Mono-what?

My newfound printing obsession: monoprints. They are fun, fast, and surprising. You can work in a multitude of ways, but the idea is to work directly on plexiglas, a metal plate, or most any hard non-absorbent surface, and then run it through the press. You usually only get one good print, thus the term 'mono'print. These first few prints I did intuitively, just experimenting to see what would happen.

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...