Young Pierrot as Hunter

I worked on my new little Pierrot intermittently over the course of a month. I knew I wanted an austere background, gray and atmospheric but I didn't know how to give form to the original idea. Almost through serendipity, I happened on a lovely and very gray George Inness at the American Impressionism show at the New…

The Gambler

New painting available at Meyer East Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.  Somehow two different friends on two different occasions said he looks Russian. Maybe he is. He's not actually a card sharp.

La Primavera

"Spring Quiet" by Christina Rossetti (1847) Gone were but the Winter, Come were but the Spring, I would go to a covert Where the birds sing. Where in the whitethom Singeth a thrush, And a robin sings In the holly-bush. Full of fresh scents Are the budding boughs Arching high over A cool green house:…

Successful Paintings – what makes a painting have “it”

Recently I've been exchanging emails with a friend and collector about having that "eye" for spotting good paintings. How do you know if it's good? Is it a gut reaction? The answer is yes, of course. As a painter you know when you need a red color here or when the composition is lacking or…

La Dolce Vita – oil painting demonstration

I work in a manner I've developed over the years which may be best described as somewhat similar to a Venetian manner of painting. That is I glaze a LOT. I also use impasto and scumble. I am a solvent free painter and use just walnut oil and M. Graham walnut alkyd medium. I often…

Small portraits

Two new paintings (available at Meyer East Gallery, Santa Fe, NM) of children. I love how the technique used in each of these is particular to the imagined personalities of these portraits. "Boy with Scarlet Bird" is an exercise in greys and a rather delicate handling resulting in a doll-like smoothness with the bright shot…

Learning humility through the art of painting – studio process

The more I paint, the more humbled I become. There are times when I paint and all the elements fit in perfectly and it seems as if I've finally gained mastery. I go through the day feeling victorious, thinking, "haha...am genius after all...." Only to come crashing down like Icarus on the very next painting.…

O Brave New World – the artist’s statement

"O Wonder! How many goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, That has such people in't." -William Shakespeare, "The Tempest" The above quote from Shakespeare is perhaps a fitting artist's statement. To be an artist is to see everything with fresh eyes. One always hopes to preserve the wonderment…