Apples and Figs

8x10"

Oil on gesso board
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This was to going to be a quick study but as I started noodling with the details I forgot myself.I think the smoothness of the gesso board and the feel of the oil paint flowing on it felt too good for me to stop.

When Jack Becomes Art

18x24"

Oil on canvas

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I was originally going to do this as a small painting but thought it would be more impressive as a larger piece. 

Detail 1

 

Painting reflective and translucent surfaces are always a challenge because of the distortions and warped imagery they produce.  Painting chrome is another one. 

 

Detail 2

 

  I like painting these types of surfaces. 

 

Detail 3

 

This painting took some time to do because I had to break down my studio at two different times to have our wooden floors replaced due to a moisture problem which caused a lot of damage.

 

Detail 4

 But I finally got it done!

 

 

Background laid in.

 

When I started this painting I washed in a raw sienna ground for the base over my penciled rough.

3/4's there.

 

This painting was at a good size so I had to do a lot of rotating while using a maul for support.

 

Working on the last 4th.

 

Here I'm working on the final stages.

 

 

Blondie

8x10"

Oil on canvas

I’ve been staring at this drawing for about six or seven months and finally got around to painting it.  Blondie passed in June of 2012 leaving a pretty big hole in our hearts.  I was trying to figure out how to render the background.  Either I render it as a detailed backdrop or a vignette of some sort. 

 

Detail

Then I saw a figurative painting in which an artist used a palette knife to lay in the background and I had my “a-ha“ moment.  So here it is and I’m happy with the outcome.

The initial pencil drawing with several coats of spray fixative.

This time around I did a Burnt Siena acrylic wash to set up my under painting.

A mixture of turps and burnt Umber were scrubbed into the canvas and then wiped off with a paper towel.

Using a palette knife I painted in the background.

Here I started in setting up my shadows and at this stage painting in Blondie’s face.

Laying in color to her torso and legs.

Adding some finishing touches and details.

White Rose

5x7"
Oil on canvas panel
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 I played around with the lighting on this one a bit to capture its essence.  Because it was already in a state of wilting and losing petals I wanted to catch what translucency it still had before totally drying out and falling apart. 

Detail

We have several rose bushes in our front and side gardens and this one was begging to be the subject given the fact that most of the roses weren’t in bloom.

Relic The Profile

12x16"

oil on canvas
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The first time I saw the bust of this Indian head I’ve wanted to paint a portrait of it.  It was an artifact a friend of mine had in his home.   

Detail 1

A piece he brought back from one of his many trips, over the years, to India.  I was able to sit in and do a few studies of it, as well as, take a few photos for further reference to use later. 

Detail 2

 I started the under painting late on Friday evening after I finished my Pencil work. 

Here’s the final pencil sketch in all of its glory.

Here it is getting the full mud treatment of burnt umber and turps…

Sorry "stupid-phone" shot 1

Nice and swirly…

Sorry "stupid-phone" shot 2

Evened out …

Sorry "stupid -phone" shot 3

 

Initial Rub out ala “Flemish”…

Sorry "stupid-phone" shot 4

Working on the final color stage.

Orange & Martini featured on RedBubble.com

6x6"

Oil on hardboard

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Looks like this one was eye catching, it got picked to be featured on the homepage at RedBubble.com.  “One of our homepage curators picked your image because they thought it was brilliant.”  Thank you RedBubble!  Time to crack a beer, cheers!

Check it out! RedBubble.com

Cathedral Rock Spire

5x7"
oil on canvas panel
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I took a series of photographs will in Sedona a few years ago and this one was a favorite.  I caught the moon just as it was setting when we were heading back to the car lot as the sun was setting.  I like the contrast and how hot the rock face appears. 

Detail

This made for a great little study as there was a lot of light bouncing around off the canyon walls.  Values were running from hot reds to cool violets and cobalt blues. 

Pencil sketch

I couldn’t resist getting a little involved in the pencil sketch as I love to draw.  Usually, I keep it pretty loose and basic or don’t draw at all and just go into a paint sketching and under painting.

The Old One Eighty #2

5x7"
Oil on canvas panel
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This is another angle of the rusted out 1940's Packard I photographed while in Jerome, Az.  again, it had a lot of character so I took a whole oft of photos.  Painting this was interesting in translating smooth to semi smooth surfaces along with heavily rusted areas to a canvas panel.

The Old One Eighty

5x7"
oil on canvas panel

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I saw this car while in Jerome, Az.  It had a lot of character so I took a whole lot of photos for reference.  Cropping in on the headlamp from a low angle made for a nice dynamic painting.

Retired Fifty-seven

5x7"
Oil on canvas board
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This thing was pretty beat up and looks to be missing parts of the grill and body trim. I've seen this thing parked in the same spot for over a year and had it in the back of my mind to finally do a painting of it.

Self Portrait #1

5x7"

Oil on canvas board

 

The mug of mugs.  Here's my "selfie" in oil; so to speak.  I did this self portrait for my various profiles.  I think this would hold up better that an actual photograph of my mug... might crash a few computers =P.

I stayed loose in the approach to this painting and wanted to stay free form without regard to actual details and focus on the essence.  Most likely, this will be my direction in future works. 

This was painted from a photograph my wife took of me in Florida last year.  While there we celebrated my aunt's 90th birthday at the House of Blues.  Being the “active spirited“ woman that she is, she danced her legs off and even "climbed" up on stage and kissed the singer of the band after he serenaded her "Happy Birthday" and brought the house down in a bluesy improved rock 'n roll jam!

She's is still sharp as a razor and will cut any man down to size if crossed!  God bless her, got to love the family.

 

The Couple

5x7"
 Oil on canvas board
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The photo doesn't quite do it justice but I love how the hues came out in this painting.  I like the small vase and knew that one day I was going to paint it.  Then one day my wife brought some cuttings in from the yard and that sparked my interest right away.  I had to paint them before they started to wilt.  I haven't painted in over a year due to a massive kitchen remodeling and a hectic production schedule from various studios I contract with.  So this makes a great piece to kick off with back into the painting mode.

Studies in Oil by Maurice Morgan

Ok, here we go folks.  I just finished editing this thingy and posted it.  Hope you like it.  I am now off to my next lot of painting after a long hiatus.  Cheers.