Blackbirds At Dusk....

Oil/Wood 9x16

Sitting in traffic at a red light the other evening, I passed the time watching several large flocks of birds moving like a roller coaster in the sky as they were deciding where to roost for the night. Their movements were amazing and I imagined the thrill they must be having... it was thrilling just to watch how fast they were moving and with such choreography.

I did this today from memory in the studio using a limited pallet of Manganese Blue, Cad Yellow Light, Ivory Black and Titanium White. I also used a warm gray that I made from mixing the leftovers on my pallet from the day before to temper the blue of the sky... that worked really well.

Here is my question about this painting... I did it with an upcoming abstract show in mind. In concept I saw this possibly working... I will be the first to declare that abstraction is not my forte... is it too defined to work for this show? Probably just by asking the question, the answer is already "Yes!"... oh well, I still have two days before drop off ...

Wet Paint, "Coming Around"...

Coming Around Oil/Canvas 18x18

For this painting on Sunday, I revisited a reference photo that I used for Towing The Line, an earlier painting. This time, I zoomed in on the focal point, cropping out much of the background info. I was attracted by this man moving his boat from one side of the dock to the other... man versus machine... using just a rope, a piling and determination.

I apologize that my photo has a bit of a highlighted glare. I felt this photo shows accurately the richness of color and the textures of the painting as I built it up in the alla prima approach... constantly moving and working the overall painting with brush and pallet knife.

60 Minutes...

Andrews Bridge, Silver Day

Bonnet House Structures, Morning

For each one of these 6x8, Oil/Canvas Panels, I set a timer for 60 minutes, start to finish. I have no plans for hitting the road as a speed painter... I hear that gig is already taken... it was just an exercise in keeping the brush moving and the eyes open, hopefully with synchronicity.

Think Pink...

"Afterglow" Oil/Canvas 10x8

"Think Pink" is an upcoming exhibition, sponsored by The Broward Art Guild and being held in conjunction with The American Cancer Society's, Relay For Life Kick Off Event. A percentage of the sales will go to the Cancer Society. All works submitted are to be predominately PINK. It is a good cause that provided an interesting challenge for me... It made me get out of my box where I strive to paint the tones I see and think about values and harmony in a more tonalist way.

Painting At Vizcaya....

Photo-Ellen Weiss 10-11-09

Vizcaya Waltz 20x16 Oil/Canvas

Vizcaya Morning 16x20 Oil/Canvas

Painting at Vizcaya was a wonderful experience. The architecture, gardens & statuary throughout the grounds could provide for countless paintings. Knowing that John Singer Sargent painted there added an intensity to the way I felt about what I was seeing...."What would Sargent do?"....

Saturday's painting, Vizcaya Waltz, was painted from the gazebo that juts out into the bay looking back toward the estate and the steps that come down to the water to greet arriving boats. Venetian pilings festively line the dock. There are some great photos of several of the artists here, taken by Anna Maria Windisch... including one of me working on this painting...

Vizcaya Morning, painted on Sunday, seemed to become more ambitious into the day as the heat index approached near 100. I was attracted by the view from this terrace overlooking the garden maze toward Vizcaya with Miami in the distance. If you notice the steps on the left side of the painting, there is a narrow ramp in the center. All the many steps on the property have this ramp, which was built in to provide access for the gardeners with their wheelbarrows!

Coconut Grove Paint Out

Come join me for The 8th Annual En Plein Air, Coconut Grove, October 10 & 11,2009. I will be one of seven artists allowed to paint at Vizcaya, the estate built by John Deering in 1916.More information is available at Windisch-Hunt Fine Art, One Ear Society. Many other artists will be painting throughout Coconut Grove during this two day event.