Golden Boys

Old Friends

Changing Room

Stuart's Posse

       Gilbert Stuart has done so many portraits of important Americans. Looking through a book one night I decided I wanted to do something based on Stuart's work. The choices seemed endless, but I went with a limited number of his work and some of his most well known paintings, John Jay, Washington, John Adams and his self portrait. Everybody has seen the painting of Washington. Even with just his eyes peering out you know who he is, and I thought this would be a unique way to show him. Stuart's self portrait looks as if  Rembrandt did it, and what a great look on his face.

      I signed the painting on the white tag on the left, I rarely sign my work in one of the corners. I like  to find a place where type is expected and sign it there, for trompe l'oeil it makes sense to do that. The white tag has other information on it like painting size. oil on panel, and the artist name, Gilbert Stuart.   

       As for the other areas of the paintings I try to produce things that will bring the viewer in closer, like stamps and postmarks. Doing a cork bulletin boards can be challenging because of the lack of color and the risk that it will all look the same and lack interest. The board is also a nice throw back to the letter racks of Peto and Harnett.  

                                                                                                                                                                                    

Mr. Jackson

Yeah I know more money. There will be some different subject matter coming soon. But I do enjoy the challenge of painting currrency.

The Jester's Notes

A quick post. I haven't put anything up in a while. I've actually have done quite a few painting lately, but with the nice weather there to much golfing going on and not enough photographing of my art.
Hopefully I'll be photographing them soon and have them posted.
    

Boom Or Bust

I paint a lot of currency, and I'm always looking for a new setting to place it in.  And sometimes a really cool piece comes along. The graphics on this box and it's message work well with the limited color of the currency. With the issues that are being discussed in the news today the message of the box seems to be quite current, even though the box is from the 50's. It just goes to show the more things change the more they stay the same

Six Twenty

Painting money is always challenging, but to see the reactions of the viewers is well worth the effort. So many people can't resist the urge to touch and try to remove the bills from the painting. Over the years I've had pieces returned to me from shows where you can see scratches at the corners of the bills and tape because people are not covinced it's a painting. They're trying to remove them. It's actually a bit of a compliment.

Pollock's Lady Friend

The woman is Lady Agnew, by John Singer Sargent. The frame is paint as is the museum card. I enjoy doing these painting because their not as time consuming as some of my other pieces. They become a chance to experiment with abstract painting and still get up close and personal with Sargent.  They're a little different twist on trompe l'oeil.

Emergency Use Only

  I'm just trying to finish up some work before years end, now that most of them are done I have to photograph them. I take the worst photos, one day I hope to figure out how its done. I've never smoked but over the years I've picked up quite a few pipes, go figure. Its probably because their in so many painting I've enjoyed  looking at over the years and from time to time I feel a need to connect with some of the artist who have used them as subject matter.

Magic Book

  It's been so long since I've posted anything, people are probably wondering if I still paint. Well I do! And have done quite a few since summer has come to an end. Hopefully I will start posting some of them.

Fifteen And Change

Money and safes just seem to go together so why not paint the two. In this case the safe is made up, I only had a safe dial and handle to work with. Its good to work like this from time to time. It helps keep you loose and not such a slave to your subject matter. I like doing things like the small piece of paper that sticks out from the bottom of the door, hopefully you just want to pull at it.

Liberty Is Golden

This painting for whatever reason seemed to take forever. It must be the nice weather and all the golf. It never fails, every summer production seems to go down, but quality should not. Ken Davies gave me good advice years ago, "better to do three really good paintings than five mediocre ones". The advice seems pretty easy and straight forward, but can at times be difficult to live up too. But years later I still find this simple advice one of the most important lessons I recieved in art school.

Money Has Wings

 I feel as if money really does have wings. And after looking at the eagles pictured on some currency it all makes sense, money is suppose to fly off not to be seen again. I am presently doing a larger painting based on this concept which will involve much more currency. I think most people find it easy to relate to this theme.

George Gets A Promotion

George gets a well deserved promotion from the one dollar bill. Trompe l'oeil stikes again!

Another Rack Painting

Anybody who knows anything about American art knows Madame X.  A painting done by John Singer Sargent. Its well worth a visit to The Metropolitan Museum Of Art in New York to see the original, its amazing. I put "X" in the painting numerous ways. The most obvious is the rack itself, the torn piece of paper and the business card. The card  has simply an "X" on it and the symbol of the Met, a reference to where the painting is located. One of the envelopes has a return address to John Singer Sargent. The painting was framed in a ornate molding that Madame X deserves, it was floated in the frame. The screws in the corners make it look as if this is how the painting is being held  into the frame.

Letters From Home

 

I've always enjoyed looking at rack painting, so every now and then I have to do one. Their fun! One of the difficult things about them is the placement of  objects. It has to look random and still have a strong composition. Its tempting to keep adding things and to fill every corner but that doesn't always make for a good painting. In this piece the portrait is a painting of Paul Wayland Bartlett the American sculptor who worked and lived in France. It was done by Charles Sprague Pearce an artist who's work I really admire.

Contemporary Still-Life Paintings at Spanierman Gallery

Opening March 24 and showing until April 16 at Spanierman Gallery in New York will be the show, Contemporary Still-Life Paintings. It will feature nine artist, my contribution will be trompe l'oeil of course. I posted a photo of the painting Taking Chances because it was featured on the cover of the brochure sent out to announce the show. I have to admit I'm quite proud of it.

Reality Check

My painting Madame X Desk Blotter is now in the exhibition title Reality Check: Contemporary American Trompe L'oeil at the Brandywine River Museum.The piece is on loan from the New Britian Museum of American Art. The exhibition presents the work of 22 contemporary artist, all of whom demonstrate a high degree of skill in the tradition of trompe l'oeil.

Judging by the crowd on opening night I would have to say realism in art is alive and well. It was a great pleasure to meet the other artist and museum staff. Anybody with an interest in trompe l'oeil should check out the exhibition on line or in person, you won't be disappointed.

William Tell's Dart Board

A fun painting to do, the title says it all. Not the best photo, but you get the idea.