Mums oil on board 8 x 10 $75

This is a simple composition of three flowers in a vase (I took poetic and artistic license to make it 3 mums as the 3rd flower is a geranium) with several dropped petals, but the highlight here is on the vase with the light source on the viewers left

Almost Done Oil on Panel 11x14 $200

This series will help to demonstrate the process of painting a painting. The monochromatic painting to the left is the underpainting to the finished painting below. In this underpainting-done with acrylic cerulean blue on a white gessoed panel, one can ees the proper perspective as well as the values (shading and highlights) that will assist in the final painting. You can see even in the sketched (done loosely with a light brush and thinned paint) painting how the final will 'turn out.' After the underpainting it is simply a matter of deciding upon color-making adjustments and applying the details. You can see some of the adjustments-I made the lamppost thicker and the light rounder to add some color to that side of the canvas, I also made our lad a bit younger. At times deciding the composition poses the greatest challenge-after deciding- the rest flows. 

Wrigley acrylic on canvas 8 x 10

  This is the only painting I have done in acrylic. (Also the first real closeup and portrait as well.) It began Saturday as an acrylic underpainting for a oil portrait of my son and wife's dog Wrigley. However-as it was to be a gift and I liked the way the underpainting was going-especially since I had used a raw sienna acrylic as the underpainting, I decided to finish it up with the acrylic-laying in the colors. (I had to-this stuff dries really really fast leaving me little time to blend). An additional advantage was they would be able to take it with them when they returned to St Louis on Sunday. In fact it was not only done, but also framed. Can't do that with oils.

In Memorium-CFD oil on board 8 x10 $125

This composition is from a memorial to fallen firefighters of the city of Chicago. There is a series of bronzed sculptures placed between Lake Michigan and McCormick Place. In this painting Lake Michigan is in the background. This was all done with brush, the underpainting is in a magenta acrylic-one can see the glow-as a highlight on the boulder, around the fireman's cap and the boots. Steps from this boulder the names of fallen firefighters dating back to the mid 1800's are etched in bricks as a permanent reminder of those who died fighting fires in Chicago.

FASTER! oil on canvas 16 x20 $375

  This rather simple composition if of a family enjoying an offering of winter-getting the slopes with the toboggan and heading downhill. Regardless how hard dad pushes the speed is not enough.  The bright colors of the scarfs, hats and mittens as well as the darker figures in relation to the snow and trees draw attention to our joyful trio. Have done a similar painting of the scene-will post someday, but would like to change the direction of the sun to have it come from the viewer's left shoulder. The current placement of the sun and resultant shadow serve to further draw the eye of the viewer into the canvas and our happy sledders.

Heavenly Sunset oil on board 11x14 $145

This Caribbean sunset, timely considering the cold weather currently here in Chicago, uses a palette of predominately purple, gold and pink lending a contrasting glow to the landscape. The setting sun, a blazing yellow, is a complimentary color to the purple predominance and adds a warmth to our setting sun.

Spring Collection I oil on panel 8 x 10 $175

  Happy New Years!  Since it is a bitter cold day here in Chicago thought that a spring painting might add some warmth-I think tomorrow will be a scene from the US VIrgin Islands.  I don't do a lot of still lifes but they can be a diversion from other compositions. I enjoy being able to add a splash of color to invoke the flower as well as attempting to capture light dancing on a glass vase.  The background and table were both done with palette knife while the flower and vase utilized a brush. You can see the difference in texture and paint applications. I do enjoy some of the capacity one has in the use of the palette knife-especially in the clean-up-much faster.