Shhh!

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This is a painting I did for a UNM student exhibit currently showing at David Anthony Fine Art in Taos.  I'd had it in mind to do this humorous portrait for a while, so when the opportunity arose, I seized it.  

Fish n' Chips

acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

This is the abstract iteration of my previous posting, Fish.  To compare these two paintings is like comparing a raw whole fish with its cooked version:  very different in appearance, taste and aroma, but based on the same raw material.  

Fish

acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

This simple painting of a tropical fish was the first part of a two-part exercise at UNM.  The first part was to paint anything -- an object, still life, landscape, portrait, whatever -- in a representational manner, and the second part was to paint an abstract iteration of that first painting.  I will post my abstract interpretation of this one tomorrow.  Spoiler alert:  it looks nothing like this fish, but perhaps someone will see a connection between the two paintings.  I found this exercise to be a fun way to approach abstract painting.  I'm doing another now.

UNM Nude Study

acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

This was the result of a 2-1/2 hour session with a rubenesque model at the University of New Mexico.  It is the largest and, for its size, quickest figurative painting I've done to date.  It was my first day in class and the only session I got with the model, so no refinements on this one.  Still, it was a fun exercise.

Backyard in Winter, Casa Azul

iPad painting, 10" x 14"

After having spent months in transition, I have finally settled (for now) in the vicinity of Arroyo Seco, a little town just a few miles north of Taos, New Mexico.  It has been, and continues to be, a challenging time for me but not without its plusses.  The landscape, for one, is extraordinary and begs to be painted.  Also, I am happily enrolled in a painting class at the University of New Mexico with a fantastic teacher and artist, Sarah Stolar, which marks my first foray into formal art education.  It is pushing me in new directions which I hope will soon be reflected in my art.  

In the meantime, here's a digital sketch of the view from my place of Taos Mountain, the outline of which is obscured by cloud cover.   There will be paintings of that mountain to come.

Garden Tiger Moth

oil on panel, 6" x 8"

I love the colors in this one.  The Garden Tiger moth is found in northern climates, preferring cool weather.  I'm enjoying painting these little critters, but  am also feeling frustrated because I am in the process of moving house and don't have much time to spare.  I'm squeezing these guys in between marathons of moving-related tasks, which is a valuable exercise in itself.  I'm not complaining; I just wish I had time to really delve into it.  I feel I'm on the verge of a major change of some sort and just want to get on with it, whatever it is.  I'm feeling an urge, an itch, or something.  Could  be that moth on my arm!

Red River Blues

oil on canvasboard, 6" x 6"

I got the Red River Blues,
Headin' to a city
Where the sun is big and pretty.
Gonna change my life,
End the strife,
And paint in warmer hues!

Emerald Swallowtail Butterfly

oil on cradled panel, 6" x 8"

Another exotic butterfly to close out the year, the emerald swallowtail is found in Southeast Asia but also commonly collected and kept in butterfly houses worldwide.  I'd hate to cage this beautiful insect, or any wild and beautiful creature for that matter.  I'd rather discover it in its natural habitat, or perhaps make a painting if you can't see it live.

Egret in Flight

acrylic on canvasboard, 12" x 12"

Here's another study that somehow slipped through the cracks and was forgotten for a while.  I painted it early in the year and rediscovered it the other day as I was going through ALL my paintings, cataloguing, labeling and boxing ahead of my move to New Mexico in January.  I had wanted to do a series of birds in flight, but that idea got shoved to the back burner, as often happens with me due to the varying demands on my time.  I see myself in this bird now.  

Mexican Bluewing Butterfly

oil on canvasboard, 6" x 8"

I learned with this little study that the smeared paint technique works better on smooth hard surfaces, such as a gessoed wood panel or metal plate.  Not as easy to do on a canvas or canvasboard, but that was all I had on hand and wanted to paint this little being.  Still, I'm not displeased with how it turned out.  The Mexican Bluewing's habitat ranges from Mexico down through Central America.

Salt Marsh Moth

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Moths are beautiful, too!  These are nocturnal creatures, whereas butterflies are out and about during the day, but they both belong to the order Lepidoptera.  The salt marsh moth is common to Florida and Texas.

Chinese Red

oil on canvas, 8" x 10"

For a change of pace, here's a palette knife painting of an Oriental poppy I did some months ago and, like a few others, recently looked at with fresh eyes and thought better of.  I've been going through my entire inventory, boxing up paintings ahead of my move to Taos, and have made more than a few discoveries of overlooked early work that have stood the test of time, at least in my mind.  I may post some of that early work in the coming days.

Black and White in Blue

oil on MDF panel, 24" x 24"
sold

A seemingly perennial work in progress, this is the same heifer as in a previous post, from a different angle.  I think I liked this painting better in its third iteration.  Maybe the cow is trying to tell me something, as in leave me alone!  Can't I just stand here in peace, enjoying a cool drink of water?  We'll see about that.

A Patch of Blue

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Here's a little abstract done a while back that I'm offering now as a ray of hope for all Californians who have lost their homes in the devastating fires that have ravaged this once beautiful state.  The deep irony of a blue state being blanketed in red is not lost on me in this challenging time for everyone everywhere.  May the Phoenix rise again!

Rhetus Periander Butterfly

oil on panel, 6" x 6"

Another colorful butterfly found primarily in Central and South America.  

Cleared for Takeoff

oil on canvasboard, 8" x 8"

Another little abstract ditty that got lost in the shuffle, painted a few months ago.  I have precious little time to paint right now, so busy getting ready to move.  I will be posting a little less until I'm over the hump of tasks in preparation for it.

On the Wing

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

Here is a case for putting paintings in a time-out room.  This is what later became "Space Balls," as seen in the previous post.  Although I like Space Balls, I now see that its predecessor had merit on its own.  I regret painting this one over, as I am in love with things with wings, and I see such a thing in this painting.  Ah well, live and learn, as they say.

Space Balls

oil on panel, 12" x 12"

This is an abstract piece I did earlier this year.  It got buried amongst other pieces I was working on concurrently.  In preparation for my move to New Mexico this coming January, I've been going through my entire inventory, something I've never done since I started on this art path, and I am overwhelmed by the number of paintings I have accrued over the years!  I hope to have time to focus a bit more on marketing my work in the new year.  I do know I will be wanting to paint more than ever, so this could become quite a challenge.

A Delicate Balance

oil on linen-mounted panel, 16" x 12"

It is what it is, folks.  All my paintings are experiments to varying degrees, and this one was my attempt to merge my love of cows with my love of birds, as well as subject with background, admittedly with varying degrees of success.  I do like that cow, though; she makes me smile.  The bird is a black-billed magpie.

Blue Morpho Butterfly

oil on cradled panel, 20" x 20"

As an experiment, I thought I would try to marry the gold underwing of the blue morpho on the left with its iridescent blue upperwing on the right.  I like the overall effect.  It's hard to pick a side of a butterfly's wings to paint, they are both so beautiful and yet so distinct.  The pattern and coloring of the underwing is, in most cases, designed for detraction from predators, whereas that of the upperwing is meant to attract a mate.  The yin and yang of life, right there in one delicate little creature.  Amazing.