Muffy

While most of my painting imagery is architecturally related, I do paint other subjects. Occasionally I am solicited for private commissions, and the above work is one I received a few years ago. A patron contacted me to see if I would complete a commissioned portrait of a beloved pet who had passed away after many years of loving companionship. These projects can be quite challenging because the patron can have exacting expectations of the final result. This painting seemed to work well from the very beginning, and the patron was very pleased with the end product.

"Muffy." Oil on stretched canvas, 20 x24 inches. Private commission completed in November 2007.

Victorians at Sunrise

I received some wonderful news this week: the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, which hosted my recent exhibition "Home/journeys," has purchased one of my paintings for the city's permanent collection. The commissioners selected "Victorians at Sunrise" (seen above) for their collection. Needless to say I was very excited about this development.

"Victorians at Sunrise" has been featured in three of my exhibitions (Burke Arts Council in May 2009, Preservation Society of Chapel Hill in December 2009, and the Miriam Preston Block Gallery in May 2010) so it is satisfying to see it go to a good "home." I am especially grateful to the City of Raleigh Arts Commission for their support and encouragement.

"Victorians at Sunrise." Oil on stretched canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Completed in July 2008.

Remains of the Day

Unfortunately I've been sidelined this past week by some outpatient surgery that I had been putting off for nearly two years. I am recuperating well at home but I won't be in the studio for at least a week. Prior to the surgery I was busy working on several new canvases. I hope to have those photographed soon so that I can post them here.

The painting above, "Remains of the Day," was completed earlier this year. The structure itself is based on an actual house in Ohio but I completely reworked the surroundings and also improvised the dramatic skyscape. The Victorian architecture of Ohio (which I greatly admired while living in Columbus during the 1990s) has been an excellent source for much of my material. It lends itself to a lonely, moody atmosphere that also evokes a sense of lost elegance and grandeur, of a time gone by.

"Remains of the Day." Oil on stretched canvas, 26 x 40 inches. Completed January 2010.