Windswept, 24 x 48, oil on canvas

This painting is from a collaborative effort with my twin brother Don. While here in San Francisco he shared a photo from the coast he took this summer. I liked it so much that this painting was created. During last visit here I did a lot of coastal studies which came in handy for additional reference.

Back of Home, 36 x 60, oil on canvas

This group of houses is on Home Street - such a great name for a street. Actually this view is from the back. The alley ways and backyards have become a rich source of inspiration lately. I'm influenced by the Ashcan School of painting and especially the NY tenements that John Sloan painted in the early 1900s. I also find it interesting that a guy from Lock Haven, PA became the visual voice of New York City.

Illuminated Peaks, 36 x 60, oil on canvas

October has always been my favorite month. It seems like the skies are more interesting, especially towards the end of day. Recently I noticed how the evening light was illuminating house peaks in an area known as Friendship. The idea of using cast shadows from objects outside of the image is something I've used plenty of times. Here the opposite side of the street shows us a street light, trees and roof lines. It creates the illusion there is much more going on but is only implied.

10th Ward Yellow, 32 x 42, oil on canvas

Pittsburgh has a particular style of architecture.  Some areas have skinny row houses that are packed together on steep hillsides. This is the case with the 10th Ward of the city. You can sense the claustrophobic environment in this alleyway painting I did last week.  To think I once drove through these places only to get somewhere else, never really seeing just how interesting they were.

Constance Morning, 30 x 40, oil on canvas

Next Saturday from 10 - 6 is our 7th Annual Lawrenceville Artists' Tour. It features 16 artists from my neighborhood. To download a map, go to http://lvpgh.com/  It is mostly a walking tour so you'll get the added benefit of exercise, not to mention see a lot of interesting architecture and new shops. You'll also see why Lawrenceville is the new, hot hipster place to be. And if you get the urge for some new body art there are tattoo parlors here as well.

Group of Three, oil on canvas, 30 x 40

This is another from the 10th Ward area of Lawrenceville. I was intrigued how the light carved out these three houses from the shadowed hillside. Since I've moved about a mile from my studio I can walk and more closely observe possible subjects. Driving doesn't do the same thing.

On another note, I just returned from a plein air festival in Wheeling, West Virginia. It is called Paint Olgebay, which is an amazing park, resort and nature reserve. I'll return next year because it is an excellent event. This year, despite rain and cool temps, 65 artists painted for the three days. Here is the website for anyone who may be interested. http://www.oionline.com/paint/artists.htm

Backyards, oil on linen, 24 x 36

I just moved to a new place that has some interesting views of the city. The distant downtown buildings are framed by the various backyards textures. It is a classic view and visually describes why this is such an interesting place to live and paint.