COLORADO ROCKIES, 10 X 8, o/c.

While mountains may be somewhat alien to me, I find my palette knife technique serves me well in creating an interesting rocky texture.
It's all about 'broken color'. Used effectively, a knife allows you to 'float' bits of pure color over shades of gray. So, suddenly a gray rock can have blues! and pinks, and golds! And it really, really is there. It just takes some reflection to see it, tease it out, and some expertise to paint it.

"Upsherin", 20 x 16, o/c,

It's hard for me to write much about this painting. I feel it's one of my most successful portraits but I'm probably not impartial enough to judge. The subjects here are my son, and my grandson at age three, on the day of his first haircut. I love how their expressions of joy are focused on their intertwined hands as they prepare to kiss the fringes of his first pair of 'tzizit'.

The result of my high-speed, drive-by (photo) shooting: 'Brooklyn Rooftops', 16 x 20, o/c

I may crave rural, but I 'know' urban. The geometry of the city is in my blood. For anybody wondering, it's the view from the Prospect Expressway, Manhattan-bound. I got lucky aiming my camera out the passenger side window while negotiating lane mergings.

A Day at the Beach, 24 x 18, o/c

Inspired by a recent trip down to Florida...

"UNION SQUARE; SPRINGTIME STROLL", 16 X 12, o/c

Has there ever been a better tool for artists than thumbnail previews of your pictures on your computer? The good compositions practically leap right off my screen, begging to be painted. Lately, while scrolling through my photos, this one kept catching my eye.

Country Road II, and Country Road III, both 24 x 30

I'm not sure if it just makes a good metaphor for where we dream of going in life, or if I listen to too many country songs, but I feel privileged to both dream and paint the long and winding road.

Tamar in the Garden

Every once in a while, it's a joy to do a portrait. Especially in bright sunlight. Especially if it captures a moment as precious as this. And especially if the subject is near and dear to your heart, - like say... your first grand-child.