Sprig of Coleus

This started out as a view of the entire inkwell with a couple of acorns thrown in for good measure...somehow the importance of the leaf took over and the rest receded. I'm working on a second one now, but needed a small break.
4x6 oil/panel
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BlueJay Feather with Three Leaves

I like Literal titles also :)
8x10 oil/panel

Surf and Turf

OK ..maybe I've gone too far with the cute/catchy titles, please forgive me, I just couldn't help myself. Does this make me less serious as an artist? I've been second guessing myself and my work waaay too much lately. It is when I start thinking too much about what I'm doing and why that I often come to a standstill.
I felt weird combining shells and leaves...because I think to myself, well they don't go together and no one will like it or want to buy it. Yet I did two small pieces last year with shells and moss ( they were snail shells I picked up in Hawaii)...and they sold rather quickly. Part of my drive to paint does have to do with approval...wether I want to admit it or not. It's when I let that feeling take over that I start to lose something...so before I start getting to introspective or philosophical let me stop here....
Here it is
8x10 oil/panel

Homeward Bound

This is an image for a painting that has been in my mind probably since I was a teenager. I've been riding the CapeMay-Lewes Ferry since I was a small child. My Father was in the Navy and we were stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, where I grew up. It's a six hour drive between there and here in South Jersey where my families roots are. During the sixtes and seventies we drove up Rt 13 about once a month. The Ferry ride over the Delaware Bay was always a treat...and always a sign we were almost home. We rarely took the ferry on the way back to Virginia, instead taking the Delaware Memorial Bridge. It was always a homeward bound event.. Hence the title.
I still visit Norfolk frequently. August 12th I made the trip to attend a friends wedding. On the way home I scheduled the Ferry Trip. I was stumped to draw anything on the 45 minute boat ride, but I did take several digital photos of the wake from the third deck, looking down on the the people leaning over the rail from the second deck. Here is the result. I don't work from photos very often and figures are a rare event in my paintings ( although I've attended countless life drawing sessions! )...but this view is so strong for me personally, it just had to be done .
I'm still feeling so caught up with this image that I may yet do a larger version. This one is 16x12 oil on panel.

One last 5x7 Leaf Painting

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Certain paintings seem to defy my digital camera...this was one. I took several photos and none come close to the true colors. I think maybe the outside lighting is too late in the day. I'll give it one more try tomorrow, but here's the closest to life for today.
I've enjoyed these leaves. I'm planning to do at least one more larger piece...9x12 I think.

An Old Leaf....or Two

I smiled when I saw Jan's comment on " A New Leaf " last night...as I had just finished up the Little Red Leaf painting...Yes Jan I have started to think about fall. The change of seasons has always been my most powerful Muse. I'm also finding great beauty in how the fresh leaves ( that don't get a chance to "change" )reveal subtle hues of pink and grey greens as they fade and dry. These leaf paintings remind me of Georgia Okeefe ...and for some reason Thomas Hart Benton came to my mind when I was painting the Little Pink and Green one.

The Two Little Leaf Paintings are 5x7 oil on canvas.

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A New Leaf....or Two

Finally broke the dry spell and painted these two this afternoon. This time of year the squirrels are building thier nests and my yard fills with fallen clumps of oak leaves. It's weird how I can sometimes loose the desire to paint so strongly. I've been beating myself up over not producing anything these last few weeks. I have plenty of beautiful and interesting subjects all around me....yet they all left me cold .....until I was picking up these leaves.

5x7 oils

oil study canna lily leaves

I found an extra half hour today to quickly dash this little study out...not really my usual stlye..but then I'm not feeling my usual self! Hopefully ending the dry spell...did some sketches too...maybe I'll post a pic of them tomorrow.
oil 5x7

Self Portrait 1982

I've been suffering from painters block for the past ten days. Part of this has to do with working more hours at the day job and being too tired to tackle the art thing when I get home. I posted this old picture ( acrylic/canvas 18x22)because it always reminds me of how I've been dealing with this for a very long time now. I was twenty two when that portrait was done...a desk clerk at Caesar's in Atlantic City. I'm sitting on the couch in front of a mural I painted on the living room wall of my small apartment. The uniform,canvas and serious expression show the struggle of working a so called regular job while still trying to be an artist.
The rest of this (painters) block has to do with indecision, fear and self pity. I know these are part of the process and in the past 18 months I've gotten past these little funks pretty quick. This one is stretching out way too long though and I'm reminded of the times in the past when I quit for years because it was just too much trouble. I don't ever want that to happen again so perhaps posting this pic and writing about it will clear a channel.

Floral Cards

Two 5x7 cards for two very different occassions. The first is for my Mother's Birthday in two days. These are little blue floweres called "Balloon flowers"
I'm not sure of thier real name. I picked them from a friend's garden yesterday. Some actually open into pretty star shaped blooms, but I liked the little balloon shapes ....and the pretty blue color is one of Moms favorites...This was done with markers and colored pencil.
The second is for a sympathy card to a good friend who just lost her mother. I keep a few of these on hand for such times. The mini-calla lillies are done in sepia watercolor.

Sunglass Series: All together Now

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Thought it would be fun to view em all together. Two sold for 75.00 each at boardwalk show....

A weekend in Ocean City

It was oh so hot...
and I didn't sell alot...
Yet I got to go swimming
...but you wont see that shot.

Final (for now) Sunglass Painting..and Blue Shell

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Here are two from today....should be dry for the show in Ocean City this weekend. When I do these last minute pcitures I use Liquin as a medium with the oils because of its fast drying properties. With most of my work however, I use only stand oil as a medium...I like the paint to dry slower when possible.
Glasses are 8x10 panel
Shell 4x6 canvas panel