Merry Christmas

My wife Lauri creates our Christmas card every year. They always uniquely capture the spirit of the season. Season's Greetings and a prosperous New Year to all!

Clare in Mirror

Clare was always great at interpreting my direction. Her mom Eileen was also very helpful. We did a lot of work together. 

This painting is available as a fine art print here.

Oil on linen panel, 10 x 8 inches, 2008

#113

Kelsey with Starfish

One of my favorite themes is the figure seen in a mirror. Although Kelsey's face is fully reflected, it is in deep shadow and she remains unknown to the viewer.

Available as a high quality, low cost print here.

Oil on linen panel, 10 x 8 inches, 2009

#112

Haley in a Round Chair

Haley's dreamy expression and the late afternoon sunlight on the wall behind her state the mood of this painting. 

Fine art prints of this painting are available here.

Oil on linen panel, 8 x 10 inches, 2009

#111

Kelsey Again

Kelsey sports maize and blue in this small painting, the colors of the University of Michigan Wolverines. She actually attended Central Michigan University, as did I. Kelsey and her mother Darlene were always a pleasure to work with. 

This painting is available as a fine art print here.

Oil on linen panel, 7 x 5 inches, 2007

#110

Naomi

The unfinished feel of this piece seems to capture something of the mystique of this particular model, with whom I worked only once. 

Fine art prints are available of this painting here.

Oil on linen panel, 10 x 8 inches, 2009

#109

Allan D. Gilmour

Last Monday was the dedication ceremony for the newly-named Allan Gilmour Mall at Wayne State University in Detroit. The ceremony included the unveiling of my portrait of Mr. Gilmour, who recently retired as WSU president. Previous to that he was an executive with Ford Motor Company. I want to thank Sandra Schemske, the David Klein Gallery, and everyone involved in the success of this project. Thanks also to current WSU president Dr. M. Roy Wilson for his gracious introduction at the unveiling.

Oil on linen, 36 x 48 inches, 2013
#108

Summer Dinner

This ambitious piece is from 2005. I was reading about the canals of Europe, and wishing I could explore them. I imagined an idyllic afternoon with a view of a canal from the window. I actually lived on a canal on Detroit's east side right after I was married. It was a magical time.

This painting is available as a fine art print here.

Oil on panel, 24 x 36 inches, 2005
#107

My Flesh Palette

These are the colors I use for painting human skin. It can be tedious to mix up a palette this complex everyday, but I've found that the more thought out my working space is, the more likely I will get what I want in the painting. First I lay out colors from the tube across the top. Next I mix fairly large amounts of the hues in the bottom row. Finally I mix the tints in the second row. I intermix them all as needed when painting. Mars black is cool enough to serve as a blue in almost all cases. I'm posting this so my students can print it out and bring it to class, but anyone is welcome to make use of it. Use matte photo paper for best results.

New Portrait Commission

I am currently painting the portrait of Allan Gilmour, who recently retired as president of Wayne State University. Before that, Mr. Gilmour was an executive with Ford Motor Company. I'm very happy to have been chosen for this commission and I am enjoying working with Allan, about whom you can read more here...http://goo.gl/15Tbbr

Going Forward

This painting is from 2008 and is called "Going Forward". It was a phrase heard often in the media about that time. It is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI. It is beautifully framed by the John Rowland Workshop in Ferndale, MI. John does most of my framing.

You can order a fine art print of this painting here.

