Soaking Up Some Autumn Sun

The reference photo for this painting was shot in St. Paul de Vence. This was an artist who was taking a break from his studio to soak up a few rays. He invited us back to see his art and explained that he never paints shadows because he rejects any kind of sadness. It's fitting that in this painting the shadows don't touch him, and he barely casts a shadow of his own.

Pause on the Stairs (8X10)

I've been having a terrible struggle getting my camera to capture colors accurately. I'm close to giving up and having them shot professionally.

Grandpa's Harley (8X10)

Here's the companion piece for Gramma and the Harley.

Gramma on the Harley (8x10)

I decided that the road needed more light, so here are some adjustments.

The reference photo for this is a very, very old black & white photo from the mid 1920s. I found out all kinds of interesting (and, to me, shocking) things about my grandparents once I grew up and had the pleasure of staying with Gramma for a few months.

Lunch in Eze (11x14)

I used some suggestions from Vicente Herrero to make some adjustments. I may make more.

The reference photo for this painting was taken a year after the reference photo for "Morning in Eze" a couple of hours later in the day when these people were beginning a wonderful French lunch.

Morning Break (11X14)

Final Count (12X12)

I decided to make some changes to this to harmonize the colors.

Select Cut (6X8)

Bright Trumpets (12X12)

First Place

Last night's opening of the Wimberley Valley Art League show provided some very nice surprises ---- besides selling my first place painting. Two people came who I never expected to see at an art show --- my parents. And I was so busy with other people that I barely got a chance to visit with them before they had to leave.

Red Trumpets (12x12 canvas)

Currently in an Austin Visual Arts Association juried show.

Fresh Ingredients (8x10)

Another (11x14")

The colors are definitely off in this photo of the painting. I will have to re-shoot it. There's far less red in her skin tones in the actual painting.

Saturday, a day for a boxer.

This one is 12x16" and neither has a title yet.

These were painted from photos I took during a workshop with Michelle Torrez. One day we had an impressively muscled woman boxer as our model. The painting below is 16X16"

Austin Visual Arts Association Fall Juried Show

It was great to discover that AVAA had selected my painting to introduce the show. "Easter Posies" has gone through several iterations, but seems to have arrived at a very satisfactory completion.

Laurel joined me to celebrate the show opening at the reception.

Passage (8X10)

Windblown (8X10)

Window Watcher (9X12)

Santa Barbara Dusk (5X7)

Creative Chaos (12X12)

Arts Across the Americas Show

Last evening was the opening reception for the Arts Across the Americas Show at UT. It is primarily art from Austin and Lima, Peru, but there are also several interesting paintings from Brazil. The sales from the show will go to benefit young mothers in Peru.

Waiter on the Narrow Steps (8X10)

This simple painting has been a bit of a struggle. The most recent iteration is at the top, and, as always, the colors are a bit off because I haven't mastered my camera.

This was in Eze where the ancient steps are very narrow. It takes careful maneuvering to negotiate them, especially carrying a laden tray.

Preparing for the Festival (11X14)

We were staying in Vieux Nice on a weekend when the local churches celebrated a Festival (or Blessing) of the Flowers. The talent was obviously all local, ranging from folk dances to a rather tacky beauty contest, but the whole thing was interesting. It felt as if Vieux Nice were a small town within the larger city. This woman was preparing the greens for the garlands to decorate the entrance to one of the participating cathedrals.

The Professors (10x10)

I did this last weekend and this week. I liked the fact that there was a discussion going on between the two focal subjects, but that there was another conversation going on among the chef and waiters.

Last day of the workshop

This was the last painting of the day (6x6)

This was the long pose of the last day (12x16).

Boxer (12x16)

One day our model was a female boxer with wonderful skin tones and very developed musculature. This was a pose we all painted from photos after a morning of painting fast poses from life. The challenge was to get the sense of action. I think my painting turned out well.

I have always found boxing, especially female boxing, disquieting. While the sport displays much to be admired (coordination, grace of movement, strength, vitality, the beauty of honed musculature) it seems that the violence speaks of a failure of society. Years ago I volunteered in the female secure unit of a juvenile detention facility, and I heard horrible stories of abuse and retaliation. While I understand and admire the efforts needed to prepare for self-defense, I feel a sadness at its necessity.

More paintings from the workshop

This is a little portrait (6x8) I did late in the first day of the workshop.

This was a very small 20 minute sketch. It'll be good for color reference if I decide to paint from some of the photos I took that morning.

Self portrait (8X10)

This is how I spent the afternoon --- big brushes and lots of goopy paint.

Hangover (8 X 10)

I started off Saturday, the first day on my own after the workshop, with this little painting after doing a series of gesture sketches to warm up.

A few of my paintings from the Michelle Torrez workshop

This bottom one was donated for a silent auction to benefit those who have lost their homes to the recent fires. Most of the workshop participants donated a painting.

Michelle Torrez Workshop

This week I attended a workshop that has rocked my world. Michelle Torrez is not only an incredible artist, but an excellent and generous instructor. My paintings are going to be quite different from now on. And I'm going to have lots of fun painting them!

Here's Michelle beginning a demo with a very loose and unrecognizable gesture sketch.

Here's a badly shot photo of her completed demo. The setting on my camera that day was way off.

Glamour in a Red Hat (12 x 16)

Adjustments so small you won't be able to see them.

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This has a few more adjustments ahead, but they have to wait until this layer of paint dries. Now I'm picking up more paint with my brush than applying what I need to put on it.