February Happenings

Key Bridge (February Reflection). 24 X 18". Oil on canvas.


Woman Reading. 16 X 20". Oil on canvas.

One of my new year's resolutions has been to stop painting from photos. The cold weather and the fact that I have three shows this month and a major solo show in New Orleans opening March 3 have conspired to keep me from painting outside much, though the above efforts have been satisfying. My three DC shows this month are as follows:

1. "Feb Four" at the Foundry
Linda Button, Lesley Clarke, Peter Loge and Edward Bear Miller
Exhibit Dates and Hours: Wednesday, February 1 - Sunday, February 26, 2012, noon to six.
Opening Reception: Friday, February 3, 2012 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm
About the Exhibit: The work of these four new member artists ranges from figurative oil painting, to mixed media on canvas, to conceptual assemblage.
Address: 1314 18th Street, NW, just east of Dupont, between Mass Ave and Connecticut.
Website: www.foundrygallery.org

2. House of Sweden hosts Georgetown Artists (CAG)
Exhibit Dates and Hours: Thursday, February 16 - Monday, February 20, 11am to 5pm
Launch Reception: Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm
About the Exhibit: Georgetown ARTS 2012, the third annual art show of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, showcases twenty of Georgetown's artists. Free to the public at a very spiffy venue with quality sponsors..
Address: House of Sweden: 2900 K Street, NW, just east of the Waterfront complex by Rock Creek.
Website: http://www.cagtown.org/

3. Dumbarton Concert Series at Historic Dumbarton Church.
Exhibit Dates and Hours: Saturday, February 25 - TBD. Hours after the reception tbd, though the church is generally open.
Opening Reception: Saturday, February 25, 2012 6-8pm
About the Exhibit: CONCERT GALLERY AND CAFE The Dumbarton Concert Gallery has a 30 year tradition of exhibiting the work of professional Washington area visual artists. A new art exhibit is mounted and for each of the 8 concert offerings. It's a one-man show to complement the concert by the string quartet Brooklyn Rider, which is performing works by Beethoven, Philip Glass, and Ljova. Get tickets and plan to party with me beforehand, during... and after! Sample Chef Jennifer Berry's extraordinary creations...mini tarts, fresh baked, scrumptious cookies and a selection of wine, beer, coffee and soft drinks available before the concert and during intermission.
Address: 3133 Dumbarton Street, NW (between N & O, just east of Wisconsin Ave).
Phone: 202-965-2000
Website: http://dumbartonconcerts.org

January in Louisiana and Mississippi

I am posting from SW Mississippi, where I've dedicated the last few days to producing plein-air pieces. Before that I was in SW Louisiana and New Orleans doing the same. Below are the more presentable results of my daily efforts. One of my new year's resolutions is to focus on painting from life, and I've really been enjoying that process as I work to fill out my offerings for my March show at Octavia Gallery on Magazine Street in New Orleans. The opening is Saturday, March 3. It should be a very festive occasion!

Mississippi Series

Winter Wheat with Long Leaf Pines (18 X24")


Bend in the Road (11 X 14")


Wet Road and Winter Wheat (12 X 24")


Pines and Pond (18 X 24")


Big Pine (24 X 12")

Louisiana Series

Painting the Live Oak


Live Oak (18 X24")


Far Shore High Noon (14 X 11")


Blue Abyss (24 X 18")


Painting Blue Abyss


Blue Hole Reflection (20 X 16")


Late Afternoon (16 X 20")

December Works

This has been a month of preparations for my January opening at the Foundry Gallery at Dupont Circle in DC. I repainted much of this "Waking" piece. I also have been working on new pieces for my March show at the Octavia Art Gallery on Magazine Street in New Orleans. I was delighted to have five pieces in the Art for a Better World exhibit in Miami Beach, a satellite event of the Art Basel scene. Many thanks to those of you who bought pieces there and who bought pieces from me directly recently.


