New to the Collection: 

Meet "Jack the Kicking Donkey!"  Jack is from about 1926, made by the All Fair Toy Company.  Herman Fisher was the Vice President of the company, until he left to form the Fisher Price Toy Company in the early 1930's.  I was excited to come across the original advertisement for Jack.
I especially love the last line..."It is a demonstrated fact that the kicking donkey is the most ingenious toy produced in years."

Jack the Kicking Donkey c. 1926

The Painting:  "Kiss My A**"  by Richard Hall  Oil on Canvas  (Giclee prints are available.)

New to the Collection

I do a lot of paintings with balancing objects, and found this little toy called "Whirling Wilmer!"    I found it on Ebay, and the seller said it was from the 1880s.  I'm not sure about that date, but I have another one that is painted and came with the box (!) that dates from the 1920s.   Wilmer comes with a ladder to balance on, and when you tap him, he "bobs" and "whirls" in a circle!

I used Whirling Wilmer in the painting below called "Life Under the Big Top."

"Life Under the Big Top"

In the painting below, "Kiss of Death," I have used the painted version of Wilmer.  Look for Whirling Wilmer to appear in many paintings in the future!
  

"Kiss of Death"

      

    

 

I'm often asked if I own the objects in my still life paintings.  The answer is YES!  

I paint from life, so I set up my the compositions in the studio.  This is just a part 

of my collection of wonderful stuff!

 Studio set-up

Inspiration

I'm often asked where I get the inspiration for my paintings.

Sometimes, I hear a word or phrase and I think "That could be a painting!"  Once I get the phrase I look for objects to represent the phrase, or tell the story.  Most times though, I am searching for interesting objects to inspire a painting.  It is a constant quest, and I am always on the lookout for the next new still life item.

On a recent trip to Texas I hit the jackpot!  Several people mentioned the huge flea market in Canton, TX, held the weekend of the first Monday of every month.  Wow!

 One of my finds at the Canton Flea Market

The painting "Ol' Yeller"

Southwest Art Featured Artist May 2012

"Car Wash"  30x36  Oil on Canvas

I was very proud and pleased to be a featured artist in the May 2012 issue of Southwest Art.

 

"Autumn Breeze"

 

Oil on linen                      "Autumn Breeze"                          12x24

Feeling the breeze?  Having a great time using these vintage pinups and creating a new story with them!

"The To-Do List"

Oil on Linen         "The To-Do List"        14x24


 This weekend in Aspen, Colorado I will be debuting this painting and several more in the series.  They are based on vintage pinup paintings.  I am using a technique called "tromp l' loeil, which means "fool the eye."  Come and see us at the Aspen Art Festival held in Wagner Park, July 23-24.  

SOLD!  Check out the website for more paintings!