Geronimo!

Me and my appaloosa...

Myself

I used to be terrified of portraits. I didn't like looking at people I didn't know. But I think, now, they are my favorite type of art. It takes a real artist to capture another person. Who can deny the mesmerizing pull of a Chuck Close painting? And it is even more difficult to try and capture yourself. An interpretation of the subject by the subject itself is the most fascinating of all possible stories told by the artistic medium, be it paint, pen, clay or camera lens. Frida Kahlo, Van Gogh. It's like spying on a person's inner most secret... how he sees himself. He's letting you in, but only the truth he wants you to see. Or is there more? Or is it all a lie? Such a beautiful, intimate, mysterious dance - and it's staring us right in the face.

A self portrait is very difficult for me to paint. It opens my art up to not only criticism of my technique (since I am the painter), but criticism of me (since I am the painting). Unfortunately, it's also the art I find the most pleasure in creating. It's cathartic. It's part of who I am. It's extremely personal for obvious reasons, and yet sometimes when I am done, I don't see myself in the picture at all.

I have done about 7 self portraits in the past 13 years. I will post them all here eventually. These I did while living in Miami between 2002-2003.

Mini Art

Here is a portrait of my aunt and her family... 8x10 acrylic on paper which makes the family about 1x3 max, 1/10 brush, magnifying glass to get all the details right. I got the "from up above" angle of the family by standing on an SUV to take the original photo - they were in their driveway - in Santa Barbara. The concept of this portrait is easier when the sun cooperates so I can stay accurate with the shadows and shading.

Here is a close up:

Animals

A few pet portraits I did for friends...

New Year, New Art

Welcome to Klik Gallery. Just a place to show my art. If you see something you like, make an offer. I believe art should be real (no prints or posters), affordable and accessible.

I started the mini-portrait series about three years ago. This one is my sister's family. I take the photographs myself and then paint them from my original picture, so I can control the entire process from angle and composition to final arrangement. Most of the finished sizes are 8x10 (I like the white space to complement the color and intricacy of the characters) with the family at only 1x2. Very small. I use a magnifying glass and a 10/0 brush to capture all the detailing.

Here is the close up:












Here is the entire painting: