More Bivalves

It may appear that I am Sunday Painter these days, but I spent much time this week framing, organizing, preparing surfaces and other less fun aspects of being an artist. My first outdoor show is in two weeks...the Cape May Promenade...weekned of July 9th.
Here are three more studies of Angel Wing Shells...all 4x6

Happy Father's Day

Here's a card I just completed for my Dad for Father's Day. It is a 5x7 charcoal study of the Des Moines in the port of VilleFranche on the French Riviera...the ship he was stationed on when and where I was born; Nice France, 1960. Thought he might like this...photo wasn't too great so I kept it kind of vague...not easy for a detail lover like me!

AngelWings on Board

.SOLD
Here 'tis just about complete...these are like the child of the much larger Clams II that I did this time last year. 24x12 oil/canvas.

AngelWing

OK OK I know I try not to post works in progress on the blog...but here's the start of the Angel Wings...about and hour and a half. I love these shells..I did a painting of a really large one I found in Nags Head when I was fresh out of highschool..one of my very first shell paintings...now 28 years later I'm doing the second Angewing painting. These are really small...I was thrilled when I found them...they're actually are a bay shell...they live in mud flats. Very fragile and worthy of their name.

Feather and Mussels

I'm finally getting back into a rhythm with painting. Here's one just completed 14x18 oil on canvas. Started another of Angel Wing shells today...gonna be a goody I think...good start anyway

Limited Edtion Giclee's

I just picked up my first batch of Giclees from the printer today. I will be offering these fine art reproductions for 145.00 unframed or 175.00 framed. They are archival quality and I'm thrilled with how they came out. 16x20 stretched canvas. Delancey Place and Beach Badges. I know these will be very popular with the summer crowd here at the shore. I've already had two requests for Delancey Place.

5x7 Moonshells

Another small affordable :)

Little Clam Paintings

Two 5x7 oils of clams..getting ready for the summer shows!
Cape May Promenade July 8,9 & 10
Ventnor Library July 22nd
Ocean City Boardwalk 2nd weekend in August
Cape May Mall first weekend in September
....that's all
...so far.

Multiple Mussels

.Both Sold



Here's two 8x10s of the Mussel shells I mentioned...it felt great to finally sit down and paint directly.

Oldy But Goody

Here's a picture of a painting I did about twelve years ago when I first started painting in oils. It sold for a good price. Shortly thereafter I put the brush down for a long time. I was directing all my energy into acquiring a flowershop and pursuing my career as a florist. Throughout those 8 or 9 years of barely painting I was never able to shake that feeling I've had all my life...that I am an artist who was born to paint pictures!!! What a relief its been these last 14 months to know that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing!! God and the Universe smile at me once more.
Nancy'c Bottles oil/canvas 20x32

Mothers Day Delays

If you are out there and check in more then once, I must apologize for the neglect...it has been a very busy two weeks with the flower shop...no new artwork, but at least now I have the cash to pay for framing supplies and other much needed art stuff. I have a new still life set up of some lovely mussel shells. Will be onto that tomorrow. I'm having giclees printed up of two paintings...the sandals ( Delancey Place ) and the beach badges ( last post ) They will be in limited editions of 100 each and should sell for about 125.00 to 150.00 depending on the framing. Size will be 16x20 on canvas...I'm really excited by this. Last summer I was asked several times if I had prints of Delancey Place..it will be great to offer them this year!!
I will post new pics tomorrow..even if its some older stuff!!
...chuck

Work in Progress ;Turn of the Century Beach Badges

My Family Tree stretches back three generations on both my mother and father's side in the cities of Margate and Ventnor. These are beach badges lying on top of a nautical chart showing the part of Absecon Island ( south of Atlantic City ) where Ventnor and Margate lie. I was worried that this looked like some kind of advertisement when I first started the picture...I'm very happy to say that I no longer get that feeling. The component of the painting I most like is how the sand almost appears like clouds floating over the map.
The picture is about 90 percent complete, I just couldn't wait to show it.

cool glasses

In spring I return to my love of all things "beachy' I have in mind a painting of sunglasses...here are a couple of sepia/watercolor studies. approx 5x7 in size

C'est Moi

I'm always curious to see what other other artists look like here in the exciting world of interspace. Here's a new photo of myself...I needed one for a portfolio. I had the obligatory "serious artist" mug shot on my web page...but it just wasn't me. I believe that a smiling photo is much truer to who I am.........plus I lost a few pounds :)
...Anyway here it is. I hope potential Clients and Galleries won't see me as any less professional ....it's a chance I'm willing to take.

