New Milkshake Mixer in Progress

I had finished everything up for the Twinhouse show, and was excited about getting into this new large Milkshake Mixer for Stricoff when . . . I came down with a second cold. I had about three days into this new painting when I got slammed for the second time this year. I couldn't believe it. I haven't been sick in years, and I even took the precaution of having the flu shot, but to no avail. Haven't had the energy to work at my easel for nearly a week. Just sleep and cough.

I'm on the mend now, and feel I should be painting again possibly as soon as tomorrow. I was strong enough yesterday, and today to work at my computer compiling tax information for 2007. Ugh, tedious, tedious work, but it's nice to have it mostly behind me now. Barring any more unforseen delays, I should have the completed version of the new mixer up late this week.

Twinhouse Winter Show 2008

The show went off pretty well on friday. Attendance was lower than previous shows. I believe the inclement weather kept all but the most adventerous patrons from driving in. Family and friends "have" to show up, so they provided a number of warm bodies that night. Above is my nephew Jason, and his girlfriend Alison checking out my wall.



Here are two patrons admiring Karens' work. Twinhouse is such a beautiful space. It's always exciting to see your work hanging there after having it stacked around the house for weeks prior to a show. The strip of businesses that include the gallery had been bought out by developers, and it looked as though the gallery would be demolished in the upcoming months. Now we've heard that there has been a reprieve, and it will remain in its' current location for the next 18 months to two years.



And last, but not least, a couple of patrons discussing the merits of "Business Opportunity in Monkey Town". Jeff Cohens' work looked great. The show included one of his most beautiful water towers. All in all, it was a good night. I sold two paintings, and Karen sold one. I haven't spoken with Jeff since that night, and so aren't sure if he has had any sales as yet. Now it's on to the other galleries. I've got a good start on my second large Milkshake Mixer destined for Stricoff. I'll put up an in progress image soon. Before I end this post I'd also like to thank Karin Jurick for sending me these images from the show. I took my camera, but didn't take a single shot.

Small Kettle

Small Kettle
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Well, we've finally reached the end. This is the final piece for the winter show at Twinhouse. I'm not exactly sure what this "little kettle" is, but that's how I've named it. This may actually be a creamer. I just like the shape, and how its' surface reacts to light. I also felt that my contribution to the show needed one more refltective piece.

All the paintings have been delivered, and are at the gallery being hung. Susan always does a great job of positioning the work, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she presents the paintings this year. It looks as though the weather will not be cooperating. It hasn't rained a drop here in Atlanta for the last nine months, but it will be raining on friday, with a chance of thunderstorms. Hopefully the hardier gallery patrons will brave the elements to attend the show.

Anyone interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting can find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work, for Karen, and myself, you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Sliced Bread No. 2

Sliced Bread No. 2
oil on gallery wrap canvas
12'' x 12"

As I said in my last two posts, "heavily weighted toward the subject of bread". Sliced Bread No.2 is the final bread painting, and the last of the paintings that were previously shown at Twinhouse. It is a larger piece than the others in the group, sized at 12 x 12. This is, in my mind, one of my best bread paintings.

If you're interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting you will find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work, for Karen, and myself, you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Sliced Bread No. 3

Sliced Bread No. 3
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

As I said in a previous post, "heavily weighted toward the subject of bread". Like the Tomato on the Edge, this particular painting has been at Twinhouse since the fall. I've included it for the same reasons I listed with the Tomato painting. Hopefully this will be seen by someone who is unfamilar with it, and experience love at first sight.

If you're interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting you will find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work, for Karen, and myself, you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Pear Platter

Pear Platter
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Here is the second of the two pear paintings for the show at Twinhouse. I'll be putting up a painting a day to get these all in before the 22. If you're interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting you will find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work, for Karen and myself, you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

PB & J No. 6

pb & j no.6
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

My portion of the show at Twinhouse this year is heavily weighted toward the subject of bread. I'm hoping that I haven't tipped the scale too far in that direction. It's been a popular theme in the past, and maybe there is still life left in it. No pun intended.

If you're interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting you will find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work, for Karen and myself, you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Tea Cup

Tea Cup
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Next in the line up for the winter show at Twinhouse is this little cup. I hadn't done a tea cup painting in quite a while, and thought it was time. I have to say it was really fun to paint, and I think it turned out well.

I'm intrigued by white ceramic, and have been trying to master that creamy translucent surface for years. I'm getting there, but haven't got it yet. There are a lot of subtle layers, colors, reflections, and highlights in this material, and it's been a challenge to capture those qualities properly. I'm hopeing one day to fully realize those in a painting, and am looking forward to that learning process.

