Pop in, why don't you?

 I'll be exhibiting portraits and studies along with 8 other artists 

at the Mills Pond House Winners Showcase

The Mills Pond House is one of the great old houses of Long Island. An a mazing space for artists to exhibit in.


The Mills Pond House Gallery Exhibit
January 18- February 20, 2014

Opening reception
Saturday, January 18
2-4 pm

Morning miniature

From last night, there remained a tacky bits of paint on my palette I wasn't willing to let the rubbish bin claim. I mixed them, really I squished them hard with a palette knife, with drops of Winsor and Newton's fast drying medium. It worked for a bit, and I got about 20min out of the paints before all went gummy. I think Cyrano deserved more time...

Dracula

I'm rereading Bram Stoker's Dracula. What sticks in my mind is this still of Béla Lugosi victimizing the gorgeous and slight Helen Chandler in the 1931 version of the film.

face in the chamois

Seems like an awful lot of self portraits, but I arrive on the studio faster than any model I know and only cost a cup of coffee.






After completing my portrait for anatomy class, I looked down at the messy ledge of my easel and thought I caught a glimmer of the charcoal remains side-glancing their plight.

Pre-selection Royal Society of Portrait Painters

On a whim I submitted this pastel painting to the SELF exhibit at the  Royal Society of Portrait Painters Mall Galleries. Consider deeply the effects of your actions before submitting to overseas exhibits because sometimes they must be shipped fast... I didn't realize that there was a pre-selection process, so a small window was given to get the original into gallery hands-- pronto!

Seems there's no chance of this piece escaping customs in time.

I'm a little late with this notice....

Clearly Unhurried

56th LongIsland Artists Exhibition

On exhibit at

Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery

 

March 10 – April 14, 2013

 

Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery

M-F: 9-4pm, Sat & Sun:  11-4pm

There's some fabulous work in this exhibit--hope several of you will get the chance to view the work--some excellent artists are exhibiting and we were lucky to have a few sculptural pieces that are stunning!

Morning miniature

For several weeks now early morning drawings have been consigned to anatomical work, but I happily got in this one of Jesse. 

Stac Arts Member's Exhibit

I hope that many of you got the chance to see the show. Happy to announce that 'Dana' was one the winners along with many other super strong pieces. If you've not hauled yourself over to the Mills Pond House, where the absolutely fabulous Smithtown Arts Council (STAC) resides, you might want to!

Sorry, this post is a little late, but many congratulations to all:

Winners:

Judith Contrino

PD Packard 

Burton A. Woods

Honorable Mentions: 

Ned Butterfield

Rasma Kupers Dos

Essie Freilach

Michael R. Kutzing 

Patty Schwarz

It was daybreak, it was a Monday, and I was out of coffee. This particular dry spell didn't have to happen. I'd knocked over the coffee tin and into the vacuum the beautiful, brown grains had to go-- but did I really have to suck them up into the beater bar of destiny? I could've rinsed them off, like I do everything else, and no one would have been the wiser.  There is no back-up coffee in the house. This fact caused my face to transform, then I noticed Courbet's self portrait on the top of an old brochure, had a funny feeling, and glanced in a 2 x 6 inch kitchen mirror:                                                                                  

                      

                         

  

  

STAC ARTS Members Show reception has been forwarded to:

Nov 17, 2012            2:00 PM - 04:00 PM

 I hope that all artists participating are well and now have electricity and heat and are well.

 

There was a lovely freshness to this model's complexion that I was hoping to bring out with my limited palette. Not quite as limited as four colors only-- one or two more cads sneeked their way in.

This portrait of Dana will be exhibited at that Members Art Forum Nov. 10- Dec 21, 2012 at the Smithtown Township (always a tongue twister) Arts Council.

Cirque Mardu

I'd been reading about life under the Big Top and the daily routine of some of its kids--sounded dreamy, no matter the demands. I'd always wanted to join the circus--maybe they'll take me on as a promising new act? My daughter Dunia and her friend Margo spent the evening posing for me for this one - there's no end to the faces those two are capable of pulling.

Playing the part of the gypsy. I honed in hard on the darks and reworked them several times before touching any color in the areas of light. I had fun with this one and classmates did fabulous work. Everyone moved miles from starting point and I'm ready to move west to study more with Cathy Locke.

This is my 2nd portrait of Marion, the first being much looser. Marion's got great facial structure from which to work--makes it a little easier for us.

Andrea has outstanding eyes to which I was hoping to do more justice. I've not been adding medium to these water miscible oils and have to be careful about forecasting how they'll dry. They can get super matte and lusterless and if you want to add a varnish, a 6mth wait time is required if you don't want to destroy the painting.

She seems just the right candidate for a Steampunk illustration, no?

I think I'm getting closer to what I'm looking for in this portrait. Richard has a face with the most wonderful personality. Hopefully some of it is coming through.

I'm beginning to work more and more with water miscible oils and liking them a lot. This model had loads of attitude that I hope I was able to capture a little of it.

The Fugitive Finder

This post went up a couple of weeks ago on the blog of my amazing author friend Selene Castrovilla:

The human face is fascinating. Lately I’ve been doing a lot of
portraiture, mostly for people I’m at least slightly familiar
with or know to be the day’s model.

But before getting into anything lengthy I begin the morning with coffee and a good read--
The Fugitive Finder. Full of unfamiliar faces, some hard and some kind, I'm given the
opportunity to discover what my Long Island neighbors are up to then proceed to
do one or two quick sketches of them. It's a warm-up exercise I've gotten addicted to.
Their crimes range from local burglaries and DUIs to violent assaults and grand larceny.

While Fugitive Finder photographs are crude they still provide some sense of individual
personality. But if you've ever tried to match the person wanted with a particular crime,
you'll find it's near impossible.  This got me thinking about how neatly any face might fit
into the front page of that highly coveted periodical I snatch every fourth Sunday while
exiting Guinta Meat Farms.

If you’re like me, you’ll shake hands with nearly anyone,

even those who claim to be members of highly organized gangs of illustrators and writers.

The painting below is the original from which the 6th district police found a good likeness of October’s most wanted. Back issues available
at any police station.

Self Portrait of Artist in Studio, pastel

Bebe

This one, as I think you can tell, was a toughie.  The photograph I worked from wasn't all it could've been and there was no chance of working directly from the model. Bebe is a woman full of pathos. Fully aware of what's happening around her, and almost as if she can prophesy what's to happen, I get a sense that she watches everything from another plane. 

Artists & Artisans Exhibit will be up till Jan 7, 2012

2012? 

Our local cemetery (also a lovely arboretum) printed out a new T-shirt that reads:

Everyday above ground is a good day.