Stelle Rosse

I'm taking a short break from the studio to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends.  Here's hoping everyone has a Happy Holiday season.

"Stelle Rosse."  Oil on canvas, 12 x 16 inches.  Completed October 2013.

Savannah Study #6

This post features another small Savannah study completed earlier this year.  It depicts storefronts along Whitaker Street in the Historic District.

"Savannah Study #6: Whitaker Street Storefronts."  Oil on canvas, 8 x 10 inches.  Completed July 2013.

On the Easel: The Spring House

This past month I began what will be a series of canvases based on my visit to Block Island, Rhode Island in September.  I plan to present some of these in-progress before posting the final version.  This first work depicts one of the hotels on the island, the Spring House.  As I do with all of my paintings, I began with a red ground in acrylic.  Then, taking a soft brush, I sketched out the composition in burnt sienna.  I wanted to give the scene some drama, so I improvised a moody yellow sky as the back drop (ignore the shadow created by my easel in this photo).  Soon I will present the finished painting.

Eva Perry Regional Library Event

Last Saturday (November 16, 2013) I participated in the Wake County Public Library's "Meet the Artist" Program by serving as the artist-of-the-month at the Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex, NC.  This afforded me a display area for the month in the library's atrium entrance, and I also provided a demonstration of my working techniques for library patrons.

For my demonstration, I began the underdrawing on a new, large diptych of an aerial image of the Five Points neighborhood in Raleigh.  However, I had so much activity at the table from patrons, I actually completed only a small portion of the drawing.  Most of my time was spent interacting with visitors, some as young as five-years-old.  It was a great afternoon, with a lot of interest shown by the patrons.  My thanks go out to the Eva Perry Regional Library staff (especially Amy Whitfield) for making it such a wonderful opportunity for me.

East Jones Street

This is another of the Raleigh-based scenes I produced earlier this year for my current show at the Richard B. Harrison Library.  The perspective is looking west on East Jones Street.

"East Jones Street."  Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches.  Completed August 2013.

Savannah Study #5

This small work is the fifth quick study I completed earlier this summer based on a Savannah source.  It depicts the Kehoe Mansion.

"Savannah Study #5: Kehoe Mansion."  Oil on canvas, 12 x 9 inches.  Completed July 2013.

Back from New England

I've returned from my week's vacation to points north, visiting New York City and New England.  This was something of an Edward Hopper pilgrimage, as I saw the Whitney Museum's "Edward Hopper Drawings" exhibition, stopped at Hopper's birthplace in Nyack, New York and then took a day trip up Cape Cod to find his summer house at Truro, Massachusetts (pictured above behind me) and locate sites in Provincetown that he painted.  All in all a very motivational trip, and I can't wait to get started on some new canvases inspired by this journey.

Off to Newport, Rhode Island

I'm taking a week's vacation to Newport, Rhode Island to relax, sightsee, and find some new architectural inspirations.  Newport was a summer retreat for the millionaires of the Gilded Age, and it features some of the gaudiest palaces built during that era.  I am also planning to see the Edward Hopper drawing exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and take a day trip up Cape Cod to locate Hopper's summer house in Truro, Massachusetts.

Savannah Study #4

This is the fourth quick study I produced in my Savannah series.  It depicts the Confederate Memorial located in Forsyth Park.  I've always been fascinated with the light falling on this monument, and the resulting shadows.

"Savannah Study #4: Confederate Memorial."  Oil on stretched canvas, 10 x 8 inches.  Completed March 2013.

Savannah Study #3 (and exhibit news)

I've been busy in the studio this month, completing two new canvases based on Southeast Raleigh imagery for the Richard B. Harrison Library show this fall (October-December). I visited the library a few weeks ago and I think I will have six paintings on display there.

I have some other good news to share. I am confirmed for a solo exhibit at the Litmus Gallery in Raleigh for next June 2014. I was also selected by the Wake County Public Library system as an artist to participate in their "Meet the Artist" program. I will have a small display in November at the Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex NC, and will give a talk/demonstration there on Saturday, November 16.

Then, on Friday I learned that my triptych of the Boylan Heights neighborhood was accepted into the Visual Art Exchange's 24th annual N.E.W. (Never Exhibited Works) Juried Show for September. This is a competitive show to get into, so I am especially pleased to have made the final cut.

Featured above is the third in my Savannah series started earlier this year.  It depicts a lovely storefront along Whitaker Street in the Historic District.

"Savannah Study #3: Whitaker Street Storefront."  Oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches.  Completed March 2013.

