Manny Completed

8" x 8"

oil on panel

Manny Update

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

After the Storm

16" x 20"

Oil on canvas
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Manny in Progress

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

This is a commission I started tonight for a client in Florida. So far I've just laid in the color, tomorrow I'll define the color and shadow and then add in the texture of the fur.

Got some new brushes tonight and loving it!!

Garden Pepper

11" x 6.5"

Acrylic on panel

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My pepper plant is finally putting out peppers. I got the seeds from a red pepper that I bought last year at the grocery store. It grew all summer, but every time the plant would get a bloom it would fall off, I heard tomatoes did that when it's too hot, but not peppers. Well, I guess it's true for both.

Cameron Art Museum

I will be displaying my "Pooch Puzzle" at the Cameron Art Museum's "Toying with Art" show Thursday, Nov. 12th from 7:00 to 8:00 and through March 28th.

Here is the puzzle if you haven't see it yet.

Lost Dog - Downtown Dog 101

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

I have found that I painted an extra dog that was never accounted for or posted. So now I have 101 Downtown dogs!!

A Farmer's Market regular had emailed me and asked if I had painted her dog and I knew I had, but couldn't find the post, then realized I had never included her. She was so excited that I had, loved it and bought the painting.

Today I hung some of the Downtown Dogs at Great Harvest Bread company. So stop by, get some coffee and scones and enjoy the art!

Pearl Earring

9" x 12"

Oil on canvas panel

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I have been thinking about doing this for quite a while now. Love the original, of course and Vermeer, what a talent! And if you haven't seen the movie, I highly suggest seeing it - the whole movie is like a painting.

Here is some information on Vermeer and the original painting, if you are interested.

Johannes Vermeer

Sleepy Dog IIIII

7" x 5"

Acrylic on panel

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Sleepy Dog IIII

7" x 5"

Acrylic on panel

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Sleepy Dog III

7" x 5"

Acrylic on panel

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Sleepy Dog II

7" x 5"

Acrylic on panel

Purchase

Really enjoying the acrylics for the last two paintings for some strange reason. It's making "daily painting" much easier because it dries so fast, which has been a big problem for me in the past. Maybe I just need more practice.

Sleepy Dog

7" x 5"

Acrylic on panel

"Keeper"

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

SOLD

This is a portrait that I did a few weeks ago, but couldn't post it because it was a gift. His name is Keeper, which I thought was a really good name for a dog. I liked the pose because it's not straight on and I think it looks very classic, but in a modern way.

Lately I have been working on the puzzle and two big commissions. When I get the commissions to a good point I'll send some photos. Right now they are at the beginning stages and I'm still figuring out elements and colors and it just looks weird.

Cut Papaya

15" x 12"

Oil on gessoed fabric

SOLD

Pooch Puzzle

Here is what I have been working on for the past few weeks. It will be showing at the Cameron Art Museum for a few months as part of their "Artists  Made Toys" show. I'm really excited about being in a museum of this caliber. I   hope  that it the first in a long line of opportunities.

If you get a chance come see the show - it's Nov. 13 - March 7th

I showed at the Farmer's Market Saturday and nearly froze until  the  sun came out. It turned into a really beautiful day. I'm scheduled to show at   a few more, but not sure how much of the cold weather I can tolerate!

I will be at "Art for the Masses" November 21st - it's a really an impressive   show - thousands of people come, hundreds of artists. It's quite an event.  For those who have never been, everything is priced $250 and under. It's   a really opportunity for artists to showcase their work,  and for the public   to   show their support for local artists ( and get an early start on some holiday   shopping!).

Speaking of the arts community, please keep in mind how profoundly local ]artists have been affected by the state of the economy.  Your show of support for the arts with a purchase no matter how large or small  is greatly appreciated,  and helps to keep Wilmington a more vibrant, creative and inspiring place to live.

I buy art from other artists and have started a very small  collection... the phrase "You don't have to be a Rockefeller to collect art"  is from a documentary movie called "Herb and Dorothy" about a postal work  and a librarian that built a world class collection just by buying what they  loved a little at a time. I haven't seen it, but I hear it's really good and   very   inspirational.

Here is a site you can go to:  http://www.herbanddorothy.com/

Also here is a site of daily painters that sell  great work for very little, daily:
 http://www.dailypainters.com/

Parsley Flower & Experiment

7" x 5"

Oil on panel

$125

Click to Purchase

I didn't even know that parsley had flowers, but it makes sense it does and they are like little bundles of lace. Very pretty and tiny.

Here is my on-going experiment. I took some satin and stretched it, then gessoed it with the clear gesso, but it didn't take well. It just wrinkled and dried milky.

It did take well to the gloss medium test piece shown, although it lost it's sheen with both. I think I will use the gloss on this type of synthetic material and stay with the gesso for cotton surfaces.

"Nest"

10.5" x 9.5"

oil on stretched, gessoed fabric

$125

Click to Purchase

This painting is an experiment. I love the look of paintings on patterned backgrounds and I found clear gesso at the store the other day, which is what you use to prime surfaces (usually it's white or a color). I have wanted to try this for awhile and I really like the way it looks.

