Wednesday, January 31, 2024

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.



Saturday, January 13, 2024

Turning the Big Seven O


 























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


Sunday, December 31, 2023

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



Friday, December 29, 2023

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!. 


Monday, November 20, 2023

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. 



Friday, September 08, 2023

LOAF

LOAF  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel





















Sometimes I just need to paint a loaf of bread.



Wednesday, August 02, 2023

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.



Wednesday, May 31, 2023

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. 




Friday, April 14, 2023

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.


Sunday, January 01, 2023

Happy New Year 2023!


Don't have much to show for 2022 artwise. It was an interesting year with an unexpected last quarter. I'll label it an unexpected cardiovascular interruption. Not a heart attack, but resulting in the same treatment. Still getting over that, but I'm on the mend, and slowly getting back into painting mode. Looking forward to a more productive and hopefully less traumatic 2023.



Tuesday, September 06, 2022

Blue Spiral

Blue Spiral  |  18 x 24  |  Oil on panel


In my eBay days when I was just getting started with my art career I painted a handful of "urban landscape" paintings. Mostly just closely cropped front doors and stairways. In time I moved to still life and have stayed there, until now. Karen and I had recently been in Asheville visiting her sister Robin and her husband, my ex business partner, high school buddy and best friend Michel. When we're there we always spend a good bit of time visiting the local art galleries. As we were entering one of our favorite galleries, Blue Spiral, I was struck by the beauty of the beefy bronze handle on the front door and the reflection of the street in the windows. I took out my phone and took a few shots in case it had some potential as a painting. Back home I downloaded the images and thought to myself, "I've got to try this". Anyway, this is the result. I hope this is something because I'd really like to try it again. 




Monday, June 06, 2022

Austin Healey: Complete

Austin Healey  |  16 x 16  |  Oil on panel




I always want to keep going on a painting. Knowing when to stop is one of the hardest aspects of this endeavor, so I asked Karen if it was done and she said, "sign it!". 

My next  painting is going to be something completely different. I haven't fully committed to it but, I'm moving ahead like it will be. If I can do it, I think it could be cool. We'll see. 



 



Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Austin Healey: Work In Progress

Austin Healey: Work in Progress   |   16 x 16   |   Oil on panel

 












I'm getting close to finishing up the underpainting of this Austin Healey. A little more work on the bumper and I'm there. 



Saturday, February 26, 2022

P-40E Complete

P-40E   |   24 x 24   |   Oil on panel














The P-40 has finally made the finish line. This paint scheme was utilized by the 343 Fighter Group stationed in the Aleutian Islands in 1941 and commanded by Col. John Chennault, the son of Col. Claire Chennault who had commanded the Flying Tigers in China.  


Now comes the challenge of selecting my next subject.