Pear with Snow and Self Portrait Reflected in Silver Cup (+ "the paths that birds make")

My new studio is on the 3rd floor, and the view is inspiring. In this cup's reflections, you can see me in my new painting hat (it's cold in my studio) and snow on the ground with late afternoon light coming through the distant trees.

In addition to my oil paintings, I also make large ink paintings on paper (if you're interested in seeing some, click here). One in particular, which consists of two 35 x 42 in. panels and usually hangs in my living room, was partially inspired by a murmuration, or flock of starlings. In light of that, I just have to share this Jan. 2018 National Geographic magazine article, "If Birds Left Tracks in the Sky, They’d Look Like This." It features amazing works by Barcelona-based photographer Xavi Bou. Prepare yourself and click the link. (Note: There's a slideshow at the bottom of the article with 16 images.)

If you enjoy this painting, you may also like to see Still Life with Blue Vase and Asian Pear (First Snow of 2016), Still Life with Silver Cup, Two Blueberries, & Muscat Grapes (Live Demo Painting), Still Life with Apple & Silver Cup (A Meditation on 8 Years), or a bunch of my paintings of silver objects.

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Happy Friday,

Landscape in the Clouds, Montserrat, near Barcelona, Spain (+ Thoughts on the Picasso Museum)

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I felt like I was literally up in the clouds as I was painting my final painting in Spain. I took a train to Montserrat outside of Barcelona and then took a cable car (!!!) up to Montserrat (elevation: 4,055 feet). It was an adventure (especially the cable car) that is best understood through the photos. (Click on the photos to the right for a larger view or see them all on facebook.) 

It was pretty cold as I was painting this, but I was so inspired by the view that it didn't bother me at all. I finished painting just in time to go into the Santa Maria de Montserrat Benedictine Abbey to hear the L'Escolania de Montserrat boys' choir of sopranos and altos. It was truly a breathtaking performance.

Before I end my posts about Spain, I wanted to also share that one of my favorite places in Barcelona was the Picasso Museum. I have to admit that I was floored by Picasso's early work -- self portraits, portraits of his father (also an artist), and landscapes/seascapes from when Picasso was 12 and 13 years old. I tried to find these paintings online, but could only find one or two. As a result, I have to recommend that you go to Barcelona to see for yourself. ;-)

[If you're new to my blog, I often write about my experiences in museums (National Gallery, The Met, Peto Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art here and here). To receive my writings first, join me here for free.]

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Enjoy,

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Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona, Spain (+ Gaudí's Sagrada Família)

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My third painting from Barcelona is this seascape at Barceloneta beach. To the left is a snapshot of this painting on my easel. I added photos of Barceloneta beach on Facebook, plus more photos like the three below of my time at Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família. Amazing and beyond words! (P.S. You don't have to join facebook to view my photos...)

My last Spain post will include my painting from Montserrat -- up in the clouds -- plus my thoughts about the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Look for that tomorrow.

New Workshop Announcement: My Sedona Arts Center workshop from May 19-23, 2014 is open for registration. Click here for information. Space is very limited.


If you're interested, view all my Current Painting Auctions and Available Paintings.

Happy Saturday,

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Still Life with Tangerine and Wrapped Tangerine, Barcelona, Spain (Yin & Yang) (+ Barcelona photos)

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This is my second painting from Barcelona. As I was preparing this painting to post here, I realized that the last time I painted paper-wrapped fruit was about a year ago. I really enjoy it so I will plan to do it more often!

If you'd like to see this painting on my easel, I added snapshots over on Facebook; tonight I also added photos of my adventures wandering around Barcelona.

I have two more Barcelona paintings (both landscapes). I will continue posting tomorrow.

New Workshop Announcement
My Sedona Arts Center workshop from May 19-23, 2014 is now open for registration. Click here for information. (Note: this may be my only workshop in spring 2014).

If you're interested, view all my Current Painting Auctions and Available Paintings.

Enjoy,

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A Pair of Sardines, Barcelona, Spain (+ Spain travels and photos)

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As I mentioned yesterday, I recently returned from traveling and painting in Barcelona and Montserrat, Spain. Yesterday I also shared A Pair of Sardines, Barcelona, Spain on my easel. I got the sardines from Barcelona's Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria (La Boqueria), which was one of my favorite places in Barcelona.

