A Sliced Mushroom

A Sliced Mushroom, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Just when I thought I would never paint certain things, like....for instance, a mushroom, I find myself carving out a small study of a sliced mushroom. Suddenly I discover a whole new course of study in something as profoundly simple as a single mushroom.

A Tangerine

A Tangerine, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

And then I immediately carved out a nice little study of a single tangerine. For some reason I've always avoided attempting to capture citrus fruits. I'm not sure if it's something about the shine or the surface, but I've always felt that I was lacking in capturing anything from nothing but reflections. So, it seems I'm learning something new, again.

Two Strawberries

Two Strawberries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, San Pedro, California

I carved out a small study of two strawberries. Something about this is very exciting, and I'm thinking about studying this subject on a much larger format.

A Sliced Lime

A Sliced Lime, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I decided to carve out a small study of a sliced lime. It's a completely different green than I typically encounter on apples, so I'm stuck having to think my way through it all over again.

Three Blueberries

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

Private collection, Alexandria, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of three blueberries. It's all so fun, and blue. If blueberries came in larger sizes, say, the size of pomegranates, I could really have some fun.

A Prune Plum

A Prune Plum, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, September 2008

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

I'm almost back to work again with a small study of a single prune plum.

A Japanese Eggplant

A Japanese Eggplant, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, August 2008

Private collection, San Jose, California

And then I finished a study of a Japanese eggplant. Suddenly there's a brand new spectrum of colors, and I may decide to execute a larger version of this piece.

Another Green Apple

One Green Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, August 2008

Private collection, Fairfax, Virginia

I was giving a short lesson on color theory, and somehow the lesson spawned a small study of a green apple. Once again, I learned some exciting things about green, and about light, and brightness, and all those other good things.

An Eggplant

One Eggplant, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, July 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a single eggplant. Suddenly everything I thought I knew pales in the face of one tiny eggplant. My education is ever ongoing.

Another Green Apple

One Green Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, July 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

One Yellow Apple

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

Private collection, Richmond, Virginia

This piece is a study for a large painting I'll be starting tomorrow. I like the vibration of all the warm colors in the apple with the overly bright and cool background color.

A Sliced Lemon

A Sliced Lemon, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, July 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Today I carved out a small study of a sliced lemon. Aside from being a challenge, it sure does smell nice.

One Green Apple

One Green Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, July 2008

Private collection, Glen Allen, Virginia

As I prepare to dive into yet another series of granny smith apples, I carved out a small study of a single green apple.

An Older Painting

Two Pears, 11" by 14", October 2007

Private collection, Los Gatos, California

I decided to post this older piece just to see how far I've come in the past year. Again and again I learn about the creation of depth and space and mass. This painting is from a short series where I explored the effect of patterns of color to create atmosphere. The end effect was the creation of vibration in what would otherwise only be still life.

One Mango

A Mango, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, June 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

After a week away from the studio, I started things up with a small study of a single mango. For some reason I've managed to avoid ever attempting to paint a mango, but today, I decided I should face my deepest fears, and just paint a mango. I feel much better now.

Yellow Lillies

Yellow Lillies, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, June 2008

Just to get things moving again, I carved out a small study of some yellow lillies from my yard.

A Mortar and a Pestle

A Mortar and a Pestle, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

In my ongoing study of white on white, I tried my hand at a very challenging subject, a white porcelain mortar in a white porcelain pestle, against a white background.

A Porcelain Bowl

A Porcelain Bowl, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Today I carved out a study of an empty porcelain bowl. I have a few of these leftover diner pieces, with the distinctive red trim. The more I look, the more I can see. I think someday I might actually figure out how to paint.

Three Blueberries

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

Private collection, Gaithersburg, Maryland

In the aftermath of the weekend of a wedding, a wedding rehearsal party, an after wedding party and an after wedding party party, I was able to find some blueberries quietly waiting in a bowl of leftovers.

An Espresso Cup

A Cup of Espresso, oil on linen board, 5" by 7", May 2008

Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

I finished this study of a cup of espresso last night, but the light had already faded before I could capture a final image. The depth of the porcelain surface is revealing an exciting new course of study. And espresso is an exciting way to make an exciting new day even more fresh and exciting and full of excitement. Ah, taste the excitement!

One Peach

One Peach, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, Fairfield, Connecticut

I always thought it was all but impossible for a painter like me to paint a peach. The reason is all because of one word...."peach fuzz."

Oh, that's right, that's really two words, but you get the idea.

A Porcelain Pitcher

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

Private collection, Larchmont, New York

Today I revisited the porcelain pitcher. I learned some good lessons about subtlety and depth and shine. The surface of ceramic glaze is very challenging, and I think I still have more to learn.

Two Thai Chili Peppers

Two Thai Chili Peppers, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, San Jose, California

Today I tried a study of two little Thai chili peppers. Some things are particularly challenging, on any scale. Painting big can reveal so many things that can be hidden when scrubbing around the details in something small.

One Strawberry

One Strawberry, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, Braddock Heights, Maryland

Suddenly I find myself spiralling down into the world of insignificant minutia in this new study of one single strawberry. The tiniest things now add up to bigger things.

Three Red Cherries

Three Red Cherries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, May 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Today I struggled with some ambitious new projects, and instead decided to carve out a small study of three red cherries.