Hanging Basket

Loved the light/dark patterns here. Happy summer!

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 16x16.

Pear/Apple on Abstract Background

It seems I am always thinking about a new way to present a familiar subject. I had some abstract designs that I had done a while back and decided to make them "representative" by imposing a familiar subject, the pear and apple. I haven't seen this done and thought it would make an interesting approach.
Something different for the kitchen. Each is 10x10.

A Good Day to Wear Red

This street scene was fun to paint, capturing reflections on a misty day. This scene was one where, as a painter, you must remind yourself that you are not painting buildings, cars, and figures, but rather shapes and values. There is a lot going on in the scene but I think the strong focal point makes all the supporting elements believable. Actually I could have simplified those elements even more.
Painting is 10x8 on mounted canvas.

Arrangement in White

Sorry to have been away from my blog for many days. I have been busy painting for shows and considering new approaches to painting. I really feel like you can get in a rut by following the same procedures that you get comfortable with, even approaches that generally produce satisfactory results. When you have deadlines it is even more difficult to take the time to experiment in an effort to take your work to a new level. Anyway, that's where my thinking has been.
This floral still life was fun to do because of a free approach using some abstract elements and letting some of the paint run and drip. A very limited color palette and a strong light/dark design produced a bit of drama. It is 40x30.

Sweet and Savory

I recently attended an art workshop with master painter Quang Ho. Quang is a gifted artist and wonderful educator. I came away with a new appreciation and better understanding for ALL types of art.

While there I painted this still life of a pear and two onions on a mahogany dining table.  I wanted to do a simple, uncomplicated painting so I set up just three items. However, it turned out to be more difficult than I anticipated as I was dealing with both shadow and reflection. The room was lit only by the late afternoon sun. The painting is on a gessoed panel and is 11x14. I will keep this one as a remembrance of the experience.

paintings for art competition

I was excited to have two paintings accepted into the Energen Corp. art competition, open to all artists of Alabama. This one, titled "Bottega-Favorita" (22x17), depicts two diners entering a favorite restaurant in Birmingham, AL, which is housed in an historic building. The scene is at night and presents a different kind of lighting than I am used to painting.....more dramatic with the spotlights and street lights. This painting won an Honorable Mention award.

A second painting is a street scene in the Montmartre village of Paris. You will always find many artists set up in the village showing off their painting skills and selling their work to tourists. This painting focuses on the adjacent shopping area on a misty day in February....people milling around regardless of the weather. The painting is titled "de Montmartre" and is 20x24.

Coffee with Cream & Sugar

I do a lot of paintings related to food and wine, mainly the chefs at work or a sidewalk cafe venue. Then I thought about the food itself. I don't do very many still lifes but I thought it would be fun to do some with a little twist. So I dug around and came up with props for this one. Not really trying to do a super detailed painting but just an interesting composition.  I really had fun doing something different, at least different for me.
So the next time you are having artist's block, go to the pantry and see what you can come up with. This one is 15x12 oil on gallery wrap canvas.