Fruit

Sorry Folks I usually never let this go so long without a new post. I am working on a new project, but I'm keeping this one out of sight until its completed...a habit I used to follow with all my work.
Here are a couple of paintings from 04' I did these when I was re-emerging from a long period of no painting. I hope to never let that happen again. As long as I remain spiritualy fit, it probably won't.
These are oil on canvas, 8x10s.

Hot Chocolate detail

...a close up of all those foamy bubbles...mmmm

Marshmallow Flow

Not to backtrack into last winter..but, this is the last of three paintings I've been working on to finish up..Now I can set my sights on some new projects I've had in mind.
12x24 oil on panel

Beached Bones III.....Finished at Last

kelp detail

Sometime soon I need to devote some time to figuring out some of my image posting options here at blogger...For now I just wanted to show a detail of the kelp painting...I sortof put it down in the last post, but really it is a nice piece. I love the colors of the kelp wheh it washes up on the beaches here in Southern New Jersey...usually around early October...the same time the leaves are changing..the colors remind me of Fall..Think I might go back to my original title.."Sea Leaves"

before and after Kelp

Well The moon shell in this piece was driving me crazy...painted it over and over in
different tones and colors and no matter what, my eye went right to it every time!
....so I eliminated it. I needed to finish this piece, put a lot of work into it, yet have to admit I think it's one of my weaker paintings...sometimes just goes that way. I'm sure there's a home for it somewheere out there in the wide world....Anyway here's a shot from before ( with shell) and after ( without shell)...Now I just have two more other big paintings to finish up and I can start the next...which I'm sure will be the best yet!!

Two more parrot studies

SOLD

...tulips of course!! I'm still trying to experiment with more direct and heavier application of paint..The photos are a bit reflective..but you get the idea. These are pretty small...5x7 oil/canvas

Baseball Season

Here's a 9x12 oil on canvas that I painted last year as a gift to my niece, Stephanie for her highschool graduation. Conveniently I happen to live right across the street from the ball field..and that's Mainland Highschool in the background. Stephanie played softball during her years there.I did the origonal sketch on location , finishing up from a digital photo reference. Sitting in my studio/sunporch I'm once again hearing the 'crack' of the bat from across the street, yet another harbinger of spring!!

alla prima parrots

Layed the paint on a bit thick with this one. Had fun:) perhaps more on the "pretty" side for my taste, but I was feeling light and springy...and very happy because the ongoing back problem is finally going...Yeeha!!!
I've seen two other artists doing parrot tulips and when these came into the flower shop today I couldn't wait to get home and give it a go!!
8x10 canvas

Orange Daffs

I'm trying to do a small painting each day until I use up the small canvases and panels I have lying about. I sold two yesterday....the 'Sunlit Daffodils' and the 'Cloudy Morning Windowsill'. This is a canvas panel 4x6. I find it very challenging to try and capture transparency of petals with oil...I think this one is a bit better then 'Sunlit Daffodils'. I can thank my friend Katherine over at Wet Canvas for helping with the value improvements. She has a wonderful blog called Making a Mark. I will be adding a link when I've a bit more time.

Inkwell with Blue Flowers

A little study from this afternoon. I started to wipe the original painting clean, then liked how that looked so here's the completed 'thin and washy' oil study...8x10 canvas.

My other creative outlet

Now that my back is feeling better I've been doing time at the flowershop..Also been working a few hours each day to complete the 'Beached Bones' painting. Here's a pic of me at the Flower shop from last Winter...not a good example of my floral abilities, but you get the idea! I'll post some more flower pictures ( of my more outstanding work!)in the coming months...after all it is my other creaive endeavor!

Garage Window

Here's a small 8x10 from last month...this is looking out my bathroom window over to the old garage. I'm slightly disturbed by the snow flecked tree..the perspective seems strange, although in truth that oak is actually growing right into the side of the garage..so it is almost part of the building. Anyway I thought it had a bit of a Wyeth feel..so here tis!

Andrew Wyeth- Winter 1946

I went to the members preview show of 'Wyeth, Mystery and Magic' at the Philadelphia Museum of Art yesterday. Andy's work has been an influence on me since I can remember. My grandmother had a book of his paintings that I used to look at when I was a small child (I have that book now) I remember distinctly thinking that That was how I wanted to paint. While most of my work is different, some of my paintings are very obviously Wyeth-esque ( to me anyway ). On my website is a painting called 'Three Steps' that shows this pretty clearly I think, 'Clams Two' also has a strong Wyeth feel. I've always been drawn to hard edge realism imbued with that sense of sadness that Wyeth portrays..also Hopper, Homer and Eakins come immediatly to mind.
...God what a show yesterday ..over one hundred paintings and drawings..I think we were there for almost 4 hours. I had a chance to meet and speak to Andy's grandaughter Victoria, who was on hand to answer questions. She was taking our inqueries back to her grandfather that night as he wanted to know what people were asking. Andrew is 89 this year and still painting...just amazing!! A wonderful day I just had to share. I'm thinking of going to see the show again before it's over..it was simply impossible to absorb that much work in a single afternoon.
Here's a link to some Wyeth pictures http://images.google.com/images?q=wyeth&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

Archie's Favorite Pastime

Here's a quick Sepia ( watercolor) Study of my Bassett-Hound Archie...this is how he spends most of his day....and night!
Approx. 4x6

Cora's Frog

Now that I've had my pity party for my back...back to work...here's this mornings effort. A little iron frog that came with my home.
4x6 oil/canvas

Formal Orchids

Completed this little darling yesterday. The painting has been slow going as I try to rehab my back into shape. I went so far as to get a referal to the neurosurgeon, but didn't make the appointment.Unfortunatley I suffer from post-operative back pain caused by a disk operation 8 years ago. What that means basically is that I'm up the creek..I can control the problem through excersize, keeping my weight down and paying attention to the fact that I'm not 27 anymore....three things I really let go of since December....Well pain always was my best motivator! And it's largely because of this unsolvable back problem that I turned to painting full time last March. I have a dear friend and spiritual advisor who has taught me that it is possible to Turn Stumbling Blocks into Stepping Stones. So off I go to take a nice long walk then back to the studio to start the next painting....

Formal Flowers

Here's a wip ( work in progress) ..Been at it all day. I need to get at least the flowers right before they wilt. Dendrobian orchids hold up pretty well, but after three days the blooms out of water really start to fade. My idea behind this was boutonnieres, I will probably add some "bout" pins to the painting, thinking about a piece of jewelry as well since its a "formal".

Sunlit Daffodils

Did this one in the bright sunlight of my Kitchen...two sessions over two days.I may use this as a birthday gift, if not my asking price ..75.00. I had to buy these Daffs but it will only be a few weeks before I can pick my own. YAY!!!!

8x10 oil on panel

Branch Series " Sticks and Stones"

Back in the end of January I completed this series of small paintings....The Fifth and largest (16x20) piece can be viewed on page three of my Online Gallery. They are a fine example of the 'Direct' and 'Alla Prima' style of oil painting that now dominates my artwork. I still enjoy the thin glazing technique that carried over from my years of painting with acrylics. But now I find that with the confidence to be able to paint directly with oil there is a new life to my artwork. Actually it is my goal to combine the two styles. The painting "Alla Prima Cheese Curls" on page one my website is the first piece in which I've successfully combined both thin glazing with acrylic and alla prima with oil.
As for the sticks...well I love the teal color of the lichens. These are all oak branches and twigs from my yard as well as the natural ironstone. I used to think of them as a nusciance ( the yard fills with them weekly ). It's nice to turn something bothersome into something of lasting beauty. Sizes on these four pictures range from 5x7 to 8x10 ...all oil on canvas. Price range- 50.00 to 75.00 dollars each.

Bones from the Surf Update

This one is really tough going since I am currently unable to stand without experiencing major back pain...as it is I worked on it several hours today...a few minutes at a time. I'm really pleased with how this is coming along...and I'll be so happy when I can clear those bones off the dining room table!!
...Next shot of this will be the finished work

Cloudy Morning Windowsill

Another cold grey day, here's my little study from this morning.
5x7 oil on canvas price-50.00

Lenten Rose..Is it Spring Yet?

8x10 oil on panel



Even though the temps are only in the low 40s I spent a few hours outside this morning doing this study of my Lenten Rose...Blooming right on time I might add.
..Reference pic shows how barren the garden is, yet when this early bloomer shows, I know spring is just around the corner.
oil on panel 8x10 price-60.00