Messenger of Peace

Happy holidays to everyone with wishes for a peaceful new year! I actually created this image last year but recently submitted it to Empty Easel where it was featured today along with some beautiful work by other artists. They will be posting holiday related art by different artists every day until Christmas so stop by and take a look!

The Morning After

I first photographed this old stone building in 2006 on my New Jersey backroads travels. The resulting piece became "Shelter from the Storm" with the drying cornstalks trailing off into the tall grass in front. I never seem to remember to document the location of the subject for future reference (note to self- document locations!!) in case I want or need to revisit so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across it again this year. The scenario was totally different. The cornstalks and grass were down revealing trees and fields in the background that weren't visible the first time around. The new image seemed to lend itself to minimal color and starkness that became "The Morning After".

Arts on Amboy Best in Show!

Needless to say, this has been a very rewarding past few weeks for me! "A Wing and a Prayer" won Best of Show at the 1st annual Arts on Amboy exhibit in Edison, New Jersey! There was a great turnout of artists from student to professional with some amazing artwork in all different categories. I particularly enjoyed a long conversation with artist Marcel Truppa who had some fantastic collage work in the show. He has a rich history as an artist with lots of interesting tales to tell. I think you'll enjoy checking out his work and reading his story.

Winning this award was made even sweeter by the fact that one of the judges was a photographer/digital artist whose work I greatly admire, Jim LaSala. I think you'll feel the same way after seeing his incredible images.

Many thanks to another great photographer, Mitch Rubin of PM Studio, for taking the photo of me with my ribbon!

2nd Place in Poetry of Art!

I'm on a roll for ribbons this month! I know it can't last, so I'm enjoying it while I can! "Miles to Go" took second place in the Poetry of Art exhibit at the Edison Arts Society! Alan Rosenberg (fellow member and photographer) was nice enough to send me this photo from the opening reception.

2nd Place in Art on the Green!

It was a really good day for an art show! Not only was the weather just perfect but I took 2nd place for "Miles to Go"! Yea! Laura Williams ( a wonderful artist, teacher and nice lady) took 1st place for a beautiful portrait painting. Interestingly enough, our spaces were side by side! That's Laura below. All in all, it was a great show- met lots of interesting people and received a lot of nice compliments on my work!

New Jersey Art Show Postponed

Rain, rain, and more rain! For only the 2nd time in 37 years, "Art on the Green" has had to implement the rain date. It's now scheduled for next Saturday, 9/19/09 (keep your fingers crossed Mother Nature cooperates this time!). Same time, same location (see post below). So if you had plans for today and couldn't make it, here's your second chance! There's always a silver lining!

New Jersey Art Show

If you're in the New Jersey area, I'll be participating in a small outdoor art show on Saturday, 9/12/09, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It's a wonderful show held in Washington Park on North Washington Ave. in Dunellen, New Jersey with lots of big trees, gazebos and small town ambiance. Appropriately titled "Art on the Green", this is the 37th year for the show presented by the local Rotary Club. I've missed being in this show for the last few years, so I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully, the weather will be nice, but if not, the rain date is 9/19/09. Stop by if you can!

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful comments and response to my Empty Easel feature last Wednesday! I was really pleased with Lisa Orgler's review of my work and the opportunity to be a part of the gallery of featured artists!


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Featured Artist on Empty Easel

I'm so excited and pleased to be the featured artist on Empty Easel today! If you're not familiar with it, I urge you to check it out. It's a wonderful art blog with a wealth of information for artists and about artists from tutorials to marketing and more! While you're there, sign up for the newsletter to stay informed about articles coming up the next week and think about submitting your own work!

Listen to the Warm

This is my second entry for the "Poetry of Art" exhibit at the Edison Arts Society. This one was specifically created for the exhibit based on a poem by one of my all time favorite poets, Rod McKuen. The poem is simply titled Thirty Six from the 1967 book Listen to the Warm. It's my favorite of all his books and when I saw him perform in the early seventies, I was lucky enough to have him autograph it for me. I've read it many, many times over the years and each time it evokes the same deep emotional response as the first. Each time I reach for it, it's like reconnecting with a dear, old friend.

Miles to Go

I recently completed this montage for entry in what should be a wonderfully creative exhibit by The Edison Arts Society coming up in September entitled "The Poetry of Art". Accepted pieces will be exhibited along with the poem, song, etc. that inspired it. I didn't actually start this piece with the exhibit in mind, but as it came to completion, it reminded me of part of a poem I've always loved by Robert Frost "The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." And so I had my title.

More Textured Portraits

This is a lovely engagement session shot by my client, Silver Lining Studio, on location in Hoboken, New Jersey. I added some toning and texture to give it an urban feel with the New York City skyline muted in the background.

All Who Enter

I've always had a passion for gargoyles. In spite of their intimidating presence, they have a grace and beauty all their own. Usually perched high atop buildings, they were traditionally used as a spout to carry water clear of a wall through the throat of the statue. The name stems from the old French word for throat, "gargouille" and is related to the Greek "gargarizein" meaning "to gargle". To me, they have always represented protection from harm and a guard against evil. True or not, I have a collection of them all over my house (Hey, you never know!).

