Avram in the Desert

2011-12-31T17:47:00.000-06:00

Galveston Seagull, oil on canvas, 16" x 12"

Lots more paintings coming in 2012, I hope! Happy new year!

2011-11-02T11:25:00.003-06:00

On Monday, November 14 at 5pm I'll be part of the panel "So you want to be an artist..." at the University of Texas Permian Basin art department in Odessa, Texas. Marfa artist Gretchen Coles will be the moderator and I'll be speaking along with Mary Baxter and Vilis Inde.

Also, I recently joined the Big Bend Arts Council's Gallery on the Square where you can see my latest paintings. The gallery is located here in Alpine on 115 W. Holland Avenue and is open six days a week from 10am-6pm (the gallery is closed Tuesdays). It will also be open for Art Walk on November 18-19, 10am-10pm.

2011-07-09T10:24:00.003-06:00

Marfans Exhbition
This month I will be exhibiting some new paintings in Odessa, Texas at the Nancy Fyfe-Cardozier Gallery. The exhibition runs from August 27 until September 25 and there will be an opening reception on Saturday, August 27, 2011, 7-9 pm. Fifteen artists will be showing - Mary Baxter, Malinda Beeman, Gretchen Lee Coles, Vilis Inde, Char Lundeen, Kate McKenna, Christine Olejniczak, Gary Oliver, Rene Pineda, Mary Lou Saxon, Gail Waterman, Leslie Wilkes, Wendy Lynn Wright, and Sven Zbinden.

Here's the new work I'll be displaying.

Afternoon Cow, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 30"

Ranger #2, acrylic on canvas, 30" x 24"

2011-07-09T09:56:00.002-06:00

"Secret Trade", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Saloon Scene", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

History of Fort Leaton Article
There's a nice article in the new Cenizo Journal (Third Quarter 2011) about a number of watercolor paintings I created. Towards the end of 2010, Texas Parks and Wildlife asked me to illustrate scenes from the history of Fort Leaton to be featured in an education video, out later this year.

In the meantime, here's a link to the magazine, where you can read the article. Once the video is released I'll post more of the paintings online.

2011-07-09T09:50:00.001-06:00

Matilda Beatrix Wilde
Matilda Beatrix Wilde was born to us in May of this year. Megan and I are very happy parents.

2011-04-09T10:05:00.000-06:00

Two Dogs

Dottie, 11- x 14-inches, acrylic on canvas

Taylor, 10- x 10-inches, acrylic on canvas

Two commissions of two very good dogs. For Dee and Harper, and Tigie.

2011-02-26T16:13:00.000-06:00

Recent Paintings

Sunlit Ranger, oil on canvas, 12" x 24"

Turner Mountain, Alpine Texas, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30"

2011-01-06T08:25:00.000-06:00

Modes of Transportation
This set of charcoal drawings was created for the first 2011 issue of the Cenzio Journal. Here is a link to the website and this is a direct link to a PDF of the magazine.

2010-11-03T08:35:00.003-06:00

Artwalk 2010
Here's a selection of the new paintings I've created for Artwalk here in Alpine. They're my first oils and I really like how luminous they seem compared to acrylic paint. You can view a PDF pricelist here.

This year I'll be sharing space at Elms Bookkeeping, 108 N 5th Street with Alan Vannoy and Tony Gonzalez.

Bootsy, oil on canvas, 14" x 18"

Bubbs, oil on canvas, 11" x 14"

Bargirl, oil on panel, 12" x 16"

At the Alpine Airport, oil on canvas, 36" x 12"

2010-09-13T11:24:00.001-06:00

Samantha, Isabella, and Pipkin
Two commissioned paintings.

Samantha, the Baby Goat, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

Isabella and Pipkin, acrylic on canvas, 27" x 27"

2010-07-29T11:23:00.000-06:00

Way Out West Book Festival
Along with Mary Baxter, Carol Fairlie, and Ellen Ruggia, I'll be exhibiting a couple of paintings at the Way Out West Book Festival.

James Evans and DJ Stout will also be displaying their photographs during the event.


Frieda, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

Ruth, acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

Milo, acrylic on canvas, 16" x 16"

2010-07-03T18:10:00.002-06:00

Thank-you to Marlys Hersey and John Waters for putting me onto the cover of their fine publication, the Big Bend Gazette!

2010-06-06T18:22:00.008-06:00

Animal Portraits
Next Friday my new series of paintings will be on display at the Greasewood Gallery, Marfa. You can preview most of the artwork below or come to the reception at the gallery from 6-8pm, Friday, June 25th. The exhibition runs from Friday, June 25th until Sunday, August 8th.

