AT A GLANCE
Pastel, 11" x 14"

This piece is painted on pastel board with a nice sanded tooth. I had a different back-ground planned but decided to change it. As an artist, you have to be flexible, the painting seldom evolves the way you initially envisioned - you must be willing to push yourself, take risks, allow yourself to learn and grow and hopefully improve as an artist, after-all, what have you to loose? As one of my teachers often said, you have a 50/50 chance of messing with a Master-piece...

NEAL
Pastel, 9" x 12"

Painting the male model gives the artist a chance to appreciate the landscape of planes, angles, character lines that are more apparent with the masculine form. I used broken strokes to suggest the rugged skin quality. The challenge was balancing all that warmth of a sunset with cooler skin tones and since so much of the bright yellow shirt was reflecting into the face, I had to seek out and emphasize the cooler tones. Funny thing is, I was attracted to all that yellow in the first place so it did not make sense to change the color of the shirt.

DAYDREAMING
Pastel, 9.5" x 12"
SOLD

At the end of a painting day, my model was quite tired and fell into a daydreaming pose. I was intrigued and decided to paint her in vivid colors as if to say "Wake Up!"

FIONA
Pastel, 9" x 12"

I found the lighting and tilt of the head of this model very intriguing, not the typical pose for someone so young. I was quite surprised at the ease with which I painted her - none of the struggle I sometimes endure with some of my paintings - sweet pleasure.

BLUE PASHMINA
Oil, 16" x 20"
SOLD

This piece is painted in oil using both brushes and painting knives on stretched canvas.
I don't use medium when I paint, if I need to thin the paint, I use a little walnut oil. I seek out materials that are as safe as possible and most mediums are too toxic for my liking.

PROFILE IN BLUE
Pastel, 9" x 12"
SOLD

Using soft pastels and wallis paper, I painted this lovely young model in profile. She is quite comfortable and natural at posing and is fast becoming my muse.

INTENSITY
Pastel
9" x 12"
SOLD

Inspired by an art show I saw in Aspen, I wanted to try my hand at abstraction, but loving the portrait as much as I do, I knew that it would have to be incorporated somehow, so with soft pastels and wallis paper, I went about creating what I consider a marriage between realism and abstraction. The process was quite exhilarating.