The Gayle Vogel Kirby Studio

My African Queen

2012-01-09T10:37:00.004-06:00

My daughter actually photographed this very regal looking woman while we were in Kenya at Thanksgiving. We visited a tribal village and the women were all wearing these elaborate wedding necklaces. Layers of beads and weaving in amazing bright colors. I found this woman particularly striking with her long slim neck and way her hair came to a point at the center of her face - she was just exquisite.

Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas 24" X 36"

Steve Schall

2011-12-08T18:04:00.005-06:00

I took a break from my Africa series to paint this quick sketch of Steve. He's a writer friend who is always digging for details in every conversation. We met for drinks the other night and I snapped a photo with my cell phone. I loved the fedora and just couldn't resist the temptation to capture that cocky look of his.

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 10" X 14"

Samburu Tribesman

2011-12-06T10:39:00.003-06:00

Isn't this a wonderfully etched face? I was so taken with this as a study in charactor. I would have loved to know what wisdom he contained due to his life experiences. There was a certain calm about him that seemed to engulf all those around him. He made such an impression on me. I believe he will be the capstone of my Kenyan experience.

10" X 14" Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press

Masi chief

2011-12-05T11:13:00.004-06:00

I was so intrigued by the earring this Masi chief was wearing. As it turned out, it was a film canister in which he stored his chewing tobacco! Talk about recycling! He was a charming gent and was quite happy to show me his tobacco stash. Only one of his ears was stretched with this rather large loop.

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 10" X 14"

Gatiki

2011-12-04T19:43:00.004-06:00

I just returned from a marvelous trip to Kenya. Gatiki was our guide and made our trip a delightful experience. Such a gentleman and a gracious host for his country. Since I don't paint animals, I will remember my journey through the faces I paint, starting with our guide.

Acrylic on Arches 130# cold press paper 10" X 14"

Dance Class

2011-08-22T22:11:00.005-05:00

An artist friend of mine, Kathleen Sauerbrei, sent me a reference photo of Sloan's first dance class. She knew somehow, I would never be able to resist the charm of these little girls watching their parents drive away and leaving them to face the dance master. Of course I have no way of knowing if that is what is actually happening, but that is what I see. Anyway, she was correct. How could I resist?

12" X 16" acrylic and Arches 140# cold press

Backstage

2011-07-27T09:15:00.003-05:00

This is one of those I've been wanting to do, well, it seems like forever. There's so much I love about the idea of her intently watching someone else perform and perhaps waiting for her turn. For me this is a girl who lives and breathes dance so much so that she stays backstage to watch every move and every dancer, not wanting to miss a thing. I've painted this idea before in "Waiting in the Wings". I never get tired of dancers.

Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas 30" X 40"

Old Fairlane

2011-07-15T12:47:00.003-05:00

I swore I'd never do another vehicle with lots of chrome. However, as time passes one forgets about the difficulties. I was helping my sister-in-law with a garage sale when this car pulled into the driveway. I immediately rushed into the house for my camera and have not been able to get the car out of my mind since so I finally succumbed and pulled out a canvas and got to work.

Acrylic and gallery wrapped canvas 24" X 36"

A Distant Shore

2011-06-08T18:57:00.004-05:00

I always seems to gravitate to musicians - obviously this one is not in the same style as most of my musicians but a realistic style seemed to suit the scene better. What's on that distant shore and does she wish she were there? I like to imagine that her dreams reside across the water and seem so far away from where she is.

Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas 24" X 36"

Ezra's Lesson

2011-05-06T22:45:00.004-05:00

Here's another version of Ezra. This is still on paper but done with my usual acrylics. I am thinking I may do him yet again but on canvas. We'll see where he takes me next...

12" X 16" Acrylic on Arches 130# cold press

Ezra's Easter

2011-04-24T18:58:00.004-05:00

This is nothing very serious. I'm thinking about painting Ezra so since today was Easter, I did a quick study in Pastels (both the color and the medium). I rarely work with pastels but it was something I could do quickly and for fun.....I didn't finish it but what I was really thinking about was the crop...anyway I was so amused by the outcome that I thought I'd share it for your entertainment!

Parisian artist in Montmartre

2011-04-23T10:02:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was in Paris and visited the Sacre Coeur and Montmartre. I was taken with the artists who fill the space between cafes and street performers. The artists themselves were more interesting than the art. I loved this man. He was just sitting there watching as people passed. Of course he was wearing a beret - what could be more Parisian?

18" X 18" acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Self Portrait

2011-04-19T19:17:00.003-05:00

For a Rogues Gallery challenge in Wet Canvas here's a self portrait...a different style and always a dismal effort when one is painting one's self! Honest - I used to be younger!

