Objects of war

This is a new series of projectiles, bullets and other objects from various wars in history. The pieces are authentic, that is they have been used by the military and they aren't models or replicas. They are covered with various designs and relevant quotes depending on the era or war that they are from. For example pieces from WW1 or WW2 have European motifs whereas pieces used in more recent times have islamic designs. Some can't be shown here because they could potentially offend those with very rigid religious or political beliefs, and so here are some of the less controversial ones.

Some new dog and cat portraits

For over thirty years I have been painting people's dogs and cats. Back in the seventies I did a friend's dog and then some of their friends wanted a portrait and so it went - the demand has never stopped. I never tire of painting animals because  each one has a distinct personality and so inspires a different portrait each time - its always a fresh experience from the perspective of an artist. People ask me if I have ever painted any of my own dogs and the answer is "no" only because there isn't enough time in the day, but I couldn't imagine living my life without the love of a dog!

I am selling my entire kanzashi collection to benefit the environment...

As some of you know, over the years I put together a collection of antique Japanese hair ornaments. I was touched by their exquisite craftsmanship, the refined aesthetic and their poetic quality. After a lot of personal reflection it has become apparent to me that it is now time to sell these beautiful objects and give the proceeds in the defending and protection of nature. The kanzashi will be slowly listed on ebay and all proceeds will benefit the tortoises and elephants that gave up their lives for these pieces. The rest of the proceeds will go to ending the ongoing, absolutely heart wrenching slaughter of dolphins which occurs in Taiji, Japan every year (on a daily basis for months on end). That  little village has slaughtered one million dolphins to date, and all the damage is done by a group of 40 or so men. It is time for this practice to end since they also kill endangered dolphins species as well.  For those of you who wish to learn about the plight of the dolphins in Japan please take a look at the award winning movie "The Cove".  I am happy to become an active voice and assist in the ending of this barbaric practice.

My collection

Trailer for the cove

Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project

My new wine label design for the Diana Basehart Foundation

The Diana Basehart Foundation has been helping low income dog/cat owners pay for their pets medical expenses which as we all know, are quite high these days. It was founded by the lovely Diana Basehart, who also founded Actors and Others for Animals in Los Angeles.  Diana (who was married to actor Richard Basehart), is an animal activist, has saved the lives of many thousands animals over the course of her life and continues helping them through her foundation in Santa Barbara. I recently did a portrait of her Yorkie Nell (a rescue dog) which will be used on the wine from Dog Hill Winery in Santa Ynez. The wine will be available in November with all proceeds going to the care of sick animals in the county. More information on what the foundation does can be seen at http://basehart.org/

Diana Basehart is shown below her beloved Nell and with board member Tipper Gore.

A love affair with faux leopard....

I have always painted faux leopard and other animal skins over the years. There is something about the luminous mottled textures of leopard skin that is so striking visually. Here are some examples of some faux leopard skin art I did dating from the 1970's on through to today. The leopard fans are currently available on Etsy.

One of New York's most prominent interior designers - portraits of Sister Parish's dogs

I was commissioned by Sister Parish of Parish-Hadley (she decorated the White House for Jacqueline Kennedy) to paint her  beloved Pekinese dogs in the early 1980's. The oil paintings are quite small, the largest being 3" tall and they were all done in 1984.  Her dogs were notoriously beautiful but one was also mean and bit people. I used to meet Sister Parish for lunch in Far Hills, New Jersey with Nancy Pierrepont, another wonderful interior designer (who worked for  Brooke Astor),  and we spent lazy afternoons talking about about dogs, beauty and art.

I am a German Expressionist at heart!

My mother was half German, so it is only natural that a German Expressionistic side would show up in my art at some point. The objects and other paintings I do are usually done in a more precise, controlled manner, but in this series of small paintings of women (begun in the middle 1980's) I let my expressionistic side go wild, with lots of distortions, odd proportions, unusual perspectives and harsh lines, with a dash of evil, all characteristics of German Expressionism.