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Daisies, 1971 (12"x16"). My very first attempt with oils, in 1971 in San José, California. My teacher was another Finn, Eila Lappalainen. It is largely thanks to her that my interest in painting has endured. |
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Al Diriyah, 1993 (24"x36"). Painted in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. A ruined edifice found in the abandoned former capital of Saudi Arabia. A protected site with rich history, the compound consists of several palaces, mosques and residencies, once encompassed by a massive defensive wall, each with its own unique character and significance. Al Diriyah is one of the very few places in Saudi Arabia where photography is expressly permitted. Thus it is no surprise that I took several trips to this site to enjoy the charm of ruination that has a peculiar hold on me. |
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Musical Angel, 1993 (18"x24"). Painted in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This is based on the popular painting by Rosso Fiorentino (1495-1540), Angel Musician. Intensely interested in angels, though not so much in these cute little cherubs, I wanted to try my hand at something that would be delightful for more than art's sake. |
| Arabian Arch, 1993 (18"x24"). Painted in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This painting was finished in one day. The oils are piled on thick, not only to maintain clean lines in spite of went paint, but to convey the texture of the dilapidated structure. This is an actual stairway in Al Kharj, an abandoned summer residence of the Saudi royalty. The palace compound is no longer in existence today as I saw it over a decade ago; this place of national heritage has undergone rigorous renovations, which, sadly, razed most of the fascinating compound and reduced it to a few flattering edifices that do not possess the charm of the old and the dilapidated. |
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Cape Cod, 1994 (18"x24"). Painted in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. This is another example of working with wet oils; it was painted during a four-hour oilpainting class I attended in Dhahran. (The instructor was an American.) This painting is a recollection of the sands and the waves of Cape Cod. |
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This page was created on May 10, 1998
Most recent revision: March 2, 2007