Hello sunshine, goodbye rain! Ugh! I know we are all tired of rain, rain, rain! I am especially tired of it because I have not had many opportunities to walk around our beautiful Philadelphia and observe all its beautiful people. Today is sunny and dry, so I am putting aside all my work plans and getting out to OBSERVE AND RECORD what's going on! FINALLY!

I plan to come home with lots of ideas for you all to enjoy as paintings!

*Ha, sorry for the Beatles reference, but we saw the fun and feel-good movie "Yesterday." at the movie theater this weekend.

Let's get together this weekend...

Manayunk Roxborough Art Center's 11th Annual Juried Show!

I am an active volunteer at the center and this year we had a RECORD NUMBER of submissions! The juror did an amazing job and I can't wait to see all the amazing art and artists at the Opening Reception.

Sunday, July 21, 2019
Noon-3pm
419 Green Lane (Rear), Philadelphia, PA 19128

I will have two paintings hanging at the show:

"Alexandra in Paris"

This portrait of Alexandra, trying to "beat the heat" during Paris's heatwave this summer is fitting for the show as the Philadelphia area is predicted to reach record high temperatures this weekend!!!

"Song of Myself."
Celebrate Walt Whitman's 200th Birthday!

My idea for this painting came to me from a call for artists by Art in City Hall, an initiative by the Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) asking for visual artists to find relevance in Walt Whitman’s 1892 poem, “Song of Myself” and to utilize art to explore and reflect on contemporary social issues.

“Song of Myself,” is one of several poems published in Walt Whitman’s book, Leaves of Grass, 1855-92.

Walt Whitman changed “Song of Myself” a bit over the years. The poem was first published in the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass. The final poem is 52 Sections and was published in the 1892 edition of Leaves of Grass.

My interpretation of the poem reflects Whitmans’s views on the inequity of life in America during his time. Whitman communicates his torment and thoughts on mankind and the contradictions of democracy in the late 1800s. His words from the 1800s are as relevant then as they are today in the 2000s.

For my painting, I used an excerpt from Section 20 of the 1892 version of “Song of Myself.” 

I thought you might enjoy this charcoal study I made for the oil painting. I love working in charcoal - it is quick and rough and unforgiving as it is difficult to erase! Ha, with oil paint you can paint over and over again until well you either have it perfect of not!

The sketch is available on my website. Charcoal Pencil, White Conte Crayon, Soft Pastel on Toned Strathmore Paper. 9x12 inches. Retail price: $180. Email subscriber price: $140. Contact me if interested.