Malicious Melon Demo

I started teaching a 12 week class yesterday and here is the demo I did to show the big brush, thick paint technique. It never even occurred to me at the time that I just happened to chose the country's most unpopular fruit. It's funny how the news of the day can subconsciously work its way into our work. Canalopes are cheap and so plentiful now, and their structural shapes make them really fun to paint, if you can temporarily forget the havoc they are wreaking. I think I'll focus on bananas next week.

Canelope Culprit

9x12" Acrylic on canvas

$275

Seeing Double

I've really enjoyed painting this "Martini Series". The tricky thing about capturing these cocktails is that if my stance moves even a fraction of an inch to the left or right, the reflections and colors change completely. Its a bit "crazy making". I start questioning myself, 'didn't I just see a mid-value amber colored spot in the upper left area of the glass ... or was that my imagination? Then I have to reposition myself and start searching for it, or move on and wonder where it went - or if it actually existed. I also have to remind myself what was my reason for painting this particular set up. In this case it was the double image of the olive pimento being reflected up into the top surface. A subtle little gorgeous spot of red to break up the sea of cool colors... its a good enough reason for me. Now... where is that amber spot hiding?

Seeing Double

12x12" Acrylic on Canvas

Price on Request

Consente di pittura in Italia!

Let's Paint in Italy!

It's not too soon to start planning to attend a fabulous painting trip in Italy for 2012. I will be teaching "Paint the Tuscan Landscape Fast, Loose and Bold" from September 8 - 15, 2012. The focus will be on creative interpretations of the Tuscan landscape (and villages) using color in a fauvist, no-holds-barred manner. We will push color to the max and be audaciously bold! You can work in whatever medium suits your taste - oils, acrylic, pastel, etc.

I will be bringing a suitcase full of Golden Gels, Pastes and Mediums that offer a variety of spectacular surfaces you can prep your canvas or paper with. Why begin your painting with a flat white canvas when you can start with a colorful, dramatic surface that has you inspired from the get-go? The old stucco buildings with peeling paint and exotic fasçades provide the perfect subject matter for exploring texture with these materials. I will be providing full instruction on how to incorporate the various gels and pastes into your work, if you choose to use them.

As always, there will be plenty of guidance and exercises on getting the values correct and creating a "road map" that will give you the freedom to let your colors sing and your spirits soar. Speaking of spirits, there will be an abundance of wine tasting, chocolate sampling and 5 star Italian culinary dining experiences. The itinerary is chock full of sensory feasts - read all about it here. As an incentive for early sign ups, registering before October 30, will save you $100.

It's going to be a fun-filled painting vacation - I hope you can join me! All levels are welcome.

Ciao for now...

Vernazza Colors

18x24" Acrylic on Canvas (SOLD)

On the Cover

This may fall into the category of shameless self promotion but... if you don't toot your own horn, who will? In today's mail I got a nice surprise - my artwork on the cover of "The Artist", a UK based magazine. I had contributed some images and commentary about working with the new OPEN acrylic paints by Golden Paints, which stay "wet" 10x longer than traditional acrylics. A little fame never hurts... hey - I'll take it!