Raspberry Dessert and Teacup

 

The minty, almost lime green shade of this antique teacup complements the berry pink of the raspberries of the Gaby et Jules dessert well. It was difficult to paint this without taking a bite. But, I made sure to buy extra macarons to help me resist. Oil on 6" x 6" stretched linen. SOLD.

Red House in Indiana

 

The third painting in my "Around Town with Joplin" series. I distinctly remember taking the reference photo while walking my dog on July 4, 2020. I woke up early to go to the farmers' market and the day was supposed to be very hot, so I brought the dog with me to walk while the weather and sidewalks were still cool. We walked past this house that I had never seen before. The painting is available at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. It is 12" x 16". SOLD.

Springtime in Indiana

 

"Springtime in Indiana" is part of my "Around Town With Joplin" series of paintings that preserves scenes from my walks around town with my dog. She wanted to walk forever, but she also took frequent bathroom breaks. During her stops, I couldn't help but notice the scenery and take some photos. Oil on 11" x 14" stretched canvas. 

Alley in Indiana

 

This painting of an alley in Indiana, PA, was inspired by one of the walks I took with my dog. She was a husky and would never get tired, though she walked very slowly as she aged. We have probably walked on every street in town, and many of the alleys, such as this one. After she passed away, I walked in the same places as a way to remember her. Oil on 11"h x 14"w stretched canvas. 

First Trip to the Beach

 

I realize that my subject matter is all over the place these days. Some of the paintings, including this one, were painted early in the year for special events, and I just never added them to the blog. In other cases when my subject matter seems random, it is because places I've visited will pop into my head, and outside of teleporting there, painting them is the best way to revisit them since teleportation isn't possible (yet.)

This scene was painted from a photo that I took in Cape May, New Jersey many years ago. I often worry that people think I am a creeper for taking pictures of random families at the beach. But, it is for the purpose of preserving happy moments on canvas that I witness. I painted this for the Beach Haven Art Walk in New Jersey, but the painting did not sell there. It is on 10"h x 8"w stretched canvas. SOLD.

Pale Sunflowers

 

I loved the uniquely pale tone of these sunflowers that I purchased from a local farmers' market during the summer. Their dramatic looked seemed to match the tall vase that I also acquired during the summer. The painting is oil on stretched linen, approximately 16" h x 9" w. SOLD.

Farmers' Market Sunflowers

 

Over the past few years I have started to shift from painting fleeting moments from photos to painting still lifes in my studio. I still paint from photos, but with all of the cameras trying to do us favors by making everything look unrealistically perfect, I would rather record subjects with my own eyes. SOLD.

Yellow Creek Sailboat II

 

I'm not sure if Yellow Creek Sailboat II is actually the title of this painting, but it is available at the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier, PA. You can contact the gallery for price and shipping information. It is oil on 7"h x 5"w stretched linen. It was inspired by a colorful sailboat that I spotted while kayaking at Yellow Creek State Park in Pennsylvania.

A Fountain in Aix en Provence

 

After dinner in Aix en Provence, we would take advantage of the cool night air and walk around the city. Some of the squares were bustling with lively cafes and people walking from place to place. Other long and winding alleys were quiet, as they were probably inhabited by locals rather than tourists. Some of the alleys led to lively yet hidden squares, such as this one, which included a picturesque fountain. Oil on 24" h x 18" w linen.

Marseille Harbor

 

I finally had the chance to paint one of the photos that I snapped in Marseille, France from my 2019 trip. It sometimes takes me a while to figure out how I want to tackle a subject, especially if it is a new place to me. I am often challenged by figuring out what size a painting should be. I determined that 18" x 24" was the optimal size for this painting. It is available on the UGallery website. This is a link to my page on the site. 

Marseille felt different than other European towns. It was quiet in the morning and afternoon, but at night, the sidewalks were lively, hosting crowds of people at outdoor cafes who watched soccer games on TVs. We sometimes had to walk onto the street to continue on our way to the harbor. At the harbor, families, individuals, locals, and tourists mingled together. Kids had entertaining toys, including sparklers, while vendors sold their wares. We enjoyed the scenery and the abundant seafood.

Rowboats in Rockport

 

The rowboats in Rockport, Massachusetts are just as mesmerizing as the lobster boats and the famous Motif Number 1 building. This 8" x 8" x 1" oil painting is on cradled masonite board. SOLD.

Lobster Boat in Rockport

 

Despite the fact that I have not posted to this blog in a long time, this is not the only painting I've been working on. I have many new paintings available on UGallery.com,  Latrobe Art Center, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art in Ligonier, PA, and at The Artists Hand Gallery in Indiana, PA. In the upcoming days, I plan to update my blog with my new work. This is the newest. It was painted from a photo that I took in Rockport, MA, in 2021. Boats are among my favorite subjects, and I acquired so much subject matter in recent trips, that I have developed analysis paralysis, and can't decide which one to tackle first. I loved the vibrant colors and clockwise direction of this composition. Oil on 8" x 8" x 1" cradled board. 

Sunny Side of the Street

 

 

This sidewalk cafe is located on the sunny side of the street in Aix en Provence. In the heat of summer, visitors sit under the awning for a bit of shade. Oil on 12" x 12" stretched linen.SOLD.

Marblehead Sailboat

 

The last painting I posted to this blog in 2021 was of a Marblehead sailboat, and I decided to also feature the same for my first post of this year. This colorful vessel enters 2022 with an optimistic color, hopefully a sign of some travel. In the meantime, stay tuned for a variety of new paintings, including scenes from trips I have taken during the past four years. I have an abundance of reference material from France, Budapest, Scotland, New England, and Yellowstone Park to work from that I can hopefully record on canvas. This painting is approximately 9" x 13". SOLD.