Happy New Year!

 

Ryan PT-16 Underpainting In Progress No. 1

 

Ryan PT-16 |  24 x 24  |  Underpainting In Progress No. 1

I came across this Ryan trainer at the  National Championship Air Races in Reno back in 2012. I've been holding onto this photograph since then. I know aircraft art has a rather limited audience, but it's my favorite subject to paint, so here we go. I know this will take a while to complete (there are a lot of rivets in this image) so I thought it would be a good painting to include some In Progress shots. Here's number one.

bread

Bread  |  16 x 16  |  oil on panel

 

My last painting of 2020. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad. Anyway, Karen really wanted me to paint some bread again, so I obliged. One of my more funner subjects to paint.

It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, "it's been a strange year". I'm very fortunate that I have my painting to keep me centered. I'm keeping a glass half full kind of attitude these days, believing that 2021 will, for the most part, prove to be a less interesting year (for all of us). Before I go I'd like to thank everyone who visited my social media sites these last twelve months. It's very encouraging to see the "likes" and read your wonderful comments. I'll be back here again in January with a somewhat larger piece that should warrant some "work in progress" posts. 

So, Happy Holidays . . . and have a Happy NEW Year!

POOL

POOL  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

 

It seems like I've been working on this for an eternity, but I'm finally calling it done. Next up was supposed to be a larger piece, but I'm kind of liking this 16 x 16 inch format, so I'm bumping that selection for a smaller piece. When that's done I think I'll be ready for something a little larger. Two compositions are vying for that spot. One is a 24 x 24 and the other a 30 x 30. 

Crayola No. 2

Crayola No. 2   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

Karen just painted a Crayola box for her upcoming show at Shain Gallery in October, and it reminded me of the Crayons I painted back in 2014. I've archived the probably 50 photographs I took of it so I thought to myself, "I've still got all these images why not pick another composition and do it again". So I did. Now I'm contemplating the next painting and haven't decided whether it will be another 16 x 16 or move up to a 24 x 24. They're two completely different subjects, so I'm going to prep both panels, then maybe just flip a coin to decide. The coin toss idea is helpful because if I think "ugh" instead of "yay" when the results are in I can be pretty confident that it's the other subject that I really want to paint.

Heinz

Heinz  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

I really like sinking my teeth into a large painting, but lately it's been fun working smaller. It satisfies that need for "instantish" gratification. I know I've done a bunch of these ketchup paintings over the years. They remind me of my introduction to the photorealist artists when I discovered the work of Ralph Goings in the seventies. Fortunately I was able to see one of his paintings in the flesh at OK Harris in New York before they closed their doors in 2014. Anyway, now I'm back to the most difficult part of this job, deciding what to paint next. Right now I'm not sure but I know one thing, it will be no larger than 16 x 16.

Flying Tiger

Flying Tiger   |   24 x 24   |   Oil on panel

I do a lot of photography, either in the field or creating still life set ups at home. Amongst all those photos there are always a few that I feel are just a little above the rest. Unfortunately due to a serious flaw in my mental abilities I tend to reserve these images for some future date when the time is "right", or I've gotten better at painting to utilize them. Because of this I rarely get around to actually using one of these, what I think of as, "really great" photos. Bogged down in this unpredictable world we all live in now I figured maybe it was a good time to use one of those precious photos. I'm not saying that this particular image will come across to the art appreciating/buying public as anything special. This only pertains to my perception of the image. I am glad I finally broke down and released this shot because it was really satisfying to paint.

inspiredapArt

Artist Katie Koenig https://www.kkoenigart.com/ came up with the idea of a socially distanced art show. It's an online small works exhibition with all the proceeds of the sales to go to the artists. Karen and I both agreed to participate. The show will run from June 19th to the 26th. There's a lot of good art, so if you want to check it out here's the link.

https://www.inspiredapart.com/

Coke Straw No. 2  |   12 x 12  |  oil on panel

Think Small No. 2

Think Small No. 2   |   24 x 36   |   Oil on panel

My first quarantine painting. It's the same bug I painted back about a year ago, after I came across it in a Whole Foods parking lot. Like I said then, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this car, having owned two in my life. I was having a bit of trouble getting a good photo of this painting because the color was wreaking havoc with the white balance settings of both my cameras. This version is really close.  

I'm indulging myself with my next painting. Aviation played a pretty big part of my earlier life as a fan, a pilot, a skydiver and an aircraft mechanic, so I've picked a P-40 Warhawk. It's an image I've had stored for a while and I figured at this moment with all its uncertainty, it would be nice to do something that reminded me of that more adventurous time.

Mixer Commission

 Mixer Commission   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

Finally . . . the first painting of 2020. A commission for a client of C. K. Contemporary Gallery. Off now to Blick to purchase a panel for the next painting. I've got a couple of different compositions for that panel and hopefully by the time I get it primed I'll know which one gets picked.

Pool Bowl: Orange No. 13

Pool Bowl: Orange No. 13  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

Even though I actually finished this painting in 2020, I'm calling it my last painting of 2019 since 99% of it was actually done in 2019. Coming up next will be a commission of my shiny Sunbeam mixer.