Sunday Brunch II

10x10 oil on linen panel
$350 (sale price!)
PURCHASE

Last fall, someone from the Academy of Food and Wine Service contacted me from the UK and wanted to use an old image of mine for their membership brochure. Very cool.

I didn't have the original so I thought I'd paint a new one slightly larger and be able to get a hi res image of it for them. Well, they prefered the original so we made do. Perhaps the image is now in use for their organization.

What is next? Well... this is the last of my 2013 paintings and I've been mulling over some new ideas. I have some larger canvases and bigger ideas. Perhaps more "posed" and planned and less serendipitous references materials (models at home and posed family scenes) -- but narrative and inviting. I hope. I'm enjoying the larger canvases too. A LOT. Now a 12x16 seems tight to me.

I am debating the daily painters websites.... shouldn't mention that here I suppose, but I just don't think my work fits the genre. I get some inquiries, but my larger paintings are too much for most buyers on there. And now that I am going bigger still...
I have this constant debate with myself over how much self promotion and marketing to do. Should I bother with direct sales at all? Should I go entirely to direct sales? Should I enter more shows? Join more groups? Be all over ETSY and FineArtAmerica and DPG and DPW and advertise? Should I move my blog to my website? Open a "store" on my site? Keep everything on my own domain? Will I lose all my followers? Sheesh -- 717!?!?! When did that happen? (WOW!)
OR... should I enjoy painting and hope my galleries will do the work for me?

Its a real conundrum. The economy is still lagging, art sales continue to be slow and there are sooo many quality artists producing so much wonderful work that its hard to know how to compete and make my voice heard. Hence my desire to experiment more and move in new directions. Perhaps its just time for growth and I am ready for it. I started blogging in 2006. I started painting larger "gallery" work and dropped the small daily paintings somewhere in 2011. And now I'm ready for a new chapter.

Was this what I hoped this post would be about? No. It took on a life of its own. Its good to meander those unplanned paths once in awhile.
I'm hoping you all will come along with me as I wander.

Early Hours

12x9 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery

I did this sketch as an idea for a commissioned painting and decided to go ahead and send it to the gallery for their holiday opening. It looks rather festive! The setting is an Indiana restaurant "Joseph Decuis".

Is Paco In There?

12x9 oil on panel

Available at Castle Gallery

Reframed, signed, varnished and sent to Castle for their Holiday Show opening Dec. 14.
More about the painting here.

Kerrville Quick Draw

Is Paco in There?

12x9 oil on panel

I've been painting in Kerrville Texas this weekend and enjoying some spectacular hill country views. Last night was the quick draw event in historic downtown. I think I heard that 25 artists participated. 

It was hot. Very hot. And I chose a scene looking west into the sun. Not ideal but my painting worked out well. We had an hour and a half then put the paintings in frames and presented them for judging. 

I won again this year. Lucky 13, huh? Crazy! 

But I'm so honored. There are a lot of talented artists here and I saw many successful and interesting paintings! 

The title on this one refers to Paco, the owner of Francisco's restaurant. (Excellent food and lovely setting). Everyone who came by asked if I put Paco into the scene. "Where's Paco?" Would have been a good title too. 

 

This is the last day of painting and then we turn on work for the show at the arts center. Reception tonight from 6-8 pm. I better get out there! Cloudy this morning. And will be cooler thank goodness. 

Here is the setting I painted. This can't have been good for my eyes! 

Ooh - seeing that now I love the composition with the reflection in the glass!! Next time....

Aw Shucks!

16x16 oil on panel

Ask DK Gallery about this painting

This began - and sort of ended - as a sketch. I just thought that I had said enough once I got the initial block in done. Its painted over a toned panel which allowed me to just be vague about the non-essential bits.

Friday opens the Farm to Table show at DK Gallery on the Historic Marietta Square. The show features all their gallery artists sharing works celebrating the growing focus on farm fresh foods. I am happy to contribute with some of my favorite subjects featuring foods being prepared or enjoyed. To see a preview of the variety of works you can click here. 

I'm still really excited to be part of DK Gallery. They have monthly show openings coinciding with their local First Friday Artwalk. The shows give artists and patrons an opportunity to explore all kinds of ideas and themes. I wish I was nearer and could attend. I'm hoping for a visit during their Holiday small gems show.

This scene is from my New Orleans trip earlier this summer. We walked for a long way to find that Cafe du Monde serves nothing but beignets. That wouldn't do for my family. We then found The Original French Market Restaurant nearby serving some excellent Cajun food and got to watch this man shucking fresh oysters for those so inclined.

Aw, Shucks

Sometimes its just all about the paint! I was lost in just putting in stokes - color and value being my only focus. Then I step back and see those marks make a scene. I love it. V....Vaughan told me to stop at this point too. Good thing. I have made a few more marks but may just leave it in this state. 

16x16 oil on panel

A scene from French Market Restaurant in New Orleans

The panel this is painted on was coated with a pinkish grey oil paint scraped on over an old start using thr "mud" from clearing my palette. It makes a nice surface to work on - and allows me to leave some areas alone - that background color being a subtle neutral for the negative spaces.  

Sunny Cafe

10x12 oil on panel
Ask Gardner Colby Gallery about this painting.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT time!
I've been invited to join Gardner Colby Gallery in Naples, Florida. I am very excited to have my work represented by this excellent gallery in such a great market. 

