Steps in Creating "Fleeting Beauty"

The first step of my process is to paint a detailed grisaille (gray) underpainting, over which I then apply layer upon layer of very thin, color glazes of oil paint.

The process of glazing is a simple one, once learned, and it offers the painter the opportunity to deal with one of the three dimensions of color--value-- independently of the other two dimensions, hue and chroma. Doing this allows me to work upon different aspects of a painting as separate units of concentration, and it becomes a very predictable, and enjoyable method of painting.

Fleeting Beauty

My cholla cactus in my front yard treats us to some of the most beautiful, waxy-appearing blooms early in the spring. The blooms usually only last for a day or two, and then quickly disappear. I painted a couple of the blooms, and this is the result of my effort.

"Fleeting Beauty"...16" x 20" oil on linen.

This painting just received a "First Place In Oils" award at the Glendale Art Competition, 2011.

Heralds Of Spring

This is a painting of some daffodils, that I am calling, "Heralds Of Spring", since daffodils are usually the first flowers to appear after a long winter.

"Heralds Of Spring"...16" x 20" oil on canvas...SOLD

Homeland Security

This is a painting of my back gate, with its unlocked padlock, its rickety hasp, and peeling paint. An ineffective, "watch lizard" tops this painting off for a piece that I titled, "Homeland Security", a visual dope slap at Napolitano, our present czar of Homeland Security. Since she has ceased to acknowledge the true threat of terrorism by re-labeling it "man-made disasters" I thought a bit of sarcasm was in order.

This is a 16" x 20" oil on linen, for which I received a "First Place In Oils", and a "Best Of Show" at the Arizona State Fair this year. It recently received an Award of Excellence at the Peoria Fine Arts Association Spring Show, held at the Arizona Art Alliance Gallery, in Scottsdale, AZ.

Misty Rose

"Misty Rose" is an oil painting that I created on linen canvas. Linen has the reputation of having a bit more longevity than cotton canvas. I made use of Old Holland's Manganese Blue Deep for the sky portion of the background. It is claimed to be a multiple-pigment color, but I've never given that much consideration, as long as the color is what I want.

This painting received the "Merchant's Award" at an art show held at the Peoria School District Main Office, 2010. It also received an "Honorable Mention" at the Peoria Celebration Of Artists" competition in March 2011.

Peaceful Morning

This is another painting that I used as a demonstration for my students taking the oil painting class that I teach. This is 16" x 20," oil on canvas. I use a very limited palette for these demonstration pieces. This is to keep the purchase of oil paint very affordable for my students. I use Grumbacher Pretested Oils and place the following colors on my palette:

Ivory Black

French Ultramarine Blue

Thalo Blue

Burnt Umber

Cadmium Red Medium

Cadmium Yellow Light

Martin F. Weber's Permalba White

Chanty

This is a painting that I did on commission. The subject is a Shar Pei' show dog, who is now deceased. I painted this in oil paint, on a 16" x 20" linen canvas. SOLD