Blog Posts - David F. Burke - Acrylic Painting, Illustration, Murals

My Last Painting of 2018

12/31/2018

I just finished a painting called View From Court Street Bridge, Rochester, NY this morning. The mighty Genesee River is flowing fast and furious! I realized that my first painting of 2018 was one of the Little Theater in Rochester, and my last one of this year is also inspired by Rochester. Interesting!

This coming February 24th through March 23rd, my friend Dan and I are having a joint show at The Little Theater Cafe Gallery in Rochester. More information about the opening reception will be forthcoming.

2018 was very productive painting-wise, and I'm excited to see what 2019 brings!
Happy New Year to all!

Happy Holidays

12/22/2018

A new painting I did a yesterday, coincidentally on the Winter Solstice, called 'In The Deep Midwinter'. Depending on the way I look at it, it's actually 3 different pictures in one!

Painting Demo At Rochester Library

12/2/2018

A couple of months ago, a woman I know from Bergen who works at the central Library in downtown Rochester, NY invited me to participate in a monthly Artist Demonstration that they put on. I was reluctant at first (I'm not used to painting in front of people, except murals), but I'm glad I decided to do it. Only had from Noon til 1:30 to do it, so I picked a simple subject and a smaller canvas.

Three people I didn't know and one old friend showed up, plus a few other people who stopped briefly, and I had a great time doing it! They asked some wonderful questions and we had very interesting conversations. And I was able to paint it very quickly, which I love.

Also, I brought four of my paintings to set up in the Art Department display case for the month of December. Thanks to Mary Fraser for letting me do this. I met some wonderful folks, some artists and some not. I'm sorry the photos are blurry!
Happy Holidays!

Jimi Hendrix...

9/11/2018

I've been a little obsessed with Jimi Hendrix over the last few days. I've been wanting to do more paintings of 60's rock legends, and Jimi was the first one who's been haunting my dreams since I found some groovy photos of him.
This is the result...

I think more Beatles paintings may be on the way, too. And I found a fabulous photo of The Who from the late sixties that would be fun to paint.

New Studio

7/18/2018

In July I moved into my new studio space on the second floor of a lovely historic building in Beautiful Downtown Bergen, NY. It is very close to home, and having all this extra space to work and store stuff in is absolutely blissful!

I never realized what a difference it would make having a work space that is not in our home. It is very peaceful. No distractions. Quite an improvement from the tiny room off the bedroom that I've been painting in for the last three and a half years. And there are lots of tall windows for natural light and overhead lights for night time painting.
I couldn't be happier!

New Outdoor Mural

6/3/2018

I've started a new mural on a building in Tonawanda, NY. Hopefully I can get more work done later this week after the coming rains.

UPDATE: June 20, 2018
I've been working on the mural for about 8 days altogether since the last post. Today was perfect weather in Tonawanda; cooler and cloudy. And I got an early start (about 8:20) so I got a lot done! I'm very excited!I think when I go back tomorrow morning I may get to finish the painting. Then wait a few days and go back to apply the acrylic varnish.
Sorry, I left out part of the lighthouse at the left!

Finally finished Friday, July 6th!

With Liberty and Justice For All...

4/26/2018

A couple of weeks ago I started experimenting with a larger canvas (4 feet by 3 feet) to do something a little more socially relevant.
I love painting pretty pictures, especially ones that convey an emotional connection with the subject matter, but lately I just felt an overwhelming urge to express some of my reactions to some of the crazy shit that's going on in the world, and that's been going on in this country for a very long time.
My first attempt with this canvas was a failure, so I painted over it with gesso and tried a new take using some of the original imagery. Experimentation is really fun and freeing!
This is the result; I think it works pretty well (at least a lot better than the first try).

Art Show Opening at GO ART!

3/16/2018

Here's a little article about the 'Elemental' show at GO ART! in Batavia:
http://www.thebatavian.com/howard-b-owens/photos-batavia-society-of-artists-opens-annual-juried-art-show/513080

New Additions for January...

1/23/2018

Here are two new paintings I finished in the past week.
GO ART! in Batavia is having a juried show this March with the theme 'ELEMENTAL', and I think I would like to submit these two, along with some others (up to 5 can be entered). I love having a theme, it's very inspiring!
Also, I can't stop painting trees! I love trees!

'Fire and Ice' and 'Old man Oak'

Movie Night in January

1/7/2018

I've been enjoying this arctic weather the last few days (actually, I think it's warmer in the Arctic than here!) because I've had more time to paint in my cozy little studio. Here's another new painting I just finished. It's inspired by when Stephanie and I went to see 'The Shape of Water' last weekend in Rochester. It was like a magical re-imagining of 'The Creature From the Black Lagoon'!
When we came out of the theater the air was so cold and clear and colorful it just about took my breath away. The light was amazing, so I combined two different views into one image. I love that snowy, bright alleyway going back to the Little 2 where our car was parked.
Happy Winter!