Eskimo Kiss

40x30" oil on canvas, email me for more information

For my newest series, Moonstruck Chronicles, I found plenty of inspiration in all the hoopla surrounding Valentines Day. I explored the persuasion, the wooing, the seduction, the moment the earth shifts and then the aftermath: all ingredients of a great love story. The backgrounds of my paintings are thick, saturated pigment mixed with a wax medium and applied like frosting with a palette knife. I draw back into the paint adding words, symbols and sketches and, in this series there are little hidden love notes scratched into the paint as well. Clearly, I have a penchant for whimsical, narrative and slightly twisted art. And an uncontrollable fondness for the color red.

I hope you'll come to India Street Gallery to see Eskimo Kiss and my other Valentines Day themed paintings. They will be on exhibit through Feb 16 and you can always view them on my website. If you drop by the gallery tomorrow night for the opening reception, I can promise you wine, strawberries and homemade chocolate truffles that will make you swoon!

Lovejoy And The Devil Of Delight

24x36" oil on canvas, email me for more information

One more from my Valentines Day series. Loved painting these two lovers...sometimes I feel like I'm just "the hand" that holds the brush, that pushes the paint around, that becomes these colorful and quirky little people. Not really sure how it all comes together but that's the magic and I guess I don't really want to understand. And so it goes...

Lovejoy And The Devil Of Delight are proudly hanging on the wall at India Street Gallery as part of the Temptation6 exhibit. Drop by anytime before Feb 17 but if you really want to get in the mood for Valentines Day come on Friday, Feb 12 to the opening reception from 6-9. Art, wine and chocolate...love is in the air.

Speaking of love....meet Theresa Vandenberg Donche, one of the artists in the Temptation6 show. I absolutely love her paintings and have for such a long time. I'm so proud and excited to be showing alongside her. Her paintings dance with delicious color and interesting textures. And there's always a linear component in her work, whether scratched into the paint or drawn on top with pencil or charcoal. Take a look at her website but more importantly, come see her work in person at Temptation6. You won't be disappointed!

Theresa Vandenberg Donche

Rusted Love

18x24" oil on canvas, email me for more information 

  

Yesterday was hanging day for the Temptation6 exhibit at India Street Gallery: six women, one husband, more than seventy paintings, and one very helpful and patient gallery owner. Thank you Tom Noel! This painting along with several other new pieces from my latest series will be on exhibit at India Street Gallery through February 16. And on Friday evening, Feb 12 from 6-9 we are hosting an opening reception. Art,wine, chocolate and the music of the Temptations. Not a bad way to kick off your Valentines Day weekend.

Let me introduce Bronle Crosby, one of the six artists in the Temptation6 show. The first time I saw her paintings I was so impressed with her drawing skills. A funny thing to say about a painting but you can always tell if the underpinnings aren't quite right. And, let me tell you, this woman can draw! Her beautiful koi series in the Temptation6 show is testament to her talent and training. And did I mention that she can paint water? Any artists can tell you that representing water with pigment is a challenge, but Bronle makes it look easy in her paintings. The most realistic of the art6 painters, Bronle's work is lucious and, as she says, "damned heady stuff".

Bronle Crosby

Sweet-Talkin'-Ladies-Man

18x24" oil on canvas, email me for more information

Another new piece from the Moonstruck Chronicles series with a little nod to Joni. We've all known one of these guys, right? One of the great things about getting older is that you can smell them a mile away. When you're 22 you're nose is just not that astute. Takes a little practice and a lot of scars.

 Temptation6 Opening Reception February 12, India Street Gallery

Tonight I'm very excited to introduce another of the artists in the Temptation6 exhibit, Maite Benito Agahania. Her new series, "Secrets", painted just for the show is full of visual surprises. Maite has collected "love secrets" from people that were brave enough to send them to her anonymously. She has created layers upon layers of brilliant colors and patterns in her abstract paintings that both obscure and reveal the secrets. You really can't get enough in just one glance. Her Secrets series requires the viewer to linger and discover the mysteries of love hidden in the layers of lucious color. Pretty much like true love, huh? Maite is enormously talented and one of the funniest people I've ever met. If you come to our opening on February 12 be sure to slip Maite a little scrap of paper with your love secret. Who knows? It might very well end up as her next masterpiece.

Maite Benito Agahnia

Operating Instructions: Slot B

24x18 oil on canvas, email me for more information  

Part two of the Operating Instructions diptych. See yesterday's post to get a glimpse of her partner, Tab A. Both are from the Moonstruck Chronicles series soon to be hanging at India Street Gallery in Little Italy. The show, Temptation6, will be on exhibit from February 9-16 with our opening reception scheduled for Friday night, the 12th.