Acrylic on Arches cold press paper 11 X 14

Fishin With Dad

2011-03-12T14:24:00.003-06:00

This is Chad and Ryan out for a little father and son time on a summer's day. Just two guys out doing what every little boy loves to do...spend time with dad fishing in a lazy stream, talking about guy stuff and enjoying the sunshine. What could be better?

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 9" X 14"

Annie's Apple

2011-03-11T19:40:00.004-06:00

Such a pose, I couldn't resist. I wanted to do something soft for a change so I dug through my files and found Annie. She's been in my cue for some time but didn't feel the desire to put her on paper until today.

Acrylic on Arches 300# cold press 9" X 12"

Danseur in Repose

2011-03-08T08:24:00.005-06:00

I rarely repaint a subject twice but I made an exception in this case. Several years ago I painted him in blues though I have always wished I had done him differently. My son sent me some canvases for Christmas - one being 12" X 36". Perhaps it was a joke or just a little encouragement to do something different. In any case, I was compelled to revisit my dancer. I compared both paintings side by side and now I'm not sure which I actually prefer?! Coloration gives each an entirely different feel.

Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas 12" X 36" $500

A Stroll in the Surf

2011-01-12T15:34:00.004-06:00

Something nice to think about in the midst of winters rain and drear. The water is greener than it appears here but not being a photographer at heart I find I am unable to capture the true color. In my next life I'll take some lessons. For now, I am not interested in the mechanics of photography. Suffice to say, I have enough trouble with paint!

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas $1,500

Jimi

2011-01-06T16:51:00.003-06:00

Jimi Hendrix is a special request from my son. It was Jimi or Jerry Garcia - in my mind there was no choice!

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Sweet Melissa - Private collection

2010-12-30T17:55:00.004-06:00

This is sweet Melissa - a very special person. She was invaluable to me when Kevin was so ill. She was so great with him and made his final days a joy. She's funny, witty and intelligent. He loved her so!

18" X 18" Acrylic and gallery wrapped canvas

Heidi - commission

2010-11-01T13:41:00.003-05:00

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Rocker # 2

2010-10-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

The second in my rock musicians series is a drummer. I was drawn to the contrast between the way the light played off his hair and the darkness in the lower portion where drums and cymbals block the light.

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Rocker # 1

2010-10-20T17:15:00.005-05:00

I rather like this one. I've used this style before and now I remember why I do not use it more often. While it seems simplistic just painting the shapes of color. I find it much more difficult and I have to paint so many more layers to get the paint smooth and fairly free of brush strokes. This was fun and I may decide to do some more of these. I also stepped away from my normal palette and with some quite happy with the results.

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

John Swegle - gifted to a friend

2010-10-14T10:35:00.004-05:00

John is the son of a very good friend. He's a senior in high school and will be leaving home to go to college in the near future. I know his mother will miss him terribly so I thought she might enjoy having a reminder of him around to ease the loss. He's an interesting, charming and thoughtful young man and I hope I've captured that for her.

24" X 36 " acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Lindsay Rose

2010-10-04T18:09:00.002-05:00

Lindsay is my nephews daughter. This is from a photo he took of her peeking through some wild mustard or some other random plant. She's a cute little thing and very charming too!

9" X 12" Acrylic on gallery wrapped linen

Sk8ters

2010-09-19T11:18:00.006-05:00

You often see young skate boarders hanging out on benches or stairs. It seems to me they are at that cross road between childhood and adulthood. They're not quite ready to give up the thrill of skatboarding and yet not ready to settle into a job/career. I always admired their skill and daring as they race through town - it's as if they were born with wheels on their feet. The modern day version of Mercury.

Acrylic 24" X 36" gallery wrapped canvas

Connected

2010-07-17T18:02:00.004-05:00

I liked the idea of internet connections even though she's a solitary figure, probably home alone. I wonder how connected that really is? How connected can one be looking at a computer screen without hearing the inflections of the voice that make connecting in person so much more meaningful when you can hear the emotions in the spoken word? Just some questions I have.

20" X 20" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. $800

The Corner Men - SOLD

2010-07-06T17:27:00.010-05:00

I grew up watching the Friday Night Fights with my dad. Since then I have always loved the sport though I've rarely watch them in the recent years. My nephew, Greg Vogel (TrackAttackPhotos.com) took some photos for ESPN last week and when I saw them I knew I had to paint this one. If you click on the image, you can see an enlarged version.

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Punky

2010-07-01T16:45:00.003-05:00

This is the daughter of John Gottlieb, another recernt portrait. It was difficult becacause I have never seen her in person so who knows if I captured her or not? She just s beautiful young lady and I loved her big straw hat.