Those who may be interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting can find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the completed work you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Tomato on the Edge

Tomato on the Edge
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

I'm going to be completly honest with all of you, and confess that this particular painting has been at Twinhouse since the fall. It will be included in the grouping for the winter show, because: 1. It will help flesh out my portion of the gallery and, 2. I really like it. I felt that I nailed the tomato, and I love the composition. It was in fact one of my favorite paintings of last year. I don't always "see" my paintings as others do, and often miss the mark. None the less, I think it's pretty good. No, really good, and am looking forward to seeing it with the other pieces on the wall. I hope you can forgive my pride.

Business Opportunity in Monkey Town
oil on multiple plywood panels

The title of the Twinhouse show is Trifecta, indicating the there will be three artists represented. Karen and I are two of the trio, and Jeff Cohen is the third. He will be showing a number of his "fragments" paintings. He creates these by painting individual plywood panels separately, then mounting those panels to a plywood box. The finished painting is then covered with a beeswax preparation. We spent the evening with Jeff and his wife Leslie (also an artist) a couple of days ago, and saw a number of his completed paintings . . . Jeff's going to have a good show.

I've suggested that he put up all of his completed paintings on a temporary website, so the entire show could be viewed by those who may be interested in making a pre-show purchase. He liked the idea, but he's in a bit of a crunch to finish his paintings, and wasn't sure if he would have the time. If he can swing it, I'll put a link to those paintings in a future post. They're really beautiful.

I've got my small paintings finished for the show, although they are not all on my website just yet. I should have them up in a day or so. Now I will begin working on a new piece intended for Stricoff Fine Art Ltd. Jeff Stricoff was interested in another Milkshake Mixer (yay!), so I'll be working on that for a while. I may post some "in progress" images for it.

Anyone interested in a pre-show purchase of the Tomato painting above can find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the work completed so far you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Split Pear

Split Pear
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

I haven't had much luck selling pears in the recent past, but the fact is that I love painting pears, so here is the first of two pear paintings I've done for the Feb. 22 show at Twinhouse. Actually I stole this image from Karen, who had used it in her painting Symmetry, which she will have at the same show. It will be interesting to see if anyone notices.

Those who may be interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting can find contact information to the gallery by clicking here. If you'd like to see all the work completed so far you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Shaker Head

Shaker Head
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Moving on to the next piece from the up-coming Twinhouse show Feb. 22. I love this milkshake mixer from Hamilton Beach. The motor housing is especially fun to paint. If things work out, I'll be able to paint it a lot before people get sick of seeing it. This is the second incarnation. The composition is similar to the first, only much smaller, and sans the cup. Anyone interested in a pre-show purchase of this painting can find contact information to the gallery by clicking here.

We picked up the invitations for the show yesterday at the gallery, and they look really good. It's a nice design, and the reproductions of each artists work is spot on. I may scan it, and put it up later, I'm not sure. If you'd like to see all the work completed so far you can either click on the "Upcoming 2008 Twinhouse Show" link or click here.

Pool Balls No. 5

Pool Balls no. 5
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

With the exception of the Cherry Can, the paintings for the show at Twinhouse will reflect popular themes and sizes from the previous year. I've received quite a few requests for that subject matter, and I aim to please. Once the show is hung I'll be returning to some of the larger pieces I had flirted with at the end of 07.

If you would like to make a pre-show purchase of this painting you can find gallery contact information by clicking here. If you'd like to see all of the paintings completed so far you can do so by clicking here.

Cherry Goblet No. 3

Cherry Goblet no. 3
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Here is the next painting headed to the winter show at Twinhouse gallery. The show pieces are now being added to my website as each is completed. The site will also include contact information to the gallery for those who may be interested in making a pre-show purchase. The website also includes a link to Karens catalog of paintings scheduled for the show. If you think you may be interseted in the purchase of this piece you can click here for more information.

I was originally planning on doing six 10 x 10's, but with the added time provided by the altered schedule, it looks like I may have nine or ten small paintings in addition to the larger Cherry Can.

See you in a few days with the next installment.

pb&j no. 5

pb&j no. 5
oil on gallery wrap canvas
10'' x 10"

Thanks to all of you who left the encouraging comments on the Cherry Can painting. I was a little iffy about how it would be received at the Twinhouse show in February, but now am much more confident about that particular piece. Jim (you know who you are) thank you for your observations, and comment as well. I'm looking at my images a bit more closely now before I commit them to canvas.

