This is for my friend, Cousin Betsy. 

We're having a discussion about zinnias.

Back in 2004 (or so), I received an Artists Crossroads grant 

from the New York State Council on the Arts. 

Diane and I set up a 15 foot wide piece of drawing paper

in the Chemung County Transportation Center .

I created a "coloring book" with india ink, 

and colored it in with wax crayons.

Here are the installation shots:

And, here are the finished sections. 

Recent work: Zinnia, oil on shaped panel, approx. 45 inches round

Ithaca Artists Market 2012

This past Friday was the annual Ithaca Artists Market. For the fourth year, I have been fortunate to have been awarded a booth in this prestigious regional arts event. This year was a little different, especially for me and Diane, because it came on the heels of the Elmira Tornado (see previous post). Needless to say, we were preoccupied and dazed, but, the show must go on.

I apologize for the few snapshots (and their questionable quality). We were moving in slow-motion. These pics were taken at the beginning of the day, hence the light crowds. As usual, it was well attended. 

Great (great!!) conversations, and yes, a nice sale sent me home happy. All is well in artland.

Dee Sprague and Nancy Boyce's booth at the entrance.

Carlton Manzano wowing the crowd with his plein air beauties.

Anne Foulke with some exciting ceramic tiles.

Alice Muhlback AKA Spirit and Kitsch. I saw one of hers carried off by a happy patron.

Dense and colorful paintings and tactile ceramics by Gary Bercow.

The elegant Liz Tilley dazzled her audience.

Jolene Lyon and Nancy Crane graced a booth together.

And, here's my pad. I decided to show representational art for a change.

Of course, everybody wanted to see my minimal work. What are you gonna do?

Elmira Tornado

On Thursday afternoon last week, Diane and I were in Corning. I had a meeting on top of Spencer Hill and Diane was at the Corning Library. About 3:30PM the storm blew through Corning, wild and woolly. It was just gaining momentum. Minutes later the tornado formed fully just west of Elmira and the funnel carved a path following the Chemung River. Golden Glow and West Elmira felt it first, then the north city. It turned south and rampaged through the Eastside, right over our house. 

It crossed the river and laid waste to Maple Avenue, Brand Park, Janowski Gardens, and countless trees and houses. Miraculously, no one was killed. The winds seemed to do the most damage to the trees, and the trees wrecked and crushed the houses. Roofs were torn off. 

Few people who live in upstate New York have any experience with this kind of dangerous weather. The warnings were barely recognized and ignored by many. Like I said, it's a miracle no one lost their life. 

Here are some snap shots that we made Friday morning and Saturday while driving between home and the gardens.

Our house was saved by the big school across the street.

This shed roof at I.D. Booth butts up to our roof.

More of the shed attached to our house.

Around the corner from us. The Peter Biggs Soap Works, built in 1850.

Tootsie's house, corner of William & Second.

Up the block, corner of Fifth and Lake.

On our way to Janowski Gardens we passed Brand Park.

Looking down Esty Street.

The Brand House.

The Christmas House structural damage.

The Burnham's house. An 80 year old oak tree crushed their roof.

Diane with the oak. 

Snapped off halfway up.

Across the street from Janowski Gardens.

Diane and Bob consider the task. (Actually, they're probably talking about the weather.)

One inch of rain in fifteen minutes. The winds took half the trees in the woods.

So that we don't end this blog post completely depressed, while Diane and her dad talked, I walked through Bob's zinnia patch and took these pictures. Enjoy.

This one sports a bumblebee.

Ithaca Artists Market 2012

Once again, I am pleased to have been included in the lineup at the Ithaca Artists Market. We're packing up the art, printing new signs, and preparing for another fun day.

This Friday, July 27th, the Ithaca Farmers Market will be converted into the most exciting regional art fair. Doors open at 2PM. We'll be there visiting with friends, patrons, artists, musicians, and performers until 8PM.

Great food. Intriguing artworks. Fun for the whole family.

I'll be showing my representational artworks for a change.

Deep Fried Manet, watercolor on paper, 26 x 55 inches

Zinnia, oil on shaped panel, approx. 45 inches round

Marquee, oil on linen, 24 x 60 inches

Hope to see you there. Bring friends. Bring cash. (We even take credit cards!)

echo: Art Fair

I'm going to the show !


Yes, at the very last minute, I was awarded a booth at the upcoming venue in Buffalo,


echo: Art Fair


I've been so excited that I have barely touched down for over a week. It's been a mad scramble to decide what artworks to display, finish the framing, design and order postcard handouts, retool my portfolio, choose wardrobe, construct a pedestal for the booth, etc.

Diane made some changes to my website (Thank you, Diane!). I built a model of my booth (see below)  to help visualize the layout. I'm taking four artworks. Doesn't sound like a lot, until you realize that one is a septych and one is a sextych.

So, you're all invited. July 7 and 8, 9:30AM to 5:30PM both days at the Larkin Center of Commerce, 701 Seneca Street in Buffalo, NY.


41 booths. 27 individual artists and 14 galleries (representing another 50 artists). It'll be a great show.



I am so jazzed !

The Language of Fire

The Language of Fire

in the Spotlight Gallery at

The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes

May 25 - July 20, 2012

32 West Market Street

Corning, NY

My entries are a slight diversion from my usual scribblings. 

Using one of my favorite media, wax crayons, 

I torched them on zinc plates. 

Torched the frames, too. 

Night Fire

Out of Control

The process:

Watercolor Respite

The oil paintings that I'm currently working on needed a couple days drying time, so I switched back to watercolor mode. Here's a shot of the palettes, followed by two paintings.