Building Facade

A few years ago I decided to start a series of buildings from around Austin. This building is on 6th street. Of course I took liberties with color and perspective. This weekend is the second weekend of the Austin Studio Tour. I will be at Austin Artspace both Saturday abd Sunday. Come by and safely view and perhaps acquire some great local art.

Family Ping Pong

This is a scene from pre pandemic Austin on a typical weekend day. The photo that inspired this painting was taken on 6th street downtown. This is an outdoor venue with ping pong tables. When I opened the photo up on my computer and was able to zoom in on the people in their various groups. This appeared to be a sweet little family.

This is my rendition of the Grove Building in downtown Austin. I have never been good with perspective so I have embraced my fallacy and started to paint more structures. I think that is what art is about: creating and embracing your own vision and spirit.

This is another version of the Driskoll Hotel in downtown Austin. With this painting, I chose Khadi paper which is made in India. It has a nice rough texture. I like subject because its complex and forces me to play with perspective. Plus its a pretty building. Pre pandemic I would see this building a lot. Its across the street from the gym. I havent been to the gym since March. I'm not sure if I will return to the gym. Things have really changed. I continue to feel optomistic about our future even now.

Grove Building

This building is on 6th street here in Austin. With this series, color usage is intentionally unconventional as well as perspective. Stay safe and healthy out there.

Burger Above

This is one of the views from the Littlefield garage on 6th street. I painted this before those two cars drove through the garage cables and to the ground. I was attracted to the shadows and point of view. I'm sure they weren't.

Free Entertainment

The photo that inspired this painting was taken in early two thousand. The guy in the foreground was a down and out university professor and the background person was the "King of Sixth Street". I haven't seen him in years. Rumor is, the space was purchased by an upscale restaurant that didn't want him in front of their establishment. I thought he added flavor and he didn't beg for money. He just played his instrument and sang.

Brazos Hipster Crossing

I snagged the photo that inspired this painting with my camera phone. They just had to be painted. Their body language and spacing drew me to the composition. I started with an ink drawing to which I later added watercolor.

Corner Hustle and Seasonal Bloom 2

If you frequent the downtown area you will encounter many people trying to hustle money or your signature for a cause. I bet only tourists actually stop and engage with them.I was sitting on the steps of Starbuck's coffee when I snagged this sketch across the street.

Another addition to my "counter top" series. Daffodils painted from life in oil on Arches paper.

Afternoon Coffee

I made this painting in the Starbuck's at 6th and Congress last weekend. I was enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and sketching people in the shop. I liked how the people facing the window had the sun reflected on their faces.

6th Street Past

Years ago I got my haircuts over on the East side of Austin, Texas. Back then you didn't have too many hipsters. I've been here since 1990 so I have gone through phases in Austin. We have always had hipsters, now we just have more. When I roamed 6th street with my camera I found this guy in the foreground and the "King of 6th Street" in the background. Turns out that the foreground guy was a former professor at Huston Tillotson who had turned to drugs to resolve a heartbreak. I don't know what happened to either person as I rarely frequent 6th Street anymore. I have painted both many times. I first knew of the foreground character's history when I was getting my hair cut. He came into the barber shop and they had to kick him out. When he left they told me his story. I had also encountered him earlier the same day on the bus to the barbershop. That was my clue that I should paint him and I have many times.