Alexia Jorge and Rachel Balkovec


I have been working on this painting of Alexia Jorge
This is the beginning of my first painting of the New Year. It shows a sculpture of Pan in a museum between two paintings of regal gentlemen. At least it will depict that when I finish it. Although I was hesitant to get back into the studio, I am happy with the start of this. The grayish blue background and the reddish brown shadows harken back to the Rubens oil sketches I love. I also include the framed painting of the crucifixion sculpture in Mt Hope Cemetery. Another reminder of the old master paintings I adore. It will soon be for sale online on the A & C website.
Fortunate to have sold a painting last night. Looking forward to selling some more this holiday season at two small works shows in the area. I have 7 paintings for sale at the AOY show and 2 paintings for sale at the Arts & Culture show. Here are two recent paintings: one, of Edith Houghton, the lone female scout for MLB (Philadelphia Phillies) is with the support of the Russell J. Efros Foundation’s Sprout Grant and the other is one of the 7 in the AOY small works show.
I am getting ready for small works shows for the holidays. And while I was working so hard, I received good news: My painting, Play at the Plate won first place in the IWBC’s Women on the Diamond art competition.
Really happy with this portrait so far
I went to Williamsport, PA recently and got some more inspiration for the Women Playing Baseball series of paintings, as Williamsport is the home of the Little League World Series. Ella Bruning was the most recent girl to play in the Little League World Series, but there have been 19 others. I have worked some more on the Alexander painting. The figure on the right is based on J.T. Realmuto, whose face I like. He will be really good next year, which makes me think about my picks for the two League MVPs. I also include a still life I made for Maryanne, who isn’t feeling well today.
I was able to get back to working on this
I worked some more on the sky to soften it and added some pink tones to the water to better reflect the sky.
These three paintings are in various stages of completion: I just started the painting of the sheep today, while I am working to bring the painting of two male models to completion. Mike’s garden is pretty much done. The most difficult part of painting for me is finishing. I am not sure if it is the actual tasks involved or the anxiety it brings, but I feel aggravated. The questions I ask myself when I am trying to finish a painting add to the frustration. “Are you sure you are done?”; “Can you do better?”; and the old chestnut “Is it really good enough?”