Earlier this fall, the Portland art scene lost a beloved member of its community. Herschel McGraw, owner of Gallery 903, passed away suddenly. I have known Herschel since the early 2000s when he was affiliated with another Portland gallery that represented my work. He later went on to start Gallery 903, and I was honored to follow along with him in … [Read more...] about The Passing of a Portland Gentleman
The Passing of a Portland Gentleman
Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions
Painting objects using violet and purple shades is always a challenge because it is easy to land on the garish side of this hue. We have all seen a house painted this color and we say "Whoa! That's intense!" Another example is painted flowers and fabrics that make your eyes water. So how to avoid this error in the use of purple/violet … [Read more...] about Using Violet and Purple Pigments in Oils: Challenges and Solutions
Trompe l’oeil Painting and Loma Linda
Photos sent by my daughter from Loma Linda, CA became the subject of the latest 6x8 inch Iso-LACE-tion modello this week. Holly and her husband are there for a couple of months, and they were delighted to find fruit trees in the yard where they are staying. I coaxed her to send pictures. It took several tries to get the composition and lighting … [Read more...] about Trompe l’oeil Painting and Loma Linda
One Stitch at a Time
Making stitches and threads with paint has become a daily endeavor. The newest Iso-LACE-tion piece is finished and on the drying rack. In my studio, finished paintings go on a shelf to dry by means of low heat from a tungsten light bulb which accelerates the drying time. Although when you think about it, there is really no hurry these days. … [Read more...] about One Stitch at a Time
Painting in the Time of Covid-19
Like most of you, strategizing meaningful chores to fill time at home is a daunting task lately. Up until now, I’ve been clearing clutter, tossing dried-up paint tubes, cleaning closets, washing brushes, washing my hands, and oh the horrors - watching re-runs of Bob Ross’ Happy Paintings on PBS. Idle Hands and Demons Much more appealing is … [Read more...] about Painting in the Time of Covid-19
Joker in the Tulip Bed
When I first developed my Lessons from the Low Countries pigment project in 2006 / 07, I became completely in awe of the many glorious attributes of the tulip. Since then, I have utilized this workhorse flower for many compositions. The reasons for this are simple: it is one of the most breathtakingly splendid flowers in the world and … [Read more...] about Joker in the Tulip Bed