10" X 14" Acrylic on Arches 300# cold press

Barclay - Gifted to a friend

2010-06-25T16:11:00.004-05:00

Two things I don't paint are landscapes and animals - however, Barclay is a special friend who lives on the same floor in my building. He's a grand pal and often joins us for wine on the terrace. He loves toast and he doesn't make any noise. He's got so much hair I wonder sometimes if he can see me at all. If I had a dog, I'd have one like Barclay!

20" X 20" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Girl with Braids

2010-06-11T14:36:00.003-05:00

I haven't just sat down and drawn in a very long time. I've been thinking about polishing off those rusty skills. I obviously didn't get seriously detailed here but I did get a great deal of satisfaction in putting pencil to paper and seeing what kind of results I could get after so many years. This all came about when I was looking for something and came across my old drawing tablet. Perhaps I'll do some more. It's certainly a lot easier and faster than pulling out the easel and paints (and clean up is a breeze)....

John Gottlieb Bracchi

2010-06-07T18:12:00.003-05:00

This is a charming and wonderful man from Santiago Chile. He was our tour guide on Saint Patrick's Day in Chile this year. It was a fabulous tour that made Chile one of my favorite places in the world. Not only is he a great guide but he's a charming and delightful host! He got into the spirit of the day and we had an amazing exerience in Chile as a result.

9" X 12" Acrylic and Arches 140# cold press

After The Tears

2010-06-06T21:06:00.003-05:00

This is a little girl at a school I visited in the delta region outside Buenos Aires Argentina. Some of the children were frightened when we entered their classroom. One small boy became quite upset. This child managed to regain her composure and offered a thin smile. She was so brave and just darling. I couldn't resist capturing that little face.

9" 12" Acrylic on Strathmore 140# cold press paper

To The Finsh Line

2010-05-23T14:31:00.004-05:00

Normally I steer away from landscapes and animals. However, being the huge horse racing fan that I am, I was moved by the recent Kentucky Derby and the Preakness to give the equestrian endeavors a shot. This is my nod to racing.....

30" X 30" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas $2,000

Water Lily

2010-05-18T11:21:00.003-05:00

Water lilies are lovely blossoms floating, sometimes found in the most unusual places. This is the third and final painting of white blossoms. I think I'm over this latest floral phase. I have a couple new ideas forming somewhere in my mental musings. We'll see where I go next.

20" X 20 " gallery wrapped canvas $800

Sweet Magnolia

2010-04-13T19:40:00.006-05:00

I'm on a roll with white flowers. Here's my take on the wonderful magnolia blossom. When we lived in CA, we had a magnolia in the backyard. My children used the center of the spent blossoms as "hand gernades".

20" X 20" gallery wrapped canvas $800

Frangrance in White

2010-04-12T16:46:00.008-05:00

It seemed time to get back to some basics and for this I selected a lovely gardenia. I took the time to do a complete underpainting before adding any color. White flowers are perhaps the most difficult to paint but with an underpainting to clearly define tonal values all one needs is to determine if you want to end up with a warm or cool effect. I selected warm because the gardenia has very warm under tones...and they smell heavenly.

20" X 20" gallery wrapped canvas $800

The Tango Lesson

2010-04-09T12:31:00.008-05:00

Inspired by a recent trip to Argentina this one is reminiscent of the rainbow colored structures in the Boca section of Buenos Aries. It's a charming and captivating area filled with artists and craftsman selling their wares in the street. It's almost electric just to be walking the streets here. The area began with dockworkers who used materials left over from the docks to build their homes. Using whatever paint was left, they created this amazing vibrant environment. Fiercely proud of the neighborhood, they continue to maintain the brightly colored tradition.

20" X 20" gallery wrapped canvas $800

Girl On A Swing

2010-02-23T14:09:00.005-06:00

What can I say? I had some left over paint and some time on my hands . This goes along with my boy playing ball - we'll call it a children at play series huh?!

9" X 12" Arches 140# cold press $250

Cuban Sandlot Ball

2010-02-20T19:27:00.004-06:00

I've had this in the back of my head for a very long time. Today was a sunny bright day and it seemed the right time to pull it out and get started. This is a young Cuban boy playing ball with his friends in a bleak space with nothing but bare earth as a back drop to his game. I used a limited palette to depict the the mood - it is the action that captures here.

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 9" X 12" $250

Kylie - gifted to Kylie

2010-01-25T13:13:00.006-06:00

Kylie is the beautiful child of a new friend here in Portland. She dances and is a great ice cream buddy! Unlike most young girls her age, she's a pleasure to be around. I met her mother and her through my terrace mate. I've kept this one very soft because that's the sort of child she is.....

Acrylic 10" X 14" on Arches 140# cold press paper (not for sale)

On The Fence

2010-01-08T22:30:00.004-06:00

Today I felt like doing something softer and I really needed to feel paper again. There's just something so special about working on paper. I know I've said it before but some of my most pleasurable sessions are those on paper.

