Clinton T. Hobart

Mango, Pineapple, & Coconut

2012-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

New Mini! As you can tell being in Florida has an influence on what I paint. This Mango had really bright reds in it which were fun to be able to paint. I thought this one looked better framed so I added a couple of shots of it in the frame......As always the objects in this one are life size.

It's up for Auction!

Exotic Fruits

2012-02-05T17:48:00.000-08:00

I'm down in Florida and wass looking at all these exotic fruits I have never seen before. I couldn't resist the desire to paint them. I had never seen Red Bananas or Pepino Melons before and I always like painting Key Limes!

8 x 16 Oil on Panel.....It's up for Auction

Bid on Ebay

Pink Grapefruit and Key Limes

2012-01-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

Key Limes come in bags of about thirty. When you only use three at a time, that's alot of paintings.

After I painted the coconut, I thought I would make a companion out of a half a grapefruit and some key limes. I took a chance on the background, going for shades of pink and red over the usual neutral greys.

Its' up for auction.

Click here to bid

Coconut & Key Limes II

2012-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Coconut and Limes is definately one of the most successful combinations of paintings I can make. Every time I smack a coconut with a hammer, (that's how I open them) I get different cracks, and ridges. The Key limes are also just fun to paint. it's up for auction.

Click here to Bid

Apples and Cranberries

2012-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

"Apples and Cranberries" - The title kinda says it all....
6 x 8 Oil on Planel
It's up for Auction:

Bid on Ebay

Grapes and Smoked Gouda

2012-01-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun painting the "Grapes and Swiss" painting I thought I would do a companion to it.

Smoked Gouda is actually my favorite cheese. A friend of mine suggested that it be eaten with a slice of green apple. It probably needed a glass of wine....maybe next time.

It's up for auction!

SOLD

Featured Artist at The Ridgewood Art Institute

2012-01-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

This is a great organization and a great building! I am honored to be selected as the first featured artist of the year!

Mushrooms and Eggplants

2012-01-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

I did this one over the holidays while visiting family.

Mushrooms and Eggplants, 6 x 12 Oil on Panel, 2011.

SOLD

If you are taking an upcoming workshop...

2011-12-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

Some people have sent me messages asking how to prepare for an upcoming workshop, and if I could suggest any books. Although books are an excellent tool, the best thing a painter can do before a workshop is paint as much as possible. It is a good idea to write down things that are causing problems, that you can't seem to solve on your own. New students in class often tell me they have a problem with color. When I look at their work, the problem is either drawing or value related. I have a seldom met a student who actually had a problem with color. If you can make a great black and white painting color should be no problem at all.

The first thing I suggest is to go back to basics, and see how good you are. Try to find a white plaster ball, cone or triangle, and cylinder. If you can't find them I would go to Michaels or any craft store and buy them in foam. Then coat them with several coats of white Gesso. When fully dry, set them on a table with a single light source and make a black and white, or raw umber and white, painting of them. This may sound really basic, and many artists are way beyond it, but it is a great test. If the painting is wonderful, move on to the next step. If the painting is terrible, rearrange the objects and paint it until you get it right.....even if it takes a month, the result will be well worth it!

Once that is done, move onto slightly more complicated objects, which are brown or black and white. Dark shoes, a solid white or off white coffee mug, solid teapot, jug, or bottle, or any plaster cast. No patterns or clear glass. This should be about easy objects and only one or two objects. Artists tend to over-complicate things in the beginning and then get discouraged. I try to make things as easy as possible and then slowly get more complicated as you get comfortable with the progression.
Stick with Raw Umber and white or Black and white, until you are sure that the values are right, and that you have a solid grasp of how the paint moves. One should not move onto color until they are comfortable using paint. Insecurity makes for bad art.

If you have already aced those two -
Set up a small, simple still life, no longer than 8 inches wide and 6 inches high, and make 6 x 6 or 6 x 8 paintings. Try to keep the objects in the paintings actual size using a brush for measuring. Keep in mind these are only exercises for training the eyes and hands, an although they may be saleable, that should not be the goal. Never worry about how good the painting looks, it doesn't matter unless their is money on the line.

A painting is done when you have learned everything you can from making it.

The process is as follows:

Tone the canvas to about 3 or 4 on the value scale, not too dark or too light. You can tone in acrylic if working on an acrylic canvas.
Do a drawing, with the brush, in paint, just slightly darker than the canvas so that you have room to correct the drawing with darker paint. Repeat the drawing process several times using a darker color, until drawing is right.
Begin by filling in the deepest darks first. then slowly move to the lighter areas until you work your way up to the lightest lights.
Paint slowly. Too many artists fill in the whole canvas in 20 minutes and then have no idea what to do.
Save the highlights and lightest lights for last, they are the icing and the cherry on top.

I'm guessing that will keep you busy for a while. Anyone who is registered for a workshop or who has already taken one is welcome to send me photos of the progress at anytime, and ask any questions you may have along the way.