Here's a PDF of a current price-list.

"Watchful Mama", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 24"

"Pensive Cow", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

"Play With Me Goat", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20"

"Prunella" acrylic on wooden panel, 12" x 12"

"Bachira", acrylic on wooden panel, 12" x 12"

"Sunshine and Sky", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

"Hopeful Goat", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 16"

"The Billy Worth Climbing a Mountain For", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20"

"Snuggie Penguin, Head On", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36"

"Mama and Baby Cow", acrylic on canvas, 40" x 40"

"Little Nibs", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

"Judge Snuggie Penguin", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

"Chicken Time", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 16"

2010-06-06T18:19:00.004-06:00

Why We Live Here

The latest part of Megan's article is now in this month's Big Bend Gazette. Here's some of the artwork from the article.

"Grandfalls Chamber of Commerce", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Grandfalls Church", watercolor on paper, 14" X 17"

2010-05-19T11:05:00.002-06:00

New artwork in June
Racing to finish a number of new animal paintings for an exhibition in Marfa next month. I'll be having a solo show at the Greasewood Gallery in Marfa, Texas that opens Friday, June 25th. Details and art to follow soon.

2010-05-08T10:40:00.004-06:00

Exhibition at Front Street Books
A selection of my recent work can now be seen at Front Street Books in Alpine, Texas. The bookstore is open 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm Saturday, and 1-6pm Sunday.

2010-04-10T13:10:00.002-06:00

Dumitrescu Gallery is now closed
Thank-you for all your support over the past year. Join my mailing list or check this blog in a couple of weeks for news about exhibitions I will be having this summer.

2010-02-17T12:25:00.006-06:00

Drawing Inspiration: Visual Artists at Work

My artwork, and an interview, have been published in Drawing Inspiration: Visual Artists at Work, a new book by Michael Fleishman. Click here for a short video about the book and click here for the publisher's page on it. Here's Drawn's posting on the book.

2010-02-17T12:00:00.006-06:00

Final exhibition at the Dumitrescu Gallery

We're going to be closing the Dumitrescu Gallery at the end of March so that I can concentrate more on my painting . There will be a reception from 6-8pm on March 5 at the gallery with some newly finished paintings. I'll be posting them here on the blog closer to the date.

"Chapel of San Miguel, Santa Fe", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

"Santa Fe Boot Store", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 16"

"Snuggie Penguin", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16

"Snuggie's Harem", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 27"

"Lil' Bubbs", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

"Gonzo Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"

"Stinkum", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"

"Goat Friends", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 20"

2010-01-09T15:30:00.001-06:00

"Mountain Goat", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20"

2010-01-02T16:29:00.002-06:00

"Mike and Linda's House", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"
Commission of a Fort Davis, Texas house.

2009-11-03T12:20:00.011-06:00

Alpine Gallery Night / Artwalk 2009
Here's some of the new artwork I've created for this year's Artwalk. I'll be posting more of the paintings towards the end of next week. You can find more about the event at the official website.

The artwork will be on view at the Dumitrescu Gallery (click here for a map) starting at 10am, Friday, November 20th. Artwalk runs from 10am-10pm on November 20th-21st.

Prices can be downloaded from my website or by clicking this link.

"Elizabethan Chicken", acrylic on canvas

"George Floro's Billy Goat", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 27"

"Dana's Baby Goat", acrylic on canvas

"Chunky Donkey", 18" x 36", acrylic on canvas

"Penelope, all ears", acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"

"Penelope, listening", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 27"

"Nibs", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 16"

"New Mexico Grain Mill", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 24"

"Morning Digger", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 21"

"Grasshopper Study #2", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 12"

"Grasshopper Study #1", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 12"

2009-11-03T12:10:00.004-06:00

The Writer's Guide to Getting Published
Five of my illustrations have been published in a special version of The Writer's Magazine by Kalmbach Publications. Click here to visit the magazine's website.

The above illustration was a heavily modified version of Front Street Books here in Alpine. Frisky-Sweets very reluctantly posed for me on the white rug.

Below are some small spot illustrations to accompany four of the articles.

2009-09-28T10:23:00.013-06:00

M.F.K. Fisher: Among the Pots and Pans now in paperback

The paperback of M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans has just been published and so I’d like to share with you some of the sketches that evolved into the final illustrations for the book.