9" X 12" Arches 140# cold press paper $250

Margarita Ball - SOLD

2010-01-04T16:48:00.005-06:00

Sometimes a concept works and sometimes not so much. Here's an example of the latter. It was great, in my mind's eye, but the execution didn't seem to come together as I had hoped. Back to the drawing board. P.S. I've updated the photo because I think I may have salavged this one.....

12" X 12" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

Asphalt Blues

2009-12-11T17:20:00.002-06:00

Finally! Something I'm pretty happy with. I put on some blues music and went to town on it for several days. I think it works and conveys exactly what I wanted. This one is the largest piece I've done recently. I think I'll hang it in my house!

36" X 48" Gallery wrapped canvas ( to purchase contact me)

Jammin

2009-12-07T11:46:00.003-06:00

With the lights up in my new studio, I am back in business with paint brushes in hand. I loved the angle of this pose. It gives the feeling that you are center stage in the front row. I haven't quite figured how to photograph works in my new space but I will keep playing with it until I'm happy. Yesterday I just turned some jazz on spent the entire day painting. Next thing I knew it was midnight...

30" X 48" Acrylic on canvas $2,000

Tatum & Caleb - SOLD

2009-12-02T12:46:00.002-06:00

I have done all the commissions I am going to do for awhile. This is the last of four. I really need to do some painting for me now. I have lots of space to fill and the paintings I currently have hanging in my living space are not what I want to see. I finally have the lighting in my new studio done so I can work in there without having to put things away....

12" X 16" on Arches 140# Cold Press

The Lawn Boys - SOLD

2009-10-29T17:42:00.004-05:00

Meet brothers Marshall and Shaughn. Best pals and willing playmates. They live in the Canadian prairie country and spend a lot of time together. Here Shaughn fills the "mower" with water so they can continue mowing the lawn.....there's a lot of grass to mow in the prairie! Their grandmother, another artist, is a friend of mine.

20" X 20" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Saxman - SOLD

2009-10-20T23:10:00.006-05:00

It feels so good to be painting again. I finally am excited about what I am doing. This one has more vibrancy than the previous Jazz/Blues series. The sax has so much fire to it! I love this one. I have to look at it awhile to be sure I am finished so for now it's on my easel....

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Poinsettia - gifted to a friend

2009-09-23T14:49:00.004-05:00

I've been playing with the idea that I should paint something I could have printed on my Christmas cards. I did some very cartoon-like Christmas tree balls but that just wasn't it. This is much more like something I would send - the only missing element is the gold gilt edge! I'm always a sucker for the glitter!

12" X 12" Acrylic on canvas

And Then It Was Fall

2009-09-21T14:28:00.003-05:00

This is an experimental piece playing with a gel medium on paper - I used the properties of the medium to resist the pigment of the paint. After looking at it for some period it felt as if the colors were indicative of that change from summer to autumn. I used some sharpie makers to draw some leaves over the top and here you are. Personally I rather like the results!

Acrylic & Markers on Arches 140# cold press 9" X 12"

Mixed media by accident!

2009-08-31T16:37:00.003-05:00

I am only posting this so you know I am still alive and semi active. This is such a disaster and a big laugh for me. I thought I'd get out some brushes, paints and have a go at getting into a groove again. I grabbed some paper and laid it out, got my paints, water and brushes and started in. It felt good after such a long absence but I couldn't figure out why the darn paper was reacting so differently to the water. The paper was getting all warped and I was getting disgusted so I walked away. Later I came back and the paper had dried and gone nice & flat again. It was then I realized that I was using pastel paper not watercolor paper! After painting all the underpaint in acrylic and then topped it off with pastels. We'll consider this mixed media and call it a mess & done. I'll try to get more organized! It's a nightmare to move your studio! Haven't yet figured out what I am doing and it shows.

Home again in my new digs!

2009-07-26T12:00:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update.....I am finally in my own home again. It's quite a different space and I still have a lot of unpacking and exploring to do before I pick up a paint brush. My son was here for a week and showed me how to use the streetcars and pointed out the good brew pubs (we have divergent interests)! I have some furniture, some dishes, a laundry setup, and a wine opener. That pretty well put me in the business of living. My terrace is amazing and it's great place to spend some time. Being on the 5th floor allows you to sit out there unobserved and still watch the folks passing in the streets below. I love it here and I feel so invigorated and somehow renewed. I won't be painting for at least another month. Construction in my studio room does not begin until Aug 17th....
Later.

Painting put away for now....

