Third Street Bridge

Third Street Bridge. 48" x 48". Mixed media on wood.

My fascination with the Third Street Bridge in San Francisco has endured for many years. Here is a painting I did back in 2005. My recent screen print, of which I am very proud, also showed this structure (see my post dated December 16th 2010). Unfortunately I have never seen the bridge in an open position - whenever I'm in the vicinity there are never any boats wanting to pass through!

Urban Laundry Closed Down!

For the past six years I have been doing paintings of a building in the Mission District which housed a commercial laundry. What initially attracted me to the building were the old steel hooks which hung from rails outside the loading bays. They would transport bags of linens and uniforms from the delivery vans into the cavernous laundry space within. These wonderful hooks (which reminded me of sharper versions I had seen in the Meatpacking district of New York) are featured in at least five of my paintings.

A few weeks ago I was told that the laundry had finally closed. Yesterday I noticed that the hooks were gone! Today as I was walking past I saw men removing the rails which had held the hooks. I just had to ask....And now I'm now the proud owner of two old, heavy and greasy, red steel hooks!

Check out Trish Tunney's blog for great photographs of the laundry hooks.

Below are the five paintings shown in the order in which they were completed:


Urban Laundry (Diptych). 48" x 48". 2005

Urban Laundry # 2. 48" x 48". 2008

Urban Laundry # 3. 48" x 48". 2008

Urban Laundry # 4. 48" x 48". 2009

Urban Laundry # 5. 48" x 48". 2010

Loading Bays

Loading Bay on White Wall. 48" x 39" (available)

Loading Bay Florida St. 36" x 23" (available)

Loading Bay Alameda St. 24" x 36" (available)

There's something about loading bays...simple, utilitarian, battered holes in walls. These paintings were inspired by bays I've seen in the neighborhood where I have my studio. It's an area of light-industry, warehouses, small businesses and, of course, artists. I find beauty in the most unexpected places every time I step outside.

Screen Print # 2

3rd Street Bridge. 15" x 10.5"

My second screen print! The bridge on Third St. (outside the ball park) in San Francisco has fascinated me for many years and is featured in several paintings and drawings. And here it is again. I had a lot of fun in the printing class but it was way too short - just six three-hour sessions. I think I'll do another class in the spring.

New Pier Painting

Pier 28 (North side) SF. 52" x 48" Mixed media on wood panels.

I've just finished this new painting of a pier on the Embarcadero in San Francisco which is still used by a small fishing company. The painting measures 52" x 48" and is constructed in two panels which relate to the architectural module of the building. The water effect is created by applying the bands of oil paint with the edge of a piece of wood. This creates thick ridges which look great but which take a while to dry. In the meantime it is hanging in my studio.

My First Screen Print

I'm learning how to make screen prints!
I have spent he last three Monday evenings at a class run by a screen print artist called Hilary Williams - check out her work at www.hilaryatthecircus.com/ .
This is my first ever print - three colors on white. I know it's a little crude but I had fun and am really looking foward to knowing enough to be able to do it myself in my studio. I would like to print onto my paintings like my hero Robert Rauschenberg. In the final two weeks of class I will be working on a five color print.
As someone who allows my paintings to develop organically all the foward planning necessary for creating the different screens makes my head hurt!