After I came home from Spain, my dad reminded me of a photo of sardines that his friend, poet Bob Lax, took and sent to him. I dug it out of their amazing box of letters (which I shared about here), and this is it. On the back of the photo, Lax wrote to my dad: "a big day!" I assume it is his lunch!? [P.S. Happy Birthday, Dad!]

I began posting snapshots from my trip on facebook, so join me there. Among other things, tonight I added photos of A Pair of Sardines, Barcelona, Spain on my easel, my smelly adventures in La Boqueria, and a neat view of my silhouette (while painting) from the street below the flat in Barcelona. I'll add more photos tomorrow, but you can see my snapshots here.

I have three more Barcelona paintings, which I will continue posting tomorrow.

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Best,

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Still Life with Pear and Silver Cup at Sunset (+ Spain Travels & Paintings)

Still Life with Pear and Silver Cup at Sunset
5 x 4 inches, oil on linen on panel, framed, 2013
Available
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I recently returned from Spain, and tomorrow I'll begin posting the paintings I did there. I spent most of my time in Barcelona and Montserrat. I'm sorting through photos, which I will post on Facebook soon. Join me there to see those.

To start, here is a photo of my first painting on my easel in Spain. If you can make it out in the photo, I'm painting a still life of a pair of sardines! I got them from Barcelona's Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, or 'La Boqueria' for short. One of Barcelona's most well-known landmarks, it's a large public market that was one of my all-time favorite places in Barcelona.

When I post the sardines painting and auction tomorrow, I'll also post photos of my adventures in La Boqueria, where I saw the fish and couldn't resist buying some to paint! The last time I painted fish was over ten years ago, but I enjoyed it so much that I may visit Philly's Reading Terminal Market soon to find more fish to paint...

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Enjoy,

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Blackberries in a Teacup (& Last Call - Peto Museum Workshop)

Blackberries in a Teacup, Oil on linen on panel, 10 x 8 inches, framed, 2013
Available
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I just returned from painting and traveling in Barcelona. I'm sorting through my photos, and will soon be posting my new Spain paintings at auction. I'll also share photos and some stories about my travels, so if you're interested and would like direct access to that (as well as large detail views of my paintings), join me (it's free).

LAST CALL: There are just a couple spots remaining in my workshop this weekend at the Peto Museum, so sign up ASAP. If you're considering it, here are photos from my recent workshop and here's what my past workshop participants have to say about working with me.

During my workshop at the Peto Museum, I'll be using Peto's actual still life objects in my still life during my painting demonstration. I've studied a bunch of his objects, and I think I've narrowed it down to a couple of darker colored jugs. (What an honor...)

If you're interested, view all my Current Painting Auctions and Available Paintings.

All my best,

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Concord Grapes with Valdeón Blue (Made in Spain) (+ My Upcoming Travels to Spain)

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(5-day auction ends at 12noon EDT on Monday, Oct. 21st)

Today's painting is inspired by my upcoming travels to Barcelona and Madrid. This blue cheese caught my eye as a painting subject because it is beautifully wrapped in leaves. Other than finding its appearance appealing, I didn't know anything about it, so I decided to read up on it. Here's what I learned about Valdeón Blue (made in Spain by Mitica) from the importer Forever Cheese's site:

"Valdeón Blue cheese is made deep in the Picos de Europa, just outside of the province of León. Produced with cow and goat’s milk, Valdeón is sought after because it is milder than DOP Cabrales and is still characteristically wrapped in leaves which make for an appealing presentation. It has an excellent balance of sweet and tangy, with a nice earthiness at the finish."

I haven't tasted it yet, but Valdeón Blue was excellent to paint. ;-)

While I am traveling in Spain to paint, I will also be looking at workshop venues to teach a possible "A Painting a Day" workshop in summer 2014. So, I am wondering: would you like to paint with me in Spain? If so, please email me to let me know you're interested. (I'm also considering a summer workshop in Italy, too. To find out first about my new workshop offerings, sign up for information here.)

