Couple with a Drawing of a Skull

Couple with Drawing of a Skull

6" x 7 1/2"    oil on linen   2011
Private Collection, New York

This painting will be exhibited in Nature's Helmet: The Human Skull, a group exhibition curated by Adam Adelson.  28 January - 19 February 2012 The Extension Gallery, Allston, MA.

Mughal Miniatures

In New York to deliver Dinner in Ithaca and two other paintings.

Dinner in Ithaca

25" x 30"     oil on linen      2011

While there, I saw an extensive exhibition of Indian miniatures at the Metropolitan Museum:      
Wonder of the Age: Master Painters of India 1100 - 1900.     (until 8 January 2012)

I've always admired many of these artists ... especially when their compositions are beautifully abstracted and the colors are vibrant yet subtle, and all is held together with a graceful and delicate line. In reviews and commentary about my work, the Renaissance and Expressionism are very often mentioned as significant influences ... but somehow the influence of Persian and Mughal miniatures has rarely been mentioned ... just once I think. 

L: Gopis Pleading with Krishna to Return Their Clothes
    ca. 14" x 9"   ca. 1635 - 1650

    Early Master at the Court of Mandi

R: Krishna and Radha Enjoy a Winter's Evening

    ca. 11" x 8"   ca. 1780

    Court of Guler

Women Playing Cards

Women Playing Cards  

diptych     each 7" x 5"    oil on linen       2011

Private Collection, Nevada

Adam in the Studio

Adam in the Studio
11" x 9"     oil on linen     2011

Private Collection, New York

Woman Reading

Woman Reading

10" x 9"     oil on linen    2011
Private Collection, Massachusetts

While working on this painting I was reminded of the Fragonard at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C: A Young Girl Reading. 
                                        

Growing up in D.C., the Fragonard was one of the paintings that the docent always shepherded us toward on school field trips to the Gallery... and always remarked on how the woman's little finger was so elegantly curled. Anyway ... is this my homage to Fragonard? I guess it would seem so. In my painting, the young woman is similarly posed, sort of, and has a similarly colored blouse, with some white showing. 

My biggest struggle involved putting in the text on the phone. The initial drawings had horizontal rows of dots and lines, and I thought to do something similar with the paint, but every attempt came out badly. Then I settled on the single curled line (did Fragonard’s elegant gesture migrate there?), and it looked fine to me. And maybe a bit amusing. 

A Young Girl Reading 

 32" x 25 1/2"      ca. 1776     

Jean-Honore Fragonard