The Artist View From Here

New Abstract

2009-10-21T13:51:00.003-04:00

I am back painting with the Monday Night Abstract Group - I sure missed them over the summer. I painted this small canvas on Monday night - it is an interesting color choice for me - I was inspired by a Diebenkorn painting. I like it but wish it were a lot bigger. I really need to get back into painting more - I guess over the winter I will do that.

New Abstract on Paper

2009-07-03T21:25:00.004-04:00

I am on fire painting in my new porch studio. I did this one this afternoon in the rain. Seems like I am liking red lately - actually I am trying to use up paint before I buy any new tubes and i have lots of reds.

PA Art Studio

2009-07-02T10:58:00.003-04:00

So I needed a place to paint here in PA - I have a screened-in porch on the side of the house and thought I would try that. The bottom is a photo of my new studio and the top a new abstract I painted yesterday. I like painting on the porch - well for the nice weather - it is bright and I feel like I am in the woods working. I sometimes have a hard time getting used to painting in a new area - not so here. I hope to do a lot of great art work this summer in my little porch studio. I am painting on paper for now - I did not want to cart a ton of canvases up with me but I may buy some while I am here.

PA Paintings

2009-07-01T22:41:00.004-04:00

So the bottom photo is the abstract painting I did the other day - I just wasn't happy with it. I decided to do some more work on it and the top photo is the final result. I think it is a much better painting now, more interesting and better resolved.

New Abstract

2009-06-24T21:16:00.002-04:00

So this is my first painting since I came to PA. I set up my art area on the screened in porch and decided to try to do some painting today. This painting is 30X22 on paper - not too bad for my first try here. I plan on doing a lot of work on paper in this style while I am here.

Abstract on Paper

2009-06-03T16:04:00.004-04:00

Acrylic and mixed media on paper 30X22 - I hardly ever paint with green so I thought I would give it a whirl yesterday. I am painting better than ever right now and on Saturday I leave my NJ studio behind to go to PA for the summer - bummer as far as painting goes. I may be able to paint on the porch there but adjusting to a new space/lighting will be hard.

New Abstract - Glory Days

2009-05-31T15:41:00.005-04:00

Another abstract on paper 30X22 I even have a name for this one "Glory Days". I have decided to spend my summer studying Rauschenberg's work. I could look at his paintings endlessly and always find something new and interesting. This is my favorite Rauschenberg book. I bought mine at the Met Store (soft cover) for a LOT less.

To say that my art work right now is very inspired by Rauschenberg is an understatement - I love the edginess and the freedom of his work (no pretty paintings) - so I could do a lot worse as far as a hero.

New Abstract on Paper

2009-05-26T20:38:00.003-04:00

This is a new abstract I finished today. I haven't painted in awhile - these are not pretty pictures but I like doing them. I am not sure what I will do with them - I don't really want to mat and frame them but am not sure how to display them.

Abstract

2009-05-12T18:34:00.003-04:00

Abstract on paper 30X22 - acrylic, collage and mixed media. I was working on 2 paintings today and was thinking my new work - "it ain't pretty". Well this is the look I am going for - edgy and raw - and that is most definitely not pretty. So does a painting have to be pretty to be valid or saleable? I think not - well I hope not. I look at the work of Robert Rauschenberg and don't find anything pretty - but I do find amazing art work. It is deep and thought provoking - what more can one ask for!

Some new abstracts

2009-05-11T22:06:00.002-04:00

I have been painting some work on paper - so far I have 5 full sheets completed. This is the second one in the series.

I took a drive up to the art guild tonight to visit with the Monday night art group - I wanted to see what they are working on and show them my latest. It was a nice night - lots of good abstract art to look at and discuss - I am inspired!!

Gallery Opening

2009-05-03T14:51:00.006-04:00

Last night was the opening for my two person show with Sheila Garbarsky at the ABstract EXpressions Contemporary Art Gallery. The show looks wonderful - our paintings work so well together - our style, colors and shapes really complement each other. I am so excited and proud of this show. It is so nice to walk into a beautiful spacious gallery and see a body of your work - I usually do not get to see a lot of my paintings together like this - it was a thrill. The show will be on display until June 5, 2009.

Here are a few more pictures - I was so busy talking to everyone I neglected to take many photos.

Two of my paintings

Sheila's work

The front window of the Gallery

New Abstract Painting

2009-04-22T11:23:00.003-04:00

I panted this abstract on Monday night and it is a different painting for me - it is on paper and very Rauschenberg looking - I think I like it and this is the direction I want to go for now. I feel the paintings I have in the ABstract EXpressionist Gallery represent a "body" of work - all done during the same time period, related in look, colors and feel - but I am ready to move on. I like the fact that I have this body of work to show (if I am lucky) so it is time to experiment and grow.

