HOT

Year: 2012

Written by November 12, 2012

Robert Smith

Art Museums . Artists . Bio . Uncategorized Article

Robert Smith was an American artist who died in 1985.  When I knew him, he already was an elderly man.  He lived with his teenage son in Kettering, Ohio in a French chateau-type building that seemed the height of romance to a high school kid, which was what I was when we met. Smith was

Written by November 2, 2012

Thumbs-up: van Ruisdael; Thumbs-down: Renoir

Art Museums . Artists . Reviews . Thumbs-Up-Down . Uncategorized Article

I’ve loved art as far back as I can remember.  During the summer before First Grade we moved to a farm, and while exploring the barn loft (true story), I was thrilled to discover a bunch of painting gear—half-empty paint cans, rags, and stiff brushes.  I loved it!  I loved the smell of turpentine! That

Written by October 30, 2012

Hurricane Sandy

Uncategorized . Vermilion, OH Article

Hurricane Sandy came our way and mixed with the Nor’easter that was already pounding our shores.  This video was shot as I walked across our backyard.  Towards the end of the video, you can see the siding torn off a neighbor’s house.   Hurricane Sandy Pounding my Backyard

Written by October 30, 2012

In the Studio—10/28/12

Paintings . Studio Corner . Uncategorized . Vermilion, OH Article

The winds from a furious Nor’easter pound against the studio windows. Whitecaps crash against the shore one after the other with ceaseless regularity, their white froth nearlty reaching the studio door. They say this storm will join with hurricane Sandy in the next day or so. Inside it’s comfy-cozy. The only thing to complain of

Written by October 26, 2012

Smooth Move—Smooth Painting Surfaces

Shop Talk . Tips and Studies Article

All artists are self-taught today. It doesn’t matter if you have a masters degree or never set foot in an art school–everyone is on their own. The most important piece of painting gear my last professor had was a pair of fishing boots. His technique was to cover the studio floor with huge canvases, and pour

Written by October 17, 2012

Cleveland Museum of Art Staff Exhibition

Art Museums . Reviews Article

Ever since a significant part of the museum’s renovations was opened (as discussed in this post), it’s a hop, skip, and jump to the main galleries from the parking garage. Before the atrium was opened, visitors had to meander past a small snack counter (primarily a break area for museum staff) then navigate a bewildering maze of

Written by October 16, 2012

Stephen Pentak at Bonfoey

Artists . Galleries . Reviews Article

The Bonfoey Gallery (1700 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH) is the kind of establishment I adore: it’s an art gallery in the business of showing real, contemporary artists.  Places like it are rare outside New York City, and I tip my hat to them.  I make a point of visiting every new show as well as

Written by October 15, 2012

In the Studio Oct. 14 2012

Studio Corner . Uncategorized . Vermilion, OH Article

Another lifelong habit I have is working on several–sometimes very many–painting simultaneously. I will put a painting aside to be taken up later any number of times. I might work on a painting a dozen times or more. The net effect, alas, is that it sometimes takes a long time to finish a painting. This

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