Figure Painting for the First Time in a Long Time

in a workshop with the amazing Eric Bowman. Surrounded by a bunch of really good painters. Here goes...

The First One

 

The Second One

The Third One

 

All in all, apart from being exceedingly nervous at first, not bad.

Tulips, January

 

Tulips, January
11 x 14

Private Collection

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #57 Daffodils

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings
#57 Daffodils
11" x 14"
Sold to Pamela Wisneski

One of the things I liked best about living in Minnesota was that onset of spring, when, after a long winter, the green tendrils of the bulbs we had planted the year before would begin to poke through the snow.

Unfortunately, more times than not, this meant that it was May.
One of the many things I love about living in the Pacific Northwest; early-onset Spring.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #55 - Fisher Price Dog

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings

Painting #55 - Fisher Price Dog
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold
 

I don't have much to say about this, but I'm sure that all
of you have your own memories about this little guy.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #52 Venti Americano Extra Shot No Room

52 Weeks 100 Paintings
#52 Venti Americano Extra Shot No Room
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

 

My drink of choice at Starbucks. If the barista is feeling extra magnanimous, he/she will throw in the sixth shot of espresso. Not always, but it's a nice little extra when they do. Some people say they can't exist without their coffee. But you know what? After watching the devastation of Hurricane Sandy I'm reminded that it's most definitely a luxury. It's too bad that it takes something horrific like that to make one appreciate big important things like having a place to live and being warm and dry. I just need to remind myself to be grateful for everything, large and small. And to enjoy a Venti Americano Extra Shot No Room when I get the chance. All proceeds from the sale of today's painting will go to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #51 - 3 Bowls, 1 Spoon

52 Weeks 100 Paintings

#51 - 3 Bowls, 1 Spoon 

5" x 7" 

Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #50 Sprinkles

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings 

#50 - Sprinkles
7" x 5"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

Number 50. Wow! Halfway there. Time flies. It's been an adventure, and I thank all of you for being here for it. Thanks to you, thanks to Stephanie at Treat for the amazing cupcakes, and thanks most of all to Angela, for all the love and support and for helping me carve out the time from our already crazy schedule to do this in the first place. I look forward to the next 50, and I'm glad y'all are along for the ride. Thanks again for your support! Cheers!

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #49 - Fall Color

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings
#49 - Fall Color
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #47 - Tomatoes

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings
#47 - Tomatoes
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold to Laura Flores

 Sometimes when you don't know what to paint, something just falls in your lap. In this case, it was a bunch of Roma Tomatoes from the backyard garden of Bobbi, Molly's piano teacher. Thanks, Bobbi.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #46 Pomegranates

 

Painting #46 - Pomegranates 

7" x 5"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

Somehow, over the course of my life, I missed out on pomegranates. I don't

know if it had to do with growing up in the Midwest or always sticking to the more conventional WASP-y fruits- you know, apples, bananas, pears, grapes, etc., but pomegranates were always something I associated more with a Gaugin painting or smooth jazz than something you would actually buy at a grocery store, take home, and consume. Curiosity got the best of me the other day, though. I bought two, not so much to eat, but just because they were so beautiful and red and round and I thought they would make a nice painting. I cut one in half. After watching Angela spoon up some of the seeds, I did the same. I was not prepared for the explosion of flavor. To be honest, I felt a bit like one of the cavemen in 2001 - A Space Odyssey, hooting and grunting in wonder and glee and my newfound, exotic discovery. Of course, the fact that this wonder was a reaction to something that to most people is just another piece of produce made me feel even more Neanderthal. Anyway, it was a nice discovery, and one found better late than never. Embarking on this painting series has been really interesting to me. I've made a lot of little discoveries along the way, everything from different ways of seeing light and mixing color to, well, pomegranate seeds. Thanks to all of you for coming along for the ride.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings Painting - #44 Tiny Pumpkins

Painting #44
Tiny Pumpkins 

7" x 5" 

Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

It's that time of year again, so this is the first in a series of
Halloween-themed paintings. We're getting to that odd point
as parents, where Sean has decided for the first time to
stay home and hand out candy instead of trick-or-treating.
Molly's still all in, though. So am I, but that's
a different conversation.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #43 - Sunflowers II

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings
#43 - Sunflowers II
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #36 Campbell's Soup l

 

52 Weeks 100 Paintings

Painting #36
Campbell's Soup I 

5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel
Sold

Life imitates art. Imitates life. Imitates art. Campbell's just came out with 4 different cans
of tomato soup based on Andy Warhol'sscreenprints of Campbell's Tomato Soup.
Which I am now painting. One down. Three to go.

52 Weeks 100 Paintings #35 - nutella

 

Painting #35 - nutella
8" x 10"
Oil on Canvas Board
Sold

I'm not sure how I made it 40+ years without heeding the
siren call of nutella. Trust me. I'm making up for it now.