Bella

Bella

Oil on canvas, 12x12. Commission

Judy Mackey, the painter who helped launch me into palette knife painting, has started a blog called (drum roll....) Palette Knife Painters, and I am part of it, as of today. The blog is in its infancy, but I think it's going to be very interesting.

I had done some painting with the knife, and was using brushes in very knife-like ways when I ran into Judy's work and was simply taken by it. There was one painting in particular that sang to me. I made it into my screen saver and studied it. I pestered Judy with questions. I enlarged every one of her paintings and studied them, the strokes, the colors, the techniques - and I jumped in.

So I owe Judy Mackey a debt of gratitude. Her fine work, her patient answers, her encouragement all helped me find this path that's making me so happy.

And I have to say how much I love this painting of Bella, an Italian greyhound. I met her on LaSalle Road in West Hartford, Conn., a couple weekends ago, while I was painting, and am commissioned to paint her and her compadre, Marco Polo. I couldn't be happier with this painting, and will hate to see it go.

I am experimenting with making some T-shirts with my paintings on them. I will let you know how this works, and if it does, will take some photos and offer them here on the blog.

Thanks for reading!