Previous issues:
Spring 2001 | Winter 2001
Fall 2000 | Summer 2000 | Spring 2000 | Winter 2000
Fall 1999 | Summer 1999 | Spring 1999 | Winter 1999
See the Gallery for some exciting detailed images of the artist's work.
Saturday, September 22, 2001I managed to get a solid start on a new giant painting, but I was not able to summon the energy necessary to see this one through to completion. As I started mixing and remising the huge quantities of paint I felt my forearm giving out, so I barely made it to the second level of resolution. Tomorrow should be a productive day as I will continue to bring this into greater focus and color.
Today officially marks the last day of summer. I have tried a few new things over the past three months, while still coming back to some of my same motifs from time to time. Heather and I have covered thousands of miles for exhibitions, making many new friends as well as discovering some wonderful distant cities and towns. I feel that my work has become somewhat looser, while at the same time my brush strokes are becoming more definitive and decisive. My sense of color has taken some leaps forward, and I feel that I'm seeing more subtlety while capturing more brilliance in my work. I feel that I have less hesitation to commit to a bolder color decision, or to hammer out a series of marks to capture what I see, as I see, and how I see. In the upcoming weeks I will be capturing a few more patterns of simplicity of arrangement before I hope to discover a new frontier of exploration. I have several exciting new ideas, but time will tell if I will be able to immerse myself in them enough to realize a cohesive body of work. As always, I will strive to strike a balance between my vision and what my hands can actually accomplish.
Read on...to Fall of 2001
Friday, September 21, 2001It's been a long week. I returned home on Monday night after taking the award for best of show at the Durham Arts Council Centerfest 2001. Heather and I stopped in Baltimore for lunch on the way home, and I gave her an extensive tour of the Maryland Institute. I showed her some of the hallways and rooms that held particularly strong memories for me. The smell of those old rooms hasn't changed one bit, they were bright from the skylights and stuffy from so many years of struggle and angst. The middle of the week was spent recuperating from the long weekend. The end of the week was overcast and colorless, so I continued tying up a few more loose ends around the studio.
I spent today mixing colors for a giant painting. The fun will begin tomorrow when I will attempt to hammer out as much of a finished painting as I can in only one day.
Friday, September 14, 2001I'm preparing to leave for an artshow in Durham, North Carolina. The show wasn't canceled, and I feel that in some way I really should be supporting the decision to continue by taking part in the event. On one hand, art, and specifically my art, really does feel so unimportant in view of the current events of the world. I do believe that there is a certain purpose to what all artists are doing, especially in the eyes of the world. Whether our work is that of political commentary or only defiance of the surrounding pressures to sway from our intimate studies of the world around us, there is validity in this same steadfast intensity of focus, and in the need to promote it for exposure. Art is supposed to be a form of communication, and maybe such a silent and introspective dialogue has a purpose. Maybe I'm just attempting to justify a selfish purpose to sell artwork. I could just as easily see it as doing my best to help others continue to see the world through the eyes of an artist, and to help them see something great within themselves at the same time. I hope.
Thursday, September 13, 2001I started and finished a 30 by 40 canvas of three granny smith apples today.
I was going to set up a larger canvas with a more complex arrangement of seven or more apples, but I weighed out what I realistically could finish in such a limited amount of time. It is always a good exercise to see how much productivity can be extracted from such a fast and furious session. I am reminded of the 15 and 30 second gestural figure drawings from art school, where the object was to digest and capture the power and posture of a pose in one fleeting rush of observation and execution. These last two paintings have both been completed in a somewhat similar fashion, and I feel that I've never before been able to capture so much information so quickly. Of course there are many elements to accuracy and polish that may suffer, but there is a liveliness and energy to the brushwork that always seems to be compromised with more sustained efforts.
Wednesday, September 12, 2001Today I wound up being stuck taking care of some of the many inner workings of the brewery where I live. I did manage to start mixing some colors for what should be a productive session tomorrow. I'll be starting early and working late, as I will have barely more than one day to complete a painting before I get on the road on Friday for a show in Durham this coming weekend.
On a side note, today I was invited to serve on the board of directors for the Rittenhouse Square Fine Arts Association. It should be an excellent opportunity to learn more about the mechanics of an exhibition, while possibly having a chance to influence some of the decisions that are made concerning the prestigious art show that is held in June in Philadelphia.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001I was stretching canvases this morning when the events of the day began. The history of the world was being written in front of me.
I'm staring at the screen, and I realize I have little to say.