At the beginning of the project Joan Reardon had sent me a master list of illustrations she wanted for the book, along with a large number of photographs of Mary Francis Kennedy Fisher. Using notes from Joan Reardon’s Poet of the Appetites and some photographic reference I began to build sketches in pencil in a sketchbook and on the backs of scraps of paper. Joan would review these, offer suggestions and color notes, and then I’d redo them until they were correct.

Some illustrations came together quickly and some required multiple interpretations until we were both happy and I could proceed with the final watercolor illustration. Regardless, it was a very enjoyable project to work on and I hope the book helps illuminate some of the homes MFK Fisher lived and worked in.

What follows are a small selection of the black and white sketches I created, along with some of the final color illustrations from the book.

First Kitchen on Rue Monge, Dijon, France

The Dear Old Lady on Oak Avenue

Le Tholonet Aix-en-Provence

Bareaces in Hemet, California

Le Paquis above Vevey, Switzerland

Last House

Le Tholonet Aix-en-Provence, France

Bareaces in Hemet, California

2009-08-31T09:50:00.002-06:00

Two Cows

"Strolling Cow", acrylic on canvas, 48" x 24"

"Cow in Thought", acrylic on canvas

2009-06-30T08:09:00.004-06:00

Ceninzo Journal issue #2
The second issue of the Cenizo journal just came out and below are color versions of the three illustrations I had published in it.

"Shafter Church #2", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Shafter Graves #2", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Shafter House and Mountain", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

2009-06-10T12:28:00.003-06:00

Fiesta Del Sol
I'll be keeping the Dumitrescu Gallery opening longer next weekend as part of the Fiesta Del Sol celebrations. We'll be open Friday June 19th from 6-10pm and on Saturday June 20th between 10am-10pm.

"Pumpkin, the House Mover", acrylic on canvas

"White Farm House", acrylic on canvas

"A Day in the Life", acrylic on canvas

2009-06-03T15:18:00.002-06:00

"Blueberries #12", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

2009-05-01T13:11:00.000-06:00

"Penelope", acrylic on canvas

"Squawking Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30"

2009-04-20T07:55:00.000-06:00

"White Dump Truck", acrylic on canvas, 34" x 24"

2009-04-14T14:06:00.003-06:00

Cattle

"Longhorn and Mountains", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30"

"Cow", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 21"

2009-04-14T09:08:00.004-06:00

Valentine, Texas paintings

My wife Megan and I traveled to Valentine, Texas to begin a series of articles on small towns for the new Cenizo Journal. Below are the published paintings - I do have many more and plan to show them in the future. If you visit the magazine's website you should be able to download a PDF of the first issue.

"Valentine Tractor Sign", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Drums and Buildings", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

"Valentine Post Office", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

2009-03-19T15:22:00.006-06:00

Belfast March 2009 Sketches
This past week I was in Belfast, Northern Ireland, visiting family and friends. The weatherwas mostly dry which meant I was able to complete the following sketches. They were done in two sketchbooks and were created using watercolor and charcoal, giving a much more loose feel.

"Detail of Belfast City Hall", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 10"
All these sketches were created standing up whilst holding my water-bottle, paintings, brush, sketchpad and charcoal. You'll see some unintended splashes of color which I feel adds to the artwork.

"Detail of The Cloth Ear Pub", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 10"

"Red Delivery Lorry", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 10" x 7"

"Black Taxi #2", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"
One of the original styled taxis in Belfast.

"Albert Clock", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"

"Three Statues on the Merchant Hotel", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"

"Yellow Construction Lorry", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"
Lots of construction still going on in Belfast, a very encouraging sign for the city.

"White Lorry", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"

"Taxi #1", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"
This is one of the more modern taxis, hence the elongated front.

"Royal Mail Postal Vehicle", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"

"Blue Construction Lorry", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 14" x 5"

"Yellow Construction Lorry", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 14" x 5"

"New Translink Bus", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"
The new bus designs aren't as fun to draw as the older type. Odd colors and a very blocky shape.

"Belfast Eye", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"
I think this is perhaps the equivalent of the London Eye ferris wheel. Part of city hall is at the center of the wheel.

"Belfast City Hall detail #2", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"

"Motorbike", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 7" x 5"

"Belfast Central Library detail", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"

"Bank of Ireland, Belfast", watercolor and charcoal on paper, 5" x 7"

2009-03-19T13:20:00.003-06:00

Two more Chicken Studies

"Tiny Chicken #11", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken #10", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

2009-03-01T17:47:00.002-06:00

Gallery Reception
Thank-you to everyone who came on Friday to see my new paintings. It was a great night!

