Pam Returns!

 

"Iron Maiden 2" (20x24) o/p

Over the summer I was fortunate to work again with Pam (whom I had done several paintings of years ago) and these are a couple of the results...

                                                                    "Mending 3" (12x12) o/p

Although she could not hold the poses for a live session, I was able to get good photographs in our dining room on a sunny day that provided some excellent lighting effects~

Thank you, Pam -- it was a pleasure to work with you!

The HUNT show at Salmagundi Club

"Waiting for the Drivers" (16x12) SOLD

This painting will be part of a group show titled, "The Hunt" opening September 19th thru the 23rd, 2019 at the Salmagundi Club in New York city, curated by Vanessa Rothe Fine Art.  

The rifle my model was holding is a Winchester 1895 that was actually used in the Spanish American War by my friends grandfather (has 7 notches on it's stock)~

New Work...

"They Will Pay" (16x16) oil on linen SOLD

This is a new piece going into my solo show at Maxwell Alexander Gallery -- this show will consist of western figures (Cowboys, Bandits, Smugglers, etc.) opening in L. A. august 19th, 2017. 

Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

"Spanish Guitar" (16x12 cropped)

Another work-in-progress going toward my solo show in Los Angeles at Maxwell Alexander Gallery... Exhibition opens august 19th!

 

PEACE.

 "Trespass" (30x22) oil on panel SOLD

For my last blog post of 2016 I'd like to wish everyone a healthy, prosperous & PEACEFUL New Year... This past year has been one of ups & downs, encouragement & chaos, and so I am choosing to look forward with optimism and opportunity to contribute where I can to make the world a better place; trust you will too, and hope to see you all in 2017!

"Trespass" (detail)

This allegorical painting, "Trespass" will be available at the L A Art Show thru Maxwell Alexander Gallery, opening January 12, 2017. 

Unassuming.

Unassuming (30x24) oil on linen

Had the pleasure of working with this lovely model last week; a friend donated the kimono to my studio's costume wardrobe a while back, and it complimented this redhead quite nicely... 

(Initial lay-in session)

About 2 hours was enough to establish the drawing,  colour notes and block-in all the major shapes. From there, I could stay on track with the colour key and retain the broken patterns of brush strokes, keeping the overall spontaneity and freshness of the initial session. No need to fill in every square inch -- in fact that would have killed the energy I was after in what could have been a rather static pose.

Could have left it even more "undone", but I still get carried away...

Batter up...

 Mixing (12x12)

I've been doing some small baker/chef paintings lately...haven't settled on titles for them yet, but they are heading to the Howard/Mandville Anniversary Show opening May 16th in Kirkland, WA.

 Chopping (12x12) SOLD

The gentleman above is a student at the Oregon Culinary Institute, and the girl is from the Gluten-Free Gem Bakery, both located in Portland, Oregon.

Many thanks to these folk for allowing me the privilege of photographing them as they worked. I hope to do more of these culinary pieces -- lots of fun and of course something everyone can relate to!

Drawing, the not-so-secret ingredient....

 Soup Kitchen (12x12) oil on linen

Last summer when I was shopping for a gluten-free cake for my wife's birthday, I came across this great little bakery in NW Portland -- it was kinda hidden away in an industrial area with no signage outside, just a little sandwich board on the corner sidewalk that read, Gem Bakery...

 Bakery Girls (20x24) oil on panel

While inside ordering a delicious custom cake, I was taken with the look that all of the girls working there had; the scarves in particular.  I explained I was a painter and asked if I could come back with my camera to shoot some reference shots while they worked and they graciously consented...

 

 (detail) Bakery Girls

To transfer my photo reference into paintings, I first needed to go thru a "sketch phase" to interpret what I had shot rather than going straight to canvas. Painting requires drawing, and drawing requires exercising the thought process that a camera is incapable of... I had ideas of what I was looking for when shooting the photos, but I then needed to remove my ideas from the photos in order to recover the original intent...sketching out various poses was the best vehicle for this.

 Gesture sketch

I could then use this third generation information to influence my painting (along with) the photographic reference.  Every artist has a particular drawing style that influences their painting's look (if they let it)... I prefer to work from life whenever possible, but if I can't,  I never want to refer solely to the photograph -- I need the separation and go-between of my drawings as a jumping off point. The photo can keep me on track, but the drawings will always retain the edited (and thus more original) concept and look...

Gesture sketch

I hope to return soon to Gem Bakery to gather more information for future paintings...and maybe a gluten-free goody or two as well!

Demo

Figure No. 27 (18x14) oil on vellum
SOLD!

Yesterday I was invited to do a demonstration painting for the Society of Washington Artists in Vancouver, WA. About 35 people showed up and I had a nice time chatting with them and answering questions about my approach. The demo painting (above) turned out quite well for an hour's effort and then sold the next day to another artist back east when I posted it on Facebook. All in all, a profitable experience and a good exercise...

15th American Impressionist Society Annual Exhibition

 

 

Very honored to be juried into this national exhibition and sale that opens tomorrow at Abend Gallery in Denver, CO!  This painting was accomplished with the aid of the Oregon Culinary School here in Portland, who allowed me to photograph their students preparing a lunchtime meal for the public (something they do each day)...

