I steal ideas from three year olds

Elliott's Stormy Evening, 2009. oil on panel 8 x 10

My kids often want to paint in my studio with me. So they will sit on the floor using their watercolors while I work at my easel. They will comment on my work, and I will talk to them about their paintings.

I don't always get a lot of work done, they tend to ask me questions like ,

"Daddy, do you know how I mixed that color?"

"Dad, do you want to see what I have done to my painting?"

but none the less, I still enjoy my time with them.

The idea for this painting came from one of my three year old's paintings. He put a magenta/dark pink against the dark grey/black that I thought looked good together. So I thought I would give the combo a try....When he came back to my studio several days later and saw my painting, he said, "Same as my painting!"

The kid is too smart for his own good...I hope he doesn't tell everyone.

One of the BIG ones

Saturated, 2009. oil on canvas. 52 x 60. sold.

This is the biggest painting for my upcoming show at Elliott Fouts Gallery in November. Truth be told, I would consider this painting to be on the smaller side of my larger paintings, but still, I enjoy spreading my wings a bit and tackling a larger piece of canvas. You should have seen the piles of red paint on my palette for this one.

It sat in my studio for quite awhile unfinished. The start was strong, and I wanted to be sure that I didn't screw it up. I eventually worked up the nerve to dive in, and I'm quite pleased with the results.

The Home Stretch

Overexposed, 2009. oil on panel 20 x 20. sold.

Just a few days of painting left for the show...I feel good about the pieces.

Now its time for framing and varnishing the work.

November is coming up fast!