Here's the latest decorative painting...

I received a call from the sweetest lady who said she'd seen my work at a local eatery and had been trying to find me for quite a while!! Here are the results of two days of embellishing her kitchen and dining area.

This was one of the most pleasant painting jobs I've ever had. Providing coffee and sweet rolls and being the most pleasant of hostesses

Details from the kitchen -

The client wanted cheerful florals and whimsical scenes from nature.

For the dining room irises highlight ornamental filigree.

New work!! (finally)

I've been ill with a bad headcold/flu-ish thing, that has finally subsided into "just a cough." I apologize for not posting, but it seemed I'd just have no energy left after doing those things that absolutely had to be done - even when sick...

Below is a series of animal portraits done for a wonderful couple up in the Lake Burton area of NE Georgia. I met them a couple of years ago when I painted a "canine cabinet" for them. A while back their kitties were added to the cabinet and we talked of doing these small paintings. They chose a 12 x 12 format so that the portraits could be displayed as a group - or moved about and interchanged in small spaces. The couple has a lot of art and thus - not that much remaining wall space.

Brodie - a rescue Weimeraner...

Simon - He's his own cat...

Maddie - The grande matriarch...

And the lovely Fiona - a pink and white princess, and the most recent rescue...

An equine portrait...

"We Three" acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48
Private Commission

An unusual commission...

I'll be the first to say I'm no portrait painter. Painting portraits on commission (excepting the high, high dollar portrait artists) can be a frustrating task. Add to that the fact that I like expressive portraits rather than "painted photographs" (I mean - if you want an exact likeness with no brushstrokes and no "interpretation" - take a photograph!!) and it is clear why I usually turn down such work.

The small gallery where I am a resident hasn't any artists who do portraits. A couple of weeks ago there was a request from an older gentleman to have a portrait done from a photograph. That in itself was not a problem; although working from life is preferred, circumstances don't always allow for preferences. The problem was that he had a very limited budget and - the only photograph he had was a small snap-shot taken decades ago. The subject is now in her eighties and on life support. He wanted the painting done for the memorial service upon her death.

As one of the few painters there with formal training, I said I'd give it a shot.

The gentleman had had the snapshot enlarged to and 8 x 10 (shown above) - but there was very little detail and the outdoor setting put the woman in harsh sun and shade. Her mouth was open and one could not see the shape of her eyes at all - only that they were deep set. He had asked that I close the mouth and try my best to make her look her best.

After working for a few hours, I realized the eyes were impossible. I would either have to fake them - or leave them as dark blurs. And then it occurred to me to ask if she had children who looked like her! Yes!! I was able to obtain photographs of a son whose eyes were like his mother's. Ironically, the son had died many years before.

The final result is the 18 x 24 painting shown - with the lighting softened to show eye shape, and the lips brought together. It has a rather surreal "forties" quality that I like - though the stiffness of a portrait done from on photograph is rather obvious. I don't mind it much in this case though as it seems to work with the mood/style of the whole.

And best of all - the gentleman was pleased with the resulting portrait.

The finished commission

After reviewing my notes from the client, I realized I'd left off one of the elements she mentioned: a red - traditional barn building. To balance the composition, I added a bit of red to each side.

I was unhappy with the trees in the foreground which I originally painted as they were, complete with the angled lower trunks. It appeared they had all started growing on a tilt and then straightened out. It was disconcerting in the painting, however, and I took advantage of my artistic license to straighten up the offending subjects.

The very heavy - and still sharp saw blade was delivered Friday along with a similarly painted cross-cut saw and a farm sign for their driveway.














My next commissioned work is a landscape to be painted on the retaining wall below. Due to wet and still too cold weather, I've had to postpone starting this job for several weeks. I'm eager to see it finished; the purpose of which is to camouflage it into the natural setting. Black bears, tree trucks and large rock outcroppings will be included in the mural.

The house is built into a steep slope above a river used for tubing and kayaking. The challenge for me is access - as the staging area is soft earth with only three or four feet of space for platforms and ladders.

I'll try to post my progress - and problems - as I go.

Finally!! a new commission...

I've never been much for painting saw blades which seems to be a sort of folk-art fad, but here goes. This sawmill blade is about 30 inches in diameter - and still sharp! I actually cut the upholstery on the sofa being careless.

This is not quite finished, but it's the client's home and a few of their prizewinning Boer goats. I have to work on the trees a bit more and one of the goats seems off-color. It's amazing how much easier it is to find flaws or problems once the photos are posted to the computer.

Screen for Public Library...

Every time I visit my local library, I get a little boost from seeing my screen adjacent to the entryway. Commissioned by Friends of the Library, its purpose is not just to offer a bit of privacy to the children's librarian, but to set a mood of calm and serenity to all those entering.

It's painted on four hollow-core doors which were then hinged together. The reverse side is finished also - with a crackled surface, striping and floral embellishment.

My favorite thing about where it sits, is the real plant to the right which seems to merge right into the painted Magnolia leaves on the far right panel.

I wanted a dreamlike garden setting with bright and yet - soft colors fading off into the distance.

The "Monet" bridge was added at the specific request of one of the librarians, who had always admired the paintings at Giverny.


The Japanese Bridge by Claude Monet

Commissioned painting: Cain's Tractor

This very bright painting was done for a small boy's room with (guess what?) : a John Deere tractor theme. All the colors in the room are bright primary colors (with the exception of green... ha ha..) The elements appear to me to be rather stiff as is often the case when a painting or work of art is put together according to a menu.

The tractor was a challenge as I dislike painting "machinery", but it came out okay.