Above is the first of the 10 x 10's headed to the winter show at Twinhouse. I have three pieces relating to bread. Karen likes my bread, and convinced me to do some more. The date for the show has been pushed back until the 22nd of February, and so I'm going to try, and squeeze in a couple more of these 10 inch squares before the deadline. If I don't make it I'll still have the six, which I think is a respectable number inluding the 24 x 36 for a group show.

I'm sure that a lot of you who frequent this blog are fans of Karin Jurick, and may have seen this painting already, but Karen and I are so proud to have been "immortalized" by her I had to include the painting in this post. The image was taken from our trip to Asheville NC, to take part in the opening night reception of her show at 16 Patton. One amazing thing about this painting is that Karin started it just after we called her to say that we were on our way to her house to meet for lunch with her and Brett. The painting was complete by the time we arrived. She's something else. Karin has a spread in the January issue of American Art Collector magazine on newstands now. She is also painting for a show at the Howard/Manville Gallery in Kirkland Washington. The opening reception is February 9. You can see those works by clicking here.

I haven't updated my website as yet to include the contact information for the gallery, if any visitors are interested in purchasing "pb&j no. 5". I should have that done in the next day or so. If you can't wait you can click on the Twinhouse link, and either call or email Tiffany. She can help you with that. I'll be spacing these new images out, with the final one posted a few days prior to the opening. I'll be back in a few days with the next painting.

Cherry Can Complete

Cherry Can
oil on gallery wrap canvas
24'' x 36"

The can of cherries is finally finished. I don't know if it works or not. It didn't turn out like I'd hoped it would. I may have bitten off more than I can chew on this one. It took much longer to complete than I anticipated, and my cold didn't help speed things up any. Now I'm in a race to produce enough work for Twinhouse to actually call my contribution a "show". Fortunately it's a group show, which takes some of the pressure off.

No more large paintings for the time being though. I've got six 10 x 10's drawn out, and if I kill myself maybe I'll be able to complete them all in time to hang in early February. It's not what I had planned, but the holidays, my illness and the riduculous amount of time I spent on the cherry can has rendered my original ideas moot.

I'll post each of these small pieces as I complete them with links back to the gallery for purchase information. Wish me luck, because I'm going to need it.

My Original Painting A Day

August 1986
ink & marker on bristol board
7'' x 7"

I've been laid up for the last eight days with a terrible cold, and as such haven't been able to put in any time on my Cherry Can painting. This has really put me behind on the work I need to do for the show at Twinhouse in February, but what can you do.

Rather than let my blog languish un-updated I thought I'd post something fun from my past. I recently received an email from someone who used to frequent our type/design shop Pace Typography in the late 80's. In his letter he mentioned how much he had enjoyed my calenders. I hadn't thought about them in a long time, so I got them out, and looked them over for old time sake.

Each month for one year I created a calendar shell, and in each square I'd draw a little picture representing the most significant event of the previous day. Then, I'd color them with markers. Each square was about 3/4 of an inch in size. A lot of these days had no event more significant than working, and maybe watching television that night.

March 1987
ink on bristol board
7'' x 7"

March of 1987 was the last month I did this, and as you can see I never found the time to color that month in. The images are rather cryptic, and I've forgotten what a lot of them are supposed to mean. We did go to a lot of movies in those days. A lot of movies. I was also spending a great deal of time building scale aircraft models. Both of which are heavily represented above.

Anyway, I thought it would be fun to post my first "painting a day" effort. I have a lot of fond memories of Pace Typography. It was a wonderful experience working everyday with my best friend Michel Valin. He and I worked really hard, never made any money, but for nearly eight years I looked forward to going in to work each day. Many of our clients would come to pick up their jobs, and then would just stay and hang out. People didn't want to leave, even occasionally joining us for lunch. A number of those clients have become very close friends.

I'm back at work now on the cherries, so I should have a new progressive image up soon.

Happy New Year - you all!

Seasons Greetings

St. Angus
oil on canvas
18'' x 36"

For the last few years my annual Christmas card has been derived from modifying one of my old "cow" paintings in Photoshop. Basically transforming a pastoral scene into a winter landscape. I thought this year, in addition to creating hard copies to be sent via snail mail to family and friends, I'd also post it here on my blog, as a sort of "e" card to everyone who has taken the time to visit and comment in 2007. Thanks again everybody. I hope you all have a happy holiday season. Oh and, Merry Christmooooooooos!

