Shopping Soho

This was a smallish study done for a bigger painting I did, from a photograph I snapped one afternoon in Soho. The dapper woman made this scene... Done very loosely with muted colors that pop anyways—especially the bright green of the shopping bag...

Rooftop A.M.

The cool-warm early morning light on the rooftop outside my studio space. Getting to the studio in the early a.m. is just my cup of tea. In fact, that's the first thing I do... put on the hot water for tea. By the time other studio members arrive, these morning shadows look very different...

Mission House

Bleached stucco and red tile, palm trees, foliage in every color... blue skies... Santa Barbara is the location of this painting. What I was drawn to was the shadow of palms against white. I really like how fresh this feels. It helps to start with a very white canvas....

Whiskey Barrel of Summer Flowers

My mom likes whiskey barrels brimming with flowers and herbs. The pop of flowers in the shade, and the white wood of the fence drew me to paint this corner of my moms garden. That was summer...and now it is fall. A much different palette.

Gowanus Morning

Been quite a while since I posted on my blog! Today's painting is on the heels of the Gowanus Open Studio weekend (past) and while the light was good and my morning was free, I biked over to 8th St/3rd Ave and painted this corner of Gowanus. It felt good and freeing to paint again! Beautiful day to paint outdoors. Location-wise, this section of Brooklyn—factories, warehouses and studio buildings— is excellent subject matter, to a girl on her bike toting easel and paints...

For anyone interested in Gowanus Open Studios, here's a link: http://artsgowanus.org   

For those that came out to visit it was great to see you. Next years Opening will be even better! 

Shopping Soho

Super hot out today. 90 plus. Instead of painting what I'd intended (summer leaves) I switched to a scene I snapped recently, featuring a shopping lady making her way down a busy-ish Soho street... Fun to do!

Tree Leaves

Today's painting: Leaves. From back yard. Looking up into the sky... Can't wait to do more tomorrow!

Closing Time

I'm working on a series of images of suburbia parking lots...images I took photos of as my family and I were driving by the many strip malls and Wallmart parking-lots of suburbia Virginia this past fall.  Originally titled 'Drive-by Shootings' I quickly recognized my bad taste, and have re-titled these pieces 'Closing Time' or 'Parking lot,' (but with awesome sky hovering above....)

Hot Color Corner

This 'winter scene' comes off looking hot 'n jazzy. It's somewhere in Harlem. I've painted this larger, but felt like doing it smaller, while focusing on the square shapes. Didn't intend to detail it as much as I did.... oh well. Love the city!

Porch View

One day I'll paint the yellow house that goes with this wood-stoop. For today, it was all about the summer flowers draping the picket fence and the long shadows of summertime...

Doorway

I just liked the focal point of this doorway, the archway....and the late day sun on the sidewalk.

Gowanus Buildings

Rooftops and sunlit buildings speak to me! Here, we're in Gowanus section of Brooklyn. Cool place.

Soho

If I' could've set up on the street and if I'd had the guts, I would've set up my stuff to do this painting on sight.  Instead, I worked from a photo. Nyc offers the best 'packed' scenes. Love these two smacking  bright storefronts side by side.

Gowanus Buildings

This stretch of buildings in the Gowanus area of Brookyn give the skyline an elegant look.
Hope they don't tear these buildings down as they develop. I loved using cad red light—straight from the tube.

Bloomin' Tree

I'd planned to go out and paint today...but at 90 degrees—too hot. For me at least..
This scene (from a photo I took earlier this month) is a typical scene found in my 'brownstone neighborhood.' Cropping in close, I found the bright tree trunk, the light of the stoop and the window reflections from the street 'lit up' what could've been a very brown painting.
Oh yeah—the blossoms helped too!

Sweet Peas

Last summer my sister picked these Orcas Island sweet peas and put them on the windowsill of her kitchen. Painting from the photo, I'm reminded of the light, the breeze and all the island flowers. Can't wait to visit soon!

Lady in Red

There's always some kind of action on every corner of my block. Not that this scene was packed w/ action....but when you're painting a scene with cars, people, shadows and architecture—that's an action-packed composition. For me at least! I'd like to do more.

Backyard Blossoms

Yesterday I painted my neighbors bountiful windowbox. Today I turned to my other neighbors back yard. I didn't have to go far to find a spot of beauty...

Window Box

My neighbors' window boxes are always bursting with color. I could literally stoop over and pluck a flower or two. But that wouldn't be very neighborly! Instead, I paint what I so admire.

Morning Walk

On the way to the studio one morning I spotted this bright red cast of warm and cool shadowed scene. Click! At the time I didn't realize there was a man walking into the frame... Can't imagine painting this w/ out him.

Corner Stop

Last glimpse of sun on 16th Street in Park Slope before it hid behind clouds. I really like painting in So. Park Slope. More modest housing, less traffic....

Fort Green Storefront

I seem to gravitate to awnings... This storefront was vacant (no signage?) The green and red brick of the building and popping red flowers made me do a double-take. Fort Green has architecture that is unbeatable in Brooklyn. Must go back with my easel soon!

Cherry Tree Path

So far I've been able to paint daily (!)... except for today. I did this piece several of days ago in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. These two 'show-stoppers' posed for me along a nice winding path...

House on the Corner

In Brooklyn where I live it's all about the brownstones and brickstones. This corner house I painted early one morning last week when it wasn't raining. I just liked the composition w/ tree, fence and row houses behind it. It's kind of a challenge to get a good 'brick' color, lit by the sun. I think the recipe is just adding a little yellow ochre to cad red and white... with a tad bit of cadmium green light....any other recipes out there for good sun-baked brick color?

Happy Couple

Just got back from Prospect Park where pink is prominent. A very elderly Chinese woman with a walker sat right next to me while I painted. She did not speak a word of English (and I know no Chinese) but she did give me the universal 'thumbs up' sign!

Bus Stop

It's been raining 'cats 'n dogs' here in Brooklyn, so no painting outside today....
Instead i did this small painting from a photo I took on 7th Ave. I liked the bold colors of the storefront awnings and the stooped woman waiting for the 69 bus to arrive...

Striped Awning

This corner bistro caught my eye because of the striped awning. I liked the shapes and patterns. I usually bike to my locations (w/ bike bags to carry my paints and easel) and today, after thinking I'd packed just what I'd need to set out, I left my paints behind... (frustrating!) but I had just enough paint on my pallette to do this small-ish painting.

Everywhere Signs...

I painted this corner scene in Brooklyn near the end of day. It was relatively quiet, and I just enjoyed the late day sun and the red brick buildings. "Everywhere Signs"/12 x 9/oil on canvas board