Tiny art at Single Fare 3

Single Fare 3 opened to a crowd last night at RH Gallery in Tribeca showcasing works of art made on/with/of used Metrocards.. Here's some great press: http://animalnewyork.com/2013/single-fare-3/

My Metrocard paintings are on display along with nearly 2500 other witty and well-crafted works of sculpture, painting, drawing and printmaking. All of the work is available for purchase at http://www.shop-single-fare.com/

New studies

I'm experimenting with some new surfaces. I bought a sheet of dibond aluminum panel and am sanding it and painting directly on it. I love how the metal shines and changes depending on how it is lit.  

 Bethlehem study

Oil on aluminum, 4x8 in

I have also been experimenting with collagraph, which is a form of printmaking where you print from a raised surface on a plate. I paint the image on the plate with matte medium mixed with carborundum (grit). It dries quickly leaving a raised textured surface which holds ink and produces a beautiful embossed image.

Collagraph print study

12x12 in

The Bethlehem Project

 

Untitled II (Bethlehem)
oil on canvas, 9x12 in

 

Untitled II (detail)

Untitled III (Bethlehem)
oil on linen mounted on panel, 5x6 in

My newest series of work-in-progress focuses on Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: its history and landmarks. Located in the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem is the home of the epic, now-defunct Bethlehem Steel plant. The site was bought by the Sands Casino, which incorporated the steel history into the design of the casino and converted part of the site into an impressive art center. The blast furnaces and many of the outer buildings have been left intact. I am intrigued by the dark shapes hulking above this picturesque town.

Bethlehem also has a particular draw for me due to my own experience growing up in northwest Indiana, where the steel industry had a similar heyday and collapse, the huge buildings and smokestacks rising above the shore of Lake Michigan. Much of the area where I grew up is depressed and has not had the resurgence which seems to have buoyed Bethlehem.

All of these thoughts filter in as I wander the town and set up my easel to paint on site, braving the bugs, sun, and passing traffic.

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...

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

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!

Portraiture through still life

This is a painting I created as a commission for my friend Arturo. He picked all of the objects and we composed the still life together. Each one tells a story about his passions in life.