12″ x 9″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

This is the last piece I managed to finish for the upcoming December show. This is the sister painting to “Green, Red, Blue, Yellow“. It is more grown-up and sophisticated, but there is still the connection between the different types of pencils.

I think these paintings are interesting because of the simplicity and the way the lines (pencils) converge and make an ‘x’ design. In actuality, the entire composition is made up of the most simple shapes — some rectangles and a few lines, yet they translate to recognizable objects.

12″ x 9″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

Here is another “smaller” painting for the upcoming December group show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento. I forgot how enlightening smaller studies like this can be.

This is my interpretation or an extension of the classic cut flower still life. And you can expect more intricate and expanded versions of these in the future from me. I think they’ll be fun!

Red Delicious & Antique Book
12″ x 12″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

Red Delicious & Two Antique Books
12″ x 12″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

These pieces will be in the upcoming December show at the Elliott Fouts Gallery in Sacramento. They are smaller pieces, I haven’t worked that size in months. It’s a very different experience.

My work is now showing at the Perez Fine Art Galleries — an online gallery of fine art created and curated by Alex Perez. You can see my page here. It is an honor to have been invited to show along side artists from round the world.

Please visit the gallery and check out all the fine work. It is a real feast for the eyes.

20″ x 40″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

When I was working on the smaller piece with the Off to School book, I set up this. Or, rather, it set itself up. While trying to control the position of the books they sort of slid in to this arrangement. I thought the angles and lines pointing in different directions and overall horizontal composition worked well.

I’ll be participating in a group show in December and I have a solo show coming up in June 2010. It is only October, but I need to get cracking now. I used to keep frequent updates to this blog, but while I go in to production mode for the show, things will be quiet around here.

My painting “Chair with Green Suitcase” was selected for the cover image of a recent book from an Italian book publisher, Iperborea. The book is called “L’uomo Senza Passato” (The Man Without a Past) by Aki Kaurismäki.

It is a beautifully printed book and an honor to have my painting on the cover.

16″ x 24″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

When I found the “It’s Story Time” primary reader at the antique shop near my house, I was hoping there would be another similar book. I had to dig pretty deep through shelves of old smelly books, but eventually I found this “Off to School” from the same series, with a bright blue cover.

I think the limited bright color on the canvas and the way the blue contrasts with the yellowed paper edges of the other old books help the composition. I propped up the old primary reader against the thick, heavy Manual of Psychology. It’s an interesting juxtaposition.

16″ x 24″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

I was happy to see pomegranates are in season. And I noticed a few snowmen are starting to appear in stores. Really? Seriously? It’s only the end of September. A quick glance at the weather forecast tells me fall is officially here. I guess this means I have to really get to work.

24″ x 18″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

I just read that this coming November will see the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s Origin of Species. I didn’t paint this because of that. I honestly didn’t pay much attention to all of the books I have here in the studio. Turns out one is a well preserved edition from 1892.

16″ x 16″ — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

This is a relatively smaller piece, almost like an experiment to compose the books on a square canvas. I think with the right lines it works.