Nyack Center

Nyack Center, 9x12" Oil on Canvas

I veered from acrylics and played with oils on this one. I do enjoy how different they are, and what they both offer.  The white church took on a fauvist air and then road decided to join in too. Biker dude got in just under the wire... the scene needed 'something' and he did the job!

Coffee, Tea or Tulips?

Coffee, Tea or Tulips? Acrylic on Canvas 12x12" Click to Bid

I've had this teapot forever, and love its classic shape. A while back, I dropped the lid and broke it, so I've been on the lookout for another one. This gives me an ongoing built-in excuse to rummage around flea markets and thrift stores, my favorite pastime besides painting.

Mixed Media Extravaganza

This weekend I'm holding a workshop, "Exploring Mixed Media" at my studio. It is a one day, hands-on workshop that will cover a wide array of new ways to spice up your artwork, whether you are seasoned professional or a beginner, representational or abstract painter. Although many of the materials we will be using are acrylics, they integrate perfectly with pastels, watercolors, dry media (colored pencil, graphite, oil pastel), even oil paint. All materials are included in the workshop fee, and I will be giving out lots of free stuff - hand painted color charts, color mixing guides, paint samples, "watercolor paper in a jar", "white-out for watercolorists" and other cool grounds and samples. It's sure to be a day of big fun as we pour, sgraffito, glaze, layer, drizzle ... and more. Here is a link to the workshop, as well as a painting that uses pastels, airbrush ink, Heavy Gel Matte, Acrylic Ground, Light Molding paste, Coarse Molding paste, Absorbant Ground and...oh yeah - paint! I love working traditionally, with "just paint and a brush" but its a very freeing experience to work in this mixed media manner.  If you want to be on the list for upcoming workshops in 2013, sign up here. If you are interested in a workshop in your area, invite me!

Lion Low

New York Public Library  Oil on Gessoboard 12x12"

I realized that I still haven't posted all the paintings from the NYC plein air gig I did in August. The painting above is from my first day, totally freaked out by all those moving people, hiding out behind Fortitude's butt. It's very difficult to keep a low profile in this city. Originally all the angles of the library were pretty straight and perpendicular but then I decided to scrape it, push the perspective and give it some attitude. When in Rome...

How I spent my summer vacation

Summer Tulips  12x12"  Acrylic on Canvas   Click to bid

Considering my summer vacation started last week, after I finished the book and ended this week, when I start teaching again, it didn't include travel, beach, suntan lotion or any of those summery icons. I spent this one week "vacation" in my studio just goofing around with all my paints, gels and pastes. I had a simple objective in mind: to have fun, not be under pressure, anything goes, nothing has to look good and most importantly, no deadlines. I worked on about 5 or 6 pieces at a time each day and had no clue as how they would turn out, nor did I care. This, in contrast to the past results and deadline-driven year of books and more, was strictly about "the journey"which is so different than how I normally work. Below are a few of my creations, altho the photo doesn't show how may layers of "stuff" I dripped, drizzled, poured, scraped, scumbled, or finger-painted on. About the only thing I didn't use was a brush. With acrylic materials, one can play forever, adding new layers - there are no limitations, other than the fact the pieces start getting a bit heavy.

 I snapped out of "vacation mode" last night and felt it was time to indulge my realism roots with this painting of my favorite teapot with tulips. I suppose it represents the end of summer...which sure seemed short this year!