Wabash #1

 

This small work belongs to series of cityscape paintings done from my hometown of Chicago.  Hence the el tracks in the upper portion.  I like to break down these complicated cityscapes into simple shapes and leave out all the knick knack details.  I was trained by a well known impressionist painter named C.W. Mundy who stressed this idea.

The Beach

Every year I try to add to the number of themes that I do.  This painting is an example of a new theme I started doing this year.  I love going to the beach in the summer here in Chicago. 

Commuters #1

I like to do paintings of people in subways.  It's a great place to find people interacting because they can't use cell phones.  Well, not as much as in the open air.  This painting came from two different photographs that I combined.  In this instance, I wanted the feeling as if something was just said and the other character is thinking about it.  The tension in the air is the subject of the painting.  But not visible.

Reader #10

Another painting from a scene in NYC Washington Square.  I like to pull lights out of darks and vice versa. In this particular scene, the subject is being watched without them knowing.  An example of an urban genre painting. 

The Beauty Shop

This painting came from a small beauty shop nearby.  I like to show both the inside and outside of a structure  at the same time. Also, part of the chair and hair dryer are hidden, forcing you to make up the rest. 

Edge of Town

I try to put a mood to all of my paintings.  If you look closely, the building looks as if it's sunny day.  However, the sky is dark, as if it's nigh time. These two elements combine to tell your visual senses that something isn't quite correct.  This treatment of the subject gives it more depth.

SOLD

Putting up Hair

  This painting titled "Putting up Hair" was done from a photo taken in the subway in NYC.  I try to find people doing simple tasks like reading a book, putting on lipstick, or having a conversation in public places.  Lately, these scenes are harder and harder to find with invention of cell phones and the Ipad.  Most people spend their free time being plugged in somehow.

This painting will post tomorrow on the DPW site.  This image was painted very quickly, in about an hour.  I use a medium called alkyds.  They are similar to oils except the drying time is much quicker. 

Apartment Buildings

This painting will be posted on the DPW site Sunday.  Very thick paint in both the lights and darks. The scene came from Wrigleyville here in Chicago.

The Parking Meter

I titled this latest painting "Parking Meter" because of the cast shadow of a parking meter on the doors.  Although the parking meter  is not visible in the painting, it is the subject.  I want the viewer to add something to the painting from their own experiences.

Daily Painting

I actually do 3 small paintings at once.   All, hopefully, finished in a week.   Here is my set up in the basement where I work.  I have some large paintings against the wall.  I execute about 10 large paintings a year.  These large works are taken from the small paintings that work out well.

Back from Vacation

 

This painting will be posted on Wednesday.  It was done from a photograph that was also taken in Washington square in NYC .