There has been more than a little shifting around of my work this late summer and soon my gallery from Vermont will be relocated to Louisville, KY and renamed "Fine Art Firm." I will be sending them new work for their grand opening. More on these openings and events to come!

Barista

10x12 oil on panel
Available at Tidewater Gallery
$900 framed 

Sunny Cafe

10x12 oil on panel
Available at Tidewater Gallery

Tea Service

12x9 oil on panel

This is the finished version of my start I posted on Friday. He is preparing the goodies that accompany high tea at Payard's in NYC.

I thought I'd give you a sneak peek below of whats on the easel now. I think my long dry spell is over. I'm certainly enjoying my work again and more inspired. I can't wait to get to work everyday!



I began this with washes of color applied with a paper towel for the most part. Sometimes I start with a "line drawing" and sometimes with large shapes. It depends on my mood really.

Glass Blower

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + s/h - sold

A good friend of mine, Flo Vazquez, whom I used to paint with, has moved into glass art and does some of the most beautiful fused glass. She has a studio that includes glass blowers in the back and it was there that I got to watch and photograph some of the artists at work in front of the furnace. The highlights of that intense fire on the girl were a lot of fun to paint.

I didn't make much progress on my gallery piece below. That is how I am classifying things now... a blog piece or a gallery piece. Obviously, the blog works are the small ones and studies. I have done some really nice work I think on this scale, and have not wanted to repeat myself. But I recently decided to allow myself to use some of those small works to recreate the images on a larger scale. The waiter below was painted before, yet, this version will be completely unique.

Making Merry

12x18 oil on linen

This is a commissioned piece for a collector who gets first dibs at a new gallery I'm sending work to next week. A similar scene sparked their interest but was no longer available. This is the King Cole bar in the St. Regis hotel in NYC - and the huge mural behind it is by Maxfield Parrish. Its really quite an awesome setting. Very dim and cozy with the mural dominating the room. I wish I had found this link to the bar earlier! What a great image of the mural. My pictures are not so clear, having been taken at night while trying to be subtle in the busy bar. We should've had a drink and stayed awhile. Next time.

I am happy to share the news that Charleston House in Montgomery is going to be representing my work. This painting and a few others are going to be available in their gallery next week.

Low Conversation II

16x16 oil on linen panel - sold

This painting went to Castle Gallery last week for their Valentine Show. The reception is Saturday night from 5-10 pm. Always a good party - so those nearby should try to go. This scene is from Mario Batali's restaurant Del Posto in New York City.

Cafe du Monde - 30 Minute Study

10x8 Oil on paper
$50 + s/h - sold

This is another sketch of the famous New Orleans bakery. The waiter is at his ease for the time being.

Cafe du Monde - 60 Minute Study

12x8 oil on paper

Click to purchase this study in my new Etsy shop.

This is all I've had time to paint today. I spent the bulk of my morning doing lots of business things. And laundry (someone has to.) I am really proud of having gotten so much done, even if it hasn't been all painting. It might really surprise people who don't know what else goes on in an artist's studio to know how much we have to be business-type people as well as creatives.

Speaking of business, I have set up shop with Etsy so that I can offer these sketches on paper as well as other works which are in need of good homes. Please check it out.

Sunday Brunch

6x6 oil on panel
$100 + $12 s/h - sold

I've been working, but have been to lazy to post anything. I think the heat is making me pleasantly lethargic or comfortably numb. This little painting I did to try to loosen up after working on a larger painting yesterday. It reminds me of Ken Auster a lot. Must have had him on the mind!

Bonne Nuit

16x16 oil on canvas

Ask Russell Collection Fine Art about this painting.

Another memory of France... this time in Paris. I have no idea what restaurant this might have been. One of the thousands with sidewalk seating.
I have to say I was really pleased with how I painted that green light glowing on the red awning. It took several tries to get the right value and not have it be too bright, too distracting or too obvious.

Look for new works in all my galleries this weekend. And look for some small works coming here again now finally.

Topping Off

12x12 oil on linen panel

Ask Gallery la Place about this painting.

This will be available at Gallery la Place in Georgia by Feb. 2nd. Speaking of, they have their website up and running and I'd recommend looking over the artists they represent. I am really impressed and feel I am excellent company. Its a new gallery, so I am happy to see the quality of artists they were able to sign on. I think the gallery should do very well.

Pouring Forth

7x5 oil on linen panel
$100 + $11 s/h - sold

No, my creativity is not pouring forth. Bummer. This was a struggle once again today.
But I am pleased with the result. I have narrowed down my trouble though. Drawing. I can't seem to draw. Usually, I start a painting by sketching my lines/shapes with my brush and a thinned dark like alizarin and that is sufficient to get me going. I can see the finished painting basically.
But the last couple of days, I can't seem to get that initial part of it. To get through this painting I divided up my panel, diligently drew with pencil all my lines, measured very carefully, etc. I much prefer being able to start with a flourish.

Ah, the struggles of an artist. Not nearly so thought-provoking a read as, say, van Gogh.

Refill

7x5 oil on panel
$100 + $11 s/h - sold

I love this theme!! I think what excites me most about these restaurant scenes is that I am basically painting "abstract". It just happens to look like something when I am done putting in my lines and color shapes.
I've been really pleased with my work lately. Hope I'm not heading for a crash!

Below is my larger version of the chefs from a couple days ago.
I also updated my website with larger gallery works if you would like to see what else I've been doing lately.

Chefs de Partie

12x12 oil on panel - contest entry for now