Saturday, December 13, 2014

Only a Matter of Time

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#183


For the past couple of years I have been chronicling the nations crumbling infrastructure, at least what is in my corridor. This has been good for me. It has given me direction and focus. However, Sometimes I come across scenes that remind me of just how precarious train travel really is.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Station Shadows, 2

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#181


This is a painting of the train platform at the Harrisburg Train Station, in Harrisburg, PA. I spend so much time painting alone in my studio that I never really know if what I'm painting will make sense to all of you. I know what was there, but am including enough visual information for the viewer to figure it all out. Don't get me wrong, I love that there's a bit of ambiguity, but like any good mystery novel there has to be enough in place to solve it. Or in this case, to be able to understand just what the hell all that blue stuff is in the middle.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Golden Arches

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"
Scenes From a Train
#182


Riding the train in late afternoon at this time of year is a great opportunity to photograph all of the decaying infrastructure during the golden hour, that time when the sun is still above the horizon but only its warmer orange light is getting through. In contrast, shadows seem that much more blue and violet. Compliments at their finest.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Bridge System, Jersey Style

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#180


This is one of those scenes that you run across as you're train nears a rail hub, in this case Newark. I was drawn to the blinding sun pushing its way through the steel lattice work, and in doing so, pushing all of that valuable negative space.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Starlight Auto

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#179

Along the tracks just outside of Philadelphia. This is a wedge shaped building that I've been watching over time, though not long enough to have chronicled the fading of the original graphics painted on its back. It's like watching an hour hand move.

Monday, October 20, 2014

The Replacement

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#178


I'm back after a long hiatus due to illness. This was truly the lost summer. Hopefully I can resume my painting schedule and try to get back to "daily" painting.

This is a scene from the Amtrak line going to NYC. I was drawn the thin band of light streaming through between the two bridges. Aside from the obvious tonal contrast, there is a distinct contrast in age between the to spans. Painting old concrete never gets old.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Urban Aspect


I am honored and happy to announce that my painting Nor'easter will be included in the exhibit Urban Aspect, at the Principle Gallery, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Nor'easter, 2012, Oil on Canvas, 7"x 5"

Opening reception is Friday, October 10, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Hope to see you there.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Large Cloud

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
#177


Another day of huge clouds. In fact the working title for this was Monster Cloud. I went for tame.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Backlit Cloud

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
#176


Taking a break from the City to paint what's actually around me. Ironic because one of the reasons that I moved to the country was to paint landscapes. So, back to my roots.

Friday, June 13, 2014

The Ramp

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#175


Another painting of the beautiful Newark Station. This is a scene looking up toward the skylights, obviously, and maybe not as obviously is the pedestrian ramp leading to the platform. For me, this series never gets old.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Late Afternoon Sun

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 3"
#174


When ever we stay in New York we try to stay in a certain hotel. We also try to stay in certain rooms because of their view. On this particular trip I spent an inordinate amount of time photographing the skyline from the hotel window. No, I didn't see a show.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Chelsea Water Tower

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
#173

Sold

Another view from the Highline in NYC's Chelsea. I fell in love with the copper facade. It must have been restored recently because I could see areas of less oxidized (red not green) metal.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Self Portrait in Greens and Reds

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 10"x 8"
#172


I paint one of these every few years, if for no other reason than to chronicle the aging process. I also grew this cool beard since the last one. Proof positive that artists never grow up, we just get older.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

The Corner Curve

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"
Curves
#171


This is a painting of a building in the East Village, in NYC. I seem to be drawn lately to curves and have inadvertently created a series. They're usually the best.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Dahlia Lounge

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 10"x 8"
Seattle
#170

Sold

This is the beautiful neon creation (to call it a sign would not do it justice) outside Seattle's Dahlia Lounge. Unfortunately, painting is a somewhat static medium so it did not allow me to show you how the fish's tail wags. You'll just have to trust me on this. On our trip out there last summer we were graciously treated to dinner here by my cousin Dave and his wife Sue and daughter Anna. We had the most wonderful meal and even better evening. 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Broadway and 23rd, 2

