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)

New works for upcoming solo show...

 Note Bender (12x12) o/c

A couple of new paintings for my show opening next month at Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona entitled "Personal Space".  It is an all-figurative solo show of recent work that runs from Jan 23rd to Feb 3rd, 2014.  

Untitled (12x9) o/p

20+ works will be exhibited for sale with various subject matter including music, ballet, kitchen restaurant scenes and women in intimate settings...

Trimmed in Blue

Trimmed in Blue (16x18 o/c)

Happy Holidays!

"Desafinado" (18x18)

Well it's just about Christmas time and I'm sitting here with a bad cold, but enjoying some family who flew in to surprise me on Friday for my birthday. Birthdays are one way to mark the passing of time, but when you're an artist, so are your paintings... I hope my work is improving as the years go by, but I certainly know my approach and knowledge of painting is changing with time...

(detail)

Here are two new pieces heading for Bonner David Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona. I am still much interested in music-themed work (obviously) so I am continuing that exploration. As writers are best when they write about what they know, so too is art when artists paint subject matter they understand or have connection with...

"Instruction in Grace" (16x12)

I have been reading a book on drawing by Robert Fawcett (British 1903 - 1967) that is strongly influencing. Drawing is a broad term that applies to all stages of a painting; from rough sketch on paper to finishing strokes on canvas -- it's all rests on design (which is drawing, which is design).

(Detail)

Fawcett says in his book (from 1958) "The artist cannot communicate unless he understands, and the moment of understanding becomes the moment of communication." I know from my own frustrating experiences that I do best when I have understanding about something. Understanding something happens when interest develops beyond casual to passionate, and when you can convey that passion through imagery...well, then you've got something.

Hopefully that will become apparent in my paintings some day (preferably before my next birthday) but until then, have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

And now back to our program...

I just can't stay away from painting blues and jazz subjects...and I have no idea if anyone would buy such a painting, but they're going to have to pry that #6 flat Simmons Signature series hog bristol from my cold dead fingers before I give it up...

Tenor Sax (9x12)

These are more or less studies for possible larger pieces (or parts of larger paintings) but are O.K. to stand alone as small works. I'm both a music lover and an art lover, and the older I get, the more I appreciate the music of my parents generation and am inclined to explore that as subject matter.

Fascinating Rhythm (9x12)

Since my mother passed, I have repeatedly returned to the popular Samba influenced pop that was in the background when I was small (Astrid Gelberto, Sergio Mendez & Brazil 66, etc.) perhaps I'll venture into that genre for subject next... Interesting how much of the memory of our lives music can store and trigger when the timing's right.