2009-06-09T05:46:00.002-05:00

My studio is being packed to get ready for a move. I am leaving Dallas TX and moving to the great green state of Oregon. It's an exciting new chapter in my life and I am looking forward to it. Hopefully, I will be unpacked & painting again before the end of summer. In the meantime I can still photograph stuff for reference and perhaps squeeze in some sketching....we'll see. I do so miss the feel of a paint brush in my hands though.

It Could be Dinner - SOLD

2009-05-24T19:38:00.003-05:00

This is a quick still life that I found amusing as a subject. When my children were little, they would eat the leaves and leave me the heart. It was wonderful - they have outgrown that and now eat the whole thing themselves. My daughter loves nothing more than a fresh artichoke for dinner.

Acrylic on canvas 12" X 12' $150

Take Time... Gifted to a friend

2009-05-23T16:05:00.004-05:00

This one has been in que since early this year. I was trying to think spring and the wonder of children in the garden. Here it is, quickly turning to summer so I thought I'd clear out some of the old ideas before coming up with anything new. I loved the idea that she's learning that some flowers are fragrant and sweet while other look pretty and have very little to redeem them in the fragence department.

Acrylic on canvas 12" X 12"

Row, row, row your..... SOLD

2009-05-19T17:02:00.004-05:00

This was done just for fun as part of a challenge on Wet Canvas. I love these colorful little boats. They remind me of vacations in summer....

Acrylic on canvas board 16" X 20"

Ballerina In a Red Chair - Private collection

2009-05-05T17:19:00.010-05:00

I'm calling this one done. I've wanted to paint this for a couple of years but something always just got in the way. Lately I have made a concerted effort to paint everyday and as a result, I've been able to do some things that have been on the back burner for far too long. This is one I am painting for me (I think - though the right price might make it for someone else)

24" X 36" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Fresh From the Oven - SOLD

2009-05-03T13:03:00.005-05:00

People are finding each other on facebook and reconnecting after many years. Recently I uploaded a painting and someone else uploaded a photo of their sculpture. Our high school friend Rosemary felt bad because she felt she had nothing artistic to share so instead she uploaded a photo of these freshly baked dinner rolls. I was so jealous! I can't bake to save my soul. I couldn't resist adding some butter and turning it into the work of art her baking truely is! Thanks Rosemary!

12" X 12" Acrylic on canvas

The Shy One

2009-04-29T20:24:00.002-05:00

Today's adventure was another foray into the Asian face. This child had eyes that just seemed to see deep inside the viewer somehow.

12" X 16" Acrylic on Arches 140# Cold Press

Out of the Concrete

2009-04-28T18:51:00.003-05:00

This was an experiment for a larger painting I want to do. The method I used here will not work for what I had in mind but as happens so often, this took on a life of it's own. I used a lot of gel medium to create the texture. There are several layers of color washes and it's over painted with Iridescence Pearl. There's also has a layer of Interference Gold on the bottom - both of which make it difficult at best photograph. It was entirely unintentional that it ends up looking like a floral - after all this was only meant as an experiment - but I thought it might be fun to share it anyway....

12" X 12'' Acrylic on canvas board

Little Eve Reading - private collection

2009-04-27T13:59:00.004-05:00

I'm working on a project that requires a day to dry so I made use of the time by painting Eve. I loved her little cupid mouth and her curls falling in her eyes. This one came together so quickly it surprised even me!

12" X 16" Acrylic on 140# Arches Cold Press Paper

Spools - SOLD

2009-04-23T16:20:00.005-05:00

My sister is an amazing seamstress and I thought she could use some art in her sewing room. Her space is filled with fabrics, threads and on-going projects. This tiny piece will not take up much space and can fit virtually anywhere. It is 5" X 5".
I had this little canvas and have never known what to do with it since I don't usually paint very small. I didn't spend any serious time on it and I think it's rather fun.

Greta At Practice - SOLD

2009-04-17T14:49:00.009-05:00

Greta is practicing in her stocking feet near a brightly lit window. I've remodelled her mom's home and changed Greta's clothes to simplify the composition and to control the color palette. I'm calling it finished. After I look at it for awhile, sometimes I come to that "what was I thinking" moment. I've made a couple of tweaking changes and it works for me now. I loved the photo the minute I saw it. I elminated everything I considered superflous. It's just about that one moment in Greta's day.

Acrylic on canvas 16" X 20"

April 14th - SOLD

2009-04-09T17:24:00.006-05:00

I'm not sure what the title really is but for now it's fun to think of it as relating to taxes. I wanted a simple still life and also to play with a white painting. White is difficult and in most cases isn't white at all. This small one made the day more fun that it would have been otherwise. I'm not sure the crumpled paper works as well as I wanted but I'll have to look at it for awhile.