 

 "Glazing" (16x20) o/c

 Red Robe (16x12) oil on panel

We've painted dozens of models in my studio over the years; so many in fact that I can't recall the names of the two depicted here... I like variety, so I try and get different a one each time, but still manage to hire some of the favorites from time to time. Once when I invited a group of friends to paint and the model didn't show up, I felt responsible so I got up on the stand myself (clothed of course)...

Lady in Black (14x11) 

oil pastel on paper

Boy, what an eye-opener! You tend to think (if you think about it all) that a model doesn't have to work that hard -- just hold still. Well about 20 minutes into the first session of a 3-hour long pose, I was getting a whole new perspective! By the time the pose was finished, I was stiff with back, leg and neck pain and very, very tired...and I was sitting in a comfy chair! 

I have had a very healthy respect for artists models ever since...
My hats off to them --

Life Drawing in Colour

 (11x14)

Went to a figure drawing session yesterday morning at Crush bar (no, I did not drink!) and drew with oil pastels... These are approximately 30 minutes each on Canson paper. I like the feel of oil pastels over regular, chalk pastels for their tactile relationship to oil paint, and the ability to stretch, blend and stick the colour without the fragile volatility of chalk...

(11x14)

Figure drawing from life is a good practice to do regularly if you can; working from a three dimensional, living, breathing (and ever-moving) subject is a challenge that sharpens your observational senses and hones your eye-to-hand skills as a painter... Model: Julie Webb, Portland, OR

 One More, Once (16x20) oil on linen

Painted for my upcoming show, "Personal Space", this piece was inspired by Count Basie's verbal command at the end of his recording of April In Paris where he says, "One more time" and then "One More Once" as his orchestra repeats the ending phrase of the song...  I rented the trumpet from a local music store and had my friend Roger (who once played the coronet) pose for me in his vintage Stetson hat. The ceiling lamp that appears in the upper right is one of six that hang in my studio from when it was built in the early 1950's. It works as an odd but effective balance to the composition which is largely made up of diagonal elements...

(detail)

On the Easel...

 

(24x48" o/c)

This is a new piece I'm working on that needs a title -- any ideas?

    "The Curve" (20x24)

This is a new piece for my figure show coming up in January at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, AZ.  I plan on having 18-20 new pieces on display opening 1-23-14.

 

(detail)

 My model, Kira posed at our friend's house who had a claw foot tub -- do you know how hard it is to find a claw foot tub when you need one!!  Not easy... Anyway, I like the colour harmony in this with the natural overcast daylight coming thru the off-camera window.

Progress on "Mood Indigo"...

 Progress shot #1 (30x40)

I started with a simple line drawing in a thin wash over my pencil lines (which were scaled up on a grid from a smaller sketch). Then I erased the pencil lines and lightly stained the canvas with burnt sienna...

 Progress shot 2

The model I hired here is Amber, a professional jazz singer in the Portland area... The reference for the male figure came from photos of the late Mississippi Fred McDowell.

 Finished close up

Detail...

Back to Work...

 

 "Night Shift" (20x24) o/p

Back at it in the studio today, and thankful for a wonderful weekend with family and friends...life is good (because it's life)...

(detail)

Everyday Hero

 "Everyday Hero" (16x12)

When I was in the first grade, the school janitors name was Joe.  I liked Joe, everyone did -- he was the friendly guy who always had a smile and even knew your name if you took time to talk to him (which he always enjoyed no matter how busy he was). 
 

I never knew his last name or even thought much about him outside of school (he was such a fixture, I probably thought he lived there) but somehow his presence made an impact on my young world and I'm glad he was there on the job, every day...

I gave this painting the title "Everyday Hero" because of the often overlooked nobility inherent in those vocations that seem less than noble...AND the fact that hard working people like this can make a positive and profound impression on young minds, even though they only appear to function in the background where we pay little attention... 

This piece will be in an upcoming solo exhibition opening at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 25th. 

New Work

 "What We Never Talk About" (36x48) o/c

This is another piece for my show in Scottsdale next month...I'd like to do more of these narratives that have an open-ended story line that the viewer can surmise on their own.  As in, are they married? (she's wearing a ring)...is it his ring, or is this a secret rendezvous affair, and that's what they never discuss...?

She's not entirely satisfied -- communication breakdown is always an accessory, if not the root of marital discord.  Perhaps she just wants to "talk" more and not treat this like a business. Maybe it's not a business at all, but a lonesome pattern of routine...the human condition. Then again, they may not even really know each other; married singles as the title may suggest, or just two lonely people escaping other issues and responsibilities. 

Either way, he's obviously tuned out...

But what do YOU see?

Oregon City WORKSHOP

Ice Woman (detail) 16x20"

I am holding a Weekend Figure Painting Workshop at the Hansen Studio in Oregon City,  April 6th & 7th,  2013. 
Details are linked at right under "Events"

 (detail)

 (detail)

Class runs 9am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.