Born Romantic

"Chandelier, 1872", mixed media on Rives BFK paper, 22" x 30"

I have had an obsession with chandeliers, especially antique chandeliers, for as long as I can remember. If I had it my way, I would have one in every room of my house. Yes, even the closet. The way the light hits the crystals, the ability for the structure to up the ante of even the most modest of rooms, and the undeniable romantic and prestigious feeling someone, especially a woman, receives when graced with one dancing above their head, makes the chandelier oh, so covetable and happily acknowledged.

Be that as it may, not every budget allows for such gorgeous structures in every day life, at least not the grand ones a la Marie Antoinette that I so love. Also, traditional structures I find to be even more intriguing when given a modern twist. The results from these facts can be seen above, in drawing of an antique chandelier.

Thick with layers of graphite and charcoal, the actual drawing was created by erasing out the applied layers of mixed media to unearth the mystical chandelier, and allow for edge and glow. I also kept a 3/4 inch border around the entire sheet of paper, to allow for a grittier take on something so classical. The end result I love; I can see it being hung over a bed or in a foyer... especially in a very white neutral setting. Come to think of it, I might just have to keep this for myself.

$400.00 (+ tax and shipping) SOLD

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A Different Point of View

"Carla's Garden", oil on canvas, three 16" x 20" canvases

What I love most about commissions is the fine balance they challenge you to keep; the balance between your vision and your patron's, and honoring both.
The above piece was commissioned by a friend whose new apartment is centered around a color scheme of earthy greens and taupes, and who has been a part of the food business her entire life. She knew upfront that she wanted paintings arugula, brussel sprouts, and asparagus, to center her apartment. The rest was up to me.
I played around with several compositions, my most challenging being the one for the asparagus. Most of us have seen paintings of the beautiful stalk of asparagus, violet rubberbands and all, centered in the middle of a canvas. To be honest I painted the same composition initially, just to see, and found what I was expecting: it was boring. So, after much hair pulling and stomping and sketching, I found this composition. Almost abstracted, in your face proximity, and still keeping the traditional violet rubberband, this asparagus has some punch.
Not leaving out the other two, the paintings of brussel sprouts and arugula are meant to flank the asparagus, and are painted with the intention of allowing the eye to rest with their not-so-close compositions and energetic paint application being applied mostly to the actual subject.

I delivered the paintings to Carla yesterday, and much like their owner, hip with a side of tradition, they fit perfectly in her new home.

It Shows

Oh, what a night. I could not have asked for a better opening reception for "With A Side of Ginger", which featured my latest sushi inspired paintings. After stressing hours + hours over placement, my work was finally hung to my satisfaction, wine and cocktails flowed, bites of sushi were served, and (while I am biased) the best of Atlanta (and surrounding areas) and Gulf Coast representatives attended. The show will be up for another month, so if you did not see it, please stop by the gallery when you have a moment (CherryLion Studios, 889 Morris St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318).

To add to the chaos of last week, I also put up a show in San Francisco Coffee, which is located on the corner of N.Highland Ave and Amsterdam.



Maybe it is going back to my days in Athens, but I do love having my work in a coffee shop. The hustle and bustle of such an establishment adds even more energy to my work. Go by and see them when you have a moment, and enjoy a cup of joe while you're at it.

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Gulf Coastal Life

"A Day at Ono", oil on canvas, 30" x 40"

I don't think the timing could have been better for the above piece. Commissioned by a dear family member, the above painting depicts my patron's grandchildren playing on the beach of Ono Island, an island located at the mouth of Perdido Bay (which is off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico) and coincidently the exact beach where I spent many Summers with my family. In the wake of the horrible Oil Crisis that is threatening this glorious way of life as I and so many others know it, it was nice to focus on a composition that truly honored what living on the coast is all about: Family.

When I think about those Summers I think of playing with my siblings and cousins (I've mentioned before the tradition of the 4th of July) all day in the sun (okay, to be honest, me being the one with the pale skin I went back and forth from the beach to the house, usually kicking and screaming about having to re-apply sunscreen every hour..sigh) making up games on the beach, eating lunch on the wharf, and finally crashing from pure exhaustion and content later that evening (and usually dragging a heaping amount of sand into bed with me). To depict all of that in one painting was a fun challenge (ignore the oxymoron here, please) and the only way I could think to truly capture "a day in the life" was to paint the children in action. I am honored to have been asked to paint something so dear to me and this family, and hope that even if the oil does arrive to our beaches soon, at least this piece can be a reminder of what is so glorious about the Gulf Coast.

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What's Your Fortune?

"Tempting Fate", oil on canvas, 16" x 20"

I had to. I have been painting sushi for weeks now, and as an avid sushi lover I know that at the end of most sushi meals I am rewarded with a gorgeously folded crisp cookie (that much like Valentine's Day, was created for the American consumer, and has no real attachment to the culture, but that I love anyway), so naturally it earns a spot in the upcoming "With A Side of Ginger" show featuring all of my sushi paintings.

Oh, fortune cookies. They usually strike some emotion, are curious in shape, and start a conversation. All are aspects which I strive for in my work. Above is one of three fortune cookie paintings, which I throughly plan to paint the fortune in a longer canvas to be placed under the work. As simple as it looks, the cookie was more difficult to paint that I originally intended The composition and subject, if not married well, were begging to be asked, "What is that?" Painting with a minimal palette and attempting minimal paint strokes, I went back and forth all afternoon trying to make it just right.

However, after such a struggle I got my reward. I opened the cookie to read my fortune.

"Your future is as boundless as the lofty heaven."

I couldn't agree more. Happy Friday.

$300.00 (+ tax and shipping) SOLD

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I'm Not Supposed to Like This

"Roe", oil on canvas, 22" x 28"

I spent most of yesterday painting sushi with roe, also known as FISH EGGS. The thought of fish eggs, the gelatin little bulbs that (unless you have Hollywood teeth) get stuck in your teeth for hours (and are not advised to be consumed on a first date... trust me, just stay away) make my skin crawl. However, much like painting a nude model, when trying to paint a subject correctly, I often get lost in my paint application, and the uneasiness of the subject slips my mind. The end result, if painted in it's intended fashion, often draws away from the once cringe worthy subject. This is another aspect of painting that I love: the ability for the paint and the canvas to show beauty in the most unlikely of places, simply due to the way and really art in which it was created.

Thus, on with the sushi... and I'll have roe with that.

$400.00 (+ tax and shipping)

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