I have been intrigued by the idea of more edgy work - I am trying to discover just what this means in regard to my paintings. In order to do this I need to experiment and play around and see where it takes me. Having a "body" of work will allow me to do this.

I get bored easily or I guess I should say I hate to feel complacent and feel like my work is becoming easy to do or too much of a formula and I need to shake things up. This was a break through painting for me.

Art Exhibit Post Card

2009-04-16T22:05:00.002-04:00

This is the postcard for my exhibit at the ABstract EXpressions Gallery next month. I am excited and will post more info about this.

Abstract on Canvas

2009-03-20T13:44:00.003-04:00

This is the second painting I did the other day - I like the both of them. This one was painted over another unsuccessful painting - second times the charm! I should have more than enough paintings for the April show - I am getting excited about it.

New Abstract on Canvas

2009-03-18T18:58:00.002-04:00

New painting 28X24 acrylic on canvas. I haven't painted in about 2 weeks - today was a great day I finished this one and another that I will post later - 2 in one day - now that's progress.

Large Abstract on Canvas

2009-03-03T17:55:00.004-05:00

This abstract is 48X36 and I loved painting large - I just wish I could afford to buy more canvas in this size or bigger. Large canvas = large shapes with a little decoration on top - simple!!

New Abstract on Canvas

2009-02-22T11:59:00.003-05:00

This is a canvas I just finished and this photo does not do it justice - it is too warm or something is just off. It is raining and I can't go out and take a good photo and I am eager to blog about this one. I like it a lot it is 30X30 on canvas and I painted it in about 2 hours - one shot and it was finished. I wish they were all this easy.

I need to start deciding what painting is going where. I also need to decide on naming vs no name. I am thinking a series name followed by numbers for this year. The series name I am thinking of is Literati followed by the year and number - I have always named my paintings but after talking to a number of artist friends I am leaning towards untitled - at least for now.

Latest Abstract

2009-02-10T17:18:00.004-05:00

Another one for my upcoming show - this one is 30X30 acrylic on canvas. Interesting coloring but I like it. I just bought a tube of that lime green color and I thought I would give it a try.

New Abstract on Canvas

2009-02-09T16:28:00.004-05:00

New painting ans not so good photo - this one is 36X24 on canvas. This is a new shape for me - not sure if I like it or not - kind of narrow.

Abstract on Canvas

2009-02-07T19:32:00.002-05:00

New painting for my upcoming show in April. This one is 36X36 and is darker in the photo than it really is. I had time to paint yesterday and finished this one and started and finished a 36X24 inch canvas that I will post tomorrow. I hope I am out of my painting slump because I need to produce for this upcoming exhibit and a few other shows. One thing is I am having fun painting again so that is a plus.

New Abstract on Canvas

2009-02-04T18:20:00.003-05:00

New abstract - finished yesterday. I had started this painting at home last Sunday - it had some nice things going on but for me it was unresolved. I brought it in to discuss with my class and then made a few changes to it - which in turned caused me to make more changes. I do like the result and now consider it finished. It is 30X30 on canvas.

My class is over - and it was really fun I had a blast teaching and maybe they will ask me back to do another class.

Two More New Abstracts

2009-01-26T12:39:00.003-05:00

Finished these two yesterday. The first on was a painting I did just to use up the paint I had squeezed out on my palette. The second was a start that was a demo for my Tuesday Class - I finished it at home and will discusses it with the class tomorrow.

New Abstract on Canvas

2009-01-25T10:49:00.003-05:00

I am teaching an abstract class on Tuesdays - this is a painting I did for the class. It was already started but going no where. I ended up adding the large red shape in the center and that pulled the painting together. I really need to get working again as I am having an exhibit in April/May and I need a lot of paintings. I only want to show canvas in this show - nothing on paper.

Two New Abstracts for 2009

2009-01-04T17:01:00.003-05:00

I finally had a chance to do some painting today and I decided to work on paper. These two are 30X22 inches - acrylic and mixed media on watercolor paper. I am pretty happy with both of these. My goal for this year is to work on my color and these two have nice, bright color - no mud for a change. These are my first paintings for 2009. I hope it will be a good year.

I talked to an art friend today and she mentioned enjoying the process - something to think about when painting - just go with the flow and enjoy it - don't worry about the finished painting, it will come.

Three New Abstracts

2008-12-30T19:35:00.005-05:00

Acrylic on canvas 24X20

Acrylic on canvas 36X36

Acrylic on paper 30X22

So I finally got some time to paint today. I worked on these three - in the order shown. The first two are on canvas - the second one I have been playing with for a long time - it has gone through many color variations. The third painting is on paper and is painted over an unsuccessful figure painting. To see the paintings larger click on the image.