A Little Luck and a Good Idea

A Little Luck and a Good Idea

20" x 16"

oil on panel

 

 

We all would like a little extra luck sometimes.

Especially when we think we have good ideas.

I think it all goes hand in hand with a lot of hard work.

All the props in this painting have deep meaning to me. 

The light bulb for the good idea.

The wish bone for a little luck.

The skull is us.

The marbles are our thoughts.

The feather is flight, so those good ideas can 

take flight with a little luck.

 

I thought I would share some in-progress shots

from the painting:

 

 

 

The skull is from the Visible Man Anatomy kit.

It is only 2" tall. The light bulb is an appliance

bulb, so it is also fairly small in scale.

 

 Detail from painting.

 

A Little Luck and a Good Idea

Principle Gallery

20th Anniversary Invitational

208 King Street

Alexandria, VA

www.principlegallery.com 

http://principlegallery.com/alexandria/artists-page?field_artist_target_id=509&nid=509 

 

Principle Gallery 20th Anniversary Show

Since opening in 1994, Principle Gallery has been 

dedicated to exhibiting the best of American and European

Contemporary Realism. Focusing on paintings

in oil and bronze sculpture, the gallery represents

emerging, mid-career, and established artists

with a distinct personal approach

to their work.

They are celebrating

twenty wonderful years with their

20th Anniversary Group Invitational Show

Opening reception and celebration

Friday, April 25th, 2014

6:30pm - 9:00pm

 Link to see show online:
Principle Gallery 20th Anniversary Show 

I am very honored to have two paintings

 in this show.

Monkey On Your Back

18" x 24"

oil on panel

A Good Idea And A Little Luck

20" x 16"

oil on panel

New Heights

New Heights

24" x 12"

oil on panel

Setting goals. Going new places. 

Learning new skills. Being brave. Taking a first step.

Take a breath.

Reaching for new heights.

All these phrases inspired my new painting

New Heights.

detail from painting

The vintage wind up mechanical rabbit

 in this painting is Skippy The Jumping Rabbit

made by Mikuni in Japan

between 1950-1960.

The cloth dressmakers measuring tape is from the 1950's. 

The case is made from bakelite. Bakelite is one of the first 

plastics made from synthetic components.

New Heights

is showing at

Elliot Fouts Gallery

Sacramento, CA

916-736-1429

Monkey On Your Back

Monkey On Your Back

18" x 24"

oil on panel

Growing up I heard the phrase, " I  have a monkey on my back." Or " Do you have a monkey on your back?" To me it meant feeling the stress and burden of the world. 

Upon researching it's meaning for this post I learned it is a term that became popular in the 1800's to describe someone who was in a bad mood or bothered by something that would not go away.

By the late 1940's, it became a reference to having an addiction or having a mortgage.

The monkey toy in this painting is Bobby the Monkey a tin cyclist made by the K. Arnold & Co in Nurnberg, Germany. On the toy it says "made in U.S. zone Germany". This monkey was made between 1948 and 1952.

The largest character in the painting is Timmy Turtle #150, a musical pull toy made by Fisher Price between 1953 and 1955.

 

Monkey On Your Back 

will be showing at

Principle Gallery

20th Anniversary Invitational

reception

Friday, April 25th, 2014

6:30pm-9:00pm

208 King Street

Alexandria, VA

703-739-9326

 

  Monkey On Your Back

18" x 24"

oil on panel

 

 

Happy New Year 2014

Happy New Year!

May you find something that expresses who you truly are,

as only you can.

Find something to bring a little magic to your everyday.

I hope to continue to surprise myself as I imagine, 

and draw, and paint, and create.

 It will be a year of continued growth, discoveries. and expression.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me, inspired me, 

given me shows for my work,

 and  who have loved my work enough 

to have it grace your walls.

Thank you.

Welcome 2014!

Elliott Fouts Gallery 15th Anniversary Show

Elliott Fouts Gallery

15th Anniversary Show

Featuring Christopher Stott, John Carl Claes, Alvin Richard,

Gale Hart, Susan Hoehn, Craig Stephens, Bryan Mark Taylor,

Anthony Montanino, Joe Santos, Kathy O'Leary, 

Deborah Bonuccelli, Vito Antonio Ferrante, 

Teresa N. Fischer, Sandy Delehanty, Samantha Buller,

Gary Pruner, Philippe Gandiol, Susan Shoger, 

Kathrine Lemke Waste, Kenny Mencher, Terry Pappas, 

Judy Nunes, Manuel Nunes, Gregory Kondos, and Tim White.

Second Saturday reception

January 11th, 2014

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Elliott Fouts Gallery

1831 P. Street

Sacramento, CA

916-736-1429

Elliott Fouts Gallery

Carrot-O

Carrot-O

20" x 20"

oil on panel
SOLD

Inspiration can come from many areas. 

I knew I wanted to paint a marvelous carrot. 

I had been thinking about the orange colors 

leaning to the reds, and the wonderful

playful greenery for a while. 

But what did I want to do with it?

What did I want to do to take it to the next level?

My inspiration:

 The Great Wave Off Kanagawa

by Katsushika Hokusai

Museum of Fine Art Boston

Born in 1760, Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist 

in the Edo Period. His life's work is an amazing study 

of design, line, and composition. Here is a link to his 

known works: Katsushika Hokusai

His woodblock print seen above

"The Great Wave Off Kanagawa"

was an inspiration for Carrot-O.

Those that know me well, know that I love the 

puzzle of figuring out how to set up my compositions

once I have sketched them out.

Next I will show you how I set up this painting.

Sooooo. . .

If you do not want the magic spoiled

I would not go further here.

 *

 *

I used wire to get the cut carrot 

in the circular shape I was looking for. 

I was able to move and slide the

carrots to get just the right spacing.

 Then everything was tied up,

 even the greenery was tied and stitched

to get it in the shape I was looking for.

I was really looking for the greenery to create a wave.

Wonder what a carrot looks like 

after it has sat around the studio a bit. . .

nice and shriveled.

Finished painting. . .

Carrot-O

20" x 20"

oil on panel

 Detail from painting.

Detail from painting.

Carrot-O

will be showing at

Elliot Fouts Gallery

15th Anniversary Show

January 4th- February 6th, 2014

Sacramento, CA

Elliott Fouts Gallery