Two New Paintings

Finished in early December, Cosmetic Ads:  

Cosmetic Ads

2022, oil on linen, 24" x 24"

I was originally thinking of painting the walls with tones of yellow ochre. After finishing the clothes of the two main figures, however, I decided to go with blue. For one, the small areas of yellow ochre would have created a disturbance in the overall unity of the composition. And I've always liked working with harmonies of closely related colors. Aside from the skin tones, the only deviations from blues and greys are the green beret and the red lipstick which bring visual energy and tension.

The next painting, finished a couple days ago, continues with my enjoyment of closely related colors ... reds in this case ... with a green t-shirt serving as a counterpoint.

Handsome Demon

2023, oil on linen, 7" x 5 1/2"

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Four Women and a Demon

Four Women and a Demon

2021, oil on linen, 14 3/4" x 21"

Demons have appeared numerous times in my work. They arrive unpremeditated in the initial drawing of a composition, quietly arising from my subconscious – as do most of my ideas.

The meaning of this and other demons is totally up to the viewer, and from comments I’ve received I know the interpretations vary greatly; they can be humorous or evil, sexual or chaste, the representation of an internal dysfunction or of an external influence. Whatever ones see is what it is. 

I’ve long thought it best to leave the viewer to bring their own creativity to deciphering the meaning of a painting. A verbal explanation on my part would be limiting.

One of the best examples in my experience of divergent interpretations happened at the opening of my 1995 exhibition at the Adelson Galleries and involved the painting Pharmacy.

Pharmacy

1994, oil on linen, 9" x 9"

A man came up to me, pointed to this painting and told me: “You have a very malevolent view of humanity. You must be severely depressed.” He walked away without waiting for a response. 

Not that I had one. 

Fifteen minutes later, another man pointed to the same painting and said: “I love it. You have a wonderfully wry and profound view of the world and its absurdity.” 

A good antidote to the first comment.

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Subway Interior

New painting:

Subway Interior

2019-2020, oil on linen, 26" x 15"

In this painting, I originally planned to use a harmony of cool blues and blacks complemented by the warm note of the woman's blond hair. However, while resolving the advertisements along the top, reds began to predominate ... it's an unusual harmony and juxtaposition, but I think it works quite well. 

Subway Interior, drawing #4

2019, pencil on paper with yellow ochre pastel on reverse, 26" x 15"

Subway Interior, drawing #5

2020, pencil on paper with green oxide pastel on reverse, 8 1/2" x 15'

Subway Interior, drawing #1

undated, pencil on graph paper, 7 1/2" x 6 3/4"

Nadine with a Cigarette

A new painting of Nadine ...around the twelfth time she's made an appearance in my work since 1974; usually she's alone, though in four paintings she's with other figures. Since I'm counting, this is also the ninth painting I've done of a single individual smoking.

Nadine with a Cigarette

9 1/2" x 7", oil on linen, 2018

Three earlier paintings of Nadine:

Nadine with Espresso

24" x 17", oil on linen, 1998

Private Collection, New York

Nadine's New Dress

6" x 4", oil on linen, 2009

Nadine with Two Demons

7 1/2" x 4 1/2", oil on linen, 1998

Private Collection, England

And here's one time when - by way of three posters on a wall - she was transformed into a chanteuse:

The French Singer

28" x 36", oil on linen, 1998

Private Collection, New York

Little One

New painting:

Little One

6 3/4" x 4 1/2", oil on linen, 2017

The image continues my ongoing narrative of individuals with demons, devils, or imps, and in this case a blue goblin. I've often been asked about the meaning of these strange creatures that have appeared in my work with some regularity over the years, but - as with all my narratives - I like viewers to have their own interpretations of a painting.

This painting is a bit unusual in having no preliminary drawings. The composition was drawn directly on the linen.

Here's a painting from 1995 with two devils being served chicken nubs:

Woman with Two Devils

6" x 7 3/4", oil on linen, 1995

Private Collection, New York, NY

And one who doesn't need the presence of a human:

Demon with Drink

4" x 3 1/2", oil on linen, 2009

Two paintings in progress:

Two Women Feeding a Monkey, in progress

18" x 20", oil on linen

Playing with Mookie, in progress

10" x 10", oil on linen

Paintings from 2009

Smoke Ring
9" x 9"     oil on linen     2009
Private Collection, New York

Cherie Likes Yellow
4 1/2" x 3"     oil on linen     2009
Private Collection, Florida

Loretta Likes Tofu
6" x 7 1/2"     oil on linen     2009
Private Collection, Massachusetts

Subway Loops
40" x 50"    oil on linen      2009

Woman Smoking: Eliza

7 1/2" x 6"     oil on linen     2009
Private Collection, Maine

Demon with Drink

4" x 3 1/2"     oil on linen     2009

Donut Take-Out Window
6" x 7 1/2"     oil on linen     2009

Private Collection, New York

Paintings before 2000

Woman with Autumn Leaves

36" x 72"     oil on linen      1994

Private Collection, Michigan

Woman with Demon
6" x 6"     oil on linen      1992

Private Collection, Massachusetts

One-Shot Jimmie's
40" x 50"     oil on linen      1988
Private Collection, Massachusetts

Twenty-One
32" x 70"     oil on linen     1984
Private Collection, Michigan