Happy 2024

 

I'm so happy that these paintings have all found new homes in 2023. 

Looking forward to seeing what comes off my easel in the New Year.

Wishing you good health, happiness, prosperity and most importantly peace in the year to come.

The Back Wall Gallery at Studio41

 

I am delighted to be exhibiting a selection of small paintings on Studio41's Back Wall Gallery during the month of November. 

In addition, I will showing newly created machine pieced and some quilted pillows featuring themes of the borough of Queens, Long Island City and New York.

The exhibition is on view from November 4-26, open Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5pm. Studio41 is located 1 block north of Queens Plaza. https://www.studio41lic.com/

 

LIC's Court Square Diner

LIC Court Square Diner Sitter
Oil on panel
8x8 inches

A new painting literally just off the easel. This diner is a longtime mainstay in the neighborhood and I always enjoy meeting an artist friend for lunch to chow down and talk shop. Back in the 1980's I remember seeing the artist Romare Bearden there as his studio was nearby. I will be installing this and other paintings at the cozy LIC Corner Cafe next week and they will be on view through the month of November. Stop in if you're in the neighborhood, have a bite to eat and enjoy the artwork. The fresh baked scones are to die for.

The Chelsea Hotel

 

The Chelsea Hotel
Oil on panel
8x8 inches

"I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel..." 

Listening to the great Leonard Cohen song as I painted this small study of the iconic Chelsea Hotel on 23rd Street. Shrouded in netting and scaffolding for years, I often wondered as I walked by what the facade would look like when it was removed. I'm happy to report that he old hotel, built in the late 1880's,  looks gorgeous and happily is still standing. So many creative people spent time here over the years, adding to its allure and mystery. May it stand tall on 23rd Street in Manhattan for many years to come.

Installation of Booth 14 at Superfine Art Fair NYC September 14-17

 

 

Installation of Booth 14
Superfine Art Fair, New York City, September 2023

Finished installing Booth 14 at the Superfine Art Fair NYC today. Smack dab in the Flatiron district on 23rd Street. Never having participated in a large art fair before, I'm curious to see who comes by during the 4 days and hopefully who purchases my work. Got lucky when getting the paintings over to the venue with the help of a friend as it had rained heavily this morning and it had stopped by the time we were to head over to the site. Thank goodness for small favors. With multiple artists drilling nails into multiple walls, the place was a cacaphony of sound. Unwrapping, going and down the step stool, raising and lowering paintings while hanging, drilling...my back feels the effects of the last several hours. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to the next 4 days of the Fair and hope it will be a good experience all around.

Superfine Art Fair NYC 2023

 

SB on 23rd St
Oil on canvas

I will be exhibiting this and other paintings at the upcoming Superfine Art Fair NYC 2023, September 14-17 at 29 West 23rd Street. This painting of the former Stern Brothers Department Store, built in the 1870's in what was once known as the Ladies Mile, features wonderful architectural details and fascinating reflections. I've included this painting as the building is just across the street from the Fair. A Home Depot now occupies the ground level retail space but this historic cast iron building looks much as it did when first built. #superfineartfair

For Fair info and tickets - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/superfine-art-fair-nyc-2023-tickets-694799151967?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

 

Blue Empire Reflections

Blue Empire Reflections
Oil on canvas
24x24 inches

Spotted some wonderful reflections on Sixth Avenue of a very abstract Empire State Building. Had a really good time capturing on canvas all of the undulating and distorted shapes resulting on this glass building facade. Always looking up to see what I can see.

2 Park Avenue South Reflections II

 

2 Park Avenue South Reflections II
Oil on canvas
24x24 inches

Last year around this time I painted a small 6x6 inch study of this building and decided when it was completed that it deserved to be fully explored in a larger format. 2 Park Avenue is a beautiful art deco building constructed in the 1920's and the detailing is something you don't see often anymore. The undulating reflections caught my attention and this subject was well worth revisiting.

On the Sunnyside of the Street

 

The exhibition space at Vital Arts Studios in Sunnyside, Queens will be featuring my oil paintings of the city along with handmade Borough of Queens-themed pillows through June 10th.

 

 

I've selected 21 pieces, both large and small scale works, featuring streetscapes, reflections and architectural details, subjects I revisit time and time again in my work.

 

Always nice to have an opportunity to exhibit my work and it is gratifying when people passing by take a moment to stop and view the artwork through the two large windows. I've gotten some wonderful feedback.

 

If you happen to find yourself on Skillman Avenue and 50th Street in Sunnyside, enjoy the exhibit!
 

 

A Chinatown Afternoon

 

Chinatown III
Oil on panel
12x12 inches

A colorful scene in New York's Chinatown caught my attention last Fall. Lanterns, flags, tenements and newer apartment buildings, fire escapes and a flying horse - lots of subject matter to work with. Having now completed 3 Chinatown-themed paintings I know there is still more subjects to explore and I look forward to capturing this vibrant and unique New York City neighborhood in paint once again.

Chinatown Balloons I and II

Chinatown Balloons II
Oil on panel
12x12 inches

 

Spent a delightful Fall 2022 afternoon wandering around Chinatown with two friends. The weather was perfect, great light and a terrific opportunity to take photographs. I ended up with 3 painting ideas and this is the 2nd of the 3 paintings I've planned to paint. The older buildings were brightened up with the green fire escapes and those bright yellow and green balloons.

In 2020 after the NYC lockdown due to the pandemic, Chinatown was a ghost town. A few years later I was glad to see that the streets and restaurants were once again busy, crowded and coming back to life.

And here is the first of the 3 Chinatown paintings. Just started working on the 3rd painting and look forward to sharing it here soon.

Chinatown Balloons I
Oil on panel
12x12 inches

A Tale of Two Bridges

 

Wall Street
Oil on canvas
28x52 inches
Sold

This first painting, Wall Street, depicts a downtown scene featuring the Brooklyn Bridge and was commissioned by an art dealer for a client back in 1983, 40 years ago! The other day I received an email inquiry from a gentleman who buys the contents of storage units and this painting was included in one of his recent purchases. Asking for information about this painting, I dug back into my files and provided the following information. Sold in 1983 to a company in North Carolina it remained there until the company relocated. It was sold to another collector who had it hanging in her son's room for many years. She wrote to me when she retired and relocated in 2007 asking for information. Fast forward to 2023, it was discovered safely stored in a storage unit and thankfully has found a new home. The gentleman who contacted  wrote: We find all types of things but this is 1 of the best items we have seen and will be in our personal collection, it is our pleasure and the painting is captivating! I'm very happy this painting has held up well and will continue to be enjoyed by this new collector.

Now on to the second painting, 59th Street Bridge Reflections II. Painted in 2014 it depicts reflections of the 59th Street Bridge (renamed the Ed Koch Bridge although most people still refer to it by its former name). After being exhibited in several gallery shows I listed it on the saatchiart.com site. Lo and behold, I received an email telling me the painting had just sold. Packed, shipped and received by a new collector in South Africa last week.

59th Street Bridge Reflections II
Oil on canvas
24x42 inches
Sold

Once my paintings are sold and leave my studio they take on a life of their own. They might have one or more collectors and tend to travel far more than I do. I'm always happy when I hear about their whereabouts and know that many of them will live on long after I am gone. Hence, the tale of two bridges.