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"


Revisiting an old image. I never do this, but it was a request made by a friend. I had originally painted this NYC street corner last year (see here). I painted from the same photograph but I intentionally did not look at images of the original painting. I wanted to keep my approach as fresh as was possible under the circumstances.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Below the Curve

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"
#169


While wandering through New York I had forgotten where I was. This happens more than I'd like to admit. As I was approaching Fifth Avenue It seemed to peek around the neighboring building at me. I hadn't eaten lunch so it could have been that. As I got closer it appeared to stand more upright and proud as if waiting to have its picture taken. I really shouldn't skip meals.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Chelsea Cornice

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
#168

This is a painting of a cornice that tops a building near the Highline in Chelsea, NYC. I love these old building details. I can even point out the corbels and the dentil moldings. After that you're on your own.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Under the Big Curve



2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#167


Coming out of Harrisburg, PA, the train passes under this overpass. I have always enjoyed figuring out where we are and if I've ever been here using any other mode of transportation. I'm weird that way. This is the Airport Connector (it's actually called that) which is the main entryway into the Harrisburg International Airport. Having flown out of there on many occasions it gives me the hat trick: planes, trains and automobiles. Weird might be putting it mildly.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

View From the Corner Office

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"
#166


This is a painting of the Greek Revival building on Park Avenue South at, I believe, East 25th Street. It's across from Madison Square Park. It houses the New York State Supreme Court's Appellate Division. I wandered around taking pictures of this building for almost an hour, so I'm sure that my face is now in some Homeland Security database for facial recognition. The price we pay for art.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Arch Madness

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#165


Approaching Philadelphia there are all of these different rail lines running along, over, and under each other. They have all been built in various eras so they were engineered and built accordingly. This one was apparently built during the Roman Empire. I was thinking of calling it "...Why Not a Chicken?"

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

The Shadow



2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#164

This is a section of track just outside of Newark, New Jersey. The tran dips down into something of a trench lined on both sides with these great stone walls. The shadow is from, for lack of better term a signal trestle.

Friday, February 14, 2014

The Interchange

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 4"x 12"
Scenes From a Train
#163


Part of a clover leaf just west of Secaucus, NJ. The challenges with this painting were how to show that the bridge was curving outward in the center, and whether or not there was enough information so that you could figure out what was going on.


Sunday, February 9, 2014

Over Under

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 4"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#162


This bridge caught my eye from about 200 yards up the track. There's something about red. I'd like to think that Paul Georges would appreciate this one.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Train Yard at Dusk

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 3"x 7"
Scenes From a Train
#161


This series again! Yes. This series. Again. Scenes From a Train. This is a painting of a train yard near Philadelphia. It was dusk when we came out of the tunnel in New Jersey. The sky was beautiful so I took about 150 photographs before the sun went away.

Monday, February 3, 2014

View From the Highline

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 5"
#160


This is a painting of the General Theological Seminary as seen from the Highline in Chelsea in NYC. I've painted it before but it's such a great old building it bares repeating.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Sky Interrupted

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 4"
#159


Here's one that I kept putting off. What I liked about it was the way that the buildings carved into the negative space of the sky. What put me off was all that perspective. I guess it just found me in a good mood.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Flatiron Shadows


2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 5"
#158


The Flatiron Building and its environs in the late afternoon sun. 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Goodnight, Seattle


2014, Oil on Hardboard, 5"x 7"
#157


This is a painting of the Seattle skyline at night from our hotel window with the curtains drawn. This also seemed a good way to close out this series, at least for now. I have many more paintings planned of this beautiful city, but for now, goodnight.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Cemetery at Dusk

2014, Oil on Hardboard, 7"x 5"
#156


First painting of the New Year! I know, but I've been sick. This is a painting of Mont Alto Cemetery which is about three miles from my studio. Every now and then, on my way to and from the Post Office or the bank or Frank's Pizza, I stop here to take pictures. The pizza gets cold but it's worth it.