Pickles

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

I'll be painting "studies" in the coming weeks to test some ideas for larger paintings I plan to use for a show at Twinhouse in January 2007. Since I intend to use a square format for all of the paintings in that show, I felt the six by six size I've been using for my auctions would be a good platform to experiment with theme and composition. Tonight I've decided to paint one of my favorite foods. The dill pickle. These were a new find offered by Mount Olive. Jalapeño dills. Good eatin.

Sphericalaucity

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

I'll be painting "studies" in the coming weeks to test some ideas for larger paintings I plan to use for a show at Twinhouse in January 2007. Since I intend to use a square format for all of the paintings in that show, I felt the six by six size I've been using for my auctions would be a good platform to experiment with theme and composition. Today I've decided to combine the pool balls with the glass shpere into a single composition.

Espresso

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

I'll be painting "studies" in the coming weeks to test some ideas for larger paintings I plan to use for a show at Twinhouse in January 2007. Since I intend to use a square format for all of the paintings in that show, I felt the six by six size I've been using for my auctions would be a good platform to experiment with theme and composition. One of my favorite themes is the coffee cup. I love the opalescent quality of the ceramic.

Beasts of Burden

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

Inspired by David Coalburn's tireless efforts to support, and promote animal shelters throughout the U.S., I periodically donate a portion of the total of select auctions to the Happy PAWS Haven shelter. These donations stem from my still life paintings the majority of the time, but tonight I wanted to use an animal piece to help raise money for animals. These two were hitched to a carriage used to transport tourists through the streets of Savannah, Georgia. They were taking a break in the shade of one of Savannah's many oak trees when I took this shot.

Paper Bags

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

My wife Karen is a master when it comes to painting paper bags. I've watched her work on them, and marveled at how she "carves" out each facet of those ocher jewels. So, I'm attempting them again, on a much smaller scale. I loved this particular composition, because so much of subject was in shadow. And that blast of light with it's reflection on the oak table, blew me away.

Eyedropper

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

I don't know what to say about this item other than I just like it. I've been wanting to paint this little bottle for some time, but never got around to it. The quality of the glass, the waterline, the refraction of the dropper, and the rubber squeeze bulb in the cap all come together to create a cool looking subject. For me anyway.

A Bag of Granny's

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6"

sold

Fall is a time for apples, so here is a bag of granny smiths.

Vintage Scissors

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

I was in the mood for a little fine detail today, so I decided to paint these scissors. I borrowed them from Bob Deyber months ago intrigued by the complex pattern on the handle, and the age of the steel. They were placed upon the soapstone table in our kitchen. The table was a great find Karen and I came across at a retro furniture store we frequent called City Issue. The table was originally used in the science lab of a high-school. The wooden skirt beneath the stone top is covered with graffiti, applied over the years by a multitude of distracted students.

the Spider

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

Earlier this summer I passed one of these nomadic carnivals setting up in the parking lot of a local shopping center. This traveling amusement park struck me as a great subject for some paintings. I quickly drove home, got my camera and returned to get as many shots as I could before the gates opened for business. The cumulus were building up in the sunny humid skys, providing a wonderful backdrop to the well worn amusements in various stages of assembly. This piece depicts a small portion of a single leg of the spider.

P.A.D. in Art Calendar Magazine

Carolyn Proeber, editor of Art Calendar magazine, has written an engaging and informative article for this months issue, on the Painting A Day movement. The article begins with the dramatic, and well deserved, success of Duane Keiser. It details the chronology of his involvement, and how his work has accelerated it's phenomenal growth.

The article continues as Boston artist, Jeff Hayes, provides his insight into the popularity of the PAD method. The views of Virginia artist Maggie Stiefvater are also included. I'm proud to say that I own paintings from both of these talented artists. The article contains images of paintings from Jeff and Maggie, as well as the work of artist Darren Maurer.

The article concludes with a concise outline, providing basics on how one can get started. I've been doing this for a while, and I have to say that I learned some things myself. If you find yourself at your local newstand, you should check it out.

I would also like to thank Carolyn for her generousity in choosing one of my paintings for the cover. It was a great honor, and I thank you.

Egg Bowl

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

Tonight it's eggs again, but just the outside. A clear glass bowl filled with some grade A large.

the Pause that Refreshes

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

When we go on vacation, we invariably wind up in Blue Mountain Florida. We've been going there for over twenty years, and it feels like our second home. Sometime during our stay we will cruise down to Seaside for an ice cream or to pick up a new book at Sundog. On our last trip we came across this small snack stand built out of what looked to be a tiny Airstream trailer near the "town" center. This old coke crate was sitting on an ice chest next to the stand. I loved it's color, and the graphic quality of the Coke logo.