Sunday, September 9, 2001I'm home from the Brandywine Artshow. I've made a few new friends while meeting up with several old ones, and I've found some new homes for several more paintings. One of my very favorite pieces was acquired by a nice young couple, and once again I have that strange slipping feeling that the measurements of myself and my time are being sectioned off and sold, one piece at a time.
With each day I feel that I'm closer and closer to becoming something more than I am now. It's funny how I seem to be constantly giving something up in order to do this.
Friday, September 7, 2001I finished the painting of sunflowers.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Now I'm going to Wilmington, Delaware for the Brandywine Artshow this weekend.
Thursday, September 6, 2001I had a very productive session today. The painting of sunflowers is progressing nicely, and I should be able to bring this to a fairly solid conclusion tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 5, 2001I finished the painting of five chili peppers.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Afterwards I decided to make an ambitious start on a larger painting of five sunflowers in a clear glass vase. I only managed to get my colors mixed and make some reference marks on the canvas as a foundation for what should be an exciting session tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 4, 2001I continued work on the painting of five chili peppers. This is almost finished, and I will have another look at it in the light of day tomorrow before making the final decision to move on.
Monday, September 3, 2001 Labor DayI started another painting of five chili peppers. This feels like a fairly rough and rude start, but I'm learning to take these ugly beginnings in stride. There was an unmistakable snap of autumn in the air. It was a wonderful day and as a result, it was a short painting session.
Friday, August 31, 2001The painting of five chili peppers is finished.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Thursday, August 30, 2001I think I'm finished with the painting of five chili peppers. I'm not totally satisfied with how this painting turned out, which could be the result of me feeling particularly run down today, or just because every time I try to paint chili peppers I wonder if I can really paint anything at all. I'll have another look in the morning and make the final decision on whether this painting is finished or not.
Wednesday, August 29, 2001I continued work on the painting of five chili peppers. While this painting seems to be careening out of control, I feel that I may be able to reel it back in and resolve it tomorrow. We shall see.
Tuesday, August 28, 2001I started a mid sized canvas of five chili peppers. It was a solid start, but I'll have to race to finish this before the last green one turns orange over the next few days.
On Sunday night I drove Heather back to Philadelphia for her last two semesters of school. It's been very quiet here in the studio these past two days. This past summer was colorful and lively with her in the studio with me, and all of the cats and I miss her very much. We're all looking forward to seeing her again this coming weekend.
Sunday, August 26, 2001
I finished the painting of five red plums.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Saturday, August 25, 2001I continued work on the painting of five dark red plums. Progress is slow, hopefully I'll finish this tomorrow.
Friday, August 24, 2001I started a small painting of five dark red plums. I'm having a hard time focusing on this painting, as it still doesn't feel quite right. In the name of working through the challenges I will attempt to finish this piece and move on. I guess I'm hoping that good things may come of setting my effort on autopilot and just banging out a painting.
I have some chili peppers changing colors on the window sill, and there are some interesting things happening in the late afternoon when the sunlight seems to be painted across them.
Thursday, August 23, 2001Despite it being fairly dark and overcast, I spent some time arranging and rearranging objects and mixing colors. By the end of the day I was no closer to having a painting started. I'll try again tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 22, 2001I started a small painting of nine black plums, only to decide to end the progress at the end of the first day. I made the decision to scrape it out easily, after only 6 hours of work. I'm not interested in rendering such subtle details as the slight haze on the black skin to create the sense of space and rhythm between the objects. In the past I have executed some powerful paintings utilizing plums as the subject, but right now I need something else.
Monday, August 20, 2001We've just returned from Montauk. We had so much fun there at the east end of Long Island. We walked on the beach at night, ran our exhibit during the day, and made some new friends throughout the weekend. Heather's birthday was on Sunday, and after we tore down the display we jumped into a paddle boat to tool around the lake by our hotel until well after sunset. Earlier today we toured the Pollock-Krasner house and studio. Walking across the lawn gave us the sense of entering into the hushed space and silence of a cathedral. In the studio we could see his bare footprints in the paint on the wooden floor, and his paint cans and tobacco and coffee tins lined the cabinets around the perimeter of the room. We experienced overlapping senses of connection as well as displacement as we stepped back out into the bright sunlight from completing the tour in the house.
We then delivered a painting to its new home in East Hampton before starting the long drive across Long Island. We stopped in New York City long enough to have a late lunch, and we got soaked in a sudden downpour before leaving to complete our long drive home.
It's good to be home.
Thursday, August 16, 2001I finished the giant painting of three gala apples, and now I'm leaving for the show in Montauk this weekend.