Andrew Suber, of West Texas Weekly, recorded some video of the event:

2009-02-23T14:21:00.006-06:00

More Animal Paintings
Here's some more of the paintings I'll be presenting this Friday. Email me if you'd like a list of prices.

"Baby Goat", acrylic on canvas

"Sitting Longhorn", acrylic on canvas

"Rabbit 1", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

"Rabbit #2", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

2009-02-15T17:47:00.011-06:00

New Artwork for February 2009
From 5-7pm on Friday, February 27, I will be having a reception to show new animal paintings at the Dumitrescu Gallery. Here's a selection of what will be on display (I'll be posting more closer to the end of the month).

"Ranger", acrylic on canvas, 16" x 16"

"Mother and Calf", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 12"

"Misty Morning Calf", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 12"

"Applejack", acrylic on canvas

"Mountain Goat", acrylic on canvas

"Tiny Chicken 5", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 6", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 7", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 8", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 9", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 4", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 3", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 2", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

"Tiny Chicken 1", acrylic on canvas, 10" x 10"

2009-01-04T08:52:00.003-06:00

Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers Calendar

Allied Irish Bank (Tesco's), Belfast, watercolor on paper, 17" x 14"

Cunningham Coates Stockbrokers in Belfast used one of my paintings from the UTV collection in their 2009 calendar - I'm Mr. August!

2008-12-22T11:49:00.005-06:00

Clams Casino Illustration
An illustration of a Clams Casino recipe for the Spring 2009 issue of Gastronomica. I'm very grateful to my father-in-law, Tim Wilde, for transporting these clams 500 miles from Dallas to Alpine!

2008-12-18T15:39:00.003-06:00

"Caleb's Old House", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"

2008-12-11T09:35:00.003-06:00

Dumitrescu Gallery opens!
The opening recepetion of the gallery was great fun - thank-you to all of you able to attend! You can see photographs from Sunday in the new Dumitrescu Gallery section of my website.

Dumitrescu Gallery opens Sunday

ALPINE – Artist Avram Dumitrescu will host an opening reception for his new gallery from 4 to 7 pm on Sunday, December 14, in Alpine. The Dumitrescu Gallery is located inside Elms Bookkeeping on Fifth Street between Holland Avenue and Avenue E, near Kiowa Plaza.

Donkeys, chickens, horses and goats are among the subjects Dumitrescu has focused on in his latest large acrylic paintings. Also featured will be Dumitrescu’s paintings of regional architecture.

Born and raised in Ireland, Dumitrescu moved to West Texas in 2006, and he was surprised at how quickly the high desert felt like home.

“This has turned out to be the best art community I’ve lived in,” he said. “The landscape is wonderful, and it’s really good to have so many farm animals and creatures nearby to paint – our landlords’ chickens in our backyard, the cattle in the field next to us, and horses and donkeys in friends’ pastures. And the people here are very warm and accepting of artists. They even encourage the strange things we do.”

Dumitrescu’s artwork was published recently in Joan Reardon’s biography of food writer MFK Fisher. He has illustrated for a number of publications, including the Writer’s Magazine, Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture, The Desert Candle, The Herb Companion, and the Ulster Tatler. He was also the featured artist in the Southern Review’s summer 2007 issue. He currently works as a scientific illustrator for the Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State University.
The gallery will be open noon to 6 pm from Dec. 18 – 21 and will reopen with expanded hours in January.

2008-11-26T12:32:00.004-06:00

Post Alpine Gallery Night 2008
Thank-you to everyone who was able to visit during Gallery Night this past weekend! The Alpine Avalanche included me in their coverage:

Four Chickens are a Hit
Artist Avram Dumitrescu displayed his paintings and prints of Big Bend critters in the Elms Bookkeeping shop on North 5th Street during ArtWalk. Among the most popular paintings was the one of four chickens appearing to run angrily (or quirkily) toward the artist; people who stopped in front of it consistently smiled or laughed. Avram said his landlord has a flock of chickens, so he’s got a bunch of subjects close at hand. He also had finished his last piece for the exhibition on Thursday,barely in time for ArtWalk.

From the December 2008 issue of the Big Bend Gazette:

At Elms Bookkeeping on 6th ST, artist Avram Dumitrescu was on hand to share his paintings, the discovery of which delighted a new fan (on right) who exclaimed, "Oh my god! These are YOUR paintings! These chickens are fabulous!"

2008-11-17T08:52:00.009-06:00

Alpine Gallery Night / Artwalk 2008 paintings part three
This is the final third of the new paintings that will be on view this Friday and Saturday.

