" x 20"

STOLEN

This is the more or less final version of a painting I've been working on that I've gotten guidance with from a great painter, Jacob Dhein.  I had seven sessions with it, each one clocking in at about two hours.  So, about 14 hours spent on this painting, which is more than I usually spend on any single painting.  I was trying to incorporate more abstract elements and I am happy with the result.

Letting Off Steam

 

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This industrial urban scene intrigued me for its colors and overall composition.

At the Kasbah

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Just a little palette knife landscape study in between larger paintings that are conuming my attention lately.

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.

Note to Self

 

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"

This abstract painting is no more, as I painted over it but took a photo beforehand.  Unfortunately, I failed to step away before lunging in again.  Often that's a mistake, and it was here, because I now see merit in what I had done.  Not that this would have been its final incarnation, but having fresh eyes definitely makes a difference.  Note to self:  if you're not entirely happy with what you've done, always step away before destroying the work.

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.

Abstract of 9-11-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Only had about an hour today to myself, so I snuck over to the studio and pushed some paint around.

Abstract of 9-8-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Adding another to this series of abstract studies.  I see a pattern emerging.  These are good little exercises for me during times like this where I have so little time to get stuck into art-making.  I find it just too frustrating to start a larger piece and then have to abandon it for days at a time.  Much more satisfying to do something I can stick with from start to finish, or almost finish.

Abstract of 8-30-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

What it is.  Gonna keep going with this.

Abstract of 8-29-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Yet another abstract here.  I'm painting and posting these little pieces while I tend to my dog's moment-to-moment needs as she enters the final phase of her life, which swallows up my time.  These freeform pieces are informative to me, though, as they follow a subconscious pattern.  And it's fun to just play with color with no thought given to outcome.

Abstract of 8-26-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Another little abstract ditty here.

Floral Abstract of 8-17-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

This little freeform ditty was inspired by admiring a neighbor's garden this morning that contained multiple stalks of gorgeous Mexican sunflowers.  

Wild Things

oil on panel, 20" x 20"

A flower painting which looks like the end of summer to me.  I'm already mourning the imminent loss.

Floral Abstract of 8-8-2024

oil on canvasboad, 8" x 10"

Another to add to my series of floral abstracts using palette knife and other tools but no brushes.

Blackhead with Magenta Bird

 

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

Yet another in a series of female portraits paired with little birds.  Again, I went over my time limit of 2 hours with this one, which clocked in at 2.5 hours.  These portraits are mostly done with a palette knife, eliminating the possibility of refined detail work.

Abstracted Landscape of 8-4-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

It is what it is.

Abstract of 7-31-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

I started with the idea of painting a deconstructed American flag, and this is what I ended up with.

Floral Abstract of 7-29-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Another floral abstract, this one pays homage to one of my favorite flowers, the Mexican evening primrose, that grows like wild in my garden.

Abstract of 7-24-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 10" x 8"

Another little abstract ditty.

Yellowhead with Orange Bird

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

This is another portrait in the series done mostly with a palette knife.  I broke my own rule with this one of keeping to 2 hours tops to do it.  Took me close to 3 hours.

Abstracted Landscape of 7-22-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

In the meantime, here's another quickie palette knife imaginary landscape ditty.

Deconstructed Portrait

 

acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24"
SOLD

This abstract piece was a release for me from the constraints of portrait painting.  Now I can go do another portait.  Ah!

Abstract of 7-18-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 10" x 8"

This one was fun.

Abstract of 7-13-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10

Another little experiment.  The more I look at it, the more I like it.

Two Palms

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

This little number started out as an abstracted flower painting.  I can still see the yellow echinacea in it that I was thinking of when I painted it.  

Pinkhead with Green Bird

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

Here's the next in a series I've been doing pairing women with birds in portrait format.  I limit these exercises to 2 hours, tops.  This one took the full 2 hours.

In the Deep Blue

oil on canvas, 20" x 20"

I quite like this simple painting of a little pink fish.  I can get lost in it.

Abstract of 7-8-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

Another little abstract piece.

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Such a big name for such a little bird!  An exotic, beautiful bird with irridescent flashes of ultramarine blue, purple, plum, crimson, and magenta.

Floral Abstract of 6-30-2024

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

Here's another experimental floral abstract piece using a palette knife and wax medium to help create more textural effects.

A Social Distance

oil on panel, 12" x 12"
SOLD

This is a small narrative painting I decided to do primarily with a palette knife.  Certain strokes on the figures, however, were done with a brush. Not to get too fussy, I spent only a couple hours on it.

Bluehead with Pink Bird

 

oil on canvasboard, 14" x 11"

This is another head study done in under 2 hours.  It has its merits.

Abstracted Landscape of 6-23-2024

 

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 10"

A palette knife painting using wax medium but no hot air.  It seems whenever I reach for the gun, it's not there, so I proceed forth without.

Floral Abstract of 6-20-2024

oil on canvasboard, 10" x 8"

Another in the series . . .

 

Blue-eared Starling Study

 

oil on canvas paper, 9" x 12"

Another bird portrait here.

Floral Abstract of 6-16-2024

oil on canvasboard, 10" x 8"

Continuing with the floral theme here, I used a bit of wax medium and hot air in one or two spots.

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.