oil paintings

The Quiet Suffering of Pontormo

My work on this new painting made me want to look through a book on Pontormo by Salvatore S. Nigro to examine figure compositions. I was struck by the conveyance of silence found throughout the works. The silence is in the formal compositions of the paintings themselves and in the time and attention it requires to examine them. In The Visitations we see the saints communicating through glances. Even in a painting that would logically contain noise conveyed through screams we see dignity in silence. In Eleven Thousand Martyrs only three figures have opened mouths and their heads and bodies are shown with care and delicacy; they symbolize suffering nobly endured. No screams these, only loud sighs emanate from their lips. The viewer sees these images of pain and we are forced to contemplate them in silence, as befits their locations in churches, monasteries and hospitals. No unnecessary or necessary sounds, only the subjects’ and the viewers’ thoughts ricocheting back and forth, one to another. I hope to achieve something of this, one of the many beautiful aspects of Pontormo’s works, in my new painting, which is coming along (detail below) With this terribly warm and humid weather, I will have to reserve my painting times to early mornings and evenings, so I have enough ventilation in my studio.

One of Three

I have been working on this figure from the Three Graces painting. The next time I work on it, I will soften the edges. The skin tone is warm to cool throughout, with the goal of having neither the warmth nor the cold be too prominent.

Wine and Art Trail

I took part in the Bucks County Wine and Art Trail competition for 2022. Here were the entries. There will be an upcoming exhibit at Freeman Hall in 2023. In the meantime, I have the flowers on view in the Fall Salon Show at Freeman Hall in Doylestown until October 2nd.

Pretty Bird Farm Flower Bouquet, oil on linen panel, 2022
Buckingham Valley Vineyards and Winery, oil on linen panel, 2022
Wycombe Vineyards, oil on linen panel, 2022

Mentorship Class

I am taking an inspiring course with the insightful artist Elody Gyekis who is mentoring a group of us to take our work to the next level. The monochromatic and color studies have been painted in the last two weeks while the portraits were completed prior to the class. ‘Cat’ won an award at the 93rd Juried Show at Phillips’ Mill. The award presentation was an awesome highlight of an otherwise difficult year.

Monochromatic study, 16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas, 2022
Color study, 16 x 20 inches, oil on canvas, 2022
Cat, 30 x 40 inches, oil on canvas, 2022
Alex (AJ Minter) among the sunflowers, 20 x 16 inches, oil on canvas, 2022

New Beginning

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.

First day of painting
One of my favorite places in Lambertville

Fortunate

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.

Oil on linen, 20 x 24 inches
Painted over Zoom, oil on canvas, 8 x 10 inches