Latest work: Saint Mary Magdalene

Here's the latest painting I finished about two months ago.

While Mary Magdalene is one of my favorite saints, the art world has not been very kind to her over the last 1500 years. Artists have had a field day portraying her as the sinner caught in the act of adultery, but the most amazing parts of her life were often overshadowed by the more scandalous traditions.  

Pope Saint Gregory the Great was largely responsible for the "combined Marys" tradition. While the reason he gave for this belief was little more than "it would be fitting" if they were all the same person, contemporary hagiography has begun to lean more toward proofs.

What we do know for sure about Mary Magdalene is beautiful: Christ healed her from seven demons; she was courageous enough to follow Our Lord to the cross; and lastly, she was the first to proclaim the good news that Jesus was risen.

The Dominican Order claimed Mary Magdalene as their Patroness because she was the first preacher to the preachers. This is the Mary I wanted to portray here--a heavenly version though, as if that moment when she first proclaimed Christ's Resurrection stands forever visible to those in heaven.

I was honored that this received an award at this year's annual juried competition of the Madison Art Society.

"Mater Gratiae"

This was my first foray into my great painting love, religious works. It was displayed at the Salmagundi Club in New York City as part of the Hudson Valley Art Association's Annual Juried Exhibition, and I'm honored that it is now hanging at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Guilford, CT.

"Zoe in Blue"

I was incredibly, well, honored to be awarded an honorable mention in the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists' 2014 Faces of Winter Exhibition for my portrait Zoe in Blue. The 83 paintings (from the 200 submitted) were among the most beautiful contemporary portraits I have ever seen, so I felt quite lucky to be included.

Zoe was a great little model; she and Lucy actually enjoy posing quite a lot. (I'm lucky to have four beautiful girls to paint!)

It's amazing how much you learn with each painting. The excitement you have when you finish one provides a rather helpful springboard into the next painting. I've been sketching and planning and gathering costumes and fabrics, so with any luck I'll post a photo of the new project soon.

"Tea and Telemann"

This still life won the "Diane Aeschliman Award" at the 2013 Madison Art Society juried exhibition.

As I make violins professionally, it was interesting to note that the violin scroll (arguably the most difficult item to "get right" in this painting) was actually the easiest part for me. Just as art students must study anatomy in order to paint the human form well, my precise knowledge of a violin made any mistakes I made while painting it instantly jump out at me.

Tea and Telemann, 2013 (SOLD)

(Telemann, incidentally, is one of my favorite composers of violin music. A CD of his works was often playing in the background while I worked on this.)

"The Bride's Prayer"

This is my first true attempt at portraiture, kindly modeled by my wife Faith. It won the "Patrons of the Madison Art Society" prize at the annual juried exhibition of the Madison Art Society in May, 2012.

I learned a lot with this one, but the beadwork on the dress was particularly fun to paint.

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The Bride's Prayer, 2012

Welcome all painters and admirers of traditional realistic art!

Painter's Honeymoon, Fredric Lord Leighton