Playing Diamonds (Conclusion)

The theme of card games has been a recurring narrative in my work for many years. I enjoy the subject and the psychological elements it offers, but - more important to me - on the abstract level the theme also provides many compositional opportunities such as in the arrangement of hands or the play of color notes in the cards.

Here are two of my large paintings that were composed around the narrative of gamblers playing blackjack:

Another piece 28 years later:

Here is the final drawing used to transfer the composition to linen, featuring the red oxide pastel tone of reverse which I use for that process:

In other news, I will be having a solo exhibition of paintings at the Clark Gallery in Lincoln, Massachusetts: 30 April to 8 June.