Work in Progress in the Studio

Did You See Me on ABC Television?

If you were watching Wife Swap on ABC Friday November 21 you would have seen me teaching an acrylic painting class to one of the stars. That's right, Denise Berwick came to my studio in September with a film crew and director from the ABC Television show Wife Swap. The producer of the show called me on a Tuesday asking if I wanted to be on Wife Swap by teaching painting to one of the stars. It sounded like a lot of fun and a good opportunity to meet Denise and the film crew, so I said sure. I had about 12 hours to prepare my studio for the film sequence that was featured on the show. Denise and the ABC film crew were very gracious and it was a pleasure to work with them.

You can actually watch the entire episode on line at www.wifeswap.com

Wow, now I can add ABC TV to my list along with PBS Nationally on Real Simple TV, Fox News Chicago, PBS WTTW Chicago Tonight, and Telemundo (my interview was dubbed in Spanish)., and National Public Radio (848 and All Things Considered).

Life is just full of surprises!

"Pilgrimage and Passages, a Spiritual Journey"

Here are views of my most recent solo exhibit in the Sage Gallery. The gallery is huge and can accomodate large paintings like mine. I love working large, the process provides an enourmous sence of freedom and expressive possibilities.

If you are in the Chicago area, please visit Crystal Lake and stop by the Lakeside Legacy Arts Park to see my show. While you're there come by my studio for a visit.

Tokens, Flag Vignettes

These flag paintings are 3 from a series of six. They are oil on canvas and each one measures 12" x 12". I painted these a few months after 9/11 when I saw tattered flags displayed in front of homes and businesses. There have been many interpretations of the meaning of these paintings, and conjecture into why I painted them I found these individual flags to be quite beautiful in their simplicity and power. Since I was raised in a military family, the American flag is a very dominant symbol from my past and still resonates with me today.

Dark Pieta oil 24" x 36"

Dark Pieta was painted from a very out of focus photo that I shot while on a hurried tour through St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. I love architecture and the contrast between the people at the bottom of the painting and the towering architecture. This is part of Pilgrimage and Passages, a Spiritual Journey.

"Faith Seeker" oil 48" x 60" triptych

"We humans are spiritual creatures by nature. Many spend their lives on personal journeys, pilgrimages in search of their spiritual selves" Joseph Campbell

"The Passage Between" oil 40' x 60"

On the train leaving Cologne, Mary and the girls were tired yet excited about the adventures ahead on their tour of Europe. I wanted to capture the unusual space and light within the train and the compressed space containing the figures.