Another Winter Day

Winter Forest, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Coconut Grove, Florida

Winter Sunset, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Coconut Grove, Florida

I'm quickly gaining a new appreciation of winter. I never realized how normal light gets stepped up to such a high voltage in the snow. These are good exercises in observation. First I carved out another study of the odd grove of trees on the edge of my property in the muted light of the afternoon. The sun started coming out as the afternoon grew dark, and then the sky suddenly lit in a blaze of color. Normally I would run to grab my camera, but instead I started mixing and laying down paint with the linen board in my hand. The heart wrenching colors changed every few seconds, but I managed to capture some version of the technicolor sky.

Winter Sunset

Winter Sunset, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009
Private collection, Orlando, Florida

After finishing what might be one of the most exciting little paintings I've ever done, I started pondering the sky. Without a whole lot of planning I sketched out a little color study of the sunset reflecting off of the snow on the ice on the lake. A few trees were silhouetted in the foreground. This is all very exciting, and I'm already thinking about hacking out some larger versions of these little studies.

Winter Forest, Revisited

Winter Forest in Sunlight, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009
Private collection, Larchmont, New York

Suddenly the same dismal grey forest came to life when the sun came out. Shadows vibrated with color, and nothing could capture the sun glowing in the snow. Now I can see how landscape painters seem to always be having so much fun.

Winter Forest

Winter Forest, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009
Private collection, Fairfield, Connecticut

Just to really get out of my element, I tried to find some color in the otherwise grey and dismal forest. Rain fell on the ice-covered snow, and everything is just dark.

Groovy Boots

Brown Boots, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Saskatchewan, Canada

Just to try something totally different, I decided to carve out a study of some old brown boots. The smooth lines and slick shine provided some interesting challenges, and there is plenty more to learn from this subject

A Baseball

A Baseball, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Today I carved out a very small study of a genuine baseball. I picked up two for this commission, one to keep bright and white and the other to give to Frank. I thought he might give it a nice patina of use and abuse, but he quickly lost interest. So I took it upon myself, and first rubbed coffee into the leather, then scrubbed it, then rubbed it with oil, then burnished it on a wooden table top. Apparently nothing replicates the look of use and time, of grass and wood and leather, endless hours of summer, of exertion and sweat, of wins, losses and team spirit. At some point I'd like to find a well used one, the dirty yellowed leather burnished to a bright shine. So instead, this study is of the bright white one, minus the blue printing which I found can be easily washed off.

A Banana

A Banana, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009
Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

For so long I said I never would, only for one reason or another, yet today, for the very first time in history, I actually tried a very small study of a single banana. It was a great day for historical events, as Barack Obama was sworn in as the new president of these United States. I watched him deliver his inaugural address, and I was moved by his sincerity and dedication toward helping us to rebuild our identity and purpose among ourselves, and with the rest of the world, starting today. In my own studio, the brave new world starts with a painting of a banana, but bigger wheels are already turning. As always, I can hardly wait till tomorrow, for myself, and for all of us.

A Yellow Apple

A Yellow Apple, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Washington, DC

On the heels of finishing a big and bold and bright painting of pink tulips, I decided to carve out a quick small study of a single yellow apple. The day was fairly dim and grey in the fading light of an all day snowfall, but I did manage to find some bold and lively colors.

A Lemon

A Lemon, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

On top of juggling endless paperwork, I managed to finish a very small study of a single lemon. In these dark cold days of winter, the lemon is still fresh and zesty with brilliant color. It's no surprise that lemon yellow seems to be fairly useful with this subject.

In other news, see the lovely little painting done by Brian Eppley, of his brand new David Oleski coffee cup. Last week he was a bit under the weather, but thanks to this cup, he's feeling much better. In some ways he may possibly have even become a better painter from the challenge of studying this new and exciting subject. There's no end to the good things you can experience while enjoying your favorite beverage from an offical David Oleski coffee cup. Buy one today, or get a whole set of four and share them with your friends and family.

A Peach

A Peach, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, January 2009

Private collection, South Boston, Massachusetts

After a month away from the very small painting studio, I decided to kick off the new year with one of the more challenging subjects I've encountered, the peach. Any tricks I may have learned with shine, sheen and reflected light are useless when observing the fuzz of a fuzzy peach. One of the keys to it all was in understanding that transition colors are made of the grey January light, and not the reflections of the surrounding space.

