Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Big Cats


After hearing it was the year of the tiger I just had to post some paintings I did years ago of the big cats. When I left art school that's all I did was wildlife paintings. I was fortunate to have access to skins and skulls from the Peabody Museum and a private collection of taxidermy animals. I gave them up for trompe l'oiel, because to do these animals correctly I would have to start traveling to see them in their natural habitat. And that was probably not going to be happening anytime soon. I often wonder what would have happened if I had stayed with  painting  animals.

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Peale Influence, Delicate And Simple




The Peale family of artist are some of my favorite painter, especially Raphelle and his brother Rembrant. Raphelles still lifes are so simple, and yet so delicately painted that the objects no matter how small or common suddenly become  precious jewel. To say his work has been a big influenced on my still lifes would be an understatement. Here are a few pieces I did with Raphelle Peale in mind.