Which Way Are We Headed?

By giving this painting a thought provoking title, it makes the visual even more interesting. Which way is the country headed?

STOP Leaning Left

While visiting my daughter and son-in-law in VA, we did lots of site-seeing in Washington DC. It is pretty impressive. The monuments and landmarks are must sees, however, I can spend days in the art museums, my favorite being the Portrait Museum. I don't really care too much for blatant 'political art' but I couldn't resist painting this photo I had taken. This painting was also made better with the use of scissors. It originally had a street with a car and crosswalk in the bottom 1/3. I never really liked the way the car came out, so out came the scissors. I like the square format and the design is much improved.

Apples & Oranges

Sometimes the best art is created with a pair of scissors. I did a 29"x 23" painting that was fun. I didn't use any reference, I just started painting. Originally there was a nude lady sitting on a chair holding an apple in front of a mirror. The apple in her hand was suppose to have some deep meaning which I was never really able to figure out. Anyhow, I painted more apples behind her head, to give even more meaning to the painting. When people looked at it, the only comment was that they liked the apples, and oranges, behind her head. I liked the apples and oranges behind her head too, but I still couldn't figure out why there was a naked lady sitting in front of a mirror holding an apple. So I painted over her head and took out some scissors cutting off the bottom 3/4's for the painting. That's hard to do on a signed painting you have spent a lot of time painting, thinking it is complete. But now I have a nice framed painting in an interesting format of 'Apples & Oranges'. It may still be lacking deep meaning though.

Tea for Two

Three Lumps, 12"x 12"


St. Patrick's Day Coffee, 12"x 12"

My youngest daughter is fond of hosting tea parties (the kind with Chinaware). I am going to keep trying to paint one she would like to have, I'm more of a coffee drinker myself.

Poppy Fields

Finishing touches.

After completing the brand identity for Tri-City Mental Health Services in Pomona the client asked if I knew of anyone that did murals. I said, "as a matter of fact, my daughter Tracy does." We set up an interview, she did two small paintings for the client to evaluate. It is an indoor mural in a multipurpose room that caters to kids. It is colorful and upbeat and represents the San Gabriel mountains and California poppies in the Tri-City area. I was Tracy's assistant on the project. It took us three, 3 hour sessions to complete. It's 7.5' high and 14' wide.

Michigan Theme

Working on the door at the studio.


The final painting back on its hinges.

For some reason my wife wanted a storage door in her upstairs home office painted. Since she is from Michigan and we have fond memories of vacationing there each summer, I referred to a photo I had taken of her walking on a sand bar on a lake in MI.

Michigan Man

This is a tribute to my father-in-law. This was one of his favorite positions while sitting and talking. There was ugly foliage behind him so I inserted the puffing Michigan clouds. He retired in the Traverse City, MI area where our family enjoyed summer vacations at his home for 24 years. He got to see this painting several months before he passed away last April. It brings back great memories when I look at it.

Peering Over Pier

After several preliminary studies this was completed on a 20" x 16" wrap-around canvas. It received a Second Place Award in MVAL 57th Annual Exhibition.

Peering Over Pier Series

12" x 9", Acrylic on Paper

Inspired by various painting series by Richard Diebenkorn, I attempted to abstract a reference photo I took of a view looking over the Hermosa Beach pier. The first attempt is strongly influenced by the photo, the next is less detailed but still relies on local color. The final attempt is the most abstract and less influenced by the local color.