The Shopkeeper, Rue de Chartres

I captured this image in 1989 (I can't believe it's been 20 years!) in New Orleans, one of my favorite cities in the world. I happened across this wonderful man, who seemed to really enjoy being photographed, on Chartres St. in the French Quarter. I took several shots but this is my favorite with the dog exiting the shop at just the right moment! It was originally shot with black and white film but I think a little enhancement with toning, color and texture gives it a different mood and feel.

Enhancing portraits with texture

Recently, I was working on a digital portrait painting for my client, PM Studio , when I got the idea to apply some of the texture options I've been using in my fine art to portraits. The result gives a vintage look and feel to the image. Of course, not every photograph would be a candidate but with the right subject and composition, I think it could be quite a striking option for a portrait.

A Perfect Landing

Spring has finally sprung so here's my contribution to the celebration! We've had quite a bit of rain so far in New Jersey paving the way for a lush spring and summer ripe with painting and photo opportunities. Here's to new beginnings!

Art Show Opening

In case you happen to be in the New Jersey vicinity, I have some work in a group show for the Edison Arts Society in the Performing Arts Center Gallery at Middlesex County College in Edison New Jersey. The opening reception is tonight, May 29th from 5:30 to 7:30. The show runs until June 29th so stop by if you get a chance!

A Wing and a Prayer

Another candidate in the old, abandoned buildings/houses series. I discovered this one a couple of weeks ago in western New Jersey. The tangle of vines covering most of the roof reminded me of a tousled head of hair. I'm puzzled by all the different openings and what it may have been used for in it's past lives. At times I really wish walls could talk!

Out on a Limb

While visiting an antique shop a couple of weeks ago, I wandered around the back of the building and found an interesting pair of old chairs with a little table arranged in the yard. I took a couple of shots but wasn't that enthused. When I turned around to walk back to the car, this composition hit me in the face! I admit I added the bird later, but this graceful, white limb seemed to flow across all the trees behind it and float above the small stream running underneath.

Rear Window

It's incredible how many sources there are for texture to experiment with. For example, I was doing laundry in my basement when I happened to notice the concrete floor and an endless variation of patterns (I live in an old house built in 1927). I immediately grabbed my camera and began taking shots in different areas ending up with lots of wonderful images to use for adding texture to my artwork!

The Bucket

I've never quite figured out what this old shack with a single bucket hanging in the center is supposed to be, but I loved all the texture of the vines and weeds surrounding it.

The Wishing Well

Another abandoned house from my archives but I decided to add a figure to this one to give it more of a storytelling quality. I was glad to discover several years later that the story of this house does have a happy ending. I happened upon the property again, expecting the house to be demolished by now, only to find it had been completely renovated and given a new life as a nursery school and daycare center for children! The unexpected find certainly brought a smile to my face!

And Then There Were Three

This house has always been one of my favorites. Something about the three dark windows and the open door tugs at my heartstrings. It's almost as if the house is crying out for someone or something to come in and bring life back once again.

Remains of the Day

Lately I've been revisiting the piles of negatives I've accumulated over the years with a fresh eye and getting a new perspective on some of my favorites. It seems to be turning into a series of sorts of all the run down and abandoned places I've come across over the years. It's exciting to find that I can now (thanks to the digital medium) create the image I envisioned a lot more easily than I ever could have in the darkroom! In fact, many that I had put aside because they never quite lived up to my expectations for one reason or another, are getting a new life!

The Gatehouse

A favorite pastime of mine on Sunday afternoons (when the price of gas is down) is getting lost on the back roads of New Jersey looking for photo ops. I especially love finding old abandoned, rundown houses or buildings. They seem to have a soul of their own.

A Road Less Traveled

Trash to Treasure

I've been experimenting with textures a lot lately. Reminds me of the old days of sandwiching negatives in the darkroom only with a lot less trial and error and aggravation.

On Golden Pond

I'm not usually drawn to painting landscapes but I took the photo this is based on a couple of years ago and the composition intrigued me. I like adding unexpected elements most of the time but in this, the still, serene pond giving way to the rushing water seemed to be enough and thought anything additional might be distracting. Also, the two geese (which were in the original photo, by the way) seemed content meditating alone on the quiet side of the pond.

With Strings Attached

I digitally painted this still life from a photo I took recently. I think tulips with their long graceful stems and leaves are wonderful flowers to paint. I have been experimenting with a lot of new brushes and I'm really liking some of the results I'm getting!

In the beginning

Hi and welcome to my little corner of the blog world. I'm new to this so bear with me as I find my way around. The purpose and main focus of this blog is art (since that is what I do!) and the direction and focus of my own creative path at the moment. I won't bore you with my life story except to say I've been interested and involved in art in some form since I was a child (which was way too long ago!). I've been drawing and painting since then but in the last few years have focused on photography and digital art. I work in photoshop and corel painter and am constantly amazed at what is now possible with these two art tools. I am often bothered by how quickly some critics dismiss digital as "not real art" instead of seeing it as just another tool in the creative process. If you love art, every new avenue should be embraced and explored. How else can we move forward and discover whole new worlds of possibilities that weren't available before? After all, in the end it's the artist that does the creating, not the tool. Well, enough of my soapbox for now. I'll be posting some samples of what I've been working on lately. Thanks for stopping by!