Fuji

Fuji

5" x 5"

original watercolor on paper

Another day another apple. 

$95.00

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Please allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.

Honeycrisp

Honeycrisp

5" x 5" 

original watercolor on paper

Yesterday I wrote that painting an apple a day keeps the art blues away. I had had a frustrating day in the studio trying to plan a large painting.  I felt incapable of focusing on one idea, and overwhelmed by possibilities.  Too often this feeling leads to inactivity.

I took a break from planning this larger painting, picked up a small scrap of paper, and painted the Macoun apple on my counter.  I've been painting and drawing apples for years.  Each one is different and they're a great subject for watercolors because the texture of their skin is so shiny and reflective.  

So, for the next thirty days, I'm going to paint an apple a day.  Even bad days in the studio should be fruitful.  

SOLD

Macoun

Macoun

6" x 6"

original watercolor on paper

SOLD

New York Life

New York Life

22" x 30"

watercolor on paper

This painting was inspired by Joan Didion's timeless essay, "Goodbye to All That," about her experience living in New York City in her twenties.

For the last year I've been lucky enough to have a very good view of some notable Manhattan buildings from my studio window.  They include the New York Life building, the Met Life Tower, and One Madison.  To me, they resemble a phalanx of mismatched soldiers each keeping watch over Madison Square Park.

As I worked on this painting each afternoon, the view became increasingly obstructed by the construction of condominiums on the western side of the park. It seemed like with each day, a new floor of the building would be erected.  I couldn't decide if this was more remarkable because of how quickly the construction team worked, or how slowly I did.

Beyond the changes in the city scape, the end of daylight savings meant I had to adjust what time in the afternoon I could work on the painting, in order to maintain a degree of consistency in the light and shadow angles. Life doesn't stay the same anywhere, but it's safe to say that in New York life changes the fastest.

New York Group Show at the Mehu Gallery

I'm happy to report that a recent painting of mine, Paddock Pastoral, is being featured in a group show on New York's Upper West Side September 19-October 13, 2013.  If you find yourself in the area please check out the show!

Painting En Plein Air in Provincetown

It's important for me to remember that the perfect antidote to any stasis or ennui in the studio is almost always a trip outdoors - paint sets, paper, and brushes in tow.  In a last minute decision, I packed a bag and made the drive to Provincetown for a 3-day outdoor painting excursion.  I had a fantastic time (though it would be hard not to on the Cape in August), and I couldn't have been happier or more content while painting Taves Boat Yard and some of the other local buildings.

Painting en plein air (in the open air) is always a challenge at first, but within the sand, wind, and sun lies the magic of the experience.  It forced me to abandon the tight manners I can at times slip into while working within the confines of my city studio, and allowed for more relaxed expression.  I used water from the bay to lay down washes and mix colors.  Now that I'm back in my studio in New York, the paintings still smell like the sea. 

Paddock Pastoral

Paddock Pastoral 

24" x 36"

Ink and watercolor on canvas

This large-scale watercolor is the latest addition to my ongoing series of racehorse inspired paintings.  If luck is on my side, the green tones of the image will foreshadow the greenbacks of my winnings as we make our annual trip to the racetrack at Saratoga Springs, NY this weekend.