Transit of the Moon

This new painting has been accepted to this year's Oil Painters of America National Exhibition! The exhibition will take place at The Bennington Center for the Arts in Bennington, Vermont, June 7 - July 27, 2014. Happily, this year's OPA National Exhibit will be close enough for me to attend without flying.

Flowers don't seem to carry the same weight of symbolism that they used to carry in paintings, but just for fun, I decided to use night-blooming "moonflowers" in this painting. As an added fun conceptual bonus, these flowers belong to "the classic 'witches' weeds', along with deadly nightshade, henbane, and mandrake. Most parts of the plants contain toxic hallucinogens, and datura [moonflower] has a long history of use for causing delirious states and death. It was well known as an essential ingredient of love potions and witches' brews." Thank you, Wikipedia.

Oil on Linen, 18 x 24 inches

Detail in raking light

Spectrum 21

I'm quite pleased to have four works included in Spectrum 21: The Annual Best of Fantastic Art! The accepted works include this archer, titled Nelebrin Skirmisher, which I have not posted online until now. It was painted for the online card game called HEX.

Oil, 16 x 20 inches

Also included are A Bargain Kept (below left) and Falling Fire (below right) as well as one more image that I can't show you yet due to a non-disclosure agreement. Congratulations to all the accepted artists. I'm honored to be in great company!

Oil, 18 x 24 inches

Oil, 18 x 24 inches

First Place

This new still life has received First Place in the Daily Paintworks February monthly contest! Thanks to judge, Michael Naples, for selecting my piece. Also, thanks to my friend David of David Harrington Pottery, who made the beautiful bud vase featured in this painting. The original painting is available on Daily Paintworks.

Fallen Seeds, Oil, 12 x 16 inches

Crown of Foxglove

Oil, 12 x 16 inches

Available at Daily Paintworks