Welcome! Click on any painting to read it's background story. Availability and pricing can be found in the shop.
All Around Us 30x48 Canvas
This was my first piece on a (what I consider to be) large canvas. This piece was inspired by my love of Nature and a song entitled "Nature," written by Sean Kelly of The Samples. In the song Kelly reminds us how Nature is all around us. I couldn't be more grateful for his reminder. This is an abstract piece painted using acrylics. *This piece is currently on display at the Turf Tavern in Scotia, New York. It will be there until the end of August.
Nauset 24x36 Canvas (SOLD!)
This piece was inspired by a recent trip of mine to Cape Cod. The Cape is one of my favorite places on the planet. As of now I hope to live there with my wife one day. I love the ocean! It's power, it's magic breathes through my soul when I am close to it. This year we spent an evening at Nauset Beach. Within seconds it became one of my favorite beaches on the Cape. I was entranced by the mighty waves and beautiful seals navigating their way through them. All of that energy came out when creating this piece. I hope you feel it! Peace and Love!
Life 24x36 Canvas
This is a new piece I just finished. The process I went through to create this piece was a very healing one. This piece was created right around the time I discovered that we would be returning to school during the pandemic. While initially shocked, overly opinionated, and admittedly scared the creation of this piece helped bring me back down to earth where I belong. It represents life to me because in life there are times where things (shapes) work in harmony and are clearly defined. Within those shapes sit our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. However, quite often, usually when something knocks me off of my beam, I become unregulated and the shapes of my life start running into each other. My colors and textures change and I start making mistakes and learning from them. To me that's exactly what this piece represents. I hope you can see and feel that when viewing this piece, when viewing Life.
Nellie's Waltz 24x36 Canvas
I created this piece using a variety of tools and techniques with the mindset of being aggressive and not holding back. Lately I have been working on leaving space on my paintings (which I really enjoy) however I felt that I needed to challenge myself to have no rules with this piece and to let everything fly. While creating this piece I was listening to Bill Evan's song entitled, "Waltz for Debbie" which is one of my favorite tunes ever. I began to think of my grandmother and wondered if she ever listened to this tune when it originally came out (as I am very nostalgic and sometimes believe I live in the past). It was then that I began really thinking of my grandmother, my deep and sincere love for her, and a having a feeling that she was watching me. Her name was Nellie Lippiello, hence the title, Nellie's Waltz. I love and miss you grandma!
Katherine 36x36 Canvas (SOLD!)
SOLD! This painting is named after my wife, Katherine. Initially, I had a completely different plan for this piece. However, like most of my paintings this one took me on a journey that I did not expect. This painting is mostly acrylics however, I also used some oil pastels which added to the enjoyment of my creation. I named this piece after my wife because once it was completed I really liked it and felt that, like my wife, it was too good for me. I don't know if I have ever been more proud of a piece of art I created and I could not be more proud to be the husband of my amazing wife Katherine (Kate).
Freedom 18x24 Canvas
This piece was created shortly after the murder of George Floyd and was created with the idea of needing some bright colors on a canvas to help me feel more positive. More importantly it was created to stand for the change I am hoping comes about in our society in regards to the institutionalized racism that African Americans face every day here in America. *This piece is currently being displayed in the Art Associates Gallery Inc. online art exhibit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artassociatesgalleryinc
New Dorp 30x40 Canvas
SOLD! I painted this piece with the city of my birth in mind, Schenectady, New York. The city has a nickname of "Old Dorp" and in respect to that nickname and the recent resurgence of the city I chose the name "New Dorp." I love the city of Schenectady and even though I currently live a mile outside of it, I still consider myself a Schenectady artist. This piece is on a 30x40 size canvas and was painted using acrylic paint only. The piece itself was challenging for me because of one thing, the amount of space left. I have been recently challenging myself to create and occasionally leave space. Well, it felt right with this piece so I went for it. It still feels uncomfortable but I know that is part of the growth process for me as an artist. I hope you enjoy it and get the same feeling of "pride for one's city" out of it that I do. Peace and Love!
The Real Deal 18x24 Canvas
This piece was painted shortly after the murder of George Floyd. If I am being perfectly honest I was very angry at this time and took out that anger on the canvas. The meaning behind this piece is that in the moment I was painting it, in my mind, the tables of American Society had changed. Now, it was all the beautiful people of color in the United States of America surrounding whites demanding immediate change or else. *This piece is currently being displayed in the Art Associates Gallery Inc. online art exhibit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artassociatesgalleryinc
Size Up 18x24 Canvas
Size Up was the first time I worked on a larger canvas. Up until this piece I painted on primarily 11x14 canvases. I can say after moving up a size I don't think I'll go back down for a while. This piece was so much fun to create, I just loved the extra space and challenge of creating on it. *Size Up is currently on display at the Turf Tavern restaurant in Scotia, New York through August.