Oh, the potential!

Pet Portraits

I just finished setting up my Pet Portraits Page on my website.

Here is the link:

click here

Caffe Phoenix Show

Well, the show went great - I got a lot of positive response on the paintings, chatted, ate a great meal and Joel sent us home with probably the best chocolate cake I have ever had... Thick chocolate, caramel sauce... Well, you get the idea... I think I have a chocolate cake hangover.

Here are some photos from last night.
Show Photos

Thanks to everyone who came!

The Red Jacket

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

$125

Click to Purchase

I found this photo and had to paint it - in the photo she has a gray pullover with zippers, layered with a flannel shirt and pink hooded sweatshirt. Her face captured me and took me back to the story of Red Riding Hood - I was intrigued with the slight smile as if she knows she can handle whatever happens to her - this bad wolf doesn't scare her!

Update on De La Luna & Show

I'm working on a few new paintings - two commissions and one for fun.

Here is "De La Luna" framed. I found this frame awhile ago for $5 bucks and the painting fit the frame perfect, I had to repair some of the ornate work, but it works great.

I hung my paintings up at Caffe Phoenix for Wednesday show. It really looks fantastic!! The blend of my work, with Michelle's and Amelia's works really well. You'll have to come see it - Wednesday at 5 - 9pm

Hopefully things will slow down a bit now - going to clean up this place - it's a mess!!

Taking a short break and magazine article...

No paintings lately
- I have been taking a short break to frame and other things.

I thought you would like to see a write-up in Encore Magazine about the upcoming show - here is the link: Encore Publishing

Small White Shell with Pink Center

5" x 7"

Oil on panel

$125

Click to Purchase

Small White Shell

7" x 5"

Oil on panel

$125

Click to Purchase

Oregano Sprig

8" x 6"

Oil on panel

SOLD

I had a little sprig of oregano left over and I stuck in this little bottle the other night and just thought it looked so peaceful and alive.

I'm in an art show October 7th at Caffe Phoenix

Here is the info - I hope you can make it!!

Sidewalk Sparrow

8" x 6"

Oil on panel

SOLD

I'm going to go back to my daily paintings now that my project is finished. This is from a photo that Guy took at the Farmer's Market and when I saw it I thought how familiar this setting is - everyone has watched a little sparrow gather up bits of food on these sidewalks. I wonder, in 50 or 75 years will this scene still be familiar.

Sleeping Dog

65" x 35"

Oil on canvas

Done.

"Ursula" commission done

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

SOLD

I worked at the Farmer's Market today and was able to finish this painting and I was also able to work on the "Luci" painting, which I thought was done, but now that I have been looking at it awhile realize that it is far from it. So, I'm going to spend a little more time darkening and lightening areas until it's right.

I think I'm going to try wood panels and see how that surface works - I have painted on wood before and really like the surface, but I am concerned about warping. I'll let you know how it goes.

Baldhead Island Paintings

East Beach Shore

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

Boathouse in the Marsh

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

Marsh Grass Reflection

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

Boathouse in the Marsh II

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

East Beach Shore II

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

East Beach Sur

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

East Beach Surf II

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

Marsh Grass and Water

5" x 7"

Acrylic on panel

Here are the paintings from Wednesday. I was in a funk all day and I can tell when I look back at the paintings - my state of mind effects my painting drastically and sometimes it's just best to just leave the paints and do something else. Also, I think I'll use oils the next time I go out - I always feel rushed when I'm working with acrylics because they dry so fast.

I've been working on the big white dog painting and should be done Sunday - I'll post a photo then. Also, been working on a black dog painting for the Caffe Phoenix show October 7th. I won't post that one because it is a "challenge' painting that Amelia, Michelle and I are doing - so it'll be a surprise.

I'm also working on the book of all the dog paintings and will unveil it at the show next year - probably around February at Botega in downtown Wilmington.

I will be at the Farmer's Market tomorrow - Hope to see you!

Cat Portrait and Day Off

Ursula

8" x 8"

Oil on panel

I've been working on this commission today that I received from Facebook. I have been on FB for a few months now and initially I didn't like the idea because of all the bad press that I had heard, but have found it invaluable as a tool to meet other artists and market my work. 

On another note, and you may find this interesting, in my opinion, cats are much more difficult to paint than dogs. One; their eyes are complex with pattens of colors and texture and depth. Two; their fur has (I've found) patterns more complex than a dog. Luckily their structural features vary slightly unlike a dog that can vary drastically differ depending on the breed. It's not really something that I have thought about up until now, but I find it really interesting.

Tomorrow I'm going to paint on Baldhead Island for the day while it's still warm. Looking forward to it and of course, I'll post the paintings when I get back. 

One last thing, without all of you I probably wouldn't have stuck with the project. Knowing that I have all of you as eyes for my work has been really important in keeping me focused - just wanted to let you know and to thank you.