Sandy Hook Overlook. 1 / 6 / 13

A quick small painting.. 4 x 6 oil on panel

small paintings

The hay field in Vermont

Made this little painting of the hay field this morning from a photo I took with my phone

oil on 3/4" birch plywood

Hang a grid painting with the French cleat system

see video

Make an Encaustic grid painting

Click the link to see how I made this encaustic grid painting with  the new Encaustic Boards by Ampersand 

see video

Make a smooth surface with Encaustic paint

see video

I’m in the middle of making a grid painting. The painting will be made up of 25 encaustic color blocks. This painting is designed to hang on what is known as a French cleat system, which ensures that the painting will hang level. Because each painting is hung individually, it is also possible to change the arrangement of the panels in the painting, which would in turn change the painting as a whole.

I was recently listening to a Charlie Rose interview with the painter Damian Herst. They were discussing Herst’s most recent work, “The Polka-Dots.” As you may know, Mr. Herst does not paint his own pictures, and the only exceptions he gives to his assistants that do the painting is to not have two of the same color next to each other, and have the colors be chosen at random. Herst merely acknowledged one of his assistants when they pointed out that it would be more random to actually have two dots of the same color next to each other.  That comment, got me thinking, and I designed this painting, to give the viewer control of the of the color placement, working within guidelines  set  by me.

Art Commissions and special projects

A few weeks ago a client asked me if I could make a painting with seagulls. At first I was a little reluctant, but now I am really happy with the results. the painting is acrylic and aluminum leaf on 140 lib hot pressed Arches paper.

If you would like to learn how to use aluminum leaf, click the link to see a video where I guild a frame, it's basically the same process.

see video

Use Frog Tape to make graphic art

I started Using Frog Tape to tape out my painting on paper, and It works really good.

see video 

Star on paper #1, aluminum leaf and acrylic on paper

This is the first painting of a new series I’m working on. The medium is aluminum leaf and acrylic on paper. To see my video on how to guild a frame with aluminum leaf, click the link. This painting was made by using some of the same techniques I show in the video.

See Video 

Simple and affordable way to frame paintings

For the past few years I’ve been helping my good friend, the artist Francis Cunningham frame his paintings for exhibitions.  Early on we decided that a simple walnut strip frame would be a good choice and that’s how I’ve been framing his work. Some good reasons for framing with a strip frame is:

1 -   it is simple and affordable

2 -   a strip frame is easily removed and reused if a client wants to have the painting re-framed in something different

3 -   a strip frame will help to protect the edge and corners of a painting when being moved or stored.  To see my video on how I frame a painting with a strip frame, click the link
See Video 

Summer in the Berkshires

Paintings by Francis Cunningham, at Laurel Tracey Gallery

Francis Cunningham

in front of his painting

Back Pasture Landscape (2003) Oil on linen 29 x 40

Reclining Figure. shellac charcoal and encaustic on paper

To see a video on how to make encaustic medium, click the link 

See Video

Reclining figure, 2012. 18 x 24

shellac charcoal and encaustic on paper

 

Interchangeable frame system for works on paper

I’ve been thinking about this idea for a while now, and finely found the time to build the frame. I made a video on how the frame was made,  if you would like to see the video, click the link.

click to see video 

The feminine form and modern design

I started working on this frame/painting today. The idea is that the painting  can be changed by simply exchanging one of the images for a different one. Right now I have the figure drawings that are based on the photographs of the 1980s body builder Lisa Lyon by the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Next to the chair drawings. Now you might say they create an interesting conversation  about the feminine form and modern design, ( sound like a lot bull sh..t ? ) or maybe just, wow, that one looks cool next to that one. Either way, I’m having fun with this project. :)

Custom and Commissioned Artwork

Virtual installation for proposal

Finished painting 

my website