Downtown Delivery

Click Here to Bid (8x8in. - starts at $150)

I dug way back in my files for this one. It's from a trip to New York City a few years ago. I really need to go back.

Happy Little Princess

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

Hello all! I am home from Texas and finally caught up and painting again. The workshop went really well, and I will post about that soon. But first, I wanted to point out that the reference for this painting (from NYC) is one I used for this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge. So if you're interested in seeing what I was working from, and/or trying it out yourself, click that link.

Well Norma, Now Which Way?

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Here's a scene from my New York City files. I actually posted this photo as a DPW challenge 2 years ago, but didn't know how I was going to paint it myself until now. Sometimes these things just have to percolate.

And speaking of percolating ... I think my week of abstract will be doing so in my brain for a long time. My favorite thing about taking a workshop is the chance to fully immerse myself into another artist's PROCESS. I learned so much about how Jane Davies creates her art, and it couldn't be more opposite than my own process. I was surprised how hard it was to get out of my habits, but once I did I had a lot of fun! I don't have anything to show just yet, but maybe soon, as I experiment with new ideas in my own studio. We'll see - for now I'm thinking of it just as a hobby, which protects me from thinking I need to make anything good yet. : )

Reading in the Park

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I found this guy reading in the park behind the downtown NYC library. I thought he was quite dapper in his little hat and glasses.

City Glow

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Here's another one from NYC. I love the pink truck reflected in the window. I keep saying this, but I really need to make another trip there! It's such a great city to paint.

And in case you're wondering the relative size of the last few paintings, here's a guide (16x16, 10x10 and 6x6 inches):

It's in Here Somewhere

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I've been rearranging my studio lately, and am extra motivated to move some old work that's been sitting around. This is one of two I have left from my show last year. The scene is from Times Square in New York City.

Catching Up

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I don't know where this guy was exactly (except somewhere in NYC), but the steps were a block wide and went up forever. I'd been pondering how I would paint the steps behind him for a while, when it suddenly occurred to me that I could just suggest them, like this! I also warmed them up a bit, because I think it goes better with his hat. And it reads like sunshine, huh?

Waiting for Others

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In the photo reference for this one (from in front of the NYC downtown library), the guy was looking right at me. And when I first painted them, they ended up both looking at me. So after some deliberation I scraped off both faces and re-did them with the idea that they would be facing slightly away. It's a tiny thing - subtle, (and not easy!) but I think it makes all the difference in the world. I'm much happier with it now!

Mature Gossip

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Here's another one from my New York City files. I decided to shoot for a kind of caricature of these ladies, and am really happy with how it turned out. Also I feel like the background successfully recedes. One of those two steps forward paintings, which is good because I've had some one step back paintings lately (didn't show you those).

Absorbed

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I spotted this guy in NYC, in the park behind the downtown library, when I was there several years ago. I really need to visit again! Someday soon I'm going to run out of reference material.

Down the Block

Click Here to BUY ($600 - 10x10in.)

This is another scene from NYC. There is a cool thing there that used to be an elevated train, but is now a public walkway up on the tracks. It's called the High Line. I was up there, walking along, when I took the photo for this one. I've wanted to paint it for a long time.

Above is a still life from my current gallery show - one of my personal favorites: "Being Cool with Dishes" - 12x24in. - $1000.

Tomorrow I begin another 5-day workshop, so expect a pause from me online.

Out Shopping

sold. (7x5in.)

I spotted this gal in New York City a couple of years ago. I've painted 45 scenes so far from the photos I took during that trip to NYC. I've got tons more, but I've already got the hankering to go again! It's such a cool place.

Here's another painting from my current gallery show. "Escaping the Bowl" - 16x16in. - $900.

Walking the Dog

sold. (5x7in.)

I am back from the plein air convention and inspired to paint! I saw a number of fantastic demos and talks, hung with some old friends, and met some new ones. I also bought a few new products to try out (more on that later).

One of the talks was by a great artist named Brian Mark Taylor, about learning. He said "performing is not practicing," which really hit a nerve with me. Brian spends two hours a day mindfully practicing one thing or another, spending about a month or two on each thing. So I compiled a list of things I'D like to practice, and promised myself I would spend time each day working on that. So far so good.

Super Cool

sold. (8x8in.)

This one's from New York City. If I lived there and walked around all the time, I can totally see myself owning a red leather coat like this. That would be so cool.

Getting Through the Hubbub

sold. (8x8in.)

This one took forever! But I'm happy with the result. I'm pretty sure I was in Times Square when I took the reference photo. I LOVED that area for the photo ops. I have a ton of photos from it, and plan to paint more, eventually. They are just so dang complex.

Girl Gang

sold. (8x8in.)

This is a scene from New York City. These gals were just coming out of the construction tunnel, getting a good view of the skyline. I imagine they were in town for the weekend, a bit of shopping, a bit of partying. Just like Sex in the City! Except where's the fourth girl? They're probably meeting her in a cool bar somewhere.

This Guy

sold. (7x5in.)

This is a little scene from Central Park in NYC. I've been spending extra time working on my people lately. My paintings are taking 3 to 4 times as long as they usually do. I'm hoping it shows.

Parked in the City

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

This is from a photo I took last spring in New York City. I just checked and I've already done 40 paintings from that trip alone. I definitely want to go back at some point. What a cool city!

No Place Like Home

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

The photo reference for this one (from NYC) was a bit dull and gray, so I decided to liven it up. As soon as I decided that, the sidewalk started screaming to be yellow. And the street, blue. Apparently they don't talk until you give them permission.

Colorful Lanes

Click Here to Bid (6x6in.)

The reference for this (taken in NYC) was a bit dull, color-wise, but I loved the composition. So I opened it in Photoshop and tried increasing the saturation. Normally I don't like to do this, because it blows the colors out TOO much. But for this it was perfect, and totally inspired me to paint it. I especially love the little pop of greens in the far background.