Winter Small Works 2024

drawing 9 x 12" The ink drawing of the Lumberville, PA Foot Bridge is a simplified, almost Zen like attempt to honor an early suspension cable bridge designed by John A. Roebling, the architect of the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling was the inventor of the suspension cable and needed to test the cables to make sure they were strong enough to sustain a bridge. The first suspension cable bridge he designed was the foot bridge located in Lumberville PA. Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

mixed media 12 x 12" I enjoy layering in all forms to give my work texture and depth using different mediums and collage elements building on each other. Each layer affects and can transform the previous one. The layers can be a metaphor for life.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

pastel 12 x 9" There are two ways I approach my paintings. With abstract paintings, I start with no plan. I start with mark making, texture and/or paints, inks, etc. and let my intuition guide me. I may use acrylic, oil, ink, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, or all, along with many materials I’ve collected to add texture. I love this approach because it is so freeing. I love the play of bright colors against neutrals, dark against light, texture against smooth. I may end up with a painting I like or I may not. If not, I keep working and adding layers/scraping away until I do. Painting like this sometimes seems to be about solving problems, using my technical skills, letting my intuition guide me. With abstracts, I'm usually inspired by a strong emotion I'm feeling. The visual has more of an impact in expression than words do. The mind is too involved with words, but with visuals, so many senses and subconscious feelings come into play. I paint landscapes by planning a scene that captures; playing with different color schemes that best express what I see, doing sketches to determine the best layout and composition. The painting may or may not follow the course I planned. I get excited about the contrast between shadows and light coming from behind, or the surprising amount of color in an ocean wave, or the moodiness of a sky. Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

drawing 15 x 14" This pen drawing is inspired by our world situation and offers an alternative. I make the Chinese characters for man and woman come alive to create my figures.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

acrylic 9 x 12" My work is about finding connections through shared places and experiences. I see beauty in the ordinary. I find inspiration from roadside relics, abandoned alleyways and faded and rusty signage. Often forgotten or overlooked, these places have stories to tell.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

sculpture 11.75. x 7.25 x 3" My ceramic work is defined by my love of the human form. A childhood love of fantasy finds its way into my work. I express the absurdity of life while drawing influence from unexpected sources like the lyrics of music and nursery rhymes. I have a clear vision of a finished piece before I start. With this idea in mind I immediately start with a combination of wheel thrown pieces, coils and slabs. I alter by pinching, cutting and adding clay until my idea emerges. My pieces are decorated with colored slips and underglazes while still wet. After the 1st firing I add pigmented washes and glazes. My 2nd firing is to 2232°. The last firing to add 24k gold details completes the process.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

acrylic 11 x 10" In the hushed embrace of winter, where nature weaves a tapestry of solitude with its icy tendrils, my creations emerge as reflections of the quiet storm within. Winter, oft perceived as a season of retreat, becomes the crucible for a transformative dance between isolation and inspiration. As we seek refuge indoors from the tempestuous storms that sweep across the landscape, an introspective sanctuary unfurls, cultivating an environment where solitude metamorphoses into the catalyst for unrestrained creativity. This piece is an exploration of the delicate balance between the tranquility of seclusion and the tumultuous beauty of unleashed imagination. Each stroke, each contour, is a testament to the nuanced interplay between the serenity of winter's embrace and the tempestuous bursts of creativity that arise when the world slows down.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

pastel 12 x 12" I love capturing the essence of life with my art. Using distinctive coloring technique and imaginative approach, I depict the subtle lights, reflections and hidden hues on the subjects. The subjects are either close to my heart, telling a story, or from a memorable moment. Sweet Rain shows a rainy Christmas day in LA.    Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

mixed media 9 x 9" If you see a woman walking and occasionally swooping down to pick up a shiny metal object, a sparkling gem, or an interesting piece of metal or plastic, it could be me. I am constantly searching for treasures on the street, at flea markets, in thrift stores, in discarded jewelry, in the trash room in my co-op, and anywhere I go. When I get home, I soak the day’s finds in detergent, rinse and dry them, then squirrel them away in clear plastic boxes and drawers, along with things I purchase, that fill my studio waiting to be turned into a collage, assemblage, or mixed media art piece. I get my inspiration from lots of sources, including museums and galleries, magazines and books, art classes, artists, and my imagination and dreams. I constantly teach myself new techniques, experiment with ways to work with different materials, and share ideas. Many of my pieces come about serendipitously, trying one thing and ending up with something unexpected and wonderful, which is what happened for the pieces I am submitting.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

oil 8 x 10" Irina’s work is driven by passion to explore and celebrate life. She is searching for beauty, balance, harmony and the ideal, following the philosophy of the great Russian writer Leo Tolstoy who believed that “beauty will save the world.” Art has always been Irina’s salvation and the fountain from which she could draw inspiration, strength, love and serenity. Irina is working primarily in oils in various genres, including portraits and figurative work, florals, still lives and landscapes. Recently she is exploring pastels, a new medium for her, which is experiencing Renaissance in the United States and which has been more widely adopted in Europe. Irina is also using digital media as her tool of storytelling to touch the audience’s hearts. Being equally good in traditional media and in digital arts, Irina explored a newly found ground in digital illustration by writing, illustrating, designing and publishing a new children’s book Balloon at Noon and Other Stories. Irina’s main influences, at least for the moment, are the Florentine Renaissance painters of the 16th century Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto, Veronese, Titian, among others. She has found it gratifying to rediscover realism and to dedicate time to study and observe form, light and color. She is painting and drawing live models again to explore the subtle shadows, softness, and warmth of human flesh, as well as the texture and radiance of everyday objects. It feels as though it took Irina a long time, down an ever-winding road, to become a fine artist. There were many detours along.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

