Successful New Show

Through July 2009, I am the "Artist Of The Month" at Gallery 113 in downtown Santa Barbara. I am showing 12 paintings with a common theme of human "Interactions." A few are the same paintings I exhibited at my May 2009 show with a theme of "Memories from France and Mexico", but also includes several new paintings, not shown publicly before.

The theme "Interactions" may be defined as occurring when two objects have an effect upon each other. The idea of a two-way effect is essential – communication.

With the paintings exhibited in this show, I am continuing my basic explorations into the interactions between ordinary people in everyday settings. They are part of what I call my 21st century Genre figurative or "Social Realism" series.

Social Realism began around the turn of the 20th century and was fueled by the social conditions of that age. The movement reached its peak in the 1930's when American artists strove to be free of European artistic influences.

Many of those paintings, like mine, were bright and colorful, drawing in the viewer with their vibrancy. My paintings follow a more contemporary trend where this movement is being resurrected in figurative scenes.

A new painting commission - Burden County Fair 1940.

A few weeks ago, I was approached by a local follower of my artwork with a request to undertake a commission painting. He told me that he had been brought up in Kansas and wanted to capture his memories as a young boy attending a local County Fair.

He was specific as to the location and many of the things he wanted to see: the horse race track, the Ferris wheel, the grandstand, and many details of the fairground midway. Plus, the time was to be set at about 1940. After some more discussion, I requested that he prepare a sketch "map" of the fair layout, which we both agreed would the basis for the final painting.

Upon looking at the quite detailed map he presented, we decided on a viewpoint that showed the required activities and objects. With all this in mind, I prepared an intial thumbnail sketch to futher pin down the painting. From this we agreed on the aspect ratio and the size of the final painting (so that it would fit his available hanging space). Also, the sketch allowed me to correct details where my own interpretations did not agree with his memories.

He had already done quite a bit or research. He had some photographs, and prints from Google Images of specific objects, events, and scenes from that period. As I started painting, I have augmented these images with many others from my own research.

There will be many figures in the final painting which raises many supplementary questions: What were the woman's dress styles and length from that period? What kind of head gear did men and boys wear? What do Kansas skys look like in the summer? What did older Cars and Trucks look like at that time? What was racing regalia like then for both horses and riders? And so it goes on.

I have got about half way through the initial layout. I have been sending him digital photographs of the work as it progresses. Soon I will have him over to my studio to see where I have deviated from his memory. I love big crowd paintings. The project is both challenging and enjoyable.

Ice Cubes

Nothing signifies better a hot day than an ice cool drink.

As a diversion from my usual people paintings, some photographs I had taken while on a cruise ship lead to the development of this contemporary 16 x 20 inch still life oil painting.

Two abandoned beach chairs stand with a small table between them. The table supports five glasses containing full and partially finished iced drinks. The colors combined with the ice, bring out the heat.

What happened to their owners? Maybe they are soaking in a nearby pool or the ocean.

Beach Builders

Boys love digging in wet sand – building canals, castles, moats, or a hole to the other side of the world.

Several years ago, we saw these two enjoying themselves one evening while visiting Avila Beach, on the Central California Coast.

I loved the interactions that were going on between the boys, and took several photographs, from which this 12 x 24 inches oil painting was developed.

Serious Conversations.

Four Latino men were discussing the problems of the day. One seated man seemed to be giving his opinion while the others listened. But another is leaning on his bicycle pausing to hear the story, before proceeding on his way.

Maybe the four are friends who gather often to ponder on the issues of the moment.

I discovered this group among the many photographs I had taken while traveling in Mexico during 2006. Their study in human interaction intrigued me, and I used it to constructed this 16 x 20 inch studio oil painting.

Waiting At Starbucks

We were sitting at a table near the line of people waiting to place their order at a Starbucks coffee shop. Service was slow. Perhaps everyone wanted a complex order.

But this row of mostly young people found waiting as an opportunity to socialize.

As sat there, I became fascinated by their shoes. I pulled out my digital camera and with my hand close to the floor I took a series of photographs from which this 18 x 48 inch oil painting was developed.

I added the napkin on the floor (which has the imprint from someone's lipstick) to bring interest to the foreground. The painting is a study of imagined human interactions. The body language from the legs, leaves much to the imagination.

Rhone In Spring

This 24 x 36 inch oil painting shows the trees lining the Rhone River in southern France. They are just breaking into leaf.

The river is high and the water, fed by the recent rains, is rushing under a nearby bridge. Though cold, the sun is shining and a woman wheels her baby along the river bank, while enjoying the view and the lovely day.

This painting was developed form several photographs taken during our 2008 visit to that area.