Ending soon:

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(Ends today at 3:10 PM EDT)

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Enjoy,

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Sneak Preview! Still Life with Two Vanilla Beans and Strawberries in a Copper Bowl (Gallery Painting)

Still Life with Two Vanilla Beans and Strawberries in a Copper Bowl
7 x 6 inches, oil on linen on panel, framed, 2013
Available
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This is the first of many new larger works for my upcoming exhibition at Art Essex Gallery (2 hours north of NYC). I will be at the artist reception if you are in the area on September 28th.

Workshop News
There are only 2 openings left in my Artists of Yardley 1-day workshop next month (October 12). Click here to grab your spot!

Upcoming Exhibitions
I'll soon be posting three of my new trompe l'oeil paintings that will be exhibited at the Peto Museum later this month.

Upcoming Painting Travels
Next month, I am traveling to Barcelona to paint. I'll also be looking into workshop venues because I am considering teaching a couple of "A Painting a Day" workshops in Europe this summer -- at the moment, Italy and Spain are on my mind. Would you like to paint with me in Spain? Do you live in or near Barcelona? If so, please email me because I would love to ask you about it. Would you like to paint with me in Italy? I've traveled to Tuscany and Umbria quite a bit over the last several years, and Italy is one of my favorite places to paint. More details to come soon; sign up for information here.

If you're interested, view all my Current Painting Auctions and Available Paintings.

Best,

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Fig Halves with Spanish Cheese (+ My Upcoming Trip to Spain)

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(7-day auction ends at 10:45 PM EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 25th)

This painting is in preparation for my painting travels in Barcelona next month. :-)

Upcoming Painting Travels
While I am traveling to Barcelona to paint, I'll also be looking into workshop venues because I am considering teaching a couple of "A Painting a Day" workshops in Europe this summer -- at the moment, I'm considering Italy and Spain.

Upcoming Workshops in Europe
Would you like to paint with me in Spain? (Do you live in or near Barcelona? If so, please email me because I would love to ask you about it.) To find out about this first, sign up for information here.

Would you like to paint with me in Italy? I've traveled to Tuscany and Umbria quite a bit over the last several years, and Italy is one of my favorite places to paint. More details to come later; sign up for information here.

Upcoming Exhibitions
I'll be posting my new larger gallery paintings soon. I'll also soon be posting three of my new trompe l'oeil paintings that will be exhibited at the Peto Museum later this month.

If you're interested, view all my Current Painting Auctions and Available Paintings.

All my best,

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Watermelon Slice on Marble (+ a TED Talk not to miss)

I recently watched an excellent TED talk by Oliver Uberti (a Senior Design Editor at National Geographic). Oliver talks about love and regaining a respect for the creative process. During the talk, he recounts a National Geographic project he worked on about Antoni Gaudí's Sagrada Família in Barcelona. You have to watch him speak to get the full impact -- please do watch it as it's only 18 minutes -- but I found it moving when he discusses the remarkable drawings of Sagrada Família that his colleague Fernando Baptista created:

"Something magical happened here.... I believe that when Fernando was drawing this, perhaps unbeknownst to him, little bits of his soul came up through his body, passed through his archives of experience, down through his arm, activating muscle memory, through his fingers, onto his pencil and into the paper. And when YOU gazed upon this work, all that soul that he invested, leapt off the screen, entered through your eyes, all the little rods and cones, through your archives of experience, and came to rest inside your soul. This sharing of souls is the bond between a creator and the viewer."

I particularly love what he is saying because it takes the emphasis off the"subject" or thought or product, and instead emphasizes experience or "participatory knowledge." ("Participatory knowledge" refers to The Cloud of Unknowing and was coined by Laurence Freeman OSB in "A Theology of Experience” from Monastery Without Walls: The Spiritual Letters of John Main (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2006), p. 232-3.)

Towards the end, Oliver adds, "Art is not predictable. And the human spirit is not predictable," and then recommends that we "take the time to work with our hands. That's the heart of art. And that is the heart of innovation."

Anyway, I went back into my painting records, and apparently I paint watermelon fairly consistently about once every year -- no idea why. If you'd like, leave a comment or tweet about this painting.

Have a good week,

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FRAMED VIEW