VAGUE

Oil on canvas, 16"x20"

Once again, what started as a realistic rendition, got changed when I reached for my favorite palette knife and moved paint around. I allow the painting to speak to me, while there is nothing wrong with realism, often I want something more and am willing to risk ruining a good effort with spontaneous marks done with a palette knife. Playing it safe does not allow for growth.

THE EARRING

Pastel on sanded paper, 12"x15"

I was intrigued by both the lighting and pose and felt pastels would be an exciting medium to capture the subtleties of the beautiful model.

INDIRECT

Oil on canvas, 24"x18"

This piece was a lot of fun to create. I primed the canvas with large swatches of acrylic paint creating a lot of texture in the process. Using oil paint and a palette knife, I pulled out the image being careful to allow some of the texture to prevail and guide the interpretation. The omission of details was a deliberate choice.

REDEFINED

Oil on canvas, 20"x20"

This started as an acrylic painting with colorful passages only to be changed into a more realistic rendition. Still not satisfied with the results, I reached for a palette knife and oil paint and did this interpretation which was much more satisfying to my artistic sensibilities. 

The Model
Pastel, 12" x 16"

Inspired by a lovely young actress whose role as Helen Keller in the theatre production of "The Miracle Worker" caught the eye of a budding photographer which led to a photo shoot and the black & white photograph that would serve as a reference for this pastel painting.
This piece is done on a pastel support that I am using for the first time as my favorite Wallis pastel paper is no longer in production. It is likely that this may be my last pastel as I am working in oil and acrylic these days, but one never knows, as an artist, I keep all options open.

A FAVORITE HAT 2
Pastel, 12" x 9"

Soft pastels on wallis pastel paper. The obvious complementary colors were a deliberate choice, so too, was the use of layering various colors without blending to create the form.

THE PONYTAIL
Oil, 14" x 11"

I painted this piece with brushes only, resisting the use of palette knife and too much blending.