It wouldn't hurt to go figure drawing once in a while if you are not going already. I try to go at least once a week. Also, carry a sketchbook everywhere you go and draw in it for at least an hour a week. Even in the house there are things like, lamps, the toaster, fruit, a towel hanging in the bathroom, etc. Sketching everyday items is a great way to train the eyes.

Have fun!! And never to forget to make it fun. If i feels like work, you won't do it and will get discouraged.

Onion, Tomato, and Garlic

2011-12-27T20:36:00.000-08:00

Onions, Garlic, and Tomato just go so well together! I always love painting them. Next time I'll have to add some pasta....It's up for auction.

SOLD

"Cracked Eggs, Copper Pot"

2011-12-22T06:36:00.000-08:00

I just finished a commission of some cracked egss. I had also not long ago used this copper pot and thought it would be fun to put the two together. It's up for auction!

SOLD

Carnival Apples

2011-12-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

This one started out as a regular six hour "Mini". It deciced that it did not want me to stop painting and in fact kept me going for another six hours for around twelve total. Yes, I watched Seaseme Street and can add. I titled it "Carnival Apples" mostly because of the one apple balencing on top of the other, but also because I thought the colors had a bit of a carnival feel to them. It is a 6 x 8 oil on panel and it's up for auction!

SOLD

Figs!

2011-12-07T07:46:00.001-08:00

The first panel is the "Black Mission Demo" panel. It shows a progression of the painting from the drawing stage, to the finish. The two figs in the middle are one sitting of painting and the last three figs are completed. The second panel is just a fig mini. I titled it "Black MissionMini" because I thought it was cute. To me, the point of painting a bunch of figs lined up is to show them as small portraits. When there is nothing else going on in the painting, you have to look at the difference between each of the characters involved. I tried to pick the figs that were the most unique in some way from each other. There are several different types of fig. These are Brown Turkey Figs and Black Mission Figs. There is nothing in these paintings but figs. I see so many paintings of a bunch of apples or pears, or figs and each one in the painting is treated the exact same way. I think part of why is that most painters work on the whole painting at once working on all of the dark areas and then all of the middle areas etc. I painted each fig one at a time and then cleaned my palette, forcing me to see new colors each time and not be tempted to use the same color on all of the figs. The changes are subtle, but if you look closely, you will see many differences in each fig

*All four were up for auction on ebay. There were very few watchers and no bids, with only a few hours left on two of the auctions, so I pulled all four auctions down. I never end an auction early if there is even one bid on the painting. I really like these pieces and decided to put them in an upcoming show in NJ.

Pairs

2011-12-04T19:32:00.001-08:00

I painted this one in 2008 for the Salon International Show in San Antonio. It got in, along with two others which have already sold! I decided to put it up for auction for the Holidays. I chose to put a reserve on the auction, not a high one, just $400.00. Considering the painting was originally hanging for $4000.00, I don't think that is too bad. It is also the current painting on my business cards, which the winner can have as many of as they would like.

The title is "Pairs". The story is that I went to the mall one day and was looking around at couples. I though that couples might make an interesting theme for a still life, so I went looking for fruits that might be seen together in public...yeah, I'm nuts.
Happy bidding.
Bid on Ebay

Coconut and Lime

2011-12-02T21:25:00.001-08:00

Another coconut and lime, yes, I love painting these. I really had a good time with the background.

6 x 8 oil on panel. Up for auction!

Bid on Ebay

Apples II

2011-11-28T11:05:00.001-08:00

Apples II. 9 x 20 Oil on Panel November 2011.
It' up for auction!

SOLD

Grapes & Silver

2011-11-22T18:59:00.001-08:00

New Mini! I had leftover black grapes from the Swiss Cheese painting. I happened to have the silver cup next to them on the model stand and thought it just looked fantastic....so I painted it.
6 x 8 Oil on Panel!
It's up for auction!

SOLD

Curly Haired Blond

2011-11-21T11:07:00.001-08:00

This is a painting I did in the summer of 2009 at Daniel Greene's while I was his assistant. It was about four sittings. I remember spending most of the time having fun with the hair. Perhaps it is not the most realistic portrait ever made but sometimes you just have to have fun. I did. I remember Dan saying that the face was "very nice" but he would not comment on the hair because "clearly it is a style you are personally caught up in"....If you listen carefully enough he has a great sense of humor, and he was right.

One of my favorite painters is J.C. Leyendecker. I try never to deliberately copy someone elses style or work, but I did think her hair lended itself to that early 20th Century Illustration style. Leyendecker was a major influence on Norman Rockwell and people often confuse the Saturday Evening Post covers of Leyendecker for Rockwell's.

This was one of my first attempts at changes in color in the face. I was trying to push the purples and greens, even some of the pinks. The shadow areas are Raw Umber and Diox Purple rather than blues.
The hair is painted the same way as gold or brass in a still-life. Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green, and Cad Yellow. Some Raw Umber and Yellow Ochre were also used.

20 x 24 Oil on Canvas - Painted from life only, no photos used.

