My Studio Lighting

This is a shot of my studio. For lighting I have 4 florescent light fixtures that hold 2 bulbs each. I wouldn't mind a bit more light but I've used this configuration for about 3 years now and I'm fairly happy with it. 

I've covered the light fixtures with tracing parchment which softens the light. 

Each bulb is 32W Sunshine 5000k

                                      

In the corner I keep my still life set up and I have drapes around it to isolate the light.

Behind the drape I have 2 clip lights to illuminate the still life set-up but I really only use the one on the left. It has a 23W,  6500K, 1450 lumens bulb in it.

Cradled Birch Canvas Panels for Oil Painting (video)

I put together a video today about how I make the canvas panels that I paint on. I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!

Opening Tonight at West End Gallery in Corning NY

     This is a studio shot of my new paintings for the show "In the Spotlight" at West End gallery in Corning. The opening is tonight, Friday October 21st from 5-7:30. It's on view through November 18th.

Blending in Oil Paint (Video)

   A few people have recently asked me how I paint the backgrounds of my still life paintings so I put this together to try to show my process.  Thanks for looking!

New Paintings and Demo at West End Gallery

     I'll be doing a still life painting demonstration at West End Gallery in Corning NY tomorrow, April 24th, from 12-5.  Please stop by.  I'm bringing these paintings along with me.

2 Nectarines, Kumquat, and Blueberries 12x16, oil on panel

  

Lemon and Raspberry, 6x8, oil on panel

                               

Mandarin, 8x10, oil on panel

Raspberry and 2 Blueberries, 5x7, oil on panel

 

Some Paintings Headed to Principle Gallery

     I'm thankful to have been invited to participate in Principle Gallery's still life show coming up in April. Here are some paintings that I'll be sending down at the end of the week.

 2 Nectarines 9x12

 Nectarine, Plum, Kumquat, and Blueberry, 12x16

Pear 1016, 10x8

And this painting will be on view also.

Still Life with Blue Plate and Blue Egg, 24x48

Satsuma Mandarin, 2 Starfruit, and Cranberries, 24x36, oil on canvas

     I finished this about 3 or 4 weeks ago, just after finishing "4Pairs".  I wanted to build another composition working with this muted purple drape that is so vexing.  To look at it in my hand, it's a beautiful subtle dusty purple with a hint of red. In my painting it kept looking very saturated and synthetic and I hated it. I was able to beat it into submission after I threw out the dioxazine purple, but I'm going back to my favorite brown drape now.