striped newlyweds (couple a day #15)

There are two full work weeks left until Valentine's Day and I'm nearly 'coupled' out. Ten couples left to go. I have to say, though, that this has been an excellent exercise for me. It's gotten me into the habit of posting, my posting habits until now have been sporadic at best, but better than that, it makes me think more about my work. It's helpful to be forced into applying a little verbage to a purely visual medium now and again.

Any-who. Today's offering is "Striped Newlyweds". As with many of the couple paintings, the actual subject matter here is entirely static...a little upright pair of figures with a horizontal horizon and some rectangular architecture behind. All of the action here comes from the big patches of underpainting, serving as organically shaped swatches of cloud and ground. While all of the elements in the composition are fully articulated, the spice is in the many purely abstract moments allowed to blossom all around.

It looks like they're standing on a rainbow.

"Striped Newlyweds", oil on masonite, 16" x 12", $375

on the rails (couple a day #14)

Today was a terrible day for pictures, but I think you can get the idea. This is "On the Rails" (oil on linen, 10" x 8", $300 (sold)); a study of wedges, rectangles, and stripes on stripes.

I finished something yesterday that has me tingly all over...something new I think. I'll post it tomorrow or Monday but I want to think about it a little more first.

gentlemen farmers (couple a day #13)

Today's couple is "Gentlemen Farmers", lucky number 13. The posture of these two characters is what drew me to this composition...they're both sporting a very natty, casual attitude. My favorite thing, though, was the guy on the left's tie tucked into his overalls.

Genna's underpainting on this one is a subtle gem. Well, the color isn't so subtle, but when you get a good close look at it has an overall striping underneath the soft oil wash layer that unifies the whole surface. Click on it for a larger view and check out the right guy's hat brim and shirt and the bushy areas to the right and left of their boots.

"Gentlemen Farmers", oil on masonite, 16" x 12", $375

emerging (couple a day #12)

Today's couple is an image that is easily in my top five most visited compositions. Sometimes I call it a variation of "Emerging", sometimes "Native Azaleas". It's been as small as a postcard and as large as a barn door, vertical and horizontal, chaotic and staid, peaceful and frenetic. Today's is particularly perky and energetic.

The reason I visit this composition so much is it's an excellent vehicle for improvisation. The couple is a little visual anchor surrounded by space that can be shaped and colored any which way. I also love the thought that they're a naughty little couple caught emerging from the woods.

This one is "Emerging, Entergetic", oil on linen, 20" square, $600 (sold).

luminous poolside (couple a day #11)

OH NO! I forgot to post my daily couple yesterday. Pretend today is Monday.

This is "Luminous Poolside", oil on linen, 36" square, $1800 (sold). I love this woman. She is so fan-tas-tically shaped.

I'm running behind today, so tomorrow we're going to pretend it's Tuesday.

striped in the alley (couple a day #10)

Every once in a while I make something that somehow I'm a little uneasy about. Maybe it's different in a way I can't quite identify, or maybe it's a little 'edgier' than the main body of my work. Sometimes those turn out to be ones I just never like and they get painted over. Other times they turn out to be pieces that are the beginning of a new direction. I think this may be one of those. I wasn't quite sure about it when I made it but it's growing on me steadily.

One thing I know for sure I like is that the couple has no paint whatsoever (what so ever?) on their flesh but are instead little people shaped windows into the underpainting. I love when that happens.

Happy weekend, everybody!

"Striped in the Alley", oil on masonite, 20" x 16", $450

leggy on the water (couple a day #9)

As promised last week, here is another study of my beloved 'leggy lady'. This one is "Leggy on the Water" (oil on linen, 20" square, $600). I've always been fascinated with this photo and how much tension is created with that flexed, extended leg. I want to take it on on a bigger format someday but haven't worked up the courage yet as it's one of those pieces that has to be JUST RIGHT or it won't work at all.

In this woman's defense, I do have some very demure shots of her, but they're just not as good!

Also, I posted the more professional pic. of "Boys of Summer" on the website this morning.