Wednesday, August 15, 2001I continued work on the giant painting of three gala apples. I'm being beaten up by this painting as I struggle to preserve the brilliant colors while attempted to carve out some believable depth and space. All of the snap and sizzle of the foundation colors are being overlaid with more muted tones as I continue to render these shapes. I'm totally exhausted, and I know I have to wrap this up by early afternoon tomorrow so I can leave for this weekend's show. Painting is hard enough without knowing that I'm quickly reaching the point where I will have no choice but to walk away and call it finished.
Tuesday, August 14, 2001I continued work on the giant painting of three gala apples.
Monday, August 13, 2001It rained throughout the weekend, and it was too dark to start a painting. Today was the first day with good sunlight, so I started another giant painting of three gala apples. For the first time in about a year I set the arrangement back up at eye level. As a result, there is a less direct light on the countertop, leaving it fairly muted and dark. The apples themselves are bathed in light, giving them a brilliant glowing quality up against their sharp and dark shadows. This should be a challenging and colorful piece. I'm looking forward to throwing around some massive amounts of paint in the next few days before I leave for the big show in Montauk next weekend.
Friday, August 10, 2001My, what an influx of people my website is having. My recent listing on the Earthcam Website top ten list has resulted in a deluge of traffic over these past few days. How nice to suddenly be sharing my world with thousands of visitors.
After a few hours and several more pounds of paint, I can safely say that I'm quite satisfied with this newest painting of three gala apples.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Thursday, August 9, 2001I think I'm finished with this painting. I'll have another look at it in the light of day tomorrow and make the final decision. Of course I always wind up finding one more thing that needs to be done.
Wednesday, August 8, 2001I continued to develop the giant painting of three gala apples. It is coming along well, and I should be able to finish this piece tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 7, 2001I continued work on the giant painting of three gala apples.
The heat is amazing and oppressive. The whole world feels like a foundry. I wonder if I should shave my cats. I'm sure that their little fur coats aren't very comfortable, although Jeckyl still seems to enjoy lounging in the sun in the hottest and stuffiest room of the third floor.
Monday, August 6, 2001I'm back in the studio, starting on a 48 by 72 inch canvas of a trio of gala apples just to get warmed up after a long break.
The past week has been quite an adventure. I won the award for best of show in Lititz last weekend (for the second year in a row), and I sold one of my favorite paintings to my high school art teacher, of all people. Heather and I drove to Cape May to deliver the painting to her beach house on Tuesday night, and we stayed overnight. We spent a few hours lounging on the beach before heading home late Wednesday night. During the week I've been uploading the entire website to a new hosting server, hence the many glitches that I'm sure everybody has been discovering. I had one day to get some work done on the website before spending most of Friday on the road, meeting up with the retro pop artist Jeff Schaller to pick up a large order of frames at a new supplier we've discovered. I finished stretching this new giant canvas yesterday, and started mixing colors throughout the afternoon. It seems that my backdoor access to the website has been intermittent at best, so the live studiocam doesn't seem to be working yet, and I know that many of the pages show broken links where the new hosting server no longer ignores upper and lower case differences. And I still have to figure out the really tricky stuff, the Perl scripts, for the order forms and guestbook entries, not to mention integrating the secured socket layer.
Sometimes it's funny to think of how many contortions I go through in the name of being a painter.
Friday, July 27, 2001I finished the painting of the five yellow delicious apples in a single even row.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Tomorrow I'll be exhibiting at the Lititz Springs Outdoor Art Show, and hopefully I'll be back at work in the studio again before too long.
Wednesday, July 25, 2001Another hot day, and I finally finished the painting of seven yellow delicious apples.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I immediately started on a smaller canvas of five of the seven yellow delicious apples in a single even row.
Tuesday, July 24, 2001I believe I am all but finished with the painting of seven yellow delicious apples, although I will take one more look at in in the light of day tomorrow to make the final decision. It was amazingly hot today, and the air in the studio is thick and heavy.
Monday, July 23, 2001Today's session was cut short before it even started when I received a call to deliver a painting to Philadelphia. On the way home Heather and I stopped by the house of artist Jeff Schaller. His wife Des is due to give birth any day, and dinner was made lively with the antics of his little daughter Brianna. For the first time I had a glimpse of the bizarre logic that he uses to create his paintings. He narrated his thought process through several of his newer works as though the logic was totally obvious. Only then did the realization dawn upon me that he is totally wacked.
Sunday, July 22, 2001I started a mid sized canvas of seven yellow delicious apples. Just to toss things up a bit, I decided to set them against a darker foreground. So far it is turning out to be an exciting piece, and the overall richness of color across the entire canvas is striking. I should be finishing this painting tomorrow without any problem.