Calla Lilli

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

I decided to do something a little softer, and a little quicker tonight. The blossom of a Calla Lilli. Gary my brother in law, M.D., and accomplished underwater photographer, is now exploring the world of terra firma with his camera. His first foray was to venture into the garden around his home. He was very excited to show me his new pix, taken with his macro lens. I have to say, they were very good. He graciously allowed me to "borrow" a few of my favorites to use as subjects for future paintings. So, I returned to my painting a day mode, and did this little close-up of a Calla Lilli.

a Glass Sphere

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

I picked up three of these glass spheres at a local antiques store a while back. They've been laying around the house for a long time, and I've never done anything with them. The pool balls I painted recently got me juiced up to paint more spheres, so I grabbed my camera, and fired off a few shots. You can see me in the center. I love painting glass.

Albumin

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

sold

I've been wanting to try the subject of a raw egg for sometime. Here's my attempt. Like the watermelon, it was a challenge, but a blast to paint. I will definitely be returning to this theme in the future.

Robert Deyber Hits His Stride

My friend Robert Deyber has hit his stride. He has been working tirelessly these last couple of years to produce an extensive body of work that is proving to be very popular, and highly sought after. Presently, and most notably, his work was used for the cover design of Tom Petty's new CD Highway Companion. Tom Petty's wife found Bob's work, and quickly became a fan. It wasn't long after that that they contacted Bob to commission him to do a painting for the cover of his upcoming CD. The final creation was a collaborative effort between Bob and Petty, and to quote mr. Petty, "It's the best cover I've ever had".

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed here in Atlanta last week, and Bob was kind enough to invite Karen and I to come along. We were allowed back stage, but sadly were not granted an audience with Petty. If you move to Bob's left, and go through a wall, that's where we were. The concert was great. The band was celebrating it's 30th year together, and their performance reflected that unity. It was great!


Cold Turkey - acrylic on canvas - 48 x 48

Bob has also been added to the roster of artists at the Martin Lawrence Gallery. Representatives of Martin Lawrence discovered his work at the Art Expo in New York earlier this year. They were extremely enthusiastic about his paintings, and have spent the last few months preparing his debut. Although his representation with Martin Lawrence has not been publicly announced, Bob's work has been selling at a feverish pace. His official debut will be held at the Dallas, Texas gallery on October 28th.

Congratulations Bob on your success. It's well deserved.

the Artichoke

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

bidding has ended for this painting

Tonight it's the artichoke. I don't consume them with any regularity. They're a bit too labor intensive for the return, but they do look cool. This delicate flower encased in armor. It's been a few years since my last artichoke painting, and it was nice to revisit them.

Watermelon

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

bidding has ended on this painting

I've wanted to paint watermelon for quite a while now, but never got around to actually doing it. Karen is an old hand at it, having painted the fruit a dozen times. So, here is my first attempt. I have to say it was really fun to paint. I foresee my returning to this subject again in the future.

Mike's Contribution to My Vocation

When I first began to paint my small six by six inch paintings, the size proved to be a problem. Fitting them on my easel, and having the ability to adjust their position to match my position, i.e. sitting or standing, was impossible.

I knew Jeff Cohen had created a device to support the small plywood panels he painted on for his Fragments paintings, so I constructed a, rather crude, version of his device. It worked reasonably well, but it was kind of clunky. Then one day I was talking with my friend Mike Kasper over the phone, and I happened to mention the panel holder I'd built.

I have to stop here to say that Mike is a kind of renaissance man. He can basically do anything with his hands. Painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, carpentry, entire home renovation, I could go on and on. So, I describe this thing I'm using on my easel. The converstation ends, then a couple of days later, he shows up at my house with this elegant piece of equipment made of steel. From my description he had re-created my humble attempt, and produced something that worked like a dream. It will adapt to hold either my hardboard panels or small canvases. Plus, the whole thing moves on ballbearings so, it slides, "like it's on ball bearings".

Anyway, I just wanted to show off this wonderful piece of equipment, that has made working my small paintings so much easier. I also wanted to draw attention to the fact that Mike has now joined the ranks of the ebay artists by placing a link to his listings.

click here to view Mike's ebay listings

Coffee Cup & Spoon

oil on hardboard panel
6'' x 6''

bidding has ended on this painting

When I finished the pool balls I was still in the mood to paint something reflective but not metallic, so it seemed a good time to bring out the cups and saucers.