Diptych Series "Inner Dualities"

This is a 2.5” x 3.5” inch Limited Edition ACEO Print from a Series of 10 Diptychs (Double-paneled oil paintings) titled “Inner Dualities”.

This is the third diptych in the series titled “Sacrifice & Hope”.

They are based on the idea that the essence of human life consists of opposite forces and inner states of being that need to be united within the human soul to move towards individual wholeness.

The subject matter in these pieces is mostly inspired by the human form, and include art history, portraiture, still life, nature, ordinary objects, and personal symbols. In addition, these diptychs use symbolic color and shapes.

To see all 10 Diptychs and learn more about them please click HERE.


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Why do Flowers make great subject matter?

"Each flower is a soul opening out to nature."

-   Gerald De Nerval

A short list of why flowers make great subject matter.  You're welcome to contribute to the list!

1. They come in an array of colors, shapes, and textures.

2. Flowers make willing photography subjects.

3. They are rich with meaning, symbolism, and can be incorporated into any artwork.

4. All you need is a vase or empty bottle to stand a flower up.

5. Due to  their symmetry and smooth lines you can take almost any material and shape it into a flower.

Flowers is a series oil paintings on wood now available from my Etsy store as artful mini-cards or gift enclosures.

Thanks for visiting!

Still Life Oil Paintings

My latest work in oils is a series of Still Life oil paintings.

I am attracted to still life because involves putting together an assemblage of household objects, color, and form into a thematic compositional arrangement.

In many of my still life paintings I use a glass of wine as the main character to personify the human spirit. In addition, I  like the reflective qualities of glass and how it distorts shape, color, and light. I am also interested in the interplay of dramatic chiaroscuro (light and shadow) on shapes and objects.

A number of my still-life paintings are concerned with the simple joys of life, leisure, and contemplation.

For example "Wine Glass, Pear, and Pansy"- is concerned with nature and can suggest spiritual growth or ephemeral beauty.

"Liquor Glass and Pair of Dice" is concerned with leisure time.

It suggests the importance of fun and games or the random or not so random (roll of the dice) experiences in one's life.                                                                  

In some of my still-life paintings I also allude to other artists or art forms to touch upon a specific theme.

                                                
For example in "Wine Glass and Michelangelo" I included two images to represent the cycle of Life and Death, represented by an urn inside a temple and Michelangelo's 'Creation' from the Sistine Ceiling.

These still life paintings are meticulously painted with fine haired brushes and take approximately 4 weeks to complete depending on the complexity and detail of the composition. They are painted on wood panel or art board to ensure the works longevity and they range in dimension from 8.5" x 10" to 20" x 16" inches.