 In early September I will be releasing a new series of portraits, in a collection titled "VISAGES".
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I'm proud to share that 2 of my drawings are included in a new book, Drawn from Life: Tips and Tricks for Contemporary Life Drawing, by Helen Birch.  Helen's book takes the reader through the fundamentals of life drawing: line, contour, and color, as well as innovative techniques, all through a wide range of styles. I'm honored to be included as an artist for the readers to study. Helen's lessons involving my work are both inspiring and beautifully delivered! You can find Drawn from Life: Tips and Tricks for Contemporary Life Drawing via Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Target! 
This piece is largely inspired by the bronze Perseus of Benvenuto Cellini. Like much of my work, instead of a literal translation of the myth, the piece is intended to act as a fragment of another, more ancient, more complicated piece - yet imbued with a contemporary expression and gesture.  Death of the Gorgon, latex paint on canvas, 48 x 30", 2017  Benvenuto Cellini's "Perseus with the head of Medusa", 1554
Over the last several years, I have been working on a series of paintings inspired by the "Twelve Labors of Hercules". This painting is the fourth of the series - here the capturing of the monstrous Erymanthian Boar. Hercules consulted the centaur Chiron, and was advised to drive the beast into the snow of Mount Erymanthos, where it lived. Depicted here is the hero in the act of driving the boar to its trap.  The snows of Erymanthos, latex paint and graphite on raw canvas, 43 x 55", 2017 The previous three paintings in the series, vanquishing the Nemean Lion and Lernaean Hydra, and capturing the Ceryneian Hind:
Referencing the might and effort put forth by peoples past, this piece takes its title from the tradition of stone carrying. When clearing a field for the development of crops, the larger stones were carried away and dropped onto piles or cairns. Dating back to the Bronze Age, they illustrate for me the great determination that we have exhibited throughout time to achieve our goals.  Stone bearer, acrylic and latex paint on canvas, 36 x 48", 2017  Example of a clearance cairn in Scotland (photo source)
 Song of praise, oil and latex paint on canvas, 30 x 25", 2017
 Invocation, oil and latex paint on canvas, 30 x 48", 2017
 An allegory, latex paint on canvas, 30 x 48", 2017
Buddhist, Kongōrikishi or Niō, are pairs of wooden or clay figures that flank the doorways to Buddhist temples. Carved to be guardian spirits (Vajrapani) to Buddha, the figures are also meant to serve as meditations on power and courage.
Kongōrikishi: Agyō (left) and Ungyō (right), colored wood from the Kamakura Period in 1288 AD, National Treasure House, Nara, Japan (Photo source) The tradition might have its roots in Greco-Buddhism. Ancient sculptural examples exist of the Greek hero Herakles serving as an early protector of Buddha.
Kongōrikishi: Agyō (left) and Ungyō (right), sculpted by Kaikei and Unkei in colored wood during the Kamakura Period in in 1203 AD, Nandaimon, Nara, Japan (Photo source) "He vibrates with energy and spiritual power which you can absorb from him in times of need."  Kongōrikishi: Agyō (left) and Ungyō (right), clay from the Wadō Period in 711 AD, Hōryuji Temple, Nara, Japan (Photo source)
 The vision, oil and latex paint on canvas, 18 x 25", 2017  Apotheosized figure, oil and latex paint on canvas, 25 x 30", 2017
 Cy Twombly's Fifty Days at Iliam: Shades of Achilles, Patroclus, and Hector, Oil, oil crayon, & graphite on canvas, 1978, Philadelphia Museum of Art  Cy Twombly's Fifty Days at Iliam: Heroes of the Achaeans, Oil, oil crayon, & graphite on canvas, 1978, Philadelphia Museum of Art  Cy Twombly's Fifty Days at Iliam: Shield of Achilles, Oil, oil crayon, & graphite on canvas, 1978, Philadelphia Museum of Art  Cy Twombly's Fifty Days at Iliam: The Fire that Consumes All before It, Oil, oil crayon, & graphite on canvas, 1978, Philadelphia Museum of Art
 Fallen man, latex paint on canvas, 48 x 30", 2017  The pugilist, latex paint on canvas, 48 x 30", 2017, private collection, Toronto, Canada
Today is Good Friday and the beginning of Easter weekend, so I would love to share one of my favorite artists - El Greco. His expressionism was truly ahead of its time.  El Greco's El Espolio, 1579  El Greco's Christ on a cross, 1610
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