Block Gallery Exhibit

One of my paintings will be featured in a group show at the Block Gallery in Raleigh, NC this summer.  "Highlights of the Municipal Art Collection" will run from July 11 to August 23, 2013 in the Block Gallery, 222 West Hargett Street (inside the Raleigh Municipal Building).  My work, "Victorians at Sunrise," was purchased by the Raleigh Arts Commission in 2010 for their permanent collection. That canvas will be displayed along with other works from the City of Raleigh's art collection.  The opening reception is Thursday, July 11 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Savannah Study #2

This week's post is another study I did in March of Savannah architecture.  It features a daytime image of the old Candler Hospital on Drayton Street.  In February 2012 I completed a large-scale canvas of this same subject depicted at night.

"Savannah Study #2: Candler Hospital."  Oil on stretched canvas, 11 x 14 inches.  Completed March 2013.

Savannah Study #1

In March - following my latest journey to Savannah, Georgia - I completed a series of small studies of various subjects in that city.  I was not concerned about the final product, but more the process.  The goal in these studies was to work loose and fast.  I also wanted to experiment with a lighter, more colorful palette than I usual choose when painting.  The first was a small canvas depicting a pink mansion on Gaston Street in Savannah, seen from a side street.  Using the color pink was especially enervating, since I rarely have the chance to play with it in my work.

"Savannah Study #1: Gaston Street Mansion."  Oil on stretched canvas, 8 x 10 inches.  Completed March 2013.

Bledsoe Avenue

This week's post is another Raleigh-based architectural painting that will be featured in the Richard B. Harrison Library show later this year.

"Bledsoe Avenue."  Oil on stretched canvas, 24 x 30 inches.  Completed February 2013.

Lightner Funeral Home

This canvas continues the theme of Raleigh-based architectural images I began earlier this year.  It depicts the Lightner Funeral Home located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Southeast Raleigh.  I have been fascinated by this structure for many years.  This will likely be included in the Richard B. Harrison Library exhibit later this year.

"Lightner Funeral Home."  Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches.  Completed January 2013.

Pettigrew Street

This week's post features another recent work depicting Raleigh's southeast residential area.  This is another canvas I plan to include in my solo exhibit at the Richard B. Harrison Library later this year.  It depicts a house in the process of demolition.  I was fascinated with the way the uprooted tree was piled within the structural rubble.  The home may have been a victim of the tornado that ravaged Raleigh in April 2011, or it may have simply been an abandoned structure.  This lot is now completely vacant.

"Pettigrew Street."  Oil on stretched canvas, 24 x 30 inches.  Completed January 2013.

South Bloodworth

Right after the holidays, I began a series of canvases based on houses in Southeast Raleigh.  These canvases will likely be shown in my show at the Richard B. Harrison Library later this year.  This one is based on a row of beautiful Victorians along South Bloodworth Street near Raleigh's Federal Building.

Last weekend I finished the large triptych depicting the Raleigh neighborhood of Boylan Heights from the air.  All in all, it took me over 20 hours to complete.  Since I shared a "work in progress" image earlier this month, I will post the final product in an upcoming blog entry.

"South Bloodworth."  Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches.  Completed January 2013.

Lamp Study #1

Several years ago I started a series of small canvases of lamps found around my house.  After completing two, I went on to other subject matter.  I returned to this idea late last year, and this small work was the result.

"Lamp Study #1."  Oil on stretched canvas, 10 x 8 inches.  Completed December 2012.

Untitled (Reflecting Pool III)

This is the third untitled piece I completed late last year in a series I've called "reflecting pools."  These works are totally imaginary in nature, and I began each with no idea or thought specifically in mind.  This painting took on a vortex theme.  Take from it what you will, as I have no real explanation to add!

"Untitled (Reflecting Pool III)."  Oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches.  Completed December 2012.

Off to Savannah

It's that time of year again...my annual trip to Savannah for some winter R&R.  I'm looking forward to the change in scenery and for the artistic rejuvenation.

Untitled (Reflecting Pool II)

This is the second "reflecting pool" study I completed late last year.  This one is slightly larger than the first, and vertically oriented.

"Untitled (Reflecting Pool II)."  Oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches.  Completed December 2012.

Night Windows #2

This is a second small night study I completed in November.  Called "Night Windows #2," it was painted using my new Winsor & Newton Oil Colour Artists' Painting Medium.  The architecture is based on the Kehoe Mansion in Savannah, Georgia.

"Night Windows #2."  Oil on canvas, 12 x 9 inches.  Completed November 2012.

Bass Residence Commission

This week's featured work is a commissioned painting for local patrons depicting their Raleigh residence.  The commission was the result of my August exhibition at the Cameron Village Regional Library.

"Bass Residence."  Oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches.  Completed November 2012.