Previous issues:
Spring 2005 | Winter 2004/05
Fall 2004 | Summer 200 4| Spring 2004 | Winter 2003/04
Fall 2003 | Summer 2003 | Spring 2003 | Winter 2002/03
Fall 2002 | Summer 2002 | Spring 2002 | Winter 2001/02
Fall 2001 | Summer 2001 | Spring 2001 | Winter 2000/01
Fall 2000 | Summer 2000 | Spring 2000 | Winter 1999/2000
Fall 1999 | Summer 1999 | Spring 1999 | Winter 1998/99
See the Gallery for some exciting detailed images of the artist's work.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005The Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show came and went, and I managed to survive the storm on Saturday night that destroyed several artists' booths. My booth was twisted and tossed, but I managed to true it all back up again. On the last day of the show I found homes for a few more paintings.
I battled exhaustion through the weekend, and I would have started a painting yesterday or today if I didn't feel totally ill. Today I feel that I'm almost over it, just in time to load the truck again and leave for Kansas City first thing tomorrow morning.
This entry will mark the end of the summer season. There is very little I can say about the past three months in an overview of the life of an artist. I've come face to face with losing a huge part of my life, and I've been scrambling to assume control of all those extra tasks that were once shared by two people. Friends at the shows are still noticing the huge gaping hole next to me, where someone that was once always there, is now missing. Just when I think I'm getting over it all, something reminds me of how quiet it is here now, how the weeds are growing in the ivy beds, and the paperwork never seems to be totally finished. And as the autumnal equinox will pass and the days grow shorter and shorter, I ready myself for the cold darkness ahead. I feel so small, standing alone to face the huge wall of winter that I know is coming.
Read on...to Fall of 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005I'm back from the show, and immediately back to work. I managed to hammer down one more study of last week's pears, as they turned from green to yellow to brown. I will probably lose this entire week tying up loose ends and preparing for the upcoming Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show, but hopefully I manage to get some painting done. We shall see.
Friday, September 9, 2005The painting is finished, I'm leaving for the show.
Thursday, September 8, 2005I think I'm finished with this painting of two pears, but the sun went down and the studio grew dark before I had a chance to make sure if it was really finished. I'll have another look in the morning and make the final decision, before getting on the road to Connecticut for the Glastonbury on the Green show this weekend. I have never been to this place, and I know not what to expect from it.
Wednesday, September 7, 2005I picked up some fresh pears, and started throwing down paint on this newest study. Tomorrow I will build up a surface and hopefully see it finished while the colors are still fresh.
Tuesday, September 6, 2005I started mixing colors for a study of pears. My last pears are yellow, and on the verge of turning brown, so I'll try to get some new ones in the morning.
Sunday, September 4, 2005I finished the series of small paintings of granny smith apples.
Saturday, September 3, 2005And suddenly a week blows by, and I'm faced with a big hole in the journal entries. Here is a quick recap of the past ten days: On Tuesday the 23rd I painted, on Wednesday the 24th I finished the painting after running around and shuffling some work in a gallery and a restaurant. On Thursday I framed some paintings, packed and left for the Port Clinton show, drove until late, slept in the truck, and arrived in Highland Park early on Friday afternoon. Setup was Friday night, the show was through the weekend. I found homes for a few paintings, and on Saturday night I was the dinner guest of Ben and Marjorie and little four year old Olivia. Ben, I'm still waiting to hear from you, and thank you again for a wonderful time. I spent all day Monday on the road, driving home. Tuesday was spent tying up loose ends, taking care of paperwork and rest and recuperation. On Wednesday I started mixing colors for a series of small paintings, on Thursday I started throwing down paint, and did some work around the property. Friday saw more development on the series of small paintings, and things should have been finished today, but they weren't. If you can read between the lines, or even just through the absence of lines, you can see that nothing seems to come easily to me lately. I'm doing my best to keep pushing everything forward, at some point I'll get some momentum going again. As it all falls, it also rises.
