A Warm March

oil on panel

6"x6"

sold

This woman is pausing to look out over Lake Galena on a warm March afternoon- a very peaceful moment at Peace Valley Park. I'm a sucker for the drama of back-lighting, especially on red hair.

New Year's Day

graphite on paper

6.75"x8"

purchase

Drawing helps me to enjoy painting more. I think it's because it's a relief to be able to focus on line and value without color, but then I'm always glad to get back to painting after a drawing break.

 

Regarding Monet

oil on board

6"x6"

sold

I love the contrast between the delicacy and subtlety of this Claude Monet painting with the bold presence of this large man in his bright red sweatshirt. I also love capturing people at moments when they are stopped in their tracks by something wonderful.

Cook in a Malaysian Restaurant Kitchen

oil on board
6"x6"

sold

A few weeks ago I ate at a great Philly Malaysian restaurant called Banana Leaf. I asked the cooks for permission to take some pictures of the open kitchen area. Although they didn't mind, this guy gave me and my camera a pretty wary look. He was doing something with a small mountain of mangoes.

After spending some time this past week drawing instead of painting, I felt a little impatient with how difficult it is to paint a face that is only an inch tall. Working with the precision of pencil (and a blending stomp) was satisfying. Still, I wanted to get a definite likeness in this scene because this young man's expression was what drew me in.