Three Strawberries

Three Strawberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Richmond, Virginia

I decided that if three strawberries were going to squeeze together onto a 5 by 7 inch panel, they had to all cooperate and get along. One turned this way and backed up against the other, which patiently stayed in place while the last one huddled in close for the picture. Ok, everyone smile...

A Large White Kettle

A Large White Kettle, 11" by 14", oil on linen board, October 2008
Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

Part of my time in art school was spent living in a large unheated warehouse, in the seedy North Avenue area of Baltimore. For three years the only heat I had was from a large upright woodstove. To keep the air from getting too dry, I'd keep a kettle of water simmering on top. For three winters I would stare at this kettle, waiting for the stove to warm up. Even during the warmer months, people would stand around the woodstove in the morning while talking, just by habit, and it was always a nice place to set a cup of coffee. Somehow I managed to hang onto this big white kettle, although 25 years later the bottom has a few rusty holes, and it would never hold water again. My painting teacher once told me I didn't have a good sense of middle grey, so I hammered away at a study of this kettle, and then presented it to the class. I learned a new appreciation of silence that day.

Two Bartlett Pears

Two Bartlett Pears, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

While the day grew dark and the rain fell in sheets, I carved out a small study of two yellow Bartlett pears. As fast as they turned from green to yellow over the past two days, I'm sure they continued to grow even more yellow in the few hours I was painting them. I think I'm just starting to understand the nature of shine.

A Pomegranate

A Pomegranate, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

And then I carved out a small study of a single pomegranate. I learned some things, but I'm not sure if I nailed it down. I'll try again another time.

A Porcelain Pitcher

A Porcelain Pitcher, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

I finished a nice little study of a small round porcelain creamer. I could easily get caught up in the subtle transitions and hyper realism when I study such shiny surfaces.

Three More Blueberries

Three Blueberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I carved out yet another small study of three blueberries. I keep learning some big things while studying some of the smallest things. Blue and crimson are bathed in the warmth of autumn sunlight, so a great triangle of primary colors pivots on a constantly moving balance point.

Two Red Pears

Two Red Pears, 11" by 14", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

Just as they were about to turn into dog treats, I decided to carve out a larger study of two of these red pears. Something about the shape of a pear that is so comforting...if only they were larger, and warm, and could cook. I'm just kidding, they're just right the size they are.

A Tabasco Sauce Bottle

A Tabasco Sauce Bottle, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Washington, DC

Today I revisited a Tabasco sauce bottle. I allowed it to remain fairly rough and carved out, just to capture the most basic elements of this iconic package.

A Salt Shaker

A Salt Shaker, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Fairfax, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a salt shaker. It didn't occur to me how much this would be a study of nothing but salt, glass and chrome.

One Yellow Apple

One Yellow Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Assorted piles of apples and peppers and dead sunflowers were left over from the weekend, so I carved out a small study of a yellow apple. It's an almost neon yellow that glows from the darkness of the late afternoon light.

A Red Pear

A Red Pear, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I carved out a little study of a single red pear. Red barely plays into this piece, as the form is so much more a composite of the reflections than anything else. This may be a nice subject to study larger. Always larger...

Habanero Chili

A Habanero Chili, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Today I carved out a small study of a single habanero chili pepper. I was very challenged by the luminosity of the body of the pepper, while capturing a believable sense of light and gloss. I'm not sure how successful I was, and I'll probably revisit this subject again to see if I can't nail it down for once and for all. Shazam.

A Pumpkin

A Pumpkin, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, October 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a single pumpkin. It's a strange feeling, when I work on a new subject, when I try to see it as a composite of color decisions. It barely feels like a painting, but more like nothing more than a picture of a pumpkin. Maybe I'm just not able to get enough distance from the painting, maybe my studio isn't big enough. Maybe I need to view it through a mirror, or maybe I need to stand on my head, or maybe I need Frank to look at it and tell me it's really a painting that I did of a pumpkin, and not an actual pumpkin. Of course he only sees the actual pumpkin as quite a tempting new toy.