Monday, August 22, 2005I finished the study of green apples yesterday, despite finding an inordinate amount of struggle in the final hours. I'll post an image of the finished painting when I have a chance.
I decided to finally nail down this subject and make it look easy this time, as I dove into yet one more study of these same green apples, against all white.
Saturday, August 20, 2005Instead of a fruit combo, it turned out to be another study of green apples, and the pears became part of a fruit smoothie instead. I'll be finished tomorrow.
Thursday, August 18, 2005I started mixing colors for a large painting of possibly a mixed fruit combo. The pears are so ripe that they're on the verge of making a mixed fruit salad, so I'll either stick to apples, or make a run to the market tomorrow. We'll see.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005I finished the painting of two pears.
Click on the image to see a larger version
Tuesday, August 16, 2005Despite the heavy rain and dark sky, I managed to continue to build up a surface on this newest study of two pears. Tomorrow should see this finished.
Tonight I cooked some fish and vegetables, and then sat at the table alone, in a dark and silent house. It's all sinking in, bit by bit.
Monday, August 15, 2005I finished the painting of bartlett pears, and immediately started on another study.
Click on the image to see a larger versionWith each day the colors of the pears changes, and after tomorrow these pears will be ready to be turned into a fruit smoothie. I listened to the new Nine Inch Nails album while I worked today, with such sunny and uplifting songs, "There is no you, there is only me". That sure puts my head in a good place.
Sunday, August 14, 2005I continued to work on the painting of bartlett pears. It's very close to being finished, after hitting a few details and going over a few edges tomorrow.
Today I planted some flowers. Where once was nothing, flowers will grow.
Saturday, August 13, 2005I'm back from Minneapolis, after a long and grueling drive. One painting lives there, and another is on its way to Vermont. I started a new painting of bartlett pears that turned from green to yellow almost overnight. Today I built up a surface, tomorrow I should be finished.
For two days I've been dreading making this journal entry. Heather has left, off to pursue her own path in life without me. The light that has illuminated my way to a better course in life for almost five years is now gone. She has inspired me to become so much more than I ever imagined possible. The light is gone. I'm crushed inside.
The sun is going down, I'm leaving to take Frank to play in the park. Life will go on.
Tuesday, August 2, 2005I'm not sure where I am any more with this journal. I painted and painted, finished a painting, started another, finished another, started a tryptic, finished the tryptic, now I'm heading out the door to Minneapolis. Maybe I'll get it together when I get home next week to have a more coherent journal again, we'll see.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005I started throwing down paint on this new study of green apples. Tomorrow I will build up a surface, and start bringing this down the home stretch.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005Today I finished a painting of apples.
Click in the image to see a larger version.I managed to finally find a decent bag of gala apples for a commission I've had on my plate for awhile. I'll be starting this in the next few days, but first I started mixing colors for another paintings of apples.
Monday, July 25, 2005On Saturday I painted, and on Sunday I painted too. Today I continued to paint, hopefully finished with this new painting easily enough tomorrow. It's hard to keep up with the journal right now. We're so busy, and so many things in my life are in upheaval right now. All I can do is paint, and keep up with my show schedule, and hold on.
Thursday, July 21, 2005I finished the painting of three green apples.
Click on the image to see a larger version.And on a side note, I just got the acceptance letter to the prestigious Bruce Museum Arts Festival in Greenwich, Connecticut in October, after trying for about six or seven years, finally.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005I continued to slug down paint on this new study of green apples. This is all but finished, but the sky is growing dark as I'm trying to find the last colors to make things turn.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005We're back from Westport, and several more paintings have found good homes. I'm back to work, hammering down a large study of green apples against a white background. I always enjoy discovering the different qualities of reflected light within such a simple setup. My mission from now on is to try to start enjoying painting again. Or at least not hate it quite so much. We shall see.
Thursday, July 14, 2005I finished the painting of packham pears, after scraping most of it out and reworking it.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Tomorrow we're loading the van and heading to Westport, Connecticut for a show.
