Candle Stick Phone & Electric Fan

24" x 24" — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

Today a friend asked me "what's new?" Ever sit there with a blank stare on your face when someone asks you that? That's what I did. Then I thought about the "newness" in my life and realized that I'm focused on my work, and although that seems like nothing new to me, it's new to the person you're talking to. I've got the exhibition in June, which means I've got until mid-May to create some newness.

I'm sure that February, March and April will move fast. The work I'll be doing will be larger, not going under say 20" or 24" in size. I've come to terms that this is around the size I work best in. It's comfortable. The smaller I go, the more I struggle.

Five Bartlett Pears

24" x 30" — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

This winter has been cold. Bitter cold. I know it's been cold throughout the entire continent, but I'm sure if you were to take a look at the average temperature where I am, you'd fall into stunned silence. I should not feel like this until the end of February, not January. I guess I always have the warm colors in the pears. And radiant heat in the studio.

Three Bartlett Pears

24" x 30" — Oil/Canvas — 2009
• SOLD

Where did I go? It's been a few weeks since I last posted anything. I'm busy. I've got an show coming up in June in Sacramento and I think that's going to keep me very occupied for the next several months. The first half of this year is going to be insane in my studio. Insane and exciting.

Second Draft

24" x 24" — Oil/Canvas — 2008
Sold

I'm calling this piece Second Draft. The first time I painted this old Remington (only a few weeks ago) it appeared on a very dark background. Unfamiliar territory. So I fretted and stirred and resolved myself by painting it a second time in more familiar territory. I'm sure I'll experiment further with other tones in the background but it's a slow process.

Goodbye 2008. I'm glad to see you go, you miserable year with your dismal news headlines. I plan on hiding in my studio doing the best work I possibly can for 2009. I'm actually optimistic about that.

Saying "Happy New Year" doesn't feel empty and pointless this year. I really, truly hope it is a Happy New Year.

Some Paintings - 2008

This is a small sample of some paintings completed in 2008. I thought it would be nice to make a presentation in video. I uploaded a high quality version to YouTube, so if you have broadband, please click the "watch in high quality" link directly below the video on the YouTube site because there's nothing worse than witnessing your paintings turn into a fuzzy, washed-out mess in a video. Still, I think it's pretty cool to have this tool at my fingertips.

Eventually (I stress eventually) I want to make some videos of the paintings in progress. Major hurdles include being a control freak and not owning a camera to record the process.

You Never Know Unless You Try

20" x 24" — Oil/Canvas — 2008

Sold

There's no shortage of those stories of people who wanted to do something other than what they are doing, or did for the entire life, like writing a novel, learning to play an instrument, traveling, etc. So many things complicate life, preventing dreams from taking shape. Responsibilities, people and events all put the kibosh on passions. Subscribing to the simple philosophy of "just do it" seems almost terrifyingly simple, so brazen and lacking foresight. It's as if people are happier if things are really complicated because that complication can help squelch the little voice in your head that reminds you that you once had dreams.