PAINTINGS

Important Places and Spaces, 2017-2023

The Paintings featured in this section of the site are available for purchase upon request. They were made between 2017 and 2023.

Please enjoy the gallery as you scroll through. If anything catches your eye, do not hesitate to click on the image and see how it looks in a particular space.

CLICK TO SEE THIS PAINTING IN A SPACE

Much like painting, taking care of plants can be extremely rewarding. Both require patience, persistence, humility, love. Painting Studio with Plants, Brushes and Objects was made in 2017 at a time when I was only just starting to take plant care seriously.

7 years on, the woven tree has left us but the Croton Petra lives on. In fact, the Croton Petra grew so robust at one point that it had to be split into two separate pots. And today those two potted Petra’s continue to thrive in two different homes.

In a studio where paintings are being made, the importance of side tables cannot be overstated. This particular antique side table served the studio very well between ~2017-2019.

It worked as a muse for a number of paintings and drawings, a stand for paints, brushes and mediums and storage for the safeguarding of discreet or otherwise cluttering belongings. And at other times, it worked simply as a side table in the traditional sense.

Painting Studio with Plants, Brushes and Objects is one of the larger works currently on display in the paintings section of this website.

CLICK TO SEE THIS PAINTING IN A VERY INTERESTING SPACE

Time stands still on Grand street between Chrystie and Forsyth. Buses, taxis and commuters walk by. Some stop to watch the action while others don’t even notice.

The trees are green, implying that this is a memory of the summer. And meanwhile, floating in or above the trees is the great Diego Armando Maradona. It’s hard to imagine that with his busy schedule, he would be here at the field with us.

And yet there he is. With him watching down, those of us on the field may be hoping to channel some of his spirit and his passion. Better yet, we may be hoping for his divinity to run through us and lead to a moment of inexplicable magic or madness.

Maybe we don’t even notice Diego watching, though. For example, one day at this field I noticed a NYC Taxi put on it’s lights and pull someone over for a traffic violation. The car was a police car in disguise as a cab…

A moment like that can be horribly distracting when you are trying to focus on a soccer match.

CLICK TO SEE WHAT THIS PAINTING WOULD LOOK LIKE IN YOUR HOME IF YOUR HOME LOOKED LIKE THIS

This painting was made in the middle of 2020. For me, and many others like me, 2020 was actually the longest I went without playing a competitive soccer game in many years.

I had my memories, though, so I painted one. This is a night game at Murry Bergtraum Softball Field.

I like how the players on the field are all in motion. Arms are raised, some are sliding, some are asking for the ball. But then around the outside of the field people are standing still with their hands on their hips just watching.

And, as always, the ref is making himself very much a part of the game with a dramatic “play on!” shout. No question he will be getting an earful from the players on one team or the other after this action.

THIS PAINTING IS UNAVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND IS IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION HOWEVER CLICK TO SEE SOMETHING

Diego looms larger than life on the island of Capri, a popular vacation destination off the coast of Naples. 

There, he is worshipped like a God. Perhaps deservingly so. On the field he would do things that would make you stop and scratch your head and say, “wait, what?” To think he accomplished so much at a time when socks didn’t really even have elastic and would just gather loose around your ankles or clump up and slide under your foot… 

Off the field, though, he was flawed. He gave in to vices and he sinned. Sure, he was exploited and often taken advantage of by those around him. But the point is, he was imperfect. 

I think that’s why he is so idolized. He was just a man. Flesh and bones, tiny shorts, sagging socks, no sideburns (like me), leather Pumas with extremely long laces… 

THIS PAINTING LOOKS VERY GOOD IN A HOME - FIND OUT MORE NOW

The countertops in the kitchen are mostly cleared of everything, especially food. There is a bowl of lemons and a bread knife still on the cutting board, but otherwise, there is nothing. Coco was a counter-jumper. 

So with no food in sight or in smell, she’s able to relax. At least, she can relax until a delivery comes up the driveway or preparations for the next meal begin. 

THIS BREAD IS STILL FRESH AND AVAILABLE - GREAT WITH PAELLA

In Spain, it is very common to see men carrying a loaf of bread. It’s a simple but a symbolic gesture. 

When Franco was in power, carrying the newspaper of certain publications sent a message to the community of one’s political affiliation. I can’t tell you which newspapers represented which political groups, but I’m pretty sure that was a thing. 

Under Franco, the people and the economy suffered. Carrying that loaf of bread was an act of defiance, and the declaration of one’s willingness to survive.

Now, when I was in Catalonia a few years ago and saw that man, he was probably just carrying that bread to go with lunch. I imagine there may have been some dipping involved, either into a broth or some olive oil or something good.  

SEE WHAT THIS PAINTING LOOKS LIKE IN A MODERN HOME — FIND THE CAT IN THE PICTURE AND RECIEVE 5% DISCOUNT

I don’t really understand why we have borders at all.

But Borders and walls, no matter how strong or secure, won’t stop the spread of good ideas from one side to the other.

OK THIS LINK IS PRETTY SILLY EVEN FOR MY STANDARDS

I think part of the reason why I like interior scenes so much is that if you stare at them for long enough, they start to get pretty abstract.

Just shapes and lines and space and color.

At the same time, a room or interior is like an anchor. A viewer can enter that space, poke around, ask questions, and then leave.

I also really love the book Moonwalking with Einstein, which talks about how we have a special ability to remember spaces and places.

If I wanted to, I could store little secrets and stories all around these interiors.

LETS GET A SENSE OF THE SCALE, HERE

This is a very special little painting, in my opinion. I’ve always assumed it’s a family business with a few generations running the show.

Some of the scene in this restaurant is imagined, while some is real. For example, everything on the walls was, at the time, as was.

But things might have changed what with Messi leaving FCB and all. It’s a peaceful meal in a peaceful, but busy with the lunch rush, restaurant.

A seafood, of course. And the sardines, no more than a cm or two in size in the painting, were really quite something.

^ back ^ to ^ the ^ top ^