Go greyhound.

Since I've been back I've been trying to get caught up on some painting commission projects, and also another project or two for pleasure. The following is a draft of a painting I'm doing for a friend and fellow artist of her adorable greyhound Sophie:

Sophie, painting-in-progress, oil on printed fabric, 10"x10" by me, Diane Feissel.

Raleigh art goodness.

Something nice of late to distract us from the misery of limbo brought on by a sloooooww real estate market: the recent acquisition of two lovely artworks by two of Raleigh's finest artists, Rachel Herrick and Joyce Watkins King. Here they are:

Small Bombs, mixed media, 12"x12" by Rachel Herrick

Encaustic/mixed media painting, 12"x12" by Joyce Watkins King

Surfed.

I had seen an earlier draft of this painting, and now I am super-excited to this image of the final version (see below) of former studiomate Chris Leib's latest painting. As it happens, the subject of the painting is fellow painter and surfer (and my former studio neighbor over at the Art Explosion) Kevin Pincus. Let's hear it for San Francisco painters, whooo!!! The painting below is available/will be on display via Cain Schulte Gallery in San Francisco and Berlin:

Surfed, 16" x 16", oil on canvas, 2008, by Chris Leib.

Joyeux Noel.

On my last day in Philadelphia, I had the thoroughly pleasant surprise of running into Philadelphia painter Scott Noel, for whom I worked for a bit of time back in the early/mid-90s. In addition to being an excellent painter, Scott may very well be the nicest person on earth. No, definitely is the nicest person on earth. No question. So, if you're ever in Philadelphia, be sure to check out his work - he shows at Gross McCleaf Gallery down on 16th Street near Rittenhouse Square. Here's an example of his painting, which is usually still life or figurative, or a combination thereof, sometimes with an allegorical bent, usually in his signature pastel palette. Enjoy:

Orpheus and Eurydice, oil on linen, 54" x 50", by Scott Noel.

Sketchy.

I made use of my train-time traveling on NJ Transit and SEPTA in between NYC and Philadelphia and New Brunswick and Jenkintown and Langhorne and so on and so on by sketching fellow passengers. It's that whole stealth, art-ninja thing... kind of like I was describing about my other blog in this previous post about sketching while on the BART train between Oakland and San Francisco. Anyway, here are some samples from the past week's sketching adventures:

Oh, and here's a little one of a jazz musician in Rittenhouse Square, in Philadelphia:

Philadelphia photo roundup.

Here are some more photos from the phabulous Philly experience:

A groovy mural, one of many in the city, likely a project of the awesome Mural Arts Program in Philly.

More cool Philly art: leftover part of an art installation for this month's First Friday event, up under the train trestle around 11th and Vine - beautiful little teeny lanterns. Apparently on First Friday it was accompanied by a mini-performance of people "playing" water glasses under there in the tunnel, for a unique acoustic effect.

Doron's cat, channeling the Crazy and going all postal on my handbag. Yipe.

I cannot - repeat, cannot - resist a turret. This one is in Northern Liberties, and I want it.

More turret, because I can't get enough.

Doron and a random mop lurking behind him.

FASTERMAN!!!! A.k.a. MILO. He's got a helmet in case he goes too fast.

More cool, old, urban, crusty architecture from Philly. I love it. Click on the image and check out the cool shape above each doorway - is there a name for that treatment? Let me know if you know....

Father/son negotiations underway.

On the way back up to NYC. I will always, always love this sign - it manages to be simultaneously boastful and whiny: Come ooooonnn, World, I always make you great things, and you always take, take, take, you never call, you never write, blah blah blah...

Phun in Philly.

I traveled down to Philadelphia on Saturday. Was supposed to go see Greg's latest paintings at his studio, but these plans fell through, alas... I did get to see Alex in his studio next door, though, and then another painter friend in the same building. Excellent painters, all, and good people too – here I am in in Alex's studio, and then Tom in his own studio:

Death by Art.

Tom in his studio.

Tom's art in Tom's studio.

Later that evening another friend and I were at a party and I met an artist who went through the MFA program at the San Francisco Art Institute but who now teaches at Tyler School of Art in Philly. She has some really interesting work, and it looks tremendously painstaking - large in size and done predominantly in ink, often ballpoint pen. Good stuff, check her out – her name is Samantha Simpson.

Earlier today (Sunday) I went to visit some friends from college who I haven't seen in over a decade (yipes!) – it's a shame that we lost touch for a bit there, alas. Anyway, they live in the northern 'burbs of Philadelphia these days, and I had no idea that area was such lush, and beautiful, and green, and full of turn-of the century houses, and all chock full of charm, and such – here's an example:

Wyncote, PA: luscious.