On a side note, I was accepted to the Bethesda Row Arts Festival in October. And now it's official, that I've been accepted to the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City in September.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005Today I continued to work on the painting of packham pears. And it's my birthday. I'm now one thousand nine hundred and forty four years old. Yeehaw.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005I started throwing down paint on a mid sized study of packham pears.
Sunday, July 10, 2005I did finish the last of the Amaryllis paintings today.
Click on the image to see a larger version.Here is the set of three together.
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Upon approval of the client, this will be a tryptic, otherwise they will be available as individual paintings.
I immediately started mixing colors for a painting of packham pears against a dark yellow background. I'm taking my mother to her home tomorrow, and of course I'm worried. For some reason today I found an old Straight Dope article from 1987 about subliminal messages. Mommy and I are one. It explains a lot, for me, and for everyone.
Saturday, July 9, 2005Today I hammered down the last of the Amaryllis series, during the first sunny day after so many days of rain and clouds. On the upside, all the grass I planted over a week ago is growing nicely. In the morning I'll have a final look at this painting in relation to the other two paintings of the series and make the decision if it's finished or not. I'm excited, as this will close the book on one of the more challenging commissions I have yet to accept. While I see the value in trying new subjects, there are many elements of a tall flower in a clay pot that just doesn't sit right with me. I have some packham pears on my kitchen counter, and I keep noticing the poetry of all the tiger lillies that decorate the world right now.
Monday, July 4, 2005 Independence DayToday I managed to finish another painting of the Amaryllis series. This one is red, against a light blue background. I'm amazed that I'm able to nail these down without beating them to death. Tomorrow I will attempt the final painting of the series.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Sunday, July 3, 2005Despite having a massive headache all day, I managed to hammer down the first of the series of three Amaryllis flower paintings. This is a bold and lively piece, and hopefully I can keep up the momentum and nail down the next two paintings over the next two days.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Saturday, July 2, 2005I finished the painting of white Amaryllis flowers.
Click on the image to see a larger version.I immediately started getting set up to dive into a tryptic of Amaryllis flowers. We'll see if I can pull it off.
At some point last night, a massive tree fell down, across my driveway, taking down the power lines to the building by the lake. We've been trapped here all day, waiting for a tree removal crew to come by and get to work.
Friday, July 1, 2005Today I started slapping down paint on a new study of white Amaryllis flowers against the yellow background. Of course I'm on the verge of having a breakdown trying to paint this subject again, but I may just pull through and finally be able to start on the commission that's been haunting me since December.
Thursday, June 30, 2005I finished the new painting of two gala apples.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005I'm almost finished with the new painting of two gala apples. Just when I thought I might learn something, I'm only scrambling to see this piece finished before it dies on the easel. In other news, my mother continues to slowly improve, and I've been getting some work done around the property.
Sunday, June 26, 2005I managed to finish the painting of two gala apples, but only after killing it and then partially reviving it. I'm going to attack this same subject again tomorrow, and see if it gets any easier.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
Saturday, June 25, 2005The entire day today was spent getting my mother from the hospital and bringing her to my house to get some rest and recuperate. I mixed some more colors, but did not have a chance to work on the painting at all. Hopefully tomorrow I can nail this thing down.
Friday, June 24, 2005I started working on an amaryllis flower in a vase, next to a pair of gala apples, when I hit a brick wall. In the crush of defeat, I scraped out the painting, and restarted the same canvas with the two gala apples, and no amaryllis flower. Today I saw the amaryllis flower stem snapped off from its own weight on the edge of the vase. Everything seems to fall apart.
The past week has been amazingly difficult. My mother is improving, and I'm having an ever more difficult time being able to focus on my painting. My hand can barely hold the knife, I'm having to duct tape the knife to my hand so I can mix paint. At some point I will rise above all this, and things will start to come easily to me.
If you find yourself hungering for yet more dramatization of the angst of a painter, see Spring 2005 for the previous season's struggles.
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