Artist's Statement: This series of paintings of the odd, the curious, and the strange, shows items I came across in two curiosity shops in an historic district in Tampa, Florida. I saw this puppet set far away on a back wall in a curiosity shop. He looked like he had been used as a child's toy but long since discarded. To me, in the moment, he seemed alone and lonely with no other toys or other company on the shelf near him. I painted this puppet as an expression of some of m

Artist's Statement: Coelho’s statement fits the eyes of my son, who was the model for both of these portraits. As for the passage from Hugo, B’H’ my son is not poor, but those who know him would agree that the stars do pass through his soul. Mr. Cool Oil on Panel 18 x 24 in His Eyes Oil on Panel 14.25 x 17.5 Your eyes show the strength of your soul. Paulo Coelho The Alchemist What Is Love? I have met in the streets a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his c

Artist's Statement: The model for this portrait is the father of a woman who attended the Atelier School of Art when I did. The woman is a nun, who evidently embraces and is embraced by her faith. Her father is just as the title of the painting suggests – a genuinely good and kind man. Oil on Canvas 22 x 22 in Our humanity were a poor thing but for the divinity that stirs within us. Francis Bacon philosopher and statesman (1561–1626) When I admire the wonders of a sunset or

Artist's Statement: When I painted this portrait, the model was posing simultaneously for several artists. While ordinarily I determine the pose for the models I paint, this time I had to accept the pose chosen by others. To my eyes, Edward (the model) seemed very somber, almost like a judge contemplating a difficult decision. I struggled a bit to bring that feeling to my painting. I believe I succeeded because, when Edward saw the finished work, he asked to have his photo t

Artist's Statement: The subject of this portrait is the daughter of a friend of a friend. To me, the young woman is day dreaming, looking off into another world. Oil on Canvas 19 x 14.5 Beauty is the illumination of your soul. John O'Donohue, Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn Art as an Oasis™ Art as

Artist's Statement: The subject of this portrait is a good friend, in whom strength and calm inhabit beauty. Oil on Panel 19 x 23.5 in I will be calm. I will be mistress of myself. Jane Austen Sense and Sensibility She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; George Gordon, Lord Byron She Walks in Beauty Art as an Oasis™ Art as an Oasis is a series of occasional postings from

Artist's Statement: The model for this painting is now a fashion model in Chicago. While still in the Twin Cities, she posed for me for numerous paintings. One day, she arrived at my studio just after posing for a fashion shoot, still wearing beautiful flowers in her hair and an exotic scarf. I instantly took down the canvas I had been working on and set out to create an entirely different vision, which became this painting. Oil on Panel 18 x 22 in I know your soul. Everythi

Artist's Statement: In Shakespeare’s tragedy of Hamlet, the young prince confronts death, its causes, consequences , and meanings several times. On one very well known and eerie occasion – in a graveyard – Hamlet comes across the skull of a friend – Yorick. The questions Hamlet asks there are always current. So I decided to paint a modern Hamlet in modern garb but – reflective of the old questions – still holding the skull of Yorick. Oil on Canvas 31.5 x 33.5 in Alas, poor

Artist's Statement: During my visit to Tsinghua University in Beijing, a student gave me a tour of the grounds and further, off campus, to see the Old Summer Palace. We walked around the Palace grounds for several hours. There is a beautiful public park on the grounds where hundreds of people, families and students strolled and enjoyed the view and the calm and serenity of the park. When I returned to the States I had my model pose in a kimono I had bought in China, to revive

Artist's Statement: Liza is the daughter of close friends of mine. My husband and I have watched her grow up into an extremely intelligent, strong, determined yet fun-loving young woman. She travels, spends time with family and friends and loves life. She is a great model. I always get a unique, exciting and interesting take on life from her poses. She is a person who looks you in the eye and does not back down, but will end with laughing wholeheartedly and giving you a wink.

New Release! As an interlude, below is one of my most recent works, finished just last week – a pelican I saw on a pre-Covid visit to Tampa, Florida Aquarium. As I was staring at the pelican, behind glass, thinking of its beauty and captivity, I found the pelican staring back at me. Oil on Belgian Linen 30 x 24 in What, wouldst thou have me turn pelican, and feed thee out of my own vitals? William Congreve Love for Love, Act II, Scene 1 He wondered why the pelican was the sym

Artist's Statement: For the most part, my paintings seek to identify and accentuate the beauty in ordinary subjects. In this way, I hope to provide a temporary oasis from both mundane and monumental cares. Even in the best of times “the world is too much with us, late and soon; we lay waste our powers and for everything are out of tune.” Quote adapted from The World Is Too Much With Us (Wordsworth) Oil on Belgian Linen 24 x 30 in The sigh of all the seas breaking in measure

Artist's Statement: Oil on Belgian Linen 24 x 30 in Time is more complex near the sea than in any other place, for in addition to the circling of the sun and the turning of the seasons, the waves beat out the passage of time on the rocks and the tides rise and fall as a great clepsydra [water clock]. John Steinbeck Tortilla Flat A fragrant breeze wandered up from the quiet sea, trailed along the beach, and drifted back to the sea again, wondering where to go next. On a mad im

Oil on Canvas 24 x 36 in A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. Washington Irving prolific author of books, essays, stories (including Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow); perhaps the first true American writer There is a Fountain of Youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defe

Oil on Canvas 38 x 19.5 in Soul mates. They really call themselves that, which makes sense, because I guess they are . . . They have no harsh edges with each other, no spiny conflicts, they ride through life like conjoined jellyfish - expanding and contracting instinctively, filling each other's spaces liquidly. Making it look easy. Gillian Flynn contemporary author Gone Girl I'd like to be a jellyfish, 'cause jellyfish don't pay rent. Jimmy Buffett contemporary musician,

Oil on Belgian Linen 20 x 16 in Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments. Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds, or bends with the remover to remove. O no! It is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken; it is the star to every wand'ring bark, whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. William Shakespeare Sonnet 116 Oil on Panel 14 x 12 How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and bre

Shabbat Walk (Sabbath Walk) Oil on Canvas 20 x 38 in If you wait until you find the meaning of life, will there be enough life left to live meaningfully? The Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson author of Tanya and many other works Regarding the debate about faith and works: It’s like asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most important. C.S. Lewis prominent Christian theologian author including The Tales of Narnia Works in Progress Finding an Angel in the

Thai Buddha Oil on Canvas On Life's journey Faith is nourishment, Virtuous deeds a shelter, Wisdom is the light by day and Right mindfulness is the protection by night. The Buddha born as Siddhartha Gautama So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it . . . Qur'an Alzalzalah Verse 7 God is not a Christian, God is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems, which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of

Fish Oil on Canvas If a cat is a diagram and pattern of subtle air, then a fish is the movement of water embodied, given shape.* Doris Lessing 2007 Nobel Prize Laureate (Literature) * paraphrased to reverse the sequence Many … go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. Henry David Thoreau Calling fishing a hobby is like calling brain surgery a job. Paul Schullery contemporary conservationist, writer, and scholar Swimming Lionfish 31.5 x

In respect of Mother's Day Miriam Comforting Yocheved Oil on Belgian Linen Work in Progress Love is unselfishly choosing for another's highest good. CS Lewis If there are any heavens my mother will (all by herself) have one it will not be a pansy heaven nor a fragile heaven of lilies-of-the-valley but it will be a heaven of blackred roses ee Cummings God could not be everywhere, and therefore (God) made mothers. Rudyard Kipling Egyptian Princess Oil on Canvass 28 x 22 in Art