If you visit The Big Bend Gazette newspaper I'm currently featured on their front page (you may need to scroll down a little).

Price list can be emailed upon request.

"Sunshine, almost grown up", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20"

"Windswept Horse", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 36"

"Curious Goat", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20"

"Cautious Horse", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

"Glamour Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"

"Brave Applejack, coy Blackjack" acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

"Abandoned Marathon Gas Station", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36"

"Square Chicken #3", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

2008-11-13T08:37:00.006-06:00

Alpine Gallery Night / Artwalk 2008 paintings part two
The second of three postings on my new paintings for Alpine Gallery Night which is next Friday and Saturday, 21st and 22nd November, from 10am-10pm. I'll post the final paintings on Monday and add the painting dimensions soon.

"Three Goats", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 36

"Blackjack", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 34"

"A Wistful Longhorn", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 40"

"Square Chicken #1", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

"Square Chicken #2", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12"

"Daisy-May and Sunshine", acrylic on canvas, 23" x 44"

"Damsel Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"

"Guard Chickens", acrylic on canvas, 27" x 21"

"Investigator Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 22" x 20"

"The Right Stuff", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 34"

2008-11-12T08:57:00.005-06:00

Alpine Gallery Night / Artwalk 2008 paintings part one
Here's a preview of some of the new paintings that will be part of Artwalk in a couple of weeks time. I plan to post more (including some of the animal paintings) next week, if not sooner.

"Yellow Desert Dump Truck", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 34"

"Geeslin Building", acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"

"Old Alpine Ice House ", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"

"Church of Christ, Alpine", acrylic on canvas, 22" x 28"

"First Methodist Church, Alpine", acrylic on canvas, 22" x 28"

2008-10-06T08:21:00.003-06:00

"Alpine Gallery Night"
First piece of art from this year's Alpine Gallery Night. A preview of the artwork should appear here and on my website sometime in November.

*update* I'm scrambling to finish off a couple more pieces and hope to post the new paintings this Monday, 17th November.

2008-10-06T08:14:00.003-06:00

"A Marfa Street at Sunset", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 12"
One of three paintings that will be exhibited this weekend in Marfa at the Livingston Feed Store, across from the Marfa Book Company.

2008-08-17T07:13:00.004-06:00

My first book signing!
Thanks to everyone who turned up for the signing! The Marfa Book Company was filled with people, lots of books sold, and I mangled very few of my words.
Tim Johnson and Allison Scott of the Marfa Book Company set up a great big screen and projector and I was able to talk about making of the art of the book, show some of the sketches and reference photos, and answer a lot of questions.
Thank-you again to everyone who turned out!

2008-08-06T07:49:00.003-06:00

"M.F.K. Fisher Among the Pots and Pans" book signing
I'm going to be signing copies of "M.F.K. Fisher Among the Pots and Pans" at 4pm on Saturday 16th August at the Marfa Book Company. You can see some of the watercolors I created for the book at this link. More details on the signing should be available in the Big Bend Sentinel newspaper next week.

2008-07-29T13:00:00.004-06:00

"Applejack", acrylic on canvas, 18" x 36"
Most of my donkey paintings are based on animals cared for by Tigie Lancaster in Marfa. Applejack and Blackjack are her two donkeys and Abner is the name of her horse.

2008-07-07T14:16:00.001-06:00

"Soulful Blackjack", acrylic on canvas, 25" x 25"

2008-06-03T07:47:00.004-06:00

M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans
This week my illustrations will appear in a new book, M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans, by Joan Reardon for the University of California Press. These watercolor illustrations, which I produced last summer, portray various kitchens and homes the American food writer Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher lived and worked in during her life, as well as several ingredients she often used.

It was an exciting and challenging project to work on. For some homes and kitchens, I put together images based on old black-and-white photographs. For others, I had to rely entirely on descriptions provided by Reardon and Fisher's daughter. Finding models to use for the ingredient images also proved challenging; there aren't many oysters or nasturtium leaves in rural West Texas.

Link to the book at the University of California Press.
Link to the book at Amazon. (and here's a link to the book at Amazon UK)
Wikipedia entry on M.F.K. Fisher.

"Le Paquis", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14". Taken from M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans by Joan Reardon, University of California Press, 2008, 1st ed.

"Kitchen at Le Paquis", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14". Taken from M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans by Joan Reardon, University of California Press, 2008, 1st ed.

"Mushrooms", watercolor on paper, 17" x 14". Taken from M. F. K. Fisher among the Pots and Pans by Joan Reardon, University of California Press, 2008, 1st ed.

