This is an abstracted landscape sketch, an aerial view of a freeway I did way back in 2020 that I'm pulling out of the archives for possible inclusion in an upcoming exhibit in SF whose theme is Portraits of the City. I thought it apropos to this theme, and on second viewing, I like it. Sometimes, painting + time = pleasure.
Here's a little urban painting sketch that I did in November of 2022 that somehow slipped through the cracks. Anyway, it is going to be part of this upcoming show of my work in mid-February, along with some other urban scenes, portraits and figurative pieces.
This was actually the first painting I did upon returning to my current studio after a couple years' absence. It is going to be included as one of the few, if not the sole still life in my first ever exhibit in mid-February in San Francisco. More details about that to follow. I sold my beloved uke to the owner of a music store in Taos, New Mexico in 2018. I hope it found a good home. I have no idea what fate met that green leather chair, which belonged to my partner Roy. I loved that chair, so I hope it, too, found a good home.
This is just a quick little cloud study over an estuary. I'm in a flurry of activity finishing, varnishing and framing paintings for my first ever exhibit in mid-February. I've been painting for 20 years and it's well past time I parted with a few of them. Gonna try to squeeze in some more little ones as time permits.
This painting of Lola and her leash (her only leash, 17 1/2 years strong) was done alla prima, and things were going swimmingly until I noticed all these vertical scratch-like marks all over the panel. To my shagrin, the thing had delaminated on me, the second time this has happened. WTF! Arghhh! I signed it anyway. I may do a bit of detail work yet on it, but overall, I'm happy with it. I've chosen to regard those vertical marks as part of its charm.
This is a portrait of Chloe Misseldine, a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. I was drawn in by the dramatic lighting of her tutu, plus the backlit areas of her upper body, and also the tired posture perhaps revealing the aftermath of strenuous dancing.
A palette knife landscape study of clouds. It's been a hard week, having lost my fur baby of 17+ years a week ago last Friday. She was my constant companion for nearly all of that time. I've been grieving ever since. Forced myself to work in the studio for a wee bit yesterday, when I did this study, and was able to work longer in there today on a new painting.
This is a visual depiction of how I feel about the result of our preposterous election here in the U.S. Over the next few years, nothing good is going to happen, no progress is going to be made, and no one is going anywhere, aside from the super rich with their oblivious adventurism, as they remain blissfully ignorant of the part they play in our country's downfall.
I've done a number of female portraits featuring little birds. Unlike the previous paintings which were all done on canvasboard, this one was done on a cradled panel. It is my first attempt to elevate this subject matter. Hopefully, more to come.
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.
This industrial urban scene intrigued me for its colors and overall composition.
Just a little palette knife landscape study in between larger paintings that are conuming my attention lately.
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.
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.
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.
Only had about an hour today to myself, so I snuck over to the studio and pushed some paint around.
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.