Waking (30 X 40") oil on canvas


On Deck (16 X 20") oil on canvas


Christmas Tree with Piping (22 X 28") oil on canvas


Bayou Royale (40 X 30")


Below are two small pieces from August which I neglected to post. Revisiting with them and some other pieces that were tucked away, I'm resolving to stop painting from photos. Working from life is infinitely more enjoyable and productive.

Johns Brook Rendezvous (10 X 10")


Johns Brook Alterpiece (9 X 12")

Given that winter is fast moving in and I won't be painting outside much for a few months, I'm lining up a model to pose for me this winter. Look for that series to start emerging in February. This winter would also be a good time to line up portrait commissons.

Now It's November

I'm gearing up for my solo show at the Foundry Gallery here in DC (details are to the right). Much to be done with regard to that. In the meantime, I've produced a few good pieces I like enough to post. I'm mentally and logistically preparing for a series of petro nudes. I hope to start that series later this month.


Dumbarton Creek #3 (16 X20")


On the Hoof


Canal View #2 (From Key Bridge) (30 X 40"), sold.


Sugarhouse and Shadow (24 X 36"), sold

October Happenings

The moon was a big inspiration this month for me up north. The weather was wonderful and the moon allowed me to make some nighttime adventures that spurred me to give this concept a shot.


October Moonrise (9' X 1.5')


Left Panel of October Moonrise


Center Panel



Right Panel


October Moonrise among friends

And these are two portraits that were successful.

Study (16 X 20")


Summer Blossoming (22 X 28"), Sold.

And a wetland piece from the spring that I hadn't photographed before

Rising Waters (18 X 24")

September in Keene Valley

At the altar on the first clear morning of the month.


September Morning (2' X 9')


Autumnal Dive (4' X 6'). Commissioned/Sold.


In the old ice house studio with Fajito.

Hurricane Irene was a disaster here. Nature's power and indifference stood in beautifully stark relief against the will of the people of the villages of Keene and Keene Valley to struggle on together and cheerfully put their lives back in order... for the second time in six months! Nothing approaching the measurements of the floods of 2011 have ever been recorded here. I've done a certain amount of mucking out of barns and stores and storage areas in the valley as well as crop rehab and fence rebuilding at our local farm where I used to work. And I've done some painting, too.


Lacy Road Bridge. A regular part of my local bike rides, Lacy Rd is now a big beach. The big trees caught up in the bridge give you an idea of how high and powerful the Ausable River was during the flood.


Gristmill Road Bridge did not endure the Ausable's rage as gallantly. It was an old iron bridge similar to the Lacy Road Bridge. I will miss it and lament not having painted it when I had the chance. Here it lies wrapped around rocks 25 yards downstream from its moorings.


Summer (22" X 28"). Commissioned/Sold.


Cloudsplitters (18" X 24")
"Tahawus" is the Iroquois (or maybe Algonquin) name for Mt. Marcy (the pyramidical peak left of the prominent white pine), and translates "Cloudsplitter". The open-armed, upward-surging pines seem to take their cue from the god-like mountains, and my title refers to their state of being. I am also reading Russell Banks' Cloudsplitter, based on the experience of John Brown's family and the free black settlement (Timbuktu) in nearby North Elba. Inspirational work.

On a lighter note, my friend Autumn (no relation to Summer) made a video of Willy and me leaping off nearby Clifford Falls (between Keene and North Elba), where we biked with my dad just before Hurricane Irene.

August in Keene Valley

I've been here for a week. Produced some new work and dug up some older pieces that hadn't been posted before. I'm working on a couple of commissioned portraits and eyeing a big, blank 4' X 6' canvas of subject undecided.


Pool of Tomorrow's Yesterdays (Johns Brook), 18 X 24"


Pool of Yesterday's Tomorrows (Johns Brook), 16 X 20"


Priming for a big commission at the mountain studio.


June Wind, 18 X 24". Sale pending.


Summit Spirits on Skylight, 22 X 28". Sold.


Porter Between Showers, 18 X 24", Sold.