Alley Abstract

One of the benefits of painting on hardboard is it's affordability. I paid less than $4 for a 2x4 foot sheet of hardboard the last time I bought some, and since I can get six boards this size out of it, I have less than $1 invested in this piece of artwork, paint included, which I will gladly sell to you for $100K; a nice Apple-like margin. The real value, however, is that I can paint a piece like this; basically just playing around with paint without worrying about wasting a much more expensive canvas on it. I suppose it could be argued that without having to think about the cost of materials I'm given license to put out slapdash rather than thoughtful paintings, but then slapdash is my style.

12x16" 30x40cm acrylic on hardboard

Shaded Alley

This time around I'm giving shade pride of place. At least in the title. I can't paint light without shade nor shade without light. But I think shade is where it's at in this piece.

12x16" 30x40cm acrylic on hardboard

Misty Morning in the Lane

A rather simple painting, but I decided I'd just keep it that way. What the heck.

18x24" 45x60cm acrylic on hardboard

Sunset in the Lane

All about light again, this time a bit more warmer light.

18x24" 45x60cm acrylic on hardboard

Glow of the Day

An old familiar scene painted with a slightly different technique.

18x24" 45x60cm acrylic on hardboard

Late Summer Along the Bayport Road

A little cooler pallet this time: more greens less yellows. I've also raised the horizon line, closer to the classical 1/3 line than I usually do. Like the previous painting, I've done most of the work with a larger bush using a small one for the house and distant details.

18x24" 45x60cm acrylic on hardboard

Mars in the Abstract

I worked off and on all summer on this piece, spending more time on it than any 20 other paintings. And it doesn't show, of course. Hell, I might not even be done yet. But now that I took the photo I'll put a few coats of varnish on it and see what I think. My 5 year old granddaughter spent several weeks visiting and we worked on this together; she giving me her opinion and I teaching her the concept of "it", as in all those other previous versions were certainly not "it" even if she liked them. I'm far from certain this is "it" yet, but I've about given up hoping to finding "it" in this piece, if I haven't already.

24x36" 60x90cm acrylic on hardboard