Pearl Paint - in progress

Pearl Paint (in progress)
Oil on canvas
12 x 9 inches

Almost done, but not quite. Several months ago, when I heard that Pearl Paint on Canal Street would be closing their doors, I headed over with my camera and took photos. This was the art supply store where I used to love to shop for all of my nice new art supplies. The staircases were narrow, the aisles were crowded, but what an abundance of supplies to gladden any artist's heart. Spent many hours there, selecting my paints, brushes, canvases and everything else that I needed.

Many other art suppliers have cropped up over the years and the competition is tough. The passing of the bright red and white Pearl Paint building is just another fixture of my New York landscape that will disappear and I wanted to preserve the memory in paint on canvas. Still need to make a few more changes and adjustments until I sign and consider this painting finished, but I'm almost there.

A window in Little Italy

Pizza, Pasta and Prayer
Oil on canvas
24x24 inches

Fresh off the easel. I had the title for this painting before I'd even begun, which is very unusual. Worked from a photo I'd taken a few years ago in Little Italy during the San Gennaro Festival. Loved the juxtaposition of the themes of food and faith, an unusual window display to be sure. Throw in a few reflections of the buildings across the street and I had an interesting and challenging subject to tackle.