The Gladiator Guy

12 x 9 " oil

This was done at an open studio/ model session at MSUM a while back. The guy who ran the sessions was unable to line up a model for that week (we usually work from a nude model for 2+ hours) and so he talked his friend/roommate into posing for us. I don't know whether he was pleased or disappointed to be wearing this roman centurian outfit instead of posing nude.

I am pulling out all these random paintings because I am trying to clean up my studio and prepare for the Studio Crawl event, which is in a little more than 2 weeks. "Cento per cento" is my advertised theme, meaning 100 paintings for sale for $100 (or less). Gulp.

Another Garage in Angel Hill (Taylors Falls)

8 x 10" Oil

Another painting from the same workshop, again on Angel Hill. This time I succumbed to a more saccharine view, mostly because 1) these were the same kind of lilies that John Singer Sargent painted in his wondrous "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" and 2) there was a whole lotta shade to set up in, an important point on a 90-degree day.... so sue me.

Kennedy Mill Pond (Somewhere in Wisconsin)

10 x 8" oil

This was a very tiny, obscure park 22 miles or so past the MN border, and where we set up to paint for the day. A great example of how there is something to paint anywhere, anywhere at all. For instance, I was nicely situated on a little wooden bridge overlooking this scene, but 6 feet behind me there was a bobcat, a bulldozer, and 4 burly men involved in taking down telephone poles and burying wire. Of course I didn't know that when I started, but one must soldier on and complete the painting...

Streetlight Near the Springs Motel (Taylors Falls)

8 x 10" oil

Still at the workshop when this was done, and had I known the instructor was demonstrating elsewhere, I would never have been out painting in the dark. But I thought we were supposed to be out working on a "nocturne" so I set up my easel in a parking lot and stubbornly turned away from the colorful, well-lit storefronts of downtown Taylor's Falls, and instead chose this view of the alley and the motel on the hill beyond. I'd had a couple of glasses of wine and too much to eat at dinner, I was feeling crabby and REALLY did not want to be out painting with the bugs. In the dark. Where I could see nothing. But, as these things happen, the hours flew by and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Who knew?

Blue Tarp on Angel's Hill (Taylors Falls, MN)

10 x 8" oil

Apparently it's oils this week. Still trying to find my way around, but beginning to enjoy the tactile, plastic surface qualities --- who am I kidding? What I like is being able to have as many "do overs" as I want, and that's what oil gives you. Unlike watercolor, where you are committed pretty much from the get-go. Anyway, this is my attempt at trying to not be too sweet in choice of subject matter, as Angel's Hill is a historic neighborhood full of really picturesque, quaint gingerbread houses. So I pick the sideyard of a garage, just to be ornery.

Morning Coffee at the Campground

7 x 5" watercolor

Earlier in August I attended a "plein air" workshop (painting outdoors) and went the whole nine yards and camped out at the state park instead of loafing around in some air conditioned hotel. Mornings were the best part, just me, the birds, and my coffee. This was my view of the campsite across the way toward the river.

Piazza San Marco

7 x 5 watercolor

Continuing challenges with the Venetian surroundings, here the arcades built by Napoleon to create the plaza in front of St. Mark's Cathedral. Time to move on to another place; how about Rome?

Per Favore

5 x 7 watercolor

Talk about too much detail! First I got bogged down in the windows of the Doges' Palace, then the souvenir stand, and finally, the railing! But love prevails...

Love on the Grand Canal II

7 x 5 watercolor

As always with these Venice pics, where there is so much embellishment to the surroundings, it is hard to leave out detail that is not essential to whatever concept I think I am portraying. Why leave in the man who is cut off? I don't know, I just liked him.