Amaryllis I

Amaryllis I is the first in a series I have been sketching for the last few months. Growing up in a Christmas 'obsessed home, I owuld see these forced bulbs blooming all over the house and was always astonished at the variety of colors, and the distinct presence the pots had in the warm, bright winter light streaming through the windows. I wanted to make the composition simple & focus on the sculptural qualities of the plants. I've been reading this great book on the historical journey of Vincent van Gogh's last portrait - Portrait of Dr. Gachet: The Story of a van Gogh Masterpiece by Cynthia Saltzman. It combines three of my favorite subjects: history, art, & van Gogh. This inspired me to be influenced by Vincent when approaching the canvas and palette. His simplicity of structure and his exploration of the internal energy of his subject was a perfect fit for what i was trying to convey. I wanted to avoid the traditional red/green Christmas color scheme, so I took a twist by modulating the tones and adding the sunshine in both direct lighting and the vivid yellow s of the table. the table itself becomes a light source, emphasizing the violet, orange, & blues I used to add heft and structure. You can click on any picture to see a larger version with detail. The weight of the table balances the huge deep red blooms and keeps it from falling over. I had a lot of fun withthis painitng, I hope you enjoy it. Leave a comment to let me know your thoughts.

Here is a peek at my palette as I was painting the final touches.

Amaryliss I (15" x 30" unframed) offered at $350 + shipping & packaging

Cupcake

I couldn't resist this composition or the subject matter. The cupcake was Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting! Yum.

I was inspired by the paintings of Marc Whitney, Tony Merrithew, Manny Farber, Tom Brown, and of course Wayne Thiebaud.

I am pleased with the the tone and texture. I think it might translate to a larger format as well. Similar to Thiebaud I slathered on the oils for the frosting, although I want to try a different brush or pallet knife. As a Foodie I enjoy painting anything culinary and I think it show in this canvas.

Inquiries & comments welcome.

Red Velvet Heaven 11" x 14" oil on canvas, framed silver 19.5" x 16.5" overall. Available $450.

THREE FIGS ON A PLATE

I have not been posting as of late, due to visiting Family, exhausting work obligations, and a bit of a cold. I have been working on quite a few new paintings. I going to post some small paintings that I haven't posted yet, recent but not brand new. Let me know what you think. This is a twist on a classic still life. I love figs - the taste is an aquired one and a wide variety offers a great color palette. I thought I'd have fun with the contrast while trying to capture the frosted skin tones. A simple, modern plate gives them an almost sculptural quality while the vibrant background emphasizes the freshness of the figs. I found a great framer here in Dallas and this was one of the first I had done. ~NEXT

Edge of the Ocean

Ididn't think I would finish this small 5" x 7" but, sometimes you just need to stop. Pick a point to stop painting and don't touch it again. This semi-daily painting has taught me the importance of that lesson. I am happy with what I have learned here.

I was trying to be very simple and still have a a little something going on with the background, a la Matisse. The title comes about because the shell is on the edge of the table and looks so lonely.

Sugarplums in My Head ...

These too, soon perished after this painting, but their wonderful flavor is the essence of this painting. I like the color risk here, I hope it shows well. Another rainy weekend in Dallas, but productive so, I'll be posting a couple this week. I'm trying something new all the time keeping what works and reinventing the rest. (5" x 7" oil) ~NEXT