Art Instruction Blog
Boundless
I took the family to see BOUNDLESS last night, a new musical written by Mary Fishburne and Directed by Thomas Keating. Five years in the making, against impossible odds, my friend (well I’m more of an admirer) Mary knocks it out of the park. Her music is tuneful and...
News Now
I was delighted to be a guest on Fox 24 News Now once again. Leyla Gulen is an outstanding host and I think we got a lot of information into the segment. Air date 2-2-23. They really do a #fantastic job showcasing local #talent. #Thanks for having me on again! Leyla...
Fear Itself
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR What if what you fear the most is what eventually will kill you? Of course, arachnophobes rarely die from spiders, but there is something to the idea that our fears are slowly killing us. If you knew this about your...
Archbishop Allen Vigneron
I am Honored and humbled to have been chosen to paint the portrait of Archbishop Allen Vigneron. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, the Most Rev. Allen H. Vigneron was named archbishop of the Detroit Archdiocese on Jan. 5, 2009, succeeding Cardinal Adam Maida....
Van Gogh In America
I went to see Van Gogh in America today with my sister Betsy. Vincent’s family encourages everyone to take selfies with his art, so here goes nothing. More about my experience at Vincent John Doe. It was overwhelming, the amount of great and iconic work we saw in this...
Shading
People think getting the right brush, or coolest color or the perfect medium is going to make them better painters. Painting is primarily an eye thing. A stick with the right value will make a far more meaningful mark than the finest sable brush or expensive pigment....
The Obama Portraits
I'd like to offer a word or two about the recent presentation of the Obama's official portraits, for what it's worth. First, what a class act. There was no mention of the insult leveled by the previous admin for not doing this when he had the chance. I watched the...
Bravery
The following can be understood and consumed as both philosophy and technical advice. Some musicians have the ability to hear passages of music, fully realized in their heads. Mozart and Beethoven come to mind. That's one reason I play their music when I paint....
Playing in the Mud
Stepping into the Arena A friend who took my workshop many years ago, posted today that she hadn't painted since, and wanted to. I recall how much she enjoyed herself and the wonderful results she got using my painting method. So I posted a reply, hoping to encourage...
The Dynamics of Sharing Our Creativity
Blinders On When I ran the Maniscalco Gallery in Grosse Pointe, I remember more than once, artists coming through the door, head down, arms full of art, mumbling something like, “I don’t want to look at anyone else’s art. That’s how I know that what I’m doing is...
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A portrait of Natalie painted from life today at Wes Israel's studio. Nice people, wonderful artists. ... See MoreSee Less
Nothing Celebrates the legacy of your children or your grandchildren for their grandchildren, like an oil portrait.
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Two paintings. One a commission portrait of Gedney Howe III. Another an exploration of "Unintended Consequences." Both part of "Identity and Self," an exhibition at Park Circle Gallery, open wed-Sat. Until April 25th! Disappointed my brand of realism is not in vogue at the moment. But I'm aware fashions come and go. I know my art will endure. What do you think? ... See MoreSee Less
A competent portrait of the former president.  ... See MoreSee Less
At a portrait unveiling at Syracuse University on April 14, 2026, Joe Biden jokingly called Board Chair Jeffrey Scruggs to the stage, asking the crowd, “Doesn’t he look like Barack?” Biden quipped that he often mistook Scruggs for Obama. While the audience laughed, some found the moment awkward. The event celebrated Biden’s legacy at his law school alma mater
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.Behind the Scene 11x 14″ original #oilpainting on linen, framed by the artist. A behind the scenes look at the glorious #sunflower, the great back actor. This is a continuation of my micro series where we take a closer look at #Common objects found in #nature. this is an homage to the iconic Van Gogh #painting with the similar perspective of the underneath of a Sunflower. ... See MoreSee Less