This is a painting of Grace Church, located in the East Village, NYC. This is my second painting of this historic church. I took dozens of photographs of the structure back in the fall mostly focusing on the cast shadows.
I'm Back. This is a painting of the flags that fly outside the Waldorf = Astoria, looking South toward one of my favorite subjects, The Chrysler Building.
This is a painting that I started in 2006 while teaching a class. Sometimes these pesky students demand so much of my attention that I have a rather difficult time finishing my own work. Quite thoughtless of them. I'm only kidding, I usually just ignore them. Luckily for me I got enough down to be able to finish in the studio.
This is a painting of the cemetery near our house. They really make great neighbors. This painting will be part of my upcoming exhibit at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, PA.
December 2, 2012 through February 1, 2013. There will be an Artist's Reception Friday, February 1, 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
This is a painting of my grandmother's cookie jar. Actually, it is one just like it. The original, I'm happy to say, resides with my cousin Jesse. This cookie jar reminds me of all the holidays spent in my grandparent's house. The title is appropriate because I will be taking a short break from my daily painting so that I can finish a few paintings for an upcoming exhibit. See you soon.
I found myself in Grand Central Terminal because as it turns out is where the Apple Store is. My iPhone needed to be replaced which was something of a pain but it gave me an opportunity to wander through this historic and beautiful structure. This is a painting of the famous clock which sits atop the information kiosk that can be seen in so many movies.
This was the view down Lexington Avenue during the last storm. What you're not seeing is the crumpled umbrella overhead and the glove that I dropped at my feet. Ah, editing.
Some days I can't for the life of me figure out what to paint. That's when I start looking around the studio. I've looked at this pulley countless times. It is the upper pulley on my studio easel. It is part of the system responsible for keeping me out of traction. Thank you pulley.
This is a painting of Zoe. She posed for a portrait class that I teach at the Council for the Arts in Chambersburg, PA. This is one that I started back in September and got 90% finished. She kept looking at me (her eyes were part of the 90%) pleading to have her arm completed.
This is a corn field near the town of Mont Alto, PA. It sits next to the Mont Alto Cemetery. If you look closely you'll notice some of the head stones.
This is a painting of the New York Life Building as seen from Madison Square Park. This building can often be seen as glowing as the sun reflects off its gold spire.
Here's hoping that the New York area can recover quickly from the effects of Sandy.
This is a painting of a muddy construction site in New York City. I'm not sure that there is enough visual information to even read it that way but I loved the composition and the subtle colors.
More from Duffield. This is an out building in a yard in /near the "Hamlet" of Duffield, PA. This will probably be my last post for a few days. I'm guessing that my power will be out for a while. Here's hoping for the best.
This is a house just outside Duffield, PA. As I may have mentioned, most of the houses in Duffield are just outside of Duffield. It's Friday and I'm tired.
The clouds were churning so violently that I had to pull over to take some pictures. Priorities of a painter: first get the image then get home before the storm.
This is a cemetery near my house. I have been painting it for nearly 20 years but until now I have not actually painted it from the inside. Very different.
As I was loading my car with groceries, I noticed this beautiful sunset so, I took the picture. I never intended to use it for a painting because, let's face it, sunsets are a bit cliche. It wasn't until I did a dump of my phone pics that I noticed the perfect position of the Target sign.
This is an the intersection of Route 30 and Route 416 near St. Thomas, PA. It's not a crossroad, it's the end of the road. You can go right or left but you can't stay on this course. How many times in our lives have we had to make this choice?
This is a painting that was started as a demo. I sometimes give my painting students a homework assignment where I give them a brown object, in this case a walnut. I have them paint it using no earth colors. The challenge is not how to mix brown but to find as many alternatives to brown as possible and keep the painting plausible.
This is a house that I came across in a few years back along the Interstate. What struck me about it was the starkness of, well, everything. Even the sky was featureless.
Great year for clouds. This is an area near my house that I pass on my way back from the local farm stand. I didn't have my camera (bad) but I did have my iPhone (good).
This is the historic Harrisburg Train Station. This was near sunset which created these wonderful shadows on the building across the tracks. It wasn't until I looked at the photograph that I noticed the reflections on the brick pavers on the platform.
This is a painting that was started in the Autumn of 2011 as a demonstration piece at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, in Hagerstown, Maryland. Those familiar with the Museum will notice the reflection of the atrium roof in the bowl.
This is one of my favorites from this series. I had posted this before but I wanted to return to it and offer it at auction...and I have been pretty busy and haven't had time to paint the last couple of days.
This is a painting of a tree near my house. I wa taking pictures the other way and was getting frustrated because I kept getting my shadow in the shot so, when I turned around to give the sun a dirty look I saw this.
This is a painting of a house in Duffield, PA as the sun was setting. I happened to see this the day before and made a mental note of the time so that I could shoot it the next day.
In case no one knows it, I have a genuine fascination with corn. This is a painting of a local farm during harvest season. I love the way they carve sharply into their fields like a barber creating a Mohawk.
If you're seeing a trend you're right. The third in the series is the third primary color. Tomorrow I start on the secondaries. Have i mentioned how much I love to paint drapery?
The second of the series. I must admit to being kind of a wonk when it comes to rendering drapery. I have enjoyed doing this since I was in grade school.
I have often told my students that if they learn to draw drapery that they then can draw anything. This is usually met with a lot of eye rolling and a chorus of "but, Mr. Hollllmmmmm....". Heh, heh, heh. I give you my latest version in Devil's Red.
This is a study for a larger piece. I was giving a lesson on hands and this was the final pose. I told my students that I wanted to tie it in to their previous portrait class but To tell the truth I just couldn't resist drawing Zoe's face one more time.
As I was photographing all of the illuminated buildings around Madison Square Park, in NYC, I turned around to the west and saw this. John Lennon was right, life really is what happens to you while you're making other plans.