New Work

coming soon - I've been busy-

Idle hands are the Devil's tools, but boy does he make cool stuff sometimes...

Falling Water

I finished my first painting in almost 2 months.  "Bash Bish Falls"  48" x 32" oil on canvas.  I had no desire to finish this one when I initially started it (March) because I couldn't find a reason for it.  My mind wasn't into it.  I stayed away from the studio for this entire time and occupied myself with new media and materials - like welding - (pictures might follow of these explorations).  I wanted to do more than a "landscape".

It seemed like I had given up on it, or at least I had lost interest in following through on this idea - I was starting to consider what I might paint over it.  All I had was a loose drawing on the canvas from when I visited and a slight indication of some rocks.  I wasn't sure I could pull off the composition I wanted.

I was out for a walk last weekend and went to see a gallery show, I was overcome with a bit of a "creative rage" and knew I had to make something of this image- or at the very least make a horrific mess -  and break through this creative block.  There really was no choice.  It was my duty.  I left and went directly to the studio.  I completed 90% in a two day furry.  I think it is the legend of these waters that propelled me through.  I see her legs.

Bash Bish Falls is a waterfall in the SouthWestern corner of Massachusetts.  The story states that a native woman (a Mohican Indian named Bash Bish) who lived here was sent to her death over the falls for adultery.

I find the surging water powerful - especially in the Spring when their is so much volume. The last time I was here was in 1999 and I did a small sketch in roughly the same place.  I think I've come a long way since then.  I know I understand quite a bit more now.

Burn baby, burn

Today I set fire to a number of older pieces that I have been carrying around for a few years.  Most of the pieces date from 1993-1999. 

There might be more, but today's fire consumed around 15 pieces.  I recently moved, and so I am going through 5 portfolios worth of work that I've been carrying around for  17+ years now. This picture is from 1994,  during the RIT years, a project where we had to paint 3 images in monochromatic color schemes.   I chose 3 violent images.  Two were war images (Vietnam- one is a woman having shrapnel removed from her hand) and the one pictured above is of R. Budd Dwyer. 

crazy days.

New Pics

Finished a few new paintings and posted them to the site.

Live Portriat Drawing at the Clark

I have been invited by The Clark Art Institute to be an onsite artist for their winter party: Picture Yourself at the Clark.

This event celebrates the opening of Giovanni Boldini in Impressionist Paris, the artist's first exhibition outside of Europe in over 20 years.

I am delighted to have been asked to set up my easel and draw portraits of guests "a la Paris streets circa 1880"

The event is on February 13, from 6-8pm, at the Clark.  If you are attending, please stop by for a sketch.
If not, I'll be sure to post some pics.

Tweaking in the New Year

I added some subtle touches to "Justice" and think it is much better now.  I gave it an all over tweak.  I made the hand "hold" the skull better by eliminating the heavy outline where they meet.  I added some extra highlights to the iris and lids to "sparkle" a bit more.  I also solidified and rendered the pages a bit more and added some warm tones from the reflection of the hand.  I also repainted the hand - for the 4th time, and I'll leave it at that.

I also tweaked "Trinity" and am really happy with the way it looks now.
A new painting is already in the bag for 2010.   I am focusing on the application of the paint and building structure/form through my brush strokes.  I'm taking a page from Shawn Barber's notes.
After I finish 3-4 I'll start uploading them.

some changes...

I have tentatively finished this portrait,

"Justice."  24" x 36"
I'm not thrilled with the hand holding the books.  It is popping out too much.  Too many warm tones in the shadows. I think the pages directly below the hand need to be brighter too, maybe that will offset some of the tones.....

I'll let it breathe for a little while.

Lately I have been re-working some of my existing pieces.  I re-painted the faces on a few pictures ("Caity", and both faces on "Becoming"), and have tweaked colors.  I guess I wasn't satisfied with them.