2008-05-19T13:57:00.004-06:00

Two Trucks
I'm playing with drawings of architecture and old vehicles at the moment as I take a break from studying animals. It's nice to tackle different imagery again. Here in Alpine, Texas it's getting quite toasty so I'm restricting myself to early morning and late evening sketches.

"White Alpine Wrecker", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"

"Big Red Truck", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"

2008-05-07T07:21:00.003-06:00

Cover Illustration for June 2008 issue of the Writer Magazine
Watercolor of a young boy reading for a series of articles on children's books.

2008-04-25T14:29:00.003-06:00

Sketchbook Images
I tend to forget images I've put into a sketchbook. Most of the time I'll sketch to recharge or to work out composition for a future painting. The following I discovered this afternoon. All drawings measure 17" by 14" and are charcoal on paper.

Old House next to Chinati #1

Old House next to Chinati #2

Three Airport Vehicles

West Texas Tree

Blue Javelina Sketch #1

Blue Javelina Sketch #2

Lockerplant Sideview

Marfa Building with Steps

2008-03-13T09:59:00.005-06:00

West Texas Roadtrip
My new paintings will be part of an exhibition that opens tomorrow from 11-5pm at the Colores Gallery with a reception to follow on Thursday 20th March from 7-9pm. More details can be found by clicking here or in the Alpine Avalanche and the Big Bend Sentinel newspapers.

The jackrabbit is a painting by the supremely talented Gary Wimmer and the train is one of mine.

2008-03-12T09:49:00.003-06:00

"House in Marathon", acrylic on card, 33 1/3" x 23 1/3"
Painted for a client last year and finally put online.

2008-03-04T14:54:00.005-06:00

Sunday Business Post review
Several years ago some of my paintings were collected by the UTV art collection. Here's a very nice review in the Sunday Business Post, an Irish newspaper. Here's a link to the original article and a quotation:

"The first painting that caught my attention is one that lights up the gallery, Belfast Bus by Avram Dumitrescu. Gouache on paper, it takes the form of a triptych in vibrant crimson, violet and white. Dumitrescu produced his marvellous bus for the Belfast Festival 2004.The theme then was Journeys and Migration - something close to the artist’s heart as he was born in Jersey, raised in Belfast and now lives in Texas."

2008-02-27T09:45:00.004-06:00

West Texas Roadtrip sketches
Some sketches created in preparation for my recent exhibition.

2008-02-26T13:51:00.004-06:00

West Texas Roadtrip
Below is a new body of work I recently completed for an exhibition at the Colores Gallery in Marfa, Texas. The exhibition opens Friday, 14th March and there is a reception the following Thursday 20th, March. You can see the artwork in a couple of weeks along with Gary Wimmer's wonderful paintings.
Prices and more information can be found by contacting the Colores Gallery Marfa.

"Alpine Wrecker", acrylic on canvas

"Yellow Dump Truck", acrylic on canvas, 34" x 24"

"Thundering Train", acrylic on canvas, 36" x 18"

"Grandpa Longhorn", acrylic on canvas, 40" x 30"

"Lady Longhorn", acrylic on canvas

"Something in the Grass", acrylic on canvas

"Keep on Walking", acrylic on canvas, 40" x 30"

"Morning", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 34"

2008-02-22T08:47:00.005-06:00

Three Wineglasses, ink and watercolor on paper, 17" x 14
New illustration for the latest issue of Gastronomica, the journal of food and culture.

2008-02-11T10:40:00.001-06:00

Sketches from Austin, ink on primed paper, 18" x 24"
The following very loose sketches were created a couple of years ago when we lived in Austin. I foolishly didn't record the names of the buildings or where they were but the majority were in the city center.

2008-01-30T09:49:00.000-06:00

Downtime
We've just moved house and I'm painting and drawing for a new exhibition in March so this blog will remain quiet for a little longer (unless I find some older artwork I can post).

2007-11-30T14:10:00.001-06:00

"Pond 2", acrylic on card, 33 1/3" x 23 1/3

"Pond One", acrylic on card, 33 1/3" x 23 1/3"

Two illustrations for the Winter 2008 issue of the Desert Candle.

2007-11-28T13:07:00.000-06:00

"Longneck Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 24"

"Determined Chicken", acrylic on canvas, 25" x 25"

Big Red, Melancholy, acrylic on canvas, 25" x 25"

"Big Red Eating Hay", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"

Animal Art Show
These new paintings were created for the Animal Art Show, an exhibition this Saturday
in Fort Davis. Half of the proceeds of each painting sold benefit the Jeff Davis Humane Society.
I'll post more information once it's online.

