"SATURDAY NIGHT COCKTAILS" 20x20"

Based on my 6x6 inch painting I posted this month on the 12 I new it was going to be a prerequisite for the now "SATURDAY NIGHT COCKTAILS" 20x20 inch canvas painting. This is another for the Laguna Beach Art Festival this summer. I have painted the Frolic room four times over the years. Two being daytime paintings and now two at night, all giving me new challenges, each different with there own problems to be worked out so all four can stand on there own. I feel I am finished with this one but I will have to live with it a little longer to know... The challenge of creativity is to know when to stop and yet there are those moments when like a light clicking on, you're back painting... I love it.

"COTTON CANDY" 36x36"

Cotton candy, kettle corn, hot dogs, root beer floats, summertime.  We all know and remember.  That's what I wanted in this painting.  I used different photos in putting together the composition and mood I so sought.  The painting is in oils on a heavily gessoed canvas, the painting is on all four sides of the canvas.  The size is 36x36 inches by 1 1/2 inches in depth. Number four in my arsenal for the Laguna Art Festival this summer.

"HEADING WEST" 24x36

For me it was like finding a long lost friend.  This painting was lost in the shuffle of a galleries inventory, when the relation ended this painting reappeared and was shipped back to me.  Yes I to am at blame for not keeping closer tabs, but, it all has a happy ending, I got my baby back and can re-introduce it.  This painting came about from being on a road at the right time.  I was heading back to California when out of the corner of my eye I saw this red pickup coming down a dusty road, I slowed letting him get in front, as the truck entered into my lane I was excited to see the pillbox air-stream in tow, reached for my trusty camera, took one shot knowing my next painting was locked inside...  This is an oil on canvas 36x24 and will be "unless sold before" in my summer show where I know it will find a home. For serious interest email me. schwartzart@earthlink.net      

"EARLY SHADOW'S" 36x36"

This painting was a bit of a workout.  There were a lot of things to consider such as what do I paint first so I started with the sky.  I began with the sun and worked out from there moving to the left developing the yellows, oranges, reds, rusts and so on.  I then developed the tops of the trees and worked my way down the left side  and back across to the right with the shape of the foliage and back over to the sun.  Then came the foliage behind the tree trunks that I had not yet put in. I painted this part feeling  where the light might be coming in and through the trees.  I then brought the trunks down and began to develop  the mist and the shadows  until I was satisfied.  After that came the foreground of the dark grassy area and the shadows that moved across this part of the landscape.  Lots of drying time painting between wet and dry back and forth across the canvas.  Am I finished, lets just say yes, but I must leave it an open ended yes... you know what I mean.  This painting is 36x36.

"FIREFLIES & SOFTBALL" 36x36"

After looking at this painting for over a month, I felt something was missing, this thought began to build inside my head and after a week of restlessness I had the enlightenment of what I was going to to. Back to the easel the painting went and the changes began... First the rake fallowed by the softball, the ever so familiar plastic chair on the right and the kitchenette in the other room.. Oh! yes...soft lace curtains...  There! I can now sleep..

This is the finished painting.  Below you can see the some of the progression but this here is complete.  It is primarily a black & white with shades of gray giving a hint of color in those tones.  The red bicycle is the only real color and to paint this without having it jump out at you there is an under color of dark gray softening the red.  The 36x36" painting is gallery and wrapped and painted on all sides.   For inquires  

schwartztart@earthlink.net And for more on my B&W paintings GoTo