Acrylic 11" X 14"

Clara Waiting - SOLD

2009-04-03T21:14:00.010-05:00

I've been meaning to start this for quite some time. I've thought about it often. I had to be in the right mood to approach this project with a sort of reverance. I considered cropping it to remove the walker but that seemed to take away something important that this lady is saying. It is probably what drew me to her in the first place. I have kept her little photo in my studio for a long time. I believe her name if Clara though it has been so long now I can't remember for sure. I love this lady. Thanks to her grandson, Darren Byler, for allowing me to use his photo.

Acrylic 16" X 20"

Open Rose (SOLD)

2009-03-28T11:39:00.009-05:00

After so many portraits I felt the need to do something completely different so I chose to return to an old subject - a macro floral. This is from a photo of a rose that was completely open - right before the petals begin to start falling. I still find the drama of these large florals very appealing though this one is smaller than some I have done. I loved abstract feel of this flower.

Acrylic 20" X 20"

The Beauties together

2009-03-25T16:31:00.002-05:00

Buddhist Beauty - SOLD

2009-03-24T17:43:00.006-05:00

This is the final in my beautiful women series...This has been the most difficult. I think the Oriental face has more subtle planes and in general is more smooth and less contoured. Whatever the reason I've difficulty with this one.

Acrylic 16" X 20"

Hindu Beauty - SOLD

2009-03-22T20:00:00.004-05:00

This is the second in a series of beautiful women from around the world.

16" X 20"

Islamic Beauty - SOLD

2009-03-17T13:03:00.006-05:00

A friend and I went to see A Powerful Voice recently on International Womens Day. After seeing this amazing film, she & I had a discussion about women in various roles in different countries around the world. That was the inspiration for this and hopefully a few more. In varying degrees, womens roles are similar in cultures all over the world. And they are beautiful regardless of religion or country of origin.

Acrylic 16" X 20"

Ramon (Private Collection)

2009-03-12T17:19:00.005-05:00

Meet Ramon. He is one of the gardening crew that comes through every week. Ramon is older than the rest of the crew they usually leave the heavy lifting and sweeping to him. He never stops working and does a careful job. One day I asked the supervisor to ask Ramon if I could take a photo so I could paint him. After a fair amount of translation and the rest of the crew getting involved, Ramon put down his tools and came and stood at attention in front of me. I wanted to laugh but - he put his shoulders back and stood up straight and tall. He looked so proud. I think I will frame this and give it to him.

Acrylic on 140# cold press Arches paper 11" X 14" NFS

Altogether now - one, two, three......

2009-03-08T15:45:00.002-05:00

Lora III - (SOLD)

2009-03-08T15:42:00.006-05:00

I'm on a roll I guess. Here's the third and final version of Lora. They look amazing hanging together - a colorful and interesting statement.

Acrylic 24" X 36 "

Lora II - (SOLD)

2009-03-07T17:50:00.006-06:00

Another artist made a comment on my previous version of this painting wondering how it would look in other colors? Well, that made me curious too - so I painted her again. The black was at first a dark green but it just didn't have the same "pop" so I glazed it over with black. In the very beginning I wasn't happy with the the blue but it's beginning to grow on me. I also decided to leave the strokes on the diagonal rather than radiating from the center - I like that change. I have them side by side in my house and am considering perhaps doing a third one....stay tuned.

Acrylic 24" X 36"

Lora Dangova - (SOLD)

2009-03-01T18:28:00.008-06:00

Lora and I have a mutual friend in Boston. She is a fabulous Bulgarian photographer and artist living in San Diego. I have been comtemplating this idea for some time but I wanted just the right likeness to apply to the idea. I've searched and searched and suddenly had that "aha" moment when I realized that Lora was the face I needed. I loved the idea of capturing the essence of an indiviaual with the fewest strokes or lines. The whole idea that one can be reduced to a handfull of brushes strokes is appealing. More than that, I wanted a background with texture that radiated this feeling of warmth. Thanks Lora!

Acrylic 24" X 36"

It's Miss KItt To You! - SOLD

2009-02-26T15:39:00.007-06:00

It's back to my old familiar palette and style. I think I may do a series of old singers. I've always been intrigued by Eartha Kitt. She was much discussed when I was young - and not always in the kindest of terms. I couldn't understand any of this because she had such a grand voice. This is my small tribute to her.

Acrylic 12" X 12"

Sisters (SOLD)

2009-02-01T14:53:00.011-06:00

I started this at the end of January and finally finished it today. It began to work out slow but sure. The hard part of doing multiple people in one painting is that inevitably you are happy with one and not the other. What I really wanted to express here is not so much a likeness of these girls but rather the love shared by these two sisters!

