"Purple Splash"

The model was doing quick poses all morning. She ran out of the standard poses which was really great because then she got playful and her poses looked natural to her body. I wish it was longer and I had used heavier paint but if it was a long pose I'd would have lost the simplicity. Still wish I'd used heavier paint in some areas to add more of a pow.

12"x6" oil on linen ($145.)

"Jazz Note"

After spending days working in a more thoughtful manner I seem to really need to do something more expressive and free. I'm glad to have a variety of excellent models with original flair.

20"x10" Oil on Linen (NFS)

"Corner Pub"

Plein air painting this morning was really great because Karen Phipps and I tackled the same corner = excellent discussion on many painting issues such as; is the light warm, are the shadows cool, what temperature is that colored wall, composition etc. And on top of all that, I'm still painting on this smaller size but trying to convey a big feeling. In otherwords, though it's only 8"x6," if painted well, it should command attention from quite a distance.

Amusing and interesting trivia regarding this pub at http://www.chibarproject.com/Memoriam/Rich%27s/Rich%27s.htm

8"x6" ($99./$145. framed)

0il on linen mounted on archival museum board

On the Shore

In the evenings I've been playing with small format figure paintings which I recently called my "blop paintings." I'm really having fun in my own little bubble. They seem to work best if I'm working directly from life but that's not always possible so I've started taking a gesture from another painting and using it all on it's own, also working from my horrible little scribbles and photos.

A new collector of mine recently framed four to hang as a grouping. It gave me a boost to see them hanging and revitalizing that space in her home.

This is 6"x8." Which is the largest I think my "blop" paintings should be.

"Along the River's Edge" (sold)

After a couple of days of hard rain I was surprised to find trees with spring blooms. I wish I could do them justice. The spring colors and textures are a fun challenge.

"Redd"

Yesterday was raining too hard to paint outside so I finished a piece I started a while ago. This painting is part of a plein air piece and much larger. My aim was to create the pleasure I have on a solitary walk among all the beautiful colors.

36"x24" Oil

"Swan Pond"

This area is normally a grassy park but because of all the rain the river has flooded this area. I've been told it's a natural protection which Frederick Olmsted, the developer of my town, incorporated into his design.

So here is another study on reflections. It's so easy for me to get lost in all the complexity of so many colors and shapes but a problem I am enjoying learning to solve.

6x8 Oil on Linen ($99. w/frame)

Private Interior

I've been making a lot of horrid messes this past week both in my studio and outside with my plein air efforts. These are the only two pieces I feel are "blog-worthy." But I'm not going to stress about it and after I finish my mega mug of java I'm hitting the streets to try try again.

Here's my/Churchill quote of the day, "out of extreme complexity emerges extreme simpicity."

One of my former roomates use to wisely say, "keep it simple stupid." The stupid part may sound harsh but she directed at herself. But with my many different subject matters; still life, plein air, figures, portraits, I do think it's important to simplify the shapes.

Session 3 "Kate" Oil on Linen 16"x12"
For the past three Thursday mornings I've been taking http://www.marcioleszkiewicz.com/ portrait and costume workshop. Marci is an amazing artist and very talented instructor. Each moring I learned so many new things that I always left excited and ready for another workshop. Check out her website. Her paintings will amazing you.
So what I've posted today is the head study I did over three sessions. As usual for me, I could have used several more hours to finish. I think with time and more practise I'll get there. I used everything in my art bag, extra large rounds mostly, some sables and two palette knifes and lots and lots of oil paint. To bad money doesn't grow on trees.

Session 2

Session 1

I'm sitting down and she's up on a podium. I chose this angle because it's challenging to get that upward look. Even in this early stage I could see lots of greens in her blondish hair.