The daily dose of art FAVORITE PENCIL DRAWINGS

The first drawing - Oops - was done in the mid 1970s, the second drawing was done 3 years ago.

The daily dose of art ARCHITECTURAL FAVORITES

Most of my architectural paintings are done with watercolor.  These are two paintings that I am especially proud of.

Philadelphia Museum of Art  watercolor  15x45

Bicentennial Poster from watercolor

The daily dose of art MORE FAVORITES -MIXED MEDIA

I don't know whether to call this piece a construction or collage.  It was my first effort, and I think my best, at creating something using various scraps of wood, plastic, and metal, as well as acrylic paints and pastels.  I was an avid model railroader before moving to Paducah and had an abundant supply of scale lumber and sheets of scale metal siding and roofing at my disposal.  I used everything in this piece.

One More Time  Mixed media  24x36"  Framed and under glass

Price in request

The daily dose of art MORE FAVORITES - PASTELS

Among the many pastel paintings I've done, these are two of my favorites, contrasting the elegant architecture of NYC with the high plains of Nebraska.

NYC skyline  pastel  30x40

High Plain Hills  pastel   40x30

When I look at these I wonder why I don't spend more time with the pastels.

The daily dose of art MY FAVORITES

It is not easy picking a favorite piece out of so many paintings, but I'm going to try, selecting what I consider my best 2-3 paintings from the different mediums, starting with works on canvas.

The Gate  acrylic on canvas  36x36

I think this is the best landscape I've done.  Everything in it - the colors, the light, and the mood - works together.

FAVORITES #2 Grain Elevator or Feed Mill?

This structure sits one block from the main street in the small town of Elmer, in southern New Jersey, surrounded by small crop farms and dairy farms.  I am fascinated by its clutter, texture, and seemingly totally incoherent architecture and it has been the subject of several pastel paintings.  Every side of the building is totally different from the others.  My favorite rendering, one that I include in this series of "my favorite works", is this construction done in 2004.

The list of materials used includes acrylic, pastel, ink, scale model building supplies, and miscellaneous gadgets and gizmos lying around the studio.

I'm often asked what my favorite medium is, and I say "the one I'm working with".  But for pure fun, nothing comes close to working on these constructions.

Here are 2 other renderings of the subject:

Pastel and ink - 30x20

Pastel - 30x20

MY FAVORITE PAINTINGS… #1 BROKEN

From the hundreds of paintings I've created over the past 35 years, a handful have remained my absolute favorites.  I would like to share them with you on this blog and on my Facebook page in the weeks ahead.  Today's entry is an acrylic, but I intend to look at all of the mediums with which I've worked.

I began working with acrylics in 2006.  As anticipated, the work – over 175 paintings - has evolved, both in technique/style, and in scope.  From the over 175 paintings, there are a few pieces that from the moment of their completion have remained my favorites.   Interestingly, my two most favorite paintings are from my very earliest acrylic work.  One sold shortly after it was exhibited, and the other remains in my “collection”, meaning it hasn’t sold..yet.

I don’t think I can pick one of these before the other, so I list them as my two “all time favorite” acrylics, with several others right behind them.

BROKEN

 Acrylic on wood panel

25x25” plus frame

$1500

To fully appreciate this painting it should be viewed in direct light, preferably sunlight, to see all of the colors that come through the seemingly very dark foreground, colors which are difficult to capture photographically.

I really don’t know what inspired this painting.  The only given at the outset was the horizon – a fixture in almost all of my paintings – the colors sort of “happened”, and as I became involved with the work it began to dictate the final direction.  While the sky is brushed, the foreground was created entirely with a palette knife. 

I suppose the painting is too dark for most people, but I love this, and never tire of looking at it.  I am not upset that it hasn't been sold.

MY PERSONAL FAVORITES

Periodically I will browse through photos of old work to remind myself of how my work has evolved; it is a bit sobering to see that some of the older work is as good as, and occasionally better, than the newer stuff.  I imagine that is the case for many artists and craftsmen, regardless of their field.  In the five year history of this blog I think I've posted images of most of the work I have completed in the past 35 years.

Over the next several posts I will be showing some of my personal favorites.

 NYC Skyline...pastel...30x40...2000

Philadelphia Merchants Exchange...watercolor...20x30...early 1980s

Behind the Strand...watercolor...20x30...circa 1990

 Gray Smokestacks...pastel...20x30...circa 1995

Blues in the night...watercolor...30x40...early 1980s