2007-11-13T11:58:00.000-06:00

"A braver Blackjack", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30"

"Applejack and Blackjack, cautiously", acrylic on canvas, 35" x 25"

"Desert Barn", acrylic on canvas, 35" x 25"

"Sunset Truck", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 18"

"Early Morning Chinati Truck #3", acrylic on canvas, 35" x 25"

Another series of new paintings that will be on display for the first time this Friday at Elms BookKeeping here in Alpine, Texas, as part of Alpine Gallery Night.

2007-11-10T19:27:00.001-06:00

"Oil Truck, Marfa", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"

"Ice Plant Marfa", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18
Two more new sketches I'll be presenting during Alpine Gallery Night next week.

2007-11-07T11:40:00.001-06:00

Alpine Gallery Night
In just over a week I'll be taking part in Alpine Gallery Night or Artwalk 2007 as it's also known. Below are three new paintings I'll be exhibiting. Over the next day or two I'll post more.
I'll be showing at Elms Bookkeeping in Alpine, Texas from 10am-10pm on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th November.

"Early morning Chinati Trucks #2", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 20"

"Horse Study", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30"

"Study of Blackjack", acrylic on canvas, 18" x 24"

2007-10-14T19:35:00.001-06:00

Three Marfa Drawings
Created several weeks ago. Old houses and structures around Marfa, Texas.

"Old House with oil drums", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"

"Locker Plant", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"
Old building next to Marfa Public Library that the Chinati foundation uses to host the installations of visiting artists.

"Old House with oil drum #2", charcoal on paper, 24" x 18"

2007-10-10T10:34:00.001-06:00

Illustrations for The Writers Guide to Fiction, Kalmbach Publishing, 2007
Below is a selection of the artwork I created for a special issue of The Writer Magazine. The artwork, all acrylic paint on card, illustrated certain themes the publication dealt with.

Interior of a writer's office. This is actually the writing studio of the historian Lonn Taylor in Fort Davis, Texas.

Writer's equipment. Tools I suspect writers may use when researching. Except for the large SLR camera - I felt it just looked more like a traditional camera.

Creating Complex Characters. Really an excuse to paint some of the pretty landscape here.

The Advantages of Outlining. The path on the left is a little more wild and 'risky' whereas the right is more ordered and straight.

Give your story meaning. Tricky to conceptualize the idea of mixing story and theme into your writing but I think this illustrated the idea.

Opening Lines. Visual representation of one of those books that draws you in.

Pace. A speeding car following letters - simple but fun to paint.

2007-09-29T16:34:00.000-06:00

Chinati Weekend Exhibition

Along with Marie Blazek and Kay Ellis I'll be exhibiting some new and some older artwork during Chinati weekend. You can visit during the following hours:

Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 10am-2pm.

We'll be at Blazek Studios:

Blazek Studios, 105 W. Washington, Marfa, TX 79830
(Northwest corner of the Courthouse)

2007-09-24T14:53:00.000-06:00

Illustrations for Las Vegas Life Magazine
Artwork for the cover article in the new issue of Las Vegas Life. Illustrations of four music venues in Las Vegas plus energetic poses from my wife Megan and friend Andrew Stuart.

2007-08-27T13:48:00.001-06:00

"Early Morning Chinati trucks", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 20"

2007-08-22T13:50:00.000-06:00

"Marfa Courthouse", acrylic on canvas, 30" x 20"

2007-08-18T11:27:00.000-06:00

The summer issue of the Desert Candle is now available online. Visit www.desertcandle.org to download a PDF of the magazine and you can see the cover I painted along with garden paintings for Dallas Baxter's 'Grow Wild' article. Megan also did a great article on Joan Stocks Nobles.

2007-07-22T12:17:00.000-06:00

Featured artist in the Southern Review!
I have been selected as the featured artist for the new issue of The Southern Review. You can see the paintings that are in the summer 2007 issue by clicking here.

2007-05-31T18:31:00.001-06:00

The Spring 2007 issue of Gastronomica has published one of my monotypes, Scaly Fish for the article "The Prize Inside" by Toni Mirosevich.

