Mangos #2

12x12, Oil/Linen Panel

I wanted to lighten up and loosen up for this second mango painting in my continued effort to find air and movement in the surrounding light. I placed a lighter semi opaque piece of stained glass for the background. These still lifes are the perfect place to work out the ideas that have been floating through my mind without being concerned with the changing light of plein air nor the time factor (and personalities) with a live model.

Mangos

15x10,Oil/Linen Panel

Mango season has arrived with the first mangos falling... I picked these up this morning, painted them today and will be having them in a salad tonight! In the studio, I placed them in front of a deep hued piece of stained glass. For this still life I concentrated on movement in the paint and keeping the edges soft to imply the air around the mangos against the dark background, giving them space.

Wet Paint, In The Studio...

Five Star Proud

12x10, Oil/Linen Panel

This 12x10 studio piece may wind up being a study for a larger version. I am intrigued by the idea of finding life and color in what could be considered a dark toned painting. I also brought Chromatic Black onto my palette for this piece, replacing Ivory Black.

Interior With Landscape

10x8, Oil/Linen Panel

Unapologetically, I admit my paintings are usually of a high chroma nature ... just how I see it, folks. Once in a while though, I try to shoot for a little subtly to bring it down a notch... as in Interior With Landscape. For harmony, I was looking to warm up the cool blueness of the front room's shadowed areas while keeping the intensity of the morning light in the room beyond with its reflections in the floor and glass table top. The painting on the wall, fortunately, holds its own with its vivid presence.

Wet Paint, Plein Air...

Stranahan House Roses

16x8, Oil/Linen Panel

Saturday, three of my painter friends and I were asked to paint at Stranahan House, an historic home that is now found tucked into the shadows of the high rises that make up downtown Fort Lauderdale. Our being there was an effort by a local Museum Group to raise awareness of the arts, or in our case, painting en plein air. Of the hand full of people that stopped by, several just wanted to know where to catch the water taxi... but a few kids wanted to know if Stranahan House is really haunted?? I didn't have an answer and we all just smiled about the idea. Well, who's smiling now?... check this out. We will be painting there again on June 26, 1-4 PM. If you are in the area, stop by and feel the "Spirits" of Old Fort Lauderdale... if you dare....