"Kandinsky And Thiebaud Arrange Breakfast At McHappy's" takes Best in Show Award!

"Kandinsky And Thiebaud Arrange Breakfast At McHappy's" 36" X 48" Oil on Canvas

I have always thought that food, in all its many forms, is beautiful.  Whether it's an ornate wedding cake or a ripe apple, the diverse shapes, colors and textures of food excite my artistic interest and nourish my creative soul.

In painting this work, I salute the ordinary donut (which I find irresistible) and pay homage to two artists whose work I admire.

The grid composition is borrowed from Wassily Kandinsky's "Farbstudie," a print of which hangs in my studio.  The donuts brought to my mind Wayne Thiebaud's beautiful paintings of pastries.  I began to imagine these two artists meeting for breakfast at my local McHappy's; what might have resulted at their table?

I have never had more fun completing a painting - it was pure McHappyness!

This piece is on display at the Parkersburg, WV Art Center where it was awarded Best In Show in the Regional Exhibition.  The theme for this year's show is "YUM!"  I think I hit the nail on the head.  Stop in and see the show between now and July 31, 2015.

"All Fall Down"

"All Fall Down" won an Award of Excellence in the WVWS Aqueous 2015 National Juried Exhibition at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling West Virginia.  The show runs Thursday, July 2 through August 21, 2015.

This piece is about impermanence, not just in the physical sense, but in life.  "All Fall Down" is an off kilter world where the sky may be falling, or is it a landslide with rushing water?  As in life, sometimes it's hard to know which way is up!

"Waiting"

"Waiting" juried into WVWS Aqueous 2015

"Waiting" is on display in the WVWS Aqueous 2015 National Juried Exhibition at the Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling, WV.  The show opens July 2 and continues through August 21, 2015.

Sometimes it's hard to know when a piece is finished.  I propped this one on the easel and studied it for a couple of months, trying to decide what, if anything, would bring it to its proper finish.  I finally decided that I loved it the way it is - it just took some waiting...

"Off The Deep End"

"Off The Deep End" juried into Tamarack's Best of WV 2015

This is my second time in the Best of West Virginia Exhibition at Tamarack's David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery in Beckley.  If you are ever passing through the Beckley area, be sure to stop for a visit.  The fine art and craft on display there are something for all West Virginians to take pride in.  It's a true gem in the mountain state.  "Off The Deep End" will be on display until August 9, 2015.