It has been over a week since I've been painting. After recuperating from an exhausting and successful weekend in Cleveland, I caught up on a few tasks around the studio as well as around the building. The most notable event of the past week was on Thursday evening when Heather and I met up with a childhood friend of mine and his new wife. Eric Mckee and I were best friends from second grade up through high school, and we hadn't seen each other in twenty years or so. The natural talents we both had as children have developed immensely, and we enjoyed comparing notes on our observations of the many adventures we've both had. Despite his maturity through the many years of life in the professional world of music and education, I could still see the warm and compassionate person that I knew all those years ago.
Wednesday, July 11, 2001I finished the giant painting of eleven gala apples. Hoo boy, what an exciting painting.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Tuesday, July 10, 2001I continued work on the giant painting of eleven gala apples. It is developing well, and tomorrow should see this piece finished without any problem.
Monday, July 9, 2001First, I'd like to thank all of you for your support and input through my brief hiatus. Many of my own reservations about such a radical departure have been reinforced. Everyone can appreciate the need to shake things up a bit, but the consensus is that the greatest improvements will come through evolution, and not revolution. I have a greater appreciation of what I was doing now that I've taken some time off to get a little distance from it all. I will continue to push my own sense of self challenge, but I will also continue to appreciate the lessons that present themselves with each and every painting that I do.
I have only three days before leaving for a big show in Cleveland this coming weekend. I decided to start a giant 48 by 72 inch canvas of eleven gala apples. I will make good use of the long days to try to finish this painting before I leave on Thursday morning.
Wednesday, July 4, 2001I decided to escape to the big city with Heather and our friend Mike the bartender. We spent some time in Central Park, where we walked and walked, and saw hippie drummers and dancers, had an entertaining time in the subway. We saw the spectacular New York City fireworks display from the roof of the apartment of the legendary H. Philip Lauer in Brooklyn.
After three days and two nights, there really is no place like home.
Monday, July 2, 2001I've been arranging and rearranging objects for days now, mixing colors and starting and stopping paintings. I'm dissatisfied with my last two rooster paintings, and I'm not sure if I can realize the finished image I'm imagining from this subject. I had set out to create paintings by studying the subject of a concrete rooster, yet somehow to accomplish more than merely making a painting of a concrete rooster. I'm not content with arranging pieces of fruit again, yet I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing. I feel that I should be attempting something that is both challenging in difficulty yet rewarding in being a strong series of positive steps forward. I am somewhat stifled as I contemplate where I should go next. Maybe I should continue to paint the things that seem to come easily, maybe I should accept that changes come through evolution, and not revolution. Of course I realize the danger of putting too much thought into my next course of action. This is one of those times when it is so obvious that thinking about the individual footsteps is causing me to stumble.
As always, I welcome any input from my online audience.
Tuesday, June 26, 2001I finished the painting of the concrete rooster lawn ornament.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Monday, June 25, 2001Sometimes it seems that nothing will come easily to me.
Throughout the day I struggled with bringing yesterday's painting to its next level of development. After several hours of pushing and pulling the various issues of draftsmanship and proportion, I decided to cut my losses and return the canvas to a neutral ground. I then turned the concrete rooster to face the other direction and started another canvas. Hopefully this will prove to be the solid foundation on which I will build a successful painting tomorrow. Needless to say, it has been a frustrating session.
Sunday, June 24, 2001I started another painting of the concrete rooster lawn ornament. The canvas is just barely covered with the first level of resolution, and tomorrow will be an exciting day.
The grand opening of the J & W Gallery in New Hope last night was a lively and colorful event. Walter and Joseph were charming and personable as always, and their staff gave us a warm welcome. My work was showcased in the front window of the new gallery, and I was reminded of the power and solidity of some of my strongest paintings of last year.
Friday, June 22, 2001I finished the painting of the concrete rooster lawn ornament.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Thursday, June 21, 2001I continued work on the portrait of a concrete rooster lawn ornament. I should easily finish this tomorrow, and will probably embark immediately on another similar painting.
I'm off to see the Old 97s in Washington D.C. tonight.
Wednesday, June 20, 2001Jeff Schaller wrote "That is one nice cock!"
If someone told me last week that they saw a concrete rooster lawn ornament in my future, I wouldn't have believed them. Today I'm painting a concrete rooster lawn ornament.
It should be an interesting summer.
If you find yourself hungering for yet more dramatization of the angst of a painter, see Spring 2001 for the previous season's struggles.
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