Time Travel

Photo provided by collector.

Once in awhile, it's healthy to pause and reflect on our artistic journey. Artists go through many stages in their development. At the beginning trying to understand the language of art; learning to draw, decoding color mixtures and value relationships, design, etc. While acquiring that foundation of the fundamental principals, we may explore genres from abstract to realism looking for our artist's voice. 

Step into any art store and we are overwhelmed by a myriad of possible mediums to use. I have splashed in watercolor, dabbled in gouache, been bold in acrylic and adventurous in oil. Ultimately, arriving at what will be the tools of our trade.

Above, is an early example of one of my acrylic paintings done in the year 2000. It is full of vivid, saturated color the very characteristics that attracted me to acrylic paint.

A quote from the owner of this painting, "What attracted me to the painting was the use of the deep blue colors which I found soothing and relaxing. The colors blend beautifully." - Frank.

The palette is bright, energetic and brushwork loose and I love that. It straddles abstraction and representation. Two qualities that I still try to have evident in my current work.

My use of color has changed a little along the way. Currently,  I've been exploring more muted naturalistic color but still like to push saturation when I can in a painting.This painting was a natural part of my growth process. It was both a stepping stone and a milestone and for the style that it's in, it certainly holds its own.

For all of the qualities previously mentioned, I know this painting is still bringing enjoyment to its owner. I hope for many years to come.

Colorful Life - SOLD

The above image is from another recent plein air event that I participated in. This time in Casa Grande, AZ which is about a half hour south of Phoenix. I sat in the open hatchback of my vehicle to paint. My car provided temporary shade but didn't help much when the day's temperature heated up.

My choice in the subject matter may not always be the most obvious. Something like a note of color, a particular type of light, a pattern of shapes or maybe an object with a touch of humor/personality can catch my eye. Here it was a little mailbox painted magenta that made me say to myself, "Oh, I have to paint that!"   

Because the mailbox was such a unique color within the scene, I had to find ways to sprinkle it about to create a better color harmony overall. I added bits of magenta to areas in the roadway, buildings, and palm tree. If I didn't, the mailbox color would be disconnected from the surrounding color and would attract too much attention.

Color contrast is one of the many ways to create a focal point. However, it's the value contrast of the sun glare reflecting off the back of the stop sign framed by the darker tree shapes that sets up the primary focal point. The stop sign is the tool to get you to discover the colorful mailbox.

This painting now hangs happily inside the house of the magenta mailbox.

Title: Colorful Life

Painted on: RayMar Archival Panel

Medium: Artist Grade Acrylic

Dimensions: 12x12 inches

Desert Light - SOLD


This 6x6 inch piece recently found a new home via the West Valley Arts HQ Gallery. More of my work can be found on display at the gallery if you're interested in starting your collection.

HQ Gallery website: http://www.westvalleyarts.org/wv-arts-hq/

Pomegranate no.3 - SOLD

I’ve painted a couple of pomegranates before and they’re always fun to paint. Very little color mixing was done here. Basically, three reds straight from the tube and a violet were used to create the illusion of form.

Medium: Artist quality oil
Painted on: Ampersand gessobord
Dimensions: 6x6 inches

Autumn Lake - SOLD

Here’s another plein air painting from the same location as my last blog post.

Medium: Artist quality oil
Painted on: RayMar linen panel
Dimensions: 6x6 inches

2011 Cranford Plein Air Event - Concluded

Out of 150 beautiful paintings entered into the Cranford Plein Air Event, my painting “Dinosaur of Nomahegan” was the first sale of the evening! My painting of Ellis Island was also sold shortly after.

There was a very strong list of participating artists; a great show all around and a welcomed turn out of art collectors arrived Saturday night lifting everyone’s spirits after a long week of painting in record heat. Thank you to everyone who stopped in to show their support.

Scar - SOLD

Sometimes it can be a challenge finding the “perfect” produce at the store. This pear didn’t have this much character when it was first purchased. However, after a few days waiting in the fruit bowl to be painted it started to reveal the hardship of its journey. For me, this made a much more interesting subject to paint.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Standing Guard - SOLD

I was thinking about how some animals seem to take turns at standing guard as the other one sleeps or is too distracted while eating. I see this with the ducks that visit our pond and the deer that have made the backyard home.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

"Apple Half" Oil Painting Progression Video

I shot photo stills as I was painting my last blog post “Apple Half” and made them into a brief instructional youtube video. Click the image above or  click here to watch the moive on youtube.

Apple Half - SOLD

I’ve painted a few apples before; whole to partially eaten. They’re always fun to paint. How did I get this apple to stand perfectly upright? I used a toothpick as a makeshift "apple kickstand".

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Lemon Half 2 - SOLD

To create the reflection of the lemon on the tabletop, I simply “wiped-out” paint with a soft paper towel.

Medium: Artist Quality Oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 5x5 inches.

Companion - SOLD

It has been awhile since I last posted. However, that doesn't mean I haven't been painting. This post is my proof. Since we’re in the heart of winter here in the northeast; my plein air painting has become less frequent resulting in only a few snow paintings so far this season. I’ll post those paintings very soon. Still-life has made its way back onto my subject list along with a recent interest in portraiture. I also plan to share that with you in the up coming months.

I never get bored painting pears. They have such character and beautiful subtle colors.
With the help of a snow covered landscape outside these two pears were painted by natural window light.

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Ampersand Gessobord.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.

Artist At Work - SOLD

This is my second painting created during the Cranford Plein Air Event. In the tradition of artists painting artists, I felt this was the perfect opportunity to do just that. Here is my painting of fellow artist Frank Costantino diligently working on his painting of the Cranford Canoe Club.

 

Medium: Artist quality oil.

Painted on: Artist quality linen.

Dimensions: 9x12 inches.

In Full Bloom - SOLD

There was no missing this vibrantly colored azalea bush contrasting against all the greens of the wooded area in which this was painted. I purposely did very little color mixing in the “warm/hot” tones so as not to risk loosing the intense saturation of this subject. I used a limited palette of 4-5 colors for this painting: Cad yellow, Permanent Rose, Permanent Alizarin, Viridian and a touch of Cerulean Blue.

Medium: Artist quality oil.

Painted on: Artsit quality linen.

Dimensions: 9x12 inches.

First Snow - SOLD

Medium: Atelier Interactive Artists' Acrylic

Painted on: Archival Linen Board

Dimensions: 11x14 inches

Orange, White & Blue - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.

Painted on: Artist quality masonite.

Dimensions: 8x8 inches.

Garlic and Copper - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 8x8 inches.

Powdered Donut - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil
Painted on: Artist quality masonite
Dimensions: 6x6 inches

Shade - SOLD

“Shade” is part of the Art Centre of New Jersey member’s show going on now at the Bouras Galleries. The gallery is located inside the Bouras Properties Building at 25 DeForest Avenue in Summit, NJ. The show is on display until June 30, 2009.

This painting was created with Atelier Interactive Artist’s Acrylic. Chroma’s Atelier Interactive line has many advantages over traditional fast drying acrylic and is well worth looking into if you’re trying to find an alternative to oil paint. Click here for more information on Chroma products.

Medium: Atelier Interactive Artist's Acrylic
Painted on: Fredrix Archival Canvas Board
Dimensions: 11 x 14 inches

Apple Bite - SOLD

Medium: Artist quality oil.
Painted on: Artist quality masonite.
Dimensions: 6x6 inches.