Thinking Summer

SOLD

12 x 24 Oil on Gessobord

This seems like a really long winter, and I felt the need to paint something "summery."  Because the painting was hard to photograph, I included a portion (detail) first and then the complete painting below.  This is the beach in Amagansett, Long Island, NY.  As far as I'm concerned, there isn't a better beach anywhere.  Never too crowded, wide soft sand, no vehicles allowed....





Niagara Falls Couture

8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

All the while I was painting this I was thinking about the Rolling Stones song "Shattered."  "People dressed in plastic bags. What kind of fashion?"  This is part of my cousin's road trip and such fun to paint!  It's the Maid of the Mist, and I remember fondly being on it on one of my trips as a child.  Here is a study in preparation of doing a larger piece.  I haven't worked out everything, but I like the spontaneity of it.  Once again, the colors here are not accurate to the actual painting.  When I can, I will take another picture and post it.

Learning From the Best

6 x 6 Oil on Gessobord

I painted this once before but it was just Rocky, not his father.  I really love the two of them "playing" together.  The other painting sold, so I thought I'd do a smaller version focusing more on the two of them and less on the Brooklyn brownstone.  Stoops are really important to New Yorkers.  You see and learn so much by just sitting there watching the world go by.  It's unfortunate that there aren't many left.  So, this is Jason and his son, Rocky, doing their street art in Brooklyn. 

Grand Central Haze

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Matted 8 x 10 Oil on Canvas

I don't know why, but I've started about three or four different paintings and have walked away from them for a while because I'm not satisfied with them. I know when I go back later on I'll get inspired again, but for now, it seems better to just put them aside and wait.  This piece, however, was fun to do.  It started as what I considered a failure, and wound up as something that I really like.  For me, it captures the feeling of midday at Grand Central Station. 

Rockin' At the MoMA

8 x 11 Oil on Arches Paper for Oil

Well, it was hard to decide if I wanted to pay attention to the artwork or this couple.  They were a distraction, I have to admit :-)  I followed them around at a distance for a while, trying to get a good photo of them from the front, but settled on this rear view, which I really love.  I'm glad they chose the MoMA to visit.  They really seemed into the art.  It was interesting to see the looks they got from the other visitors.  It obviously didn't bother them, and I'm glad.  I'll bet if the other male visitors could have gotten away with pants that tight, they would have been thrilled :-)

Standing Guard

5 x 7 Oil on Gessobord

I'm not sure if this is Patience or Fortitude.  One lion sits on one side of the steps of the New York Public Library on Fifth and 42nd Street, and one sits on the other.  One of my favorite things to do when I lived in New York was to stop and see these beautiful pieces of sculpture.  I would pass by them so often, but never got tired of looking at them.  They have been there since their dedication on May 23rd, 1911.  I was not there for that!!  :-)  The sculptor was Edward Clark Potter.  He was paid $8,000, and the Piccirilli Brothers executed the carving for $5,000.  Not a bad price for two marble pieces of work...I must say, I really love this painting :-)