Purple Flower Stage One

This is a painting I have wanted to painting for awhile. I was painting "Bob’s" and "More Bob" among other paintings for an up coming show. It was nice to have the focus but I kept thinking about this flower in particular. In general I like to go back and forth between flowers or other nature/organic paintings and urban/man made subjects. Other than my poppy trash can I hadn’t painted a nature painting for a long time.

Art Can Project | California Poppies

I had the good fortune to be selected to transform a 55-gallon trashcan into a work of art for the City of Santa Clarita, CA. I chose to paint California Poppies on my trashcan. Each spring out in the Antelope Valley the poppies bloom and the hillsides turn orange it is amazing and worth the drive from Los Angeles. The California Poppy Reserve is a great place to experience the spectacle. My good friend Shoshana and I spent a lovely afternoon enjoying the display and taking pictures one blustery spring afternoon. Using the day in the desert as my inspiration for the Art Can was a perfect fit.

Print on Sale at Zazzle.com

Prints of some of my paintings are available at Zazzle.com and Zazzle is having a 4 hour sale today from noon to 4 p.m. PST. To see my prints click here.
The code to use is FFHSPRNT2010

It is a mistake for a sculptor or a painter to speak or write very often about his job. It releases tension needed for his work. ~Henry Moore

I'm headed to my studio to paint.

Super Elephant Completed

I added more yellow flowers to frame the sign and it is finished. The painting will be in the Car Culture art exhibit at La Galeria Gitana in San Fernando September 11 - October 16, 2010. The opening is Saturday, September 11 from 6 to 11 p.m. The is also a car show from 4 to 8 p.m. that day. It should be fun!

Super Elephant Stage Eleven

This painting is all about the pink elephant in the sky for me, but it needed something to anchor it, so the tree was added. Again I used acrylic. After years of being very traditional in my approach to transparent watercolor it is very liberating to incorporate some acrylic into a painting like this, allowing me to make significant changes late in the process. The finished painting is on exhibit in Car Culture at La Galeria Gitana from September 11 - October 16, 2010.

Super Elephant Stage Ten

As the painting developed I realized I needed to go back into the sky. I decided to do so with acrylic rather than watercolor. I think it is working.

Super Elephant Stage Nine

More layers...

Super Elephant Stage Eight

Establishing some of the darks.

Super Elephant Stage Seven

More layers of color...

Super Elephant Stage Six

Adding color to the letters on the sign.

Super Elephant Stage Five

More pink... I mainly used Winsor & Newton Artist Watercolors Permanent Rose but I also dipped into my set of Daniel Smith quinacridone colors beginning with Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor, Quinacridone Pink. I thought I was being self-indulgent when I got the set of Daniel Smith quinacridone colors, but it turns out I use them often. Most are not apart of my standard palette, but they are all ready to go on their own separate palette and many of my paintings, like "Outside the Tate" rely heavily on these colors.

Super Elephant Stage Four

More yellow and pink...

Super Elephant Stage Three

A little yellow and a little pink...

Super Elephant Stage Two

In this stage I have laid down a wash for the sky. It was painted wet and fast... We'll see as the rest of the painting develops if it can stay as is, I have my doubts. I am also concerned about the the composition of the painting with just the sign against the sky.

Super Elephant Stage One

I encountered this wonderful sign on a weekend get away to the desert on Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, CA. This first image is the pencil drawing on Arches 140 Lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper . I have used frisket to mask the white neon on the sign. Specifically for this painting I used Masquepen Masking Fluid because of the ease of drawing fine lines with the applicator tip that comes with it.

I'm in Savannah!

Place's I've Been

Limited edition archival quality giclée prints of my original paintings are available at Anderson Furniture and Design in Savannah, GA. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

Anderson Furniture & Design

5975 Ogechee Rd.
Suite 800
Saltgrass Plaza (Across from Wal-Mart)
Savannah, GA, 31419

Artwork at La Casita Restaurant

Peace Rose

I'm back in San Fernando again. This time I have eight paintings at:

La Casita Restaurant
227 North Maclay Ave.
San Fernando, CA 91340
(818) 361-4748

Red Poppy

Cherry Blossom

These are three of the paintings on view at La Casita until June.

Dreams on Canvas | Art Exhibit Fundraiser

"Let's Go for a Ride"

Three of my original watercolor paintings are included in the Circle of Care Foundation 7th Annual Dreams on Canvas Annual Art Sale and Exhibition. The artwork will be on display for sale at the Four Seasons Westlake Village Gallery from April 17th – May 13th. The Dreams on Canvas Gala Event will be held on May 1st.

Four Seasons Westlake Village

2 Dole Drive
Westlake Village, CA 91362

(818) 575-3000

Tickets to this fundraising event are $150.00 per person. Please contact the Circle of Care Foundation 818-817-3288 for tickets to the event or for additional information. The Circle of Care Foundation (COCF) is dedicated to providing vital health care services and programs to the greater Los Angeles community. The Foundation currently funds programs at the A. Richard Grossman Burn Center, Circle of Care Leeza’s Place and S+AGE at Sherman Oaks Hospital.

More Bob | Completed

Here is the finished painting. He does make me smile. Archival quality prints of "More Bob" are available at Zazzle.

More Bob | Stage Nine

Now he is looking more like Bob.

More Bob | Stage Eight

Blond surfer Bob? He won't stay this way, but it is an interesting look for Bob. And don't the eyes make a difference? The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana in San Fernando through March 20, 2010. Gallery hours are Tues. - Sat. from noon to 6:00pm.

More Bob | Stage Seven

More red & white checks! And don't the eyebrows make a big difference?
The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana in San Fernando, CA through March 20, 2010.

More Bob | Stage Six

Mainly focusing on developing the background. The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 20, 2010.

More Bob | Stage Five

The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 20, 2010.

More Bob | Stage Four

Developing Bob's surroundings. The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 20, 2010.

More Bob | Stage Three

Building up washes. Working on separating Bob from his environment. The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 20, 2010.

More Bob | Stage Two

Putting down light washes, mainly yellow, orange and red. The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 2o, 2010.

More Bob | Stage One

When I was figuring out the composition for my previous Bob painting I was equally attracted to the sign with the neon letters and the statue of Bob. After finishing the painting I knew I needed more Bob. I love his red and white checks, they remind me of my college days painting Purina Dog Chow bags. Bob makes me smile, he looks so happy offering us that giant hamburger. But the longer I look, the more I become aware of the price paid by eating all those hamburgers.

The finished painting can be seen at La Galeria Gitana through March 2o, 2010.

Urban Spaces: The San Fernando Valley Art Show

Urban Spaces:
The San Fernando Valley
January 23 - March 20, 2010

opening reception with the artists
Saturday, January 23, 2010 6-10 p.m.

La Galeria Gitana
(located just behind Cold Stone Creamery on Maclay)
120 N.Maclay Avenue, Ste. E
San Fernando, CA 91340

(818) 898-7708

Gallery Hours: noon - 6 p.m.
Tuesday - Saturday
or by appointment

"Car Wash" is one of five of my paintings included in the exhibit.

The show features the work of the following artists: Karen Anable-Nichols, Susanne Belcher, Donna Geist Buch, Jose De Juan, Marian Fortunati, Teri Garcia, Irena Jablonski, Trish Kertes, Chuck Kovacic, Jennifer McChristian, Darlene Mellein, Tony Peters, Ellen Rundle, Alex Schaefer, Jennelle Song, Beth Summers, Loraine Veeck, Mary Kay Wilson