Acrylic 16" X 24"

Butterfly (SOLD)

2009-01-25T13:34:00.007-06:00

I'm not thrilled with this one but perhaps it will grow on me. It is from a photo that my daughter took while visiting in Maine last year. I'll have to look at it for awhile and probably do some tweaking.
Acrylic 18" X 24"

Girl In A Yellow Hat - SOLD

2009-01-10T18:23:00.006-06:00

Here's another portrait on paper. I love the feel of painting on paper. It's interesting to watch the pigments react with the paper and the amount of water you use. While some artists will use very heavy layers of paint on paper they have gessoed, I prefer to use my acrylics like watercolors when using paper. I love the soft translucent effects you get.

12" X 16" Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press $300

Jordyn (SOLD)

2009-01-06T20:12:00.005-06:00

Here's a quick study I did tonight. I was testing some new equipment my son bought me for Christmas and this little face captured my attention. She is the granddaughter of a dear friend. It's always fun to capture children because it is just a moment in time and in a short period that face, that look and that moment is gone forever.

12" X 16" Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press

Moroccan Street Vendor -- SOLD

2008-12-22T12:14:00.012-06:00

Yesterday was a dreadful, teary day for me so I decided the best thing to do would be to get into the studio and get to work! I took a photo of this street vender in the Casbah in Tagier last May. He was leaning against the wall with his foot up, waiting for tourists to meander down his way. In the Casbah, the streets (if you can call them that), are very narrow, often perhaps 4 or 5 feet wide at most. These long narrow passageways create some interesting scenes. This 18" X 36" canvas works perfectly. This happens to be the 3rd reincanation on this canvas! There are two more paintings beneath this poor guy! Hopefully this will be the last.

Acrylic 18" X 36"

Kents Girl

2008-12-16T15:05:00.009-06:00

My nephew is dating a lady and I loved her look. I have never met her and have only seen one real picture of her. I just thought she was very striking and reminded me of Mia Farrow - my daughter thinks she looks like Toni Collette - boy does that point out our age difference.

Acrylic 12" X 18"

Jazz #4 - SOLD

2008-12-07T15:37:00.008-06:00

I've been very lazy about getting into the studio. Yesterday I spent 3 hours in 40-ish degree weather working in the yard so today I forced myself. I varnished a couple of paintings and then picked up this one. (I've had it sketched out for months.) It's the last in the series I started some time ago. The next thing I knew it was 3:30 PM. I wanted to see all four of them hanging together but two are already at the gallery.

Acrylic 20" X 20"

Jennifer (Private Collection)

2008-11-30T16:07:00.008-06:00

I started this yesterday though I have been thinking about it for a very long time. She is seated next to a window and the light is so bright that her image almost fades into the light. I found a wonderful photo of an old lady and wrote to the photographer asking permission to use the photo. When he responded, his avitar was this photo which included him and his wife. I was so taken with her that I asked permission to paint her (Jennifer) too. She is goreous, so I only hope I've done her justice. This one is quite subtle for me but if you click on the painting you can see a much larger version.

Acrylic 14" X 18"

Jazz # 3 = SOLD

2008-11-28T21:17:00.007-06:00

I finally made my way back into the studio. It feels good to be back though perhaps a little strange. Instead of coming in the house to check on Kevin, now I come in and check on Tommie the cat. Whatever works right?! This is a continuation of the Jazz series. It will be interesting to see how or if they all fit together in the end...

Acrylic 20" X 20"

My Muse...Oct 23, 1947 - Oct, 15, 2008

2008-11-02T16:38:00.002-06:00

Girl In A Yellow Raincoat

2008-10-10T18:22:00.006-05:00

I pulled out the pastels for this one. I had some brief spaces of time so wanted to have something I could pick and put down quickly.....here it is. This sweet child belongs to a friend of my daughter. She has the roundest brown eyes!

Pastel

Jazz # 2 - SOLD

2008-10-03T17:49:00.006-05:00

I loved the fact that this instument was a light honey color. Most of them are quite dark. The shadow of the mike adds a little something too.
Acrylic 20 X 20

Jazz #1 - SOLD

2008-09-24T20:32:00.011-05:00

After several weeks I was able to get some painting in again and it felt wonderful! Someone contacted me resently about a commission but A) they couldn't afford it or B) his "decorator" nixed the idea. It doesn't matter because it was the impetus I needed to get back to my musicians. This is either the start of a new series or a continuation of my Blues Series. In addition, due to circumstances at home I can not take any commissions at present.

Acrylic 20 X 20

A Hand on the Sill - SOLD

2008-09-01T10:59:00.014-05:00

Hey I'm done on this (finally).This is update #7. I used a different approach here. Lots of layers of very watery colors.... It was a very slow process - but that's ok. I normally use a lot of medium with my paints but for this one wanted to strictly use water. It takes much longer to build up the layers when using very watery washes but it produces some very translucent results. I have to admit towards the end I have reverted to some glazing mediums on her dress. I also have had to deal with some blemishes in the canvas. I didn't do a very good job with the gesso! I loved the upper left quarter of this piece. Once again, the hair gave me fits!