Grapes and Swiss

2011-11-20T18:13:00.001-08:00

I love putting the reflections of the objects, visible in the polished wood, into the painting. I have also been searching for ways to make it more loose at the same time. I think I found a solution I like.
The copper cup and the knife slowed me down a bit but I really had fun painting this one.
10 x 20 Oil on Panel November 2011.

It's up for auction!

SOLD

Cracked Eggs

2011-11-15T18:41:00.001-08:00

I recently did a commission for a woman in London. She wanted a Fig painting and an egg painting. I painted the figs, no problem. I then did a painting of brown eggs, I'm not sure why I just felt like painting brown eggs. She loved the figs but said she thought the eggs would be white..... Somehow it never occurred to me that someone would expect eggs to be white. I normally spend six hours on these Minnies. This painting above took almost twelve hours. I missed a dinner party on saturday and was late for plans on sunday trying to finish it up on time. I sent her the image......."I'll take the brown ones she said".....The white ones are now up for auction.

6x8 oil on Panel

SOLD

Le Brie Avec Des Raisins

2011-11-12T19:18:00.001-08:00

I love long compositions! They work best when painting short objects, espicially since the objects in my paintings are usually actual size. I had this one up before but the photo was terrible so I took a much better one. Brie, Grapes and bread just seem to go well together.
This one is 6 x 20, Oil on Paanel. It's up for auction!

SOLD

Mini Olde Copper Pot

2011-11-08T18:49:00.000-08:00

I painted this one a few weeks back. It sold and the buyer asked if they could trade it for something else. I said sure....and then decided to rework it. I added reflections and darkened the background. The objects are actual size. 6x 8 oil on panel.

It's up for auction:

Bid on Ebay

Pears In A Row

2011-10-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

"Pears in a Row" 9 x 20 Oil on panel 2011 Up for Auction!

SOLD

Study In Red and Grey

2011-10-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

I've painted Red Apples with Grapes before and like they way they look together. I thought I would try them with a very light grey background........SOLD

Silver and Gold

2011-10-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you who watched the video and realized there is no audio here is a description of the process. The sound was choppy and hard to hear, hopefully there will be audio on the next one.

First I start with a loose sketch of Burnt Umber and White. I keep the color of that mixture just slightly darker than my canvas. I keep drawing making each new drawing a bit darker until I feel that it is close enough to begin painting.
Once the drawing is complete I begin painting in the deepest darks and slowly work my way up to the lightest lights. When every area has been painted once I let the painting dry.
On the next sitting when the painting is completely dry, I coat the surface with a thin layer of oil and wipe the excess away with a towel.
Painting into the wet oil is a very fun way to paint.
For the silver or actually tin cup, I used mostly Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Raw Umber and White. The Gold or brass areas are painted with Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green and Cad Yellow Light. Anything gold can be painted with this three colors. I sometimes add Yellow Ochre and Raw Umber as well. The Highlights of gold are painted with Naples Yellow, straight out of the tube.

Hope you enjoyed the video!!!

Olde Copper Pot

2011-10-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

I am currently staying in upstate NY. When I arrived at the place I found that in the cabinates were a set of copper pots ranging in size from very tiny to fairly large. I like the smaller ones, so I am painting them first. Copper is alot of fun to paint. It's up for auction!

Bid on ebay

On the Cover!

2011-10-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was asked to be in the "Best Of Artist's" book which was to come out this year. I said sure. I had no idea that they would put me on the cover of the book! I have three images inside on one full page as well.

Copper Pot & Garlic

2011-10-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

I love painting metals and reflective surfaces. Copper and brass are my favorites. For the next few weeks I will be adding metals to the minnies. The key to how I paint metal surfaces is the use of transparent colors. For copper the three are Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green, and Prussian Blue. I mix those with Cad Red Light and Cad Yellow Light. and of course white.. I have found that you do not need any more than those colors to paint copper. The highlight in this painting is almost pure Naples Yellow which is a color you can mix, but I find that it works perfectly as a highlight straight out of the tube. I have just finished shooting a video of painting silver and gold which should be up on youtube by next week.

Up for Auction, 6 x 8 Oil on Panel.

Bid on Ebay

Coconut & Limes

2011-10-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's another coconut and limes. I keep getting emails asking if the coconut painting is available. ...so why not keep painting them! I try to make sure that each new one is different from the rest. Since I always work from a fresh coconut, keeping them different is easy because they never crack exactly the same way. There are always bumps and ridges, sometimes even colors, which change and keep the experience new. I have also found that they almost always taste different as well. I always eat a bit before I start painting....This was the most delicious coconut I have had so far, it's going to be hard to beat.

Oh, and I also like painting them! 6 x 8 Oil on Panel

Its up for auction!