printmaking 5.25 x 6" Printmaking has a huge number of subcategories. Among other techniques, I enjoy both carving plates (as in linoleum, gomuban or woodblock) and inscribing them (as on metal or plexiglas). Then of course, next comes printing them in varied colors, combinations or papers, sometimes adding another medium, such as watercolor. Inspirations are varied, often reflecting the moment of time, place and activity, whether domestic, nature, sport or music. Engaging in artistic reflection is a way to improve observation, capture a memory, and invite a viewer to see through one's eyes. Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

sculpture 14 x 15 x 7" I created Healing Hands after I had gone through two years of grueling, intense, hand therapy to regain the use of my left hand, which I almost severed in a near-fatal studio accident. The original sculpture intuitively flowed from the chisels. It was a spiritual experience to have the piece evolve without hesitation. The original marble sculpture was cut in a pristine white, Colorado Yule Marble. I have cast bronzes of the original sculpture, which is owned by my brilliant hand therapist-- who healed the hand and the spirit at the same time. It is a possibility that this piece will be cast large-scale in the future. Today I am still carving one-of-a-kind stone pieces--two which have been commissioned as five-foot bronzes. A third twelve foot bronze is being developed and will go to production in the next few months. The three sculptures will be the focal points for a sculpture garden in Knoxville, Tennessee. They are due for installation in 2025. Having just reached the ripe old age of 81, I am happy to say that I am still able to follow my passion. Each day is most definitely a gift! Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

printmaking 8 x 8" Universe Series uses a variety of animals to represent life as they ponder the latest scientific theories concerning the Universe. These playful explorations look toward space and at humankinds' reaction to it. Who hasn't wondered what it would be like to live in the caves of Mars, thought about when we might be drawn into the black hole that keeps our galaxy together, or seen heaven when we look up at the stars? This work of art is a serigraph, or more commonly known as a silkscreen print. It is a hand-made, small-edition print, that uses my graphite drawing as its basis, and is an original work of art. What makes serigraphy the perfect printmaking method for my art, is I can retain areas of pure white paper, capture the tonality of my drawings, and place blocks of intense color that either overlaps part of the image, or lightly kisses the edge of image. Serigraphy is a modern printmaking method with a very old history. Stencil-based, hand-made prints originated during the tenth century in China. They made their first appearance in Europe around the 18th century and are used throughout the world today. This mode of printmaking has evolved over time, so that Modern artists such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, Pop artists such as Andy Warhol and Peter Max, and Contemporary artists including me, have found it an attractive medium for the creation of fine art.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

sculpture 10 x 12 x 7" I create expressive sculptural forms from natural materials, drawing inspiration from both nature and the human figure, yet venturing toward abstraction. The essence of my work often embodies a biomorphic aesthetic, offering a tangible representation of our human connection to the environment. The idiosyncrasies of each piece of stone or wood present unique technical and creative opportunities. I approach this with a blend of intuitive and calculated design solutions, constantly seeking to unveil the spirit inherent in each material. Employing pneumatic and electrical tools, I meticulously finalize the finish through hand polishing. When I engage directly with the process, it transcends to an unconscious state of mind. I commence by studying the stone or piece of wood—observing its shape, color, and constitution. I inquire, 'What is it telling me?' and envision how I can breathe life into it through movement, revealing the beauty concealed within and the spirit that resonates with the viewer. The stone both inspires and teases me. As I progress with a particular vision, I sometimes find myself uncovering an entirely different one. The process of carving into a piece of living, natural material elicits moments of joy and excitement, intertwined with periods of doubt and struggle.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

oil 10 x 10" All I ever wanted to be was smaller. I’ve found refuge from this compulsive desire by allowing myself space in the work. In my body of work, autobiographical paintings depict tender moments from my day to day life. Portraits of my partner and I provide queer representation void of hyper sexualized or traumatic imagery, with this I begin to disrupt heteronormative narratives, and provide images of queer joy. In focusing on the figure through a queer feminine gaze I create colorful and carefully composed oil paintings that allow bodies that are often asked to shrink, a place to be vulnerable and take up space. Candid photos often acting as my source material allow insecurities to penetrate the most loving of works. Through eye level and framing the casual nature of the references invites the viewer in as a participant rather than a voyeur. There is sympathy and authenticity to the rendering of each subject, with careful consideration put into capturing the volume of the forms. My emphasis is always on the sense of touch, creating works that are tender and where each push and pull of the skin is felt. Thoughtfully placed line and vivid color works to exploit the most tense areas of the work, helping each to feel uncomfortably intimate.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

printmaking 5 x 3" The theme of self-introspection is crucial to my art, since I believe that only by delving into the enigmas of the self can an individual truly engage with the world and bring about change in a profound, meaningful way. Though I consider myself primarily a Symbolist, my art draws on a wide variety of mythologies, worldviews, religions, and literary traditions, both ancient and modern, ranging from Buddhism to Russian folklore.   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.  

pastel 12.25 x 13.75"   Additional shipping/delivery charges will be handled between artist and buyer after the purchase.