The Garden 30x48 Canvas
This piece was created around a combination of my feelings around summer's arrival and having spent more time outside observing all the beautiful plants that surround my home. Many of these plants are natural (not planted) and even considered weeds. However as I get older I am beginning to love even the "weeds" that are around as they are just part of the earth's growth. I believe I have gained this liking and perspective from listening to a lot of Pete Seeger.
Barry Allen (24x36) The Flash Series)
Like the first piece in the Flash series Barry Allen (the Flash's real name) came from my love of the character, "The Flash" and the colors of the character's suit. On this piece I worked on a medium size canvas and incorporated many of the same techniques I used to create the first Flash piece. I really enjoy moving from large canvas to small Mix Media paper and back. I feel that I learn so much from working with different sizes and it challenges me as an artist to fill space with a purpose that is both meaningful and enjoyable. I hope you enjoy Barry Allen as much as I enjoyed creating the piece. Be careful, for he is even faster than Superman!
Truro Sand #1: 24x24 Canvas (SOLD!)
This painting was inspired by a recent trip to Truro, Ma on Cape Cod. The bright colors represent joy and the layers of paint were inspired by the beautiful sand dunes surrounding the area. There is real Truro sand mixed into the paint on this piece. Once again my absolute love for the Cape and the ocean brought me to a place to create with explicit inspiration. This piece will be the first of a few in series of paintings using sand from the beaches of Truro.
Vermont: 18x24 Canvas
This piece was inspired by the six years I lived in the state of Vermont. During this time I got sober, I graduated from the University of Vermont, and I absolutely fell in love with nature. This painting comes from deep within and represents all the ups and downs I went through while in Burlington. Getting sober was the best thing that has ever happened to me because without that, I would most certainly not be in the position I am in today. In Vermont I also fell in love with the outdoors. The majestic Green Mountains are breathtaking and to say I spent lots of time among them is an understatement. From hiking to trail running and rock climbing my new life began in Vermont and I will be forever grateful to all the gifts I received while living there. For this piece I zeroed in on the colors of my alma mata (UVM), yellow, green, white, gold, and black. It was from these colors I was able to create movement and texture which mentally and emotionally took me back to those times. I will always have a deep love of the Green Mountain State and this piece is a clear reminder to me of the impact the state had on my life.
Bebop City: 18x24
This piece represents my absolute love of jazz, specifically the Bebop era. When creating this piece my imagination took me to a far away city where the likes of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk jammed away. I pictured myself driving into the city, with friends, and heading for the club. My love of jazz music runs deep and is credited to my father who exposed me to jazz music at a very young age.
Let Go, Let God
Let Go, Let God is my newest abstract piece that was inspired by my relationship with God. Recently, there has been much turmoil in our world. Between the enormous political divide in our nation and the COVID pandemic sat a very miserable me. Me who had not been working on his spirituality and was getting more miserable by the moment. What I have learned in life and in my own relationship with my higher power, my spirituality if you will, is that I need God, my God, always. On a daily basis I need to surrender to my God and accept the fact that there is very little in this world I can control. What I can control is my realization of this fact and a focus on the present in which I try and do one thing, the next right thing. The rest is up to God. When I can let go like this, when I can let go and let god, I can find happiness in the moment and be of service to others. Today, that is how I am working to live my life. This piece represents that process for me.
The Adirondacks of Autumn
15 x 30
This piece was inspired by my love of the mountains. Nature speaks to me and has always helped connect me with my higher power. Here in Upstate, New York we happen to have some of the most beautiful mountains on the planet right in our backyard. While I don't get to the Dacks as often as I'd like, just knowing they are there and waiting, is enough to fill my heart. I love spending time in the local preserves and I always feel these preserves are a type of walkway into the Adirondacks. This piece also holds in it my desire to get out West and to see the Rockies along with some amazing friends. Nature speaks to me in so many ways. The Adirondack Mountains are part of that.
Marcy's Sun
16x20
This is another piece inspired by my love of the Adirondack Mountains. Admittedly, I am no Adirondack expert but with that being said I have a deep appreciation and love of the majestic beauty of this amazing place. When I was young my focus on mountains was always on height. To me, the highest mountains in ranges were the best. Marcy sits high atop the Adirondack High Peaks at a elevation of 5,344'. One day I hope to become a 46er. I also dedicate this piece to my favorite artist Bob Ross. I grew up watching the man and continue to be amazed by his talent, peaceful presence, teaching ability, and drive.
The Abstract Mountains of My Mind
16x20
This piece was inspired not only by my love of mountains but my love of abstract painting. Here I combined my abstract style of painting with a realism that I often don't go near. These mountains represent the imagination of my childhood with pointed peaks reaching high into the sky. I also really love snow and made sure I included some traces of snow in places I felt they belonged. A mixing of the seasons maybe? For in my mind abstract has no boundaries. I ran with that here. I hope you enjoy this piece and identify with the the touch of realism combined with the endless possibilities of the abstract world.
