Blocks

Many years ago I did a corporate commission for a company that produced nutritional products for children. I had four subjects to represent and one of them was "learning". I did a version of some of these blocks for that painting. I had such fun doing them that I did a few more for the gallery's. I've been going through a sort of nostalgic period lately so I decided to return to the blocks one more time. 

Bricks & Bones

 

Bricks & Bones  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

I'm not sure what it says, but names can never hurt me.

57

 

57  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

Around twenty years ago Karen and I were having lunch at the OK Cafe. A retro diner styled        restaurant near Buckhead. It was one of our favorite places to eat. I guess because of the theme they used the old glass Heinz ketchup bottles. This, of course, reminded me of the artist Ralph Goings which got me thinking of painting a ketchup bottle. I asked our waitress if by chance they had any empty bottles that hadn't been thrown out yet. She was really sweet and went in the back to check. A little while later she returned with two empty bottles. She had even rinsed them out and never asked what I wanted them for. I've gotten a lot of mileage from these two bottles over the years. 

Six Pack

Six Pack  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on pan

I've been feeling kind of nostalgic lately, so I decided to do a painting of some Coke bottles again. It's a simple composition, but I really like it. That red, black and white thing is very appealing to me. So much so that I think I'm going to continue that "look" with my next piece.

Manhattan Transport

Manhattan Transport  |  24 x 24  |  Oil on panel

This panel went through two iterations prior to this composition, but the panel rejected both of those. In the end it accepted the Vespa. It took a while to complete, but was worth it. Already got a start on the next piece. Much smaller, much less complicated, but perty.

Work In Progress: Manhattan Transport

Manhattan Transport WIP |  24 x 24  Oil on panel

I haven't put up a work in progress post in quiet a while and since this painting is going to take a while I figured it would be a good candidate. Karen and I came across this Vespa parked in a small nook between two clothing stores in Manhattan (SoHo I think). I've been hanging on to this photo for a number of years, and finally decided to pull the trigger. Just blocking in the background so far, with a little chrome and the tail light. Should get into the meat of this project today. This panel was originally to be used for another airplane, but about a quarter of the way into it I realized this was a total failure, so I sanded it off and replaced it with this. I think I made the right decision.

Turning the Big Seven O

 

I can't believe it's been twenty years since I turned the Big Five O!

New Book: "things"

 

It's been nearly ten years since I put together my last book, and it felt like time for an another one. So, here's a new selection of paintings created since 2014 titled, "things, paintings of stuff". I'm including a link to the Blurb site where you can view the entire book because, to be honest, it's too expensive to buy. The cost from Blurb just to print it is ridiculous, even without any profit added on. I basically do this just so I can have something tangible to hold in my hands that represents what I love to do. Is that wrong?  If you'd like to have a look here is a link to preview page. 

https://www.blurb.com/b/11833333-things

Hello to 2024

 

Inching up on the conclusion of another year. 2023 was sort of a rough go. Dealing with my own health problems and helping my father, as much as I could, through his last year. Even so, I was still able to squeeze out five paintings. I'm starting to feel much like my old self again and hopefully without jinxing things I hope to get a lot more work out in 2024. I hope all of you who follow my work are having a great holiday season, and will have a Happy New Year!. 

North American Aviation B-25

B-25 NAA  |  24 x 24  |  Oil on panel

  

A while back I attended an air show at the Naval Air Station near where I live and took tons of photos of this B-25. I love bare metal aircraft and this particular plane was the mother load. I've been feeding off that stash of images for years now and I think this one probably shows off that bare metalyness the best. I spent an inordinate amount of time on it, but it was one of those labors of love. 

LOAF

LOAF  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

Sometimes I just need to paint a loaf of bread.

Aermacchi Chimera

Aermacchi Chimera  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel

A few years ago I drove out to the annual vintage motorcycle event at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham Alabama. I don't ride a motorcycle, I just think they're beautiful. The park includes a really nice museum dedicated to auto racing and motorcycles. When I came across this Aermacchi Chimera I knew one day I'd have it . . . on my easel. It just came off my easel yesterday and will soon be traveling to Rehs Contemporary in NYC. Time to tone a new panel.

White Mixer No. 2

White Mixer No. 2  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on Panel

 

I did a really big cropped version of this mixer a long while back, but always wanted to do it again with all of its parts. The photo I used as source material came out a little different than the mixer itself. In actuality the entire body and stand are white, but in the photo the body of the mixer came out with this yellowish tint. I really liked the way that looked so I kept it in. 

One Way

One Way  |  18 x 24  |  Oil on panel

I think whenever I look at this painting in the future I will remember it as, "the one I worked on during my recuperation from heart surgery". I'm currently dealing with a newly discovered wrinkle involving my health, but the memory of this ordeal will have to be linked to the new painting I'm working on. 

This is from a photograph I took on Nantucket while Karen and I were in Massachusetts for the reception of a show I was having on Cape Cod. I just couldn't get the image of that white hat out of my mind. I also loved how the arrow in the road faced in the opposite direction of the pedestrians on the sidewalk. Plus, I hadn't painted people in a very long time and wanted to try it once again. I don't know if this piece will have much, if any, appeal to the public, but in all honesty I was doing it for myself. 

That day on Nantucket had been a really, really good day.