Acrylic 16" X 20"

Hombre a la Luz de la Luna - SOLD

2008-08-27T20:13:00.011-05:00

This started out with a reference photo of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Somewhere along the way it became something and someone else. I loved the crop and the concept. In the end it bears no resemblance to the original reference, except for the hat perhaps. It is not uncommon for a painting to take on a life of it's own somewhere along the way. This is definitely one of those....and I'm very pleased with the results. The translation of the name is Man in the Moonlight.

Acrylic 16" X 20" $350

Julia (private collection)

2008-08-24T18:56:00.007-05:00

This is a portrait of my dear friend Julia. Since leaving Chicago I don't get to see her much and I miss her so! She came to visit me here in Dallas and I snapped a photo of her sitting outside in the sun. It seemed to capture one of those pensive moments.....I love this painting.

Acrylic

ND Fountain (Sold)

2008-08-21T14:04:00.007-05:00

This is N.D. , Mildred's husband. His tiny 60 year old school picture was scratched and bent, and of course, in black & white. I showed this painting to mutual friends and they recognized him immediately. This at least indicates I was able to get the likeness anyway. The fun for me is that I met these folks in their 70's but somehow came to know them as school children through these portraits.

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 11" X 14"

Mildred Fountain (Sold)

2008-08-19T18:25:00.007-05:00

Someone gave me a half wallet size photo circa 1930's and asked me to paint it - in color no less! I put it off for a long time but finally sat down to play with it. I thought I might be able to get away with a sepia likeness - but no - it had to be color.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out and now I'm actually looking forward to do another one of her husband!

Acrylic on Arches 140# cold press 11" X 14"

Texas Yellow Rose - SOLD

2008-08-14T20:08:00.007-05:00

I may not be finished with the cows yet but I needed to do something else (and in a different color scheme) so today's adventure was to paint this one in yellow. I have painted it in red and that one usually rests on the mantel in my family room. Those of you who are paying attention will notice that I've added some water drops....

Acrylic 16" X 20" $350

Cow-licious (SOLD)

2008-08-13T16:53:00.007-05:00

We'll see how this one flys. Only a true "Cow person" will understand. I'm not sure what they are looking for or what it is they store up there but cows all seem to spend an inordinate amount of time with their tongues in their nostrils.

Acrylic 12" X 12" $300

Blue Moo - SOLD

2008-08-12T12:59:00.010-05:00

It's hard when you search for reference material and you find several that you like very much. It just means you have to keep painting! I loved this little calf and thought he/she deserved to be memorialized so here it is. This one is my smallest painting in some time.

Acrylic 12" X 12" $300

Oh Bull ! - SOLD

2008-08-08T16:32:00.026-05:00

This fun little number is going to be my contribution to a "South By Southwest" Art show the gallery is having in Sept. Each artist associated with the gallery is being encouraged to participate. That definitely required something outside my usual genre. I have painted some Irish bovines in the past, in fact my son asked recently when I might paint some more. So I thought, bovines are pretty Southwestern, right?! (And trust me - these are cows not bulls)

Acrylic 24" X 36" $900

Sunflower - private collection

2008-08-01T12:32:00.011-05:00

Continuing on with some floral macros, I thought I'd give the sunflower a try. I am not a big fan of them - yellow is a color I would never wear! But I know that other people love them (particularly my daughter) so here's one I am pretty sure she will love. My sister will love it too since yellow is her favorite color.

Acrylic 24" X 36" $900

Calla Lily - SOLD

2008-07-27T16:01:00.011-05:00

Painting something white is not as simple and easy as it might seem. I usually avoid white florals for that reason. At the same time, I want to be able to understand how to paint white and to master the white floral. I'm pretty pleased with how this one evolved. A calla lily is naturally simplistic in design so works very nicely for this experiment. I went back and added a couple of tiny water drops...

Acrylic 24" X 36"

Gallery Representation

2008-07-23T12:07:00.008-05:00

The Artists Showplace has accepted me as an associate of their gallery. As an artist, I can not think of a better gallery to represent you than this one owned and operated by a group of artists. It's a marvelous gallery and the thought and care that goes into it, is apparent the moment you walk in. For the next two weeks my art is split between two spaces, but once the gallery is rotated in two weeks, they will reside together. The entire gallery is rotated 4 times a year which keeps it fresh and surprising.

Here are a couple of photos of my work hung. The dancers are in the front window so it was difficult to get a good photo. My Blues series over powers it's neighbors at present because of the strong colors. This will all work itself out at rotation. You may notice that the female singer in my Blues series is MIA. She has already found a home in Manhattan NY.