Cherry Can in Progress

Cherry Can
oil on canvas
24'' x 36"

The prediction in my last post, as to the subject of my next painting, was that it would probably be a percolator. This has turned out not to be the case. I've had this particular composition on my mind for some months now, and decided that it was time to give it a try. Cherries have been a re-occuring theme in my work for years, but this is the first time I've painted a cherry the size of a grapefruit.

This piece could take some time, so I've decided to post a series of "in progress" images. The image above is the end of day one. To do this is a bit like exposing your soft underbelly to the wolves, but I find it interesting when I see these transitional shots on other artists blogs, so I'm trying to suppress my fears, and present my process.

I'm a little fearful of the can, with its extensive series of parallel ridges. It will be a challenge to get "right". If it works I think it will be very cool, if not . . . . ? Hopefully the next post will include an image of the satisfactory completion of the underpainting of that can.

Free At Last! the Mixer is Complete

Hamilton Beach Mixer
oil on canvas
18'' x 24"

Every once in a while I get into a painting that just doesn't want to cooperate. Fortunately it doesn't happen too often, but this has been one of those paintings. I've been working on it so long now that I don't even "see" it anymore. I can't tell if it works or not. Karen says it's really good. I did the overnight test, where I tell myself to wait until the next morning to make a value judgement. When I saw it in the light of a new day, I was "less" negative about it. I still don't know if I got it with this one. Jeff Stricoff at Stricoff Fine Art, Ltd. was excited to have it, so there's a second positive opinion. I believe I'll just have to get away from it for a while, then after a few days see if it starts to grow on me.

I'm still working out the details with Plus One Gallery in London, but I think I can safely say that I'm in! They have three of my small pieces now, which they tell me they love, but "would really like some larger work". Until we figure out the logistics of our relationship I am going to hold out on sending any new paintings, but I'm confident enough to begin work on a larger painting that will be slated for their gallery. The director and I spoke over the phone last week, and I don't think what we have to deal with could break our new association. They haven't put my name on their website as yet, but I have added them to mine. Couldn't wait to do that.

These next few paintings will probably be larger pieces requiring significantly more time to complete than my earlier work. Because of this I may post more "in progress" images to keep the blog current. I haven't decided on the subject of my next painting as yet, but at this point it looks like it will be a "big" percolator.

Addendum: I've been Tagged!

I got tagged last night by an amazing watercolor artist Pablo Villicana Lara. It's my understanding that I am now required to list 5 little known facts about myself, then "tag" five other artists to do the same. Here are my five:

1. I've begun the learning process of playing, then dropping the following musical instruments in the course of my life: 1. The Accordion 2. The Coronet 3. The Piano 4. The Guitar 5. The Banjo 6. The Clarinet

2. I once produced a short lived movie magazine called Cinemondo. It was the brainchild of our friends Burk Sauls and Kathy Bakken. The production team also included my best friend at the time Michel Valin (now my brother in law), and my wife Karen.

3. I've seen Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey over 60 times.

4. Once a year I allow myself one entire family size bag of Cheetos all for me by myself. (These are always eaten when Karen is not at home, and at a single sitting.

5. This may seem blasphemous to admit on an art blog, but I enjoy woodworking more (much, much more) than painting. Now that I paint full-time I do not have time for it, but retain wonderful memories of building furniture. You can see a few of those pieces here.

Those to be tagged? It's very hard to pick just five. Hopefully these have not yet been tagged:

Christopher Stott

Dianne Gall

Bob Martin

Leslie Sealey

Carol Marine

My Next Painting in Progress

I got kind of sidetracked this last week with the holidays and all, but I have begun a new (somewhat) large painting. It's a great looking vintage mixer - also made by Hamilton Beach - I picked up on ebay. The dimensions are 18 x 24, which for me is pretty big. It's proving to be a bit of a bear to paint, so I'm not committing it to any particular gallery until it's finished. There's always a chance it will wind up under a new coat of gesso. I've only got three days into it so far, so I'm not going to start freaking out right away. I'll give it a few more days before I decide to finish it, or trash it, and start on something else.

My friend Robert Deyber has created something new. I know a lot of artists are video taping their painting sessions, then publishing them to YouTube. Bob has taken this a step further, and installed, what I refer to as the DeyberCam. It's a continous live remote view of him at work in his studio. A "fly on the wall" look at the artist in action. It's a little voyeristic, but a good way to kill a few minutes during the day. He's given me permission to post the URL here for anyone interested in having a peak. You can visit by clicking here.