A new venture

Trio

Lithograph

2010

Red Fins

Lithograph

2010

My newest venture is in printmaking, specifically lithography. Printmaking is a great way to expand on drawing techniques. To make a lithograph, you draw on a specially prepared aluminum plate or limestone. Then you process it with gum arabic and other chemicals. Next you roll it up with ink and print it on a large press. Anyone who's done lithography knows it's HARD work! But it's also fun and exciting when you get a great print. I love the whole process aspect of printmaking and the physical connection to the materials. Many artists I admire have made lithographs from Goya to Fantin-Latour to George Bellows and Grant Wood.

The prints above were inspired by animals which I saw this summer. Trio is a compliation of chickens I encountered in the Romanian countryside. Red Fins are two beautiful lake perch I caught while fishing in New Jersey.

The Couch

The Couch

26 x 36 in

Oil on canvas

This is my latest finished piece: a self-portrait. In this painting, I aimed to represent an aspect of my emotional self, rather than just my physical appearance. I used three different ways of handling the paint to describe unique forms. The composition was inspired by a small, less well-known Degas painting. It is an experiment, a step forward.

Birds and more

Paloma

30 x 40 in

Charcoal

Tina

12 x 12 in

Oil on panel

So... here's a selection of some new work. The rooster, who I named Tina, is still in progress. Lately I've been doing quite a few drawings and paintings of animals, especially chickens. I spent time with them this summer and realized how much they are like people. Each one has a distinct personality, as well as group thought. But there's always a leader and always the pecked-on. They can be snobby and selfish, interested in the world around them, but cautious. Beautiful and haughty. So much like us.

Stormy sky

My recent commission for Andie R...

Mini-portraits

New challenge: fast paintings. These were done in two hours, from life, with a limited palette... each one is 5x7 inches.

New Meat / Old Meat

Continuing the "Meat" series... The paintings so far have been small panels but I'm thinking of doing some large-scale works next.

Meat #3 - atmospheric

Meat #2 - cut and hung

New work!

Hey everyone, as you may know my first year of grad school is done! I am elated and very proud and amazed at the progress I have made. What a great year it has been. Now for a slew of posts re-capping my best work...

A charcoal figure drawing of Morgan (approx. 22x28 inches)

A copy after Italian Renaissance master Andrea del Sarto

Recent work

These are a few recent still lifes, the first is a Japanese toy (which also happens to be a stapler) on a Dixie cup. When I was composing this image, I felt like the kitty was regarding me from her perch, almost like she's on a throne.

The second image is one of my favorites. I was elated when it sold at the New York Academy of Art's Deck the Walls event to raise money for the school.

Please post your thoughts and impressions!