in progress..

I'm almost finished with this painting..and thought I'd share a few snaps of it.   A grand opening to follow..

sal eats a ginger snap

sal paradise

The capture of Sal Paradise, my pet cochroach.

artistic references

An old child's leather shoe (and sole) and a couple of skulls I found while combing the beach. And a beautiful window display of a baby deer in Soho.  Awwww..lovely and just enough creepy to get inspired.

miss october

Here is another, "costume-made kid" I sketched/painted, using ink, conte and gouache on paper. She has many adventures to come..

class photos

I've had this idea to make "class photo" paintings on mini canvases, and last night I sketched out the kids to be painted. I'll post them again when I finish painting them. And I'm planning to sell them soon (each includes a mini easel!). I'm thinking "chalkboard" style, using only black, white and greys..

sweet sixteen

"sweet sixteen", 2009, gouache and ink on wood, 4'x5'.

"Sweet Sixteen" is finished and hanging out with more of my work from this year and some from the past, at Verlaine. Stop by and have a look! Verlaine is located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at 110 Rivington Street.

Murasaki

I introduce to you, Murasaki (pronounced, Moo-rah-sah-kee, which means "purple" in Japanese).  My new pet, and artistic reference..a beautiful male betta crowntail. :)

Playing Octopause

Last night, I decided to work on an older painting that I have neglected for a while. I haven't worked this large (4'x5') in a while, and got to work on the floor again, which I love!
This painting, amongst others from the past and many from this year will be on view, May 11th through June 15th at Verlaine, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
I've decided not to have an opening reception for this show, but all work will be available for your purchasing pleasure. :)

Elephant Gun

An old video from my new favorite band, Beirut.  All of a sudden, I'm inspired to make paintings of characters with animal noses!  I love this. (thanks Jill for sharing good music with me, love you.)

Coral Castle

It has been over a week since I've posted on my blog..but, I have a good reason.  I was in Miami!  One of my favorite places while there (besides visiting family and sunbathing, ofcourse) was the Coral Castle. 

 "The Coral Castle was built by one man, working alone.  It took him 20 years to build-from 1920-1940.  His name is Edward Leedskalnin.  Ed was born in Latvia in 1887 and died in Miami in 1951.  He was 64.  When Ed was 26, he was engaged to marry Agnes Scuffs who was 10 years younger than he was.  He always referred to her as "Sweet Sixteen".  On the day before the wedding, she told Ed she did not want to marry him because he was too old for her...

For reasons unknown to us, Ed chose to carve a castle of coral in dedication to "Sweet Sixteen".  What makes Ed's work remarkable is the fact that he was five feet tall and weighed 100 pounds.  The remarkable feat was in cutting and moving huge coral blocks single-handedly using hand tools..." (taken from Coral Castle tour guide pamphlet).