2007-05-31T18:23:00.001-06:00

"Belfast City Hall", charcoal on paper, 24 1/2" x 18"

"Belfast Building", charcoal on paper, 24 1/2" by 18"

"Ulster Hall", charcoal on paper, 24 1/2" x 18"

"The Cloth Ear restaurant and bar", charcoal on paper, 18" by 24 1/2"

"Botanic Gardens Glasshouse", charcoal on paper, 24 1/2" by 18"
A series of drawings completed during my recent visit to Belfast to visit my family and brother who will soon be emigrating to Australia.
If anyone knows the correct name for 'Cafe' and 'Belfast Building' please let me know and I'll update the titles.

2007-05-31T18:19:00.001-06:00

Airport 1, 2 and 3, charcoal on paper, 24 1/2 by 18 "
Drawings done on my recent travels to Belfast.

2007-05-20T13:04:00.001-06:00

"Garden Paintings 1-3", acrylic on card, 23" x 33"
In the summer 2007 issue of the Desert Candle I illustrated three gardens for an article by Dallas Baxter.

2007-05-20T13:01:00.001-06:00

"Donkey Afternoon", acrylic on card, 23 1/3" x 29 1/2"
Front cover painting for the latest issue of The Desert Candle magazine. The donkeys belong to Tigie Lancaster here in Marfa, Texas and are called Blackjack and Applejack.

2007-04-24T15:48:00.000-06:00

Rebecca's pink tractor, 24" x 18", acrylic on paper, 2007
Illustration for 'Rebecca's Pink Tractor' in Little Green magazine.

2007-04-04T13:30:00.000-06:00

"Blue Javelina", acrylic on canvas, 48" x 24"

Commissioned piece for the Blue Javelina restaurant in Marfa, Texas.

2007-03-17T07:27:00.000-06:00

I've made the cover of Homegrown magazine!

2007-03-13T15:43:00.000-06:00

"Purple Cactus", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20", 2007
For 'Clear Vision' art exhibition this Friday.

2007-03-13T15:42:00.000-06:00

"Cactus with red blossoms", acrylic on canvas, 24" x 20", 2007
For 'Clear Vision' art exhibition this Friday.

2007-03-13T14:34:00.000-06:00

"Vertical Cactus", acrylic on canvas, 20" x 24", 2007
A painting for 'Clear Vision', a group show opening this Friday at the Marfa Studio of Arts.

2007-03-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

"Pink Cactus #1", acrylic on two canvases, 20" x 10"
Painting for a group exhibition opening this Friday March 16th at the Marfa Studio of Arts here in Marfa, Texas.

2007-03-07T12:01:00.000-06:00

"Conor Hall 2", acrylic on card, 35" x 25", 2005
Another view of the now demolished Conor Hall in Belfast, part of the University of Ulster

2007-03-01T15:25:00.000-06:00

"Tools of the modern reporter", digitally colored ink sketch, 2007
Illustration for the 8th International Symposium on Online Journalism at the University of Texas.

2007-02-28T16:25:00.000-06:00

"British Telephone Box", 20" x 10", acrylic on paper, 2005

2007-02-27T12:27:00.000-06:00

"Garfield bar and Elephant Bar", ink on paper, 20" x 10", 2005
Sketches of two old pubs in Belfast.

2007-02-26T21:55:00.000-06:00

"Postbox", acrylic on paper, 20" x 10", 2004

2007-02-09T16:46:00.000-06:00

"Yellow Building, Alpine", acrylic on card, 33" x 23 1/3", 2006

2007-02-08T18:47:00.000-06:00

"Rainy Bus", ink and acrylic on paper, 20" x 10"
A minute after starting this sketch in Belfast it began raining. But I continued anyway and got a nice, fluid, watery look to the lines. Created back in 2004.

2007-02-07T08:44:00.000-06:00

"Irish News Building", acrylic and ink on paper, 20" x 20"
Acrylic sketch of one of Belfast's newspaper offices. Created in 2005.

2007-02-02T11:20:00.000-06:00

"Hotel Paisano", acrylic on canvas, 34" x 24"
Historic hotel here in Marfa where James Dean, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor filmed 'Giant' back in the mid-fifties.

2007-01-29T08:23:00.000-06:00

"Three sketches of Taylor #1", charcoal on paper, 17" x 14"
I'll be posting more animal artwork on this blog as this is something I want to do a lot more of this year.

2007-01-28T16:13:00.000-06:00

"Sandy coloured Landrover", acrylic on paper, 10" x 20"
Old sketch from 2004 created during my Masters in Belfast.

2007-01-26T09:42:00.000-06:00

"Spring Onion" acrylic on canvas, 10" x 20"
This started off as a commission for a magazine but I changed the illustration direction and sadly, as I needed the canvas, painted over it. All that remains is this scan.