As promised I am introducing the other five artists that are included in the exhibit. Below you will find one of Alison Haley Paul's gorgeous landscapes. I have painted alongside Alison for several years now in a class we've taken from Reed Cardwell. It's amazing to watch her process. Her canvases are huge and she covers the entire surface with oil paint slathered on with teeny little palette knives. Her colors are rich and buttery and each painting is highly textured. All of her pieces are captivating and serene. I hope you'll drop by the gallery to see Alison's work in person but if you can't, do take a peek at her website.

Operating Instructions: Tab A

24x18 oil on canvas, email me for more information

For the next several posts I will be previewing my newest paintings from the Moonstruck Chronicles series, soon to be hanging at India Street Gallery for the Temptation6 Show. This piece is part of a diptych; I'll post the other half tomorrow. But just for grins...can you guess the name of tomorrow's painting. Aw, go on..

In addition to giving you a sneak peek at my newest work I will also be introducing you to the five talented artists that I will share the walls with at India Street Gallery. First up is Cree Scudder. I hope you'll visit Cree's website. I think you'll be delighted with her mastery of color and playful manipulation of her compositions. Along with the other artists Cree will be showing several new pieces at Temptation6. Don't forget to drop by our opening reception if you are in the area, Friday, February 12, 6-9pm. Wine, chocolate and beautiful art like Cree's!

Useless Moon

18x24", oil on canvas, SOLD

For the next couple of weeks I will be previewing my new paintings created for the upcoming show, Temptation6, at India Street Gallery. All with a bit of a twisted Valentine's theme--minus the sugar coating. And starting next week I will be introducing you to the work of the other five artists in the show. I am so proud to be exhibiting alongside these talented painters! In case you'd like to get a sneak peek at their work here are links to their websites: Maite Agahnia, Bronle Crosby, Theresa Donche, Alison Paul and Cree Scudder.

Temptation6

India Street Gallery
Opening Reception Friday, February 12
Show Dates February 9-16

Out Of The Vault: The Long Way Home

10x8" oil on canvas SOLD

One of my all time favorites--out of the vault. I'm crazy-busy painting for my upcoming show in February so I get to revisit the oldies but goodies.

I'll have many new paintings to post soon from my new series about love and all it's twisted little permutations (for Valentine's Day, right?) The February show is called Temptation6 and I'm thrilled to be exhibiting with five women artists that are so talented and creative...and just a bit zany. In the next few posts here I will be introducing each of them. Can't wait to share their art with you.

In the meantime, if you are in Southern California, plan to drop by our opening reception on February 12. In addition to paintings that will thrill and inspire you, there will also be chocolate, wine and strawberries! Oh, and music by The Temptations. Hope you'll plan to stop by.

Love Puppet

8x6" oil on canvas, SOLD

Sheesh! What was that all about?! I'm talkin' the endless parties, food, gifts, wrapping, cookies, shopping, food, champagne, more gifts and more food! Who can paint in the middle of all that? Enough already...a piece of dry toast never looked so good for dinner.

I'm back at the easel and fired-up as ever to paint the many bizarre and quirky folks that are lurking in my sketchbooks. This new year will bring with it some exciting events; new venues, a group show in February with 5 of my favorite San Diego artists, ArtWalk in April, a solo show in July, and plenty of art-filled affairs in between. This is definitely the best place to keep on top of where you might find my paintings on exhibit. If you are so inclined, I would advise you to subscribe to my blog to receive my newest paintings in your mailbox, fresh off my easel. And I will never share your email with anyone else. Cross my heart!

Happy New Year!

Lovers And Other Strangers

10x8" oil on canvas, SOLD

OK, so the "lovers" are obvious but the "strangers"? They are there too...bottom left corner. Can you guess what the little strangers represent? Aw, c'mon...any parents out there?

Hanky-Panky

12x16" oil on canvas

Another Valentine's painting. I'm definitely on a roll...

Juggler Of Hearts

10x8" oil on canvas, SOLD

I really love all the hoopla surrounding Valentine's Day. Even in the grocery store there's red and pink displays in case you're of the mind that you should fatten up your Valentine this year. My favorite Valentine factoid, passed on to me by my teenage daughter, is that upwards of 70% of single women admit to sending themselves flowers on the day of love. Seems like Hallmark could have some fun with this!

Heart On Her Sleeve

8x6 oil on canvas, SOLD

So I've been sitting here at my computer for a good 20 minutes. No words. Just pictures. That's just how it is sometimes. Guess my brain is taking a little break. Good thing my hand isn't!