Bid on Ebay

Portrait Of A Famous Wrapper

2011-10-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

"A Portrait Of A Famous Wrapper"

Aside from the title being a joke, there was another reson I decided to paint this. Trompe L'oil is becoming more and more popular and I was included in a Trompe L'oil show a few years back. I don't actually consider myself a Trompe L'oil painter, mostly because I am more concerned with the personality of the work than whether or not it is fooling anyone. I also wanted to see if I could paint something like this without photos or tracing, which is how many of these types of paintings are made. I had meant to have some of the candy bar in the wrapper initially but I ate it...... Oh well, just an empty wrapper then. I used only a ruler for some of the straight lines, everything else was freehand. 6 x 12 Oil on Masonite

It's up for auction!!!

Bid on Ebay

Red Potatoes and Corn

2011-09-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

A while back I did a painting of a Crawfish Boil for a client in New Orleans. Besides the Crawfish, the ingredients were red potatoes and corn...I added the onions, seemed like it would need onions, maybe some garlic too but it was only a 6 x 8 panel. No room for garlic. It's up for auction!

SOLD

Baby Eggplant and Mushrooms

2011-09-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

A new Baby Eggplant and Mushroom painting. All of the objects in these 6 x 8 paintings are painted from life and are painted as close to actual size as I can get. Mushrooms rot and change colors quickly when left out so they must be painted as rapidly and as accurately as can be done.

6 x 8 Oil on Panel
Up for Auction!

SOLD

Apples and Cinnamon

2011-09-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

It's almost fall...well in upstate NY, it feels like fall already! Being that it is apple season here, I thought it was fitting to paint apples. I always like cinnamon with apples and so here they are together.

Its up for auction!

SOLD

Two Fig Minnies

2011-09-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Bid on Ebay

Two new fig paintings. I posted these together because I thought they would look good next to each other. 6 x 8 oil on panel.

Silver Teapot

2011-09-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

I just finished a painting of a brass pitcher and realized I had not painted silver in a while. Grapes are one of my favorite things to paint. I like to think of them as little planets and I paint each one individually. It is up for auction!

SOLD

Fig Demo

2011-08-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

6 x 12, Oil on gesso panel. This is the fifth in a series of step by step demonstrations I am planning on various fruits and vegetables. The first step is a drawing painted with the brush in Burnt Umber and White. The middle step is the end of the first sitting, painted wet into wet. The last step is painted with glazes and finished with highlights.

SOLD

Brass Pitcher

2011-08-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Just finished this one. In August I usually put up older paintings and studies because it is a very slow sales month normally. I ran out of old work!! A few weeks back I sold a painting of this brass pitcher to a friend. I liked the painting but wondered what it would look like if I painted it now....so I did. I love painting brass and gold. Many people find it difficult but with only three colors you can get gold right every time! It's up for auction:

SOLD

New Minnies!

2011-08-16T10:07:00.000-07:00

"Coconut and Key Limes"

"Brie and Fruit"

"Pink Grapefruit and Key Limes"

"Pear and Apricots"

"Pomegranate and Cherries"

"Cracked Eggs III"

All are 6 x 8 Oil on Panel. These are available through Scottsdale Fine Art in Arizona. My personal favorite is the Grapefruit which had to be painted fast because it was cut open......

Blue & Grey Teapot

2011-08-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

This is the last one I have available from my first solo show in Scottsdale, AZ. August is s a slow month on ebay but I have been busy painting new ones for September!
This one is up for auction.....

SOLD

Pear & Black Grapes

2011-08-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

I just recently put an older painting up on ebay of a pair with black grapes. I am working on a second and did this study of them. I paint grapes in two steps. On the first day I just go for the shape and volume. I let them dry and then add the details on the second day.

SOLD

"Eggshells Study"

2011-08-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

Painted in 2008. I started it and just didn't take it as far as I normally would but I liked it well enough to put it

up for auction.....

SOLD

Mushrooms and Teapot

2011-08-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

Here is another one from my solo show in Scottsdale in 2006. Like the others it was painted under a spotlight in a studio I had painted dark green resulting in the paintings being dark unless viewed under a spotlight. Nowadays I paint in a very bright studio and so my work has subsequently increased in brightness. But since every painter has many "periods".... It's up for auction!

SOLD

Eggshells

2011-08-06T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd do an egg painting with a really dark background for a change.

Up for Auction:

SOLD

Peppers and Mushrooms

2011-07-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

This one is from 2008. I liked the almost monochrome color scheme. I wound up adding alot more detail to the reflections on this one.

SOLD

Watermelon & Cherries

2011-07-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

I bought a bag of cherries earlier this week not realizing how expensive they were. $13.00 for a bag...so, I have been painting them all week. I bought the watermelon because I like watermelon.....after four paintings of cherries with apples, cherries with figs, cherries with more cherries, etc, I thought.....I have never painted watermelon and it is one of my favorite foods. It wound up being alot of fun to paint! It's up for auction!

