"josie"s room"

          After i painted campo de fiori restaurant in aspen for Elizabeth i went to her niece Josie in snowmass!!! love her and here she is on the ladder while i was painting, she would tell me what she liked and she helped me with ideas....her room needed some organizing which got done and her mom ordered new furniture, we used some things they already had like the curtain rods from another room and because her ceiling is high her dad put up a strong shelf with shelf brakets with a pattina finish that we left that had a bird on them and this seemed to fit with the tree that i painted...a whimsical feel with all different colored leaves ( i have to say i really thought of my artist friend cathy nichols when i did this reminds me of her work) Josie's brothers josh and aiden got in on picking some colors as well .Josie is smart and fun..it was a pleasure to make her feel special.

"campo de fiori restaurant aspen"

                    Elizabeth called me to repaint her restaurant that i originally painted in 1994. this was a remodel of sort's or a facelift. I had not been back since i moved in 2003 and it was great to be back and create with Elizabeth once again. These photo's dont do it justice ....i repainted the faux colorwashing on the wall's in a golden lighter tone then before,repainted the window frames to have a more industrial metal faux finish,repainted the bathroom,woodgrian the doors to the restroom and coat check room,painted a smaller pear tree in dinning area, a kind of tree of life on another wall in the far end of dinning room and painted about three hundred ceiling tiles(that look like old tin) which i antiqued in three different tones as well as a highlight of gold that the light pics up softly and painted aspen tree's on a large access panel to cover a door in bathroom and a 24x24 aspen mountain painting.I worked long days with breaks to space myself and i ran into old friends and met with ravenheart gallery who just received my six ocean/wave paintings. Elizabeth cooked great meal's for me and at the end when i got sick ( a bit disapointed and it was draining me) she and her sister michelle used natural remedies to get me healthy again...finally!! it lingered for two weeks.This remodel was the most peaceful i have ever experienced....well done Elizabeth. The locals really appreciated the new look and i was happy to have stayed longer to paint for Elizabeth sister michelle and husband ross, their kids and then their grandparents.I believe we changed my ticket three or four times.Campo de Fiori does so well!!! they were packed and dave the manager really does a great job,the staff is wonderful ...a big family. The food is great! different vibe then most places.... it is more of a event, gathering you will meet a new friend there.

                                    

" my special place"

                   39x48 acrylic and gesso on masonite, part of a series....I am working with the paint in a way for it to have a large watercolor feel from ( I feel) a vintage childrens book. the daughter of my friends michelle and stephen lee is the model, she is a very funny little girl.

"fish in my room"

                   little Nicolas in his room reading a book about fish. 24x49 acrylic and gesso on Masonite. this has to do with remembering to use our imagination and what it is like to keep our inner child alive.

" we will carry you while you search and dream"

        Working on a series of painting's of children, this is 41x48 acrylic and gesso on panel. I finally figured out how i will frame them by glueing exact pieces of wood to the back and then painting the sides or i may cap the sides with rough saw pine, very simple. I really dont like ornate framing...it depends. The children that were the models for this piece are the children of artist cathy nichols (a wonderful soul and painter)

for Linda and Marty

                                Linda found a seascape of mine at scarsella's....she wanted the same feel of the canvas she spotted but needed one larger. this is 42x66 oil on canvas, nice couple. centerport n.y

Austin on his bike

My little friend Austin.....I painted this based on some photo's i took of him while he and his family were moving into their new home. 48x40 acrylic and gesso on panel.