"La Paisible" for Jolie

inspired by jolie and the colors in her home....lovely and peaceful, 24x24 oil on canvas, dec.2010

risa and noah's bedroom

my first job with risa finkel (late eighties huntington, long island,new york) this is the high part of the bedroom over the walk in closet, risa wanted first blue /green tones but then grew into warm tones based on tulips(she brought some into the room for me to get inspired by)in time she was bringing in more colors,the tones are dramatic but blended almost as if the colors of the outside were coming in.it was a wonderful backdrop for the large beams and furniture in the room and i loved the way people looked in front of it.from this i started doing many homes and restaurants like this in the future(not always the same colors)i did campo de fiori restaurant in aspen like this  and when risa went to aspen with her family on vacation she walked into the restaurant and said"this is like my bedroom" risa did not know i had done it at first and we reconnected(the owners had told her my name)i have learned alot by painting and experimenting with her....you never know who your teacher will be,people come into our lives for a reason.

ANDREW and ABBEY(and the huntington lighthouse long island ,new york)

I spoke to christina and paul about painting their kids..wanted to paint the huntington lighthouse and andrew and abbey were both born in huntington,i was playing with the colors i found that day...the blue of the water was as deep as andrews jeans,his shirt picked up the white of the sailboat and abbeys shirt picked up the colors in the sky, they were both patient sitters for the photos i took of them.I left it on their doorstep christmas morning 2009. oil on canvas

childrens loft bed

in aspen co. was hired to paint these human like animals  for a childs loft,the background was painted first on the wall. then some of the characters were painted on wood attached to the stairs as if they were walking up,some were playing instruments ,dancing,even driving cars.all the other characters were painted on canvas then attached to the wall like wallpaper(so they could keep them in the future)it was based on antique fabric that the client had found and this room was for her grandchildren.

ELLE

elle rosenberg ....age three, i remember when i took her photo she was watching something out her window,it is painted in oil on panal ,on wood .

hand painted serving tray/angels

lynn wanted a gift with angels for a friend,so we came up with this hand painted serving tray based on a old tapestry.

hand painted table/book,key,postcard

was hired to paint this table to have a old green,black weathered backgound with a faux postcard,key and tom sawyer book,sold in watermill new york.

hand painted staircase

cicular staircase from a kitchen,i was like a snake painting this,alot of detail...painted every surface,all different kind of fruit would be shown as you would walk up,long island new york.

kitchen/sun room

it is right off the kitchen painted doors to look like weathered wood,colowashed walls and ceiling in a warm gold and umber tone,a border of hand painted fruit and darker tone below....loved having my coffee in that room,aspen co.

entrance to catherine's room

trees,castle then antiqued over....fun invite to a childs room.

faux bookcase on a elevator door

was hired to paint a faux bookcase on a metal elevator door (aspen co.),i had about a week to do it....something like this could go on for days.we went for a general feel of a bookcase,the metal door stood out to much with their warm decor,nice folks.

irish pine blanket chest

the owner of a antique store in easthamton new york wanted this blanket chest painted...it ended up selling to a gentleman who just went through a divorce(something about the birds flying in different directions he said)a new start, he didnt seem bitter though which i would think is a good way to get divorced.

faux cover light switch plates/outlet cover plates

faux painted these cover plates for designer todd heimel in aspen to blend in with fabric wall covering,granite and tile....it can make a difference when the plastic really stands out and takes away from the feel of room also for a artist matching the colors and design are excellent practice(i found small jobs like this made me a better painter),i use good primer and top coat for protection.

gail's bath

gail was away at work when i did this...i have painted for gail and john before so i gave them some ideas and a sample.painted walls,ceiling and panals on all doors including the bath panals.

CATHERINE

I painted Catherine in 2003 (she is in middle school now which blows me away) first it was just her and i showed her just to make sure she liked it...a little smile came to her sweet face .then i started adding flowers and birds, wanted to keep it soft almost like pastel and like something you would see in a childrens book.it is acrylic and oil on canvas around 20x40 in size.

WYATT

I painted wyatt with his favorite baseball glove(a talented player from birth)and his t'shirt that said mustard on it (he had two other shirts that said relish and ketchup) his mom said "you really captured a moment in time" oil on canvas 30x36

architectural digest/Natalie's chair

lynn palmer called me to paint some furniture for her client .the chair was natalie's when she was a child and lynn came up with the idea to personalize it with her name,it made it into the photo shoot, a small detail but a sweet one. this was '93 i believe.I remember a wonderful black and white photo of nat king cole in the home (that is in this issue)and i have loved both natalie's and her fathers singing ....how can you not.