Another Green Apple

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

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

Over the weekend I carved out a small study of a green apple. I'm about to start on some larger studies in the upcoming weeks, and I'm excited to see how much of what I've learned in miniature will translate to bigger and bolder.

A Porcelain Goose

A Porcelain Goose, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, December 2008
Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Just to keep things strange and interesting, I decided to carve out a very small study of a very small porcelain goose. Capturing the character and posture of this little figure was as much of a challenge as creating a sense of mass and space.

A Kiwi Fruit

A Kiwi Fruit, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, December 2008
Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Today I carved out a small study of a sliced kiwi fruit. Several times before I sliced one of these babies open only to decide that eating it was more enjoyable than painting it. In retrospect, I think eating it today would have saved me a lot of frustration, of trying to capture the odd gradation of colors and the variety of surfaces. I'm not sure how successful the painting is, but I'm sure it will be delicious to finally eat the little fuzzy thing.

A Small Porcelain Vase

A Small Porcelain Vase, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, December 2008
Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Today I finished a study of a small porcelain vase. Painting the pattern of flowers on the surface reminds me of a portrait I did in art school, of a black woman wearing a black floral-patterned dress. What starts out looking like colored confetti takes shape as a pattern following a form.

A Small Glass Bottle

A Small Glass Bottle, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, December 2008

Private collection, Wayne, Pennsylvania

I'm finally back to work again after over a week away from the easel. Today I finished a study of a small antique glass bottle. It was very challenging to capture the blue tint of the bottle with all of the defracted highlights within the glass. It reminds me of learning how to paint all over again.

Another Coffee Cup

A Coffee Cup and Saucer, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Little Rock, Arkansas

As though I had to prove to myself that I really can't do everything, I carved out a very small study of a coffee cup and saucer. This piece evolved from being a total train wreck to being fairly tight. At some point I'll be learning how to loosen up again, but right now it seems that I've become fairly comfortable with really tiny brushes.

A Gold Ring

A Gold Ring, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Middletown, Rhode Island

Today I carved out a tight little study of a simple gold ring. I didn't think I'd be able to pull this one off, but suddenly it all made sense, the reflection of the countertop, the window, and even my face against the dark wall behind me.

A Bunch of Grapes

A Bunch of Grapes, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I decided to revisit a very challenging subject, the simple bunch of grapes. Everything about translucence, shine and luminosity will play into capturing this subject.

Star Fruit

Star Fruit, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut

Today I finished a very small study of a very odd subject, the fruit of the carambola tree, known as the star fruit. I always knew I would never attempt to paint this subject, but lately I'm learning to never say never.

Two Cherries

Two Cherries, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Portland, Oregon

Yesterday I started a very small study of two cherries, and today I nailed it down. It's almost really tight, but just loose enough to feel like a fun painting.

A Persimmon

A Persimmon, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

I never really thought about persimmons until the other night. Whatever inspired me to select Turkish figs was the same thing that motivated me to consider a persimmon as a subject of study. It seems like an odd thing, but maybe after I eat it things will make more sense. We'll see.

A Turkish Fig

A Turkish Fig, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Annandale, Virginia

Just to attempt the impossible, I decided to carve out a very small study of a Turkish fig. Nothing about this was easy, from the yellow green that faded to deep purple to the super low-gloss sheen, to the slightly wrinkled surface. In the end I'm not sure if I nailed it, but it was definitely a good exercise in observation. I'll try this again at some point, when I'm feeling brave.

Three Blueberries

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

Private collection, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

In the final light of day, I carved out a very small study of three blueberries. I was pondering the notion of painting them larger, but every larger size felt like perspective was being lost by blowing them up to so much larger than life size. Maybe next time.

A Seckel Pear

A Seckel Pear, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Glen Allen, Virginia

Today I put the finishing touches on a very small study of a single seckel pear. I've never considered something so small and dark and shiny, but in this new course of study it seems to be a good subject.

Two Green Apples

Two Green Apples, 5" by 7", oil on linen board, November 2008

Private collection, Washington, DC

Just to follow up on what I learned from all the shine and sheen of one apple, I decided to carve out a study of two apples. It's all very exciting, finding so much more information in the same old subjects.