Japan Still on My Mind

                           
                                              "Contemplating Blue and Orange"  7x12

On March 11, I started to set up a still life, not knowing exactly what I wanted to do.  I began playing around with a few different ideas and came up with this oriental theme.  The painting came together very quickly for me and was finished in just three short (less than 4 hour) sessions.  I am very pleased with it and feel it is one of my best. I must have had Japan on my mind even before hearing of the devastating earthquake, which had taken place that day.

I am delighted to report the results of the Daily Paintworks  Help Japan Challenge.  To date there are over 400 entries and more than $25,000 has been raised.  The challenge is still running, so please check it out.

I am also happy that my painting sold to a fellow Red Sox fan, enabling me to make a generous donation to the "Red Sox Foundation Japan Relief Effort".  Thank you for your support.

"Major Leaguer" 6x6

                          
                                Click Here to Bid

Opening Day is less than two weeks away! As we in the US look forward to a fun filled summer of baseball, I am all too aware that another country who shares a passion for this great sport is suffering its worst tragedy in over fifty years.  The devastation in Japan is beyond comprehension in its scope, and I cannot begin to imagine how survivors are coping with the aftermath of rebuilding their lives. They need our help.

The wonderful artists of Daily Paintworks  have so generously established the "Help Japan Challenge" on their website for artists to post a painting which will be auctioned over the course of one week.  Each participating artist has agreed to donate 100% of the proceeds of any painting sold to a charity of their choice involved in the Japanese relief effort.  I will be donating the proceeds of this painting to the Red Sox Foundation, which in turn is donating 100% of money raised to the Red Cross relief effort in Japan.  For more details of the Red Sox efforts, click here.

If you would like to make a donation by bidding on my painting, click here .

In the spirit of helping those in need, please share this blog with anyone you feel would like to purchase an original painting, while donating to this very worthwhile cause.  There are many participating artists and you can view all of the available paintings here.  To my fellow artists, please consider submitting to this challenge as well.

Thank you.

One Stroke at a Time

I just finished this painting using a technique I do not usually use; mixing a color, applying one stroke, mixing another color, then applying the next stroke and so on.  I did this as part of the Daily Paintworks Challenge   for this week.  It was fun and, overall, I am pleased with the results.  My objective is to improve brush work and develop confidence to mix a color, apply a stroke then leave it alone!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog.  I am a still life painter living in Tampa, Florida, and plan to begin posting a photo of one of my paintings each week.  This is a photo of a recent work.  Enjoy!