SOLD

Red Apple & Cherries

2011-07-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

New Mini - I spent about eight hours on this one. I normally keep it limited to six. I'm not sure if you can see it in this photo but the reflected lights are a turquoise color which I have seen work in paintings but never really pulled it off before - I think I did here. I also like putting deep reds on top of grey backgrounds. The background also has a touch of turquoise in it.
Out of all the paintings in this series, I think this one is one of the strongest.
SOLD

Gold Pitcher and Fruit

2011-07-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

This is another one from my gallery show in 2006. I have three other pieces from that show left. This one is actually a touch brighter under the spotlight than the others. I liked the character of the pear and I always enjoy painting gold and brass.

SOLD

Plums and Cherries

2011-07-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

There are certain color combinations which just seem to work well. Purple and Lime Green for example....and Burgundy and Icy Blue. I added a touch of Sage Green at the bottom which I think also works well. Sometimes I just make a piece about color...It's up for auction!

SOLD

"Daisee Tea"

2011-07-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

I painted this one in 2006 for my first solo show in Scottsdale, AZ. At that time I had a studio in Tempe, AZ. I painted the walls dark green because at that time I thought that was what you were supposed to do. It made the room very dark and the paintings as well. I painted about 15 to 20 pieces before I realized it and repainted the walls to a mucher lighter grey. This was one of those pieces. Even though it is a little on the dark side, it is still one of my favorites........Up for auction!

SOLD

Eggshells & Figs

2011-07-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

Figs are for the most part only in season during the summer months so when I can find them, I paint as many of them as I can. I am always amazed at how every fig seems to be different, no matter how many I paint.

SOLD

Coconuts & Limes

2011-07-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Just finished this one. It was supposed to be part of the "Demo Series". I had the first coconut and lime just a drawing but I liked it so much I decided to add a bit of color here and color there and next thing I knew I had painted the whole thing.....So it is no longer part of the "Demo Series" ....I liked painting it anyway.

SOLD

Apple & Figs

2011-07-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

New Mini - Apple & Figs, 6 x 8 Oil on Panel. 2011

SOLD

Cracked Brown Eggs II

2011-06-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

Just finished another cracked egg painting. I love painting these. I never use the same eggs so that each time I paint them it is a completely different experience.

It's up for auction!

SOLD

Dates, Figs, and Champagane Grapes

2011-06-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

I love the look of Dates. The yellow is so intense and the brown on top is so much fun to paint. For some reason I always think of dates and figs together. I also thought these tiny champagane grapes worked well with it. It is 9 x 18, oil on linen, 2008. I posted it early on Tuesday due to the holiday weekend.

SOLD

Coconut & Limes

2011-06-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

New Mini - "Coconut & Limes.

I've had so many requests for more of these.....This one has a Key Lime on the left and a slice of regular lime on the right...You can sing it..."Put da lime in da coconut......"

SOLD

Wine & Brie

2011-06-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

Just finished this one. I love wine, cheese, bread, and fruit. Brie is actually really fun to paint. Bread...a bit more difficult. This one took about a week to paint. Some of the details in the grapes are lost and there are more reflections in the wine glass then show up in the photo. There is a reflection of the apple in the wine glass which is hard to see. The light yellow color of the bree also came out a bit faded. I need a better camera. 9 x 20 Oil on Panel.

It's up for auction!

SOLD

Pomegranate

2011-06-12T19:07:00.000-07:00

New Mini: Pomegranate 6 x 8 Oil on Panel

Pomegranates when they are open are one of the hardest things to paint in my opinion. The white part changes to yellow incredibly fast and the seeds can fall out or off. The trick is to paint as much of it as you can in one sitting....which is difficult but can be done!

It's up for auction! -

SOLD

Egg Demo

2011-06-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

This is the third in the "Demo" Series. The first two are drawn with a brush, the second two are "alla prima" and the last two are glazed once.

Up for auction:

SOLD

Pears. Grapes. and Blueberries

2011-06-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

New Mini, 6 x 8 Oil on Panel

SOLD

"Grapes - Demo"

2011-06-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

This is the second in the series. I get alot of comments on my grapes so I thought this was a good choice for a demo piece. Started with a drawing in burnt umber. The second group is one day of painting. The last group is two sittings.

6 x 12 Oil on Panel

SOLD

Coconut & Lime - 3 Hour Study

2011-05-30T19:11:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick study I just finished. 3 hours, one sitting. It's up for auction. 6 x 8 Oil on Panel.

SOLD

July 15 - 17, 2011 - NJ Painting Workshop!!!

2011-05-27T10:26:00.000-07:00

Click Here For More Info

In this class we will cover every topic a student needs enjoy the painting process. We begin with canvas and brush selection, toning or not toning the canvas, and palette choices. Further topics covered are: How to set up the painting, composition, what to paint first, color coordination and harmony, background selection, drawing with paint, seeing the proper values, alla-prima vs glazing, the finer details, checking angles vs measuring, getting personality into your painting, the tricks of the trade, and the finishing touches.

Because every student in class is at a different point in their painting journey, the class is structured so that if one feels they are confident in a topic being discussed they can work on their painting until a topic they are interested in comes up. There are several demos throughout the class including: A drawing demo, Painting Alla-Prima, Glazing techniques and materials, and a short but thorough demo on color and how to use it. Personal instruction is given several times to each student throughout each day.

Although there are many things to go over in a short period of time, the goal of this class is to give the student the proper tools to make painting fun and interesting.

Pear Demo

2011-05-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

6 x 12, Oil on gesso panel. This is the first of a series of step by step demonstrations I am planning on various fruits and vegetables. The first step is a drawing painted with the brush in Burnt Umber and White. The middle step is the end of the first sitting, painted wet into wet. The last step is the finished pear, with a bit of glazing and added highlights.

SOLD

Two Roses

2011-05-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

My first painting of just flowers. I tried Lilys once before so this is the second time I have painted them. A quick study, 6 hours. I was once asked if my approach would work with flowers....I think it held up. It is up on ebay, if it does well enough I will make it a series and do different flowers in the same format......

Sold

New Mini "Onion and Tomato"

2011-05-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks. Here is my latest Mini, 6 x 8 oil on Panel. I titled this one "Vidalia Onion and Tomato" but as soon as I set it up it made me think of the old Warner Bros. cartoon of Spike and Chester......

SOLD

Long Coconut and Company

2011-04-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Not quite finished yet on this one.....It will be going up for auction on Sunday, but here is a sneak peak....7 x 23 Oil on Panel

SOLD

New Mini - Tangerines

2011-04-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

Interesting story on this one. I was down in south Florida and had to drive up to Jacksonville to drop off my girlfriend. Ran into some car problems and had to spend the night because my car couldnt get fixed till the next day. I had my paint with me but no lights, model stand, or setup. My girlfriend suggested I just put something on the table and see what happens....This is what happened. Overhead houshold lights and a much lower view than I am used to.......

Still Life on Vacation

2011-04-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a new series of still lifes on vacation. I wanted this one to have a casual feel and bright colors. Instead of the reflective polished wood surface and reflections, I had them sitting on a boardwalk.

Because tropical fruits rot so fast I had to keep spraying them with water and placing them in the fridge at night.

All objects are actual size, so those are plantanes and not regular bananas. This work was painted completely from life.....

SOLD

Eggplants and Pearls

2011-04-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

New Minnie! Number 48 in the series......

SOLD

New Minnie - Persimmons & Blueberries

2011-04-01T21:05:00.000-07:00

Studio Clean Up and Moving!!

2011-03-31T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Florida for the next four months. Then Australia, and finally in the North West of the US......and I just have too many paintings to keep all of them. Here are a few that I have up for auction right now....more to come!!!!

SOLD

Available

SOLD

Asparagus

2011-03-27T21:11:00.000-07:00

I painted this one in Boston, in my studio in the North End. I never much cared for Asparagus. One day while looking for still-life objects to paint I struck up a conversation with the grocer I went to. The North End of Boston is like going back 50 years. The grocer had a small shop, three people could barely fin in comfortably. He told me the reason I didn't like Asparagus was that I didn't know how to do it. I didn't understand Asparagus. "Everybody goes for the thick kind which is bitter" he told me. He handed me the skinniest Asparagus I had ever seen and said "Chop up some purple garlic, heat up some olive oil, and throw it all in together when the oil gets really hot....but be careful not to burn the garlic." Not only was it great, I immediately got to work on this painting, which is why there are only a few pieces....I ate the rest! I have loved Asparagus ever since.

10 x 20, Oil on Linen, 2007

SOLD

20 Min Gesture Paintings

2011-03-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

SOLD

One of my favorite things to do is painting short poses. When I was in art school we did alot of gesture drawing which was always 2,3,5, and 10 minute poses. Only rarely did we get anything longer. When I moved to Arizona, their idea of gesture drawing was some two minute poses in the begining and then 20 minute poses for the rest of the night. I decided to try painting them and instantly loved it.

I always draw with the brush. I use Burnt Umber and White and do a quick gesture sketch. Then I draw over it in straight Burnt Umber. I try not to let the drawing take more than 10 minutes on a 20 minute pose or I will not have enough time to paint. On rare occasaions, I have just left it as a drawing in paint if I like the way it is coming out.

After I get a drawing down, I then move to the shadow areas. Sometimes I fill them in in solid burnt umber to save time, other times I am more precise. If I am in my studio I tend to be more accurate, because If I like the painting, I can just make the pose longer and finish it. Can't do that in a public painting environment. I can always go back and add color to the shadows later but sometimes I like to focus on the lights. A quick pass for the halftones which are often the same value as the tone of my canvas. If there is any time left I work on the lights. Often by the time I get to the lights there are only a few minutes left.

I use a limited palette on these of: White, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Med, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Cobalt Blue, and Ivory Black.

Plums and Figs

2011-03-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

This was number 2 in the series. The original point was to just paint the objects and have little or no background behind them. Just a few strokes of color that would be the same value as the toned panel. Somehow, as I keep painting these, the backgrounds keep getting more and more involved. This one is really what I originally had in mind. I plan on getting back towards it as I continue with the series.

SOLD

In A Basket

2011-03-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece from 2008. I think I painted this one in Boston, in my studio in the North End. I always liked the idea of apples in a basket. Feels homey. The Golden Delicious appple on the right is probably my favorite element of this one. I like the basket, but it was rather difficult to draw and paint.

SOLD

Stephanie

2011-03-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

I did this nude in 2005 in my studio in Tempe, Arizona. The model is my close friend Stephanie who is one of the most amazing models I have ever worked with. I think this was two 3-hour sittings. I always like the look of leaving some of the drawing showing!

20 x 24 Oil on Canvas

SOLD

New Mini: "Green Grapes with Plum"

2011-03-11T08:44:00.000-08:00

Whenever I paint I long still-life I always over-buy fruit. I find it useful to use some of the extra to paint a Mini while I'm working on the larger piece. I had plenty of the green grapes left and thought they would look great next to the purple of the plum. When I first painted the grapes in the other piece I found them a bit boring to paint. When they sat out on the table however for a few days I found the colors to be much more interesting.

SOLD

Mixed Grapes and Pears

2011-03-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

I have never painted green grapes before. I saw the pears first. I instantly loved the character of the one which is hunched over....like he was born to be in one of my paintings. Green always looks good with brown and purple so I thought the green grapes would go well with this one.

SOLD

Couples

2011-02-20T19:56:00.000-08:00

"Couples" 9 x 20 oil on Panel, 2011

SOLD

Shrooms

2011-02-17T20:01:00.000-08:00

I deepened the darks a bit and lightened the lights. About an hour of work the next day.

I then decided to scan it rather than shoot a photo and I really liked the way that came out. Much closer to the actual image.

SOLD

One day - three hours 6 x 8 Oil on Panel.....

The Drawing -

Mason Jar & Teapot

2011-02-13T19:26:00.000-08:00

I just finished this one on Thursday. It took about twelve days but I painted a few of the minies as well at the same time. The Mason Jar took a bit longer than expected and several layers. The tin cup is one of my favorite objects to paint. In fact the theme of this painting is that these objects are all some of my favorite things to paint. The blueberries were the last thing to be added. I always find them challenging to paint so I make to to paint them often. I like to paint objects that I have difficulty with rather than those I find easy.

Perhaps I should have titled it."A few of my favorite things" I think I will hold onto that title for a while......

SOLD

"Now What?"

2011-02-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

I had a great time painting this one. There was a bit of discussion over the title of this one. We started with "Jump! Jump!" and some ideas thrown out were funny and amusing. I went with "Now What?" because I thought it best covered what I would be thinking if I were up there.....

6 x 8 oil on panel 2011

SOLD

"Tea Cup of Apples"

2011-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

I'm making this a series within a series. I like the tea cup idea so here is number two. In the Mini-Still series this is number 41. I got some use out of the green apples, used them three times so far but they are begining to change color so I suppose that will be it for them.

SOLD

"Cracked Eggs II"

2011-02-06T21:33:00.000-08:00

This is the second cracked egg painting I have done in this format. I get asked alot if I paint eggs. I guess many artists paint them whole, which to me is really boring. I find them much more interesting a bit banged up.

SOLD

Baby Green Apples

2011-02-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, after you finish a painting, a day or two goes by and you realize it could be better. My rule is: The more you don't want to make a change to a painting, the more important it is to make the change.

So I changed it.

I think for the better. The darker grey brings out the light of the apples I was talking about in the original post below. Although I do not recommend making changes while a painting is already up for auction, this just had to be done.

Another new mini, this is number 41 in the series. I love painting the light areas of green apples. It always seems like it should be easier than it is to match the colors. I see alot of paintings where green paint is just thrown down on the canvas. If you really study them though there are many shifts of color and slight variations of color in the apples.
SOLD

"Mixed Fruit"

2011-01-30T19:28:00.000-08:00

Just finished this one! 10 x 20 Oil on Panel. This one took about a week, I have some family things going on so I couldn't work on it all day as I normailly do. By the time I got to the reflections the fruits were almost completely rotted. The grapes for whatever reason took to being painted three times. In I end, considering how long it took.....I'm pretty pleased with it.

SOLD

New Mini: Tea Cup of Figs

2011-01-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

Day 1

Thought I'd post the pictures of the two sittings on this one. This is a 6 x 8, oil on panel, just like the others. I work on them in two 3-hour sittings. On the first sitting (above) I just try to get the objects round. I don't worry about color, just form and value. I try to get as much information in as I can. The more I get done today, the less I have to do tomorrow!

Day 2

The first thing I do on the second day is coat the entire panel with a thin layer of oil or medium. (Make sure it is completely dry)

After that I begin depening the darks and strengthening the colors with straight paint, painted thinly into the wet oil. This gives the painting a wonderful depth and shine. I painted in the background right before the pattern of the tea cup, which was the last area to be painted. The pattern on the tea cup was painted with a very thin watercolor brush to get the detail right.

SOLD

2011-01-09T20:15:00.000-08:00

"A Shoulder to Cry On" 9 x 20 Oil on Panel 2008 SOLD

"Grapes and Berries" 9 x 20 Oil on Panel 2008 SOLD

In late 2008 I went out to Arizona to teach a workshop. I was there for three weeks. There wasn't much room in the hotel room where I was staying but I had my portable easel and my light so I set up in the corner and went to work. I did many paintings while I was there but only two in the room. The top one sold almost immediately, the bottom took a while longer........

"Be OK"

2011-01-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

The last of the Mask series is finally finished -
"Be OK"
20 x 26 Oil on Linen, 2010.
Actually it is the first piece in the story....

Some people have been asking for the story here. Eventually it will be on my website but until then I will post it here.

There are six paintings in this series. Many of my paintings are theatrically themed and I consider the story of this series to be a five act play of which this is the first act.

The most obvious element I think is the spilled milk. The egg representing childhood and then the broken crayons. The clock is wrapped up in twine to show the feeling of constraint. The "R" in Broken is in shadow so at quick glance it reads" B-OK" as well as" Broken". At the top the "J" is circled giving the viewer a clue to start there, there are two deliberate hidden words, one is a biblical reference to Job and his struggles with evil. The other way spells out joke. The books, which are difficult to read are Grimms Fairy Tales, and a book on dreams. One of my favorite elements is how the tie of the mask covers where the mouth would be. Often, when people want to say something and cannot, they have a tendency to cover their mouths. The mask is also looking down and away, in psychology, often associated with shame. There is a beautiful red box which is a gift. We cannot find out what is in it because of everything which is piled on top of it. Lastly, the "Y" is meant to literally mean "why?".

Prize Winner!

2011-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

This painting was painted early last year in 2010 for the Salon International show at the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. It is a 10 x 24, Oil on linen. It won a green ribbon, "Jury's top 50".

I liked the little animated stems of the grapes best. They were fun to paint.

SOLD

Pink and Black

2011-01-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a sketch from a painting group I went to last Sunday at my friend Dorian Vallejo's studio in Montclair, NJ. This one was about three hours. It is a fairly limited palette, about seven colors....and alot of black.

Mason Jar & Co.

2010-12-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a piece from my studio in Boston. I painted this one in 2007. At the time I remember thinking that the plums on top of the table made the painting a little dark, so it never made its way to the galleries. Now as I look at it I like the effect, and as it turns out my work doesn't really have the same feel now as it did then. It was nice to look at it and remember.

SOLD

Plums & Blueberries

2010-12-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

Another 6 x 8. I liked the way the Plums looked against that blue background in the one I did with the almonds. This time I chose bluberries. I did I very loose lay in on the first day and just painted in local color. All the rest of the detail was done on the second sitting after I coated the plums with a layer of oil.

SOLD

New MIni: "Clemintines"

2010-12-21T15:31:00.000-08:00

Just finished this one! I had to paint the leaves fast since they dry up over night even if I spray them with water. I'm not exactly sure what the berry is but I liked where it was so I put it in.

Renaissance Randy

2010-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait of the great Randy. I first met Randy in 2003, my first year as an assistant to Daniel Greene during his summer workshops. Randy is absolutely the most amazing (if not the prettiest) model I have ever worked with. He can hold perfectly still the entire time and almost always gets back into the same pose without needing to be corrected. It's interesting for me because I normally talk to my models while I am painting and expect them to move a bit.

This Renaissance costume is one of my favorite outfits Randy has. The painting took eight 3-hour sittings. It is 24 x 28, Oil on Linen, 2006.

New Mini - Candy Gathering

2010-12-12T21:54:00.000-08:00

Just finished this one. It's not the best photo, I really need a new camera. The title was also a bit of a struggle. I was going for a holiday feel but also wanted the piece to be one that could hang all year round. I'll keep working on it. What's in the cup? I couldn't decide if it was Espresso or a tiny Hot Chocolate.....It' up to you.

Figure Studies - Short Poses

2010-12-11T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here are a few quick studies from last Sunday's open studio in Florida. The seated front pose was about a half hour. The seated back pose was about 20 minutes and the standing pose was about 25 minutes. These were painted on a 20 x 24 canvas in oils. I usually get between 4 and six figures per canvas.

I used a very limited palette on these:
White, Yellow Ochre, Cad Red Med, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, and Black.

Breaking Out

2010-12-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

A New Minnie titled "Breaking Out". I thought of the cherries as clowns getting out of a circus VW.

SOLD

Tis The Season II

2010-12-05T19:36:00.000-08:00

One of two new Minnies I just finished. If you look closely in the first Christmas Ball there I am behind the Candy Cane.
SOLD

"Cup of Cherries"

2010-12-01T04:56:00.000-08:00

I thought it might be fun to add some cups and different elements to the Mini Stills. I found some old spoons, espresso cups ect. The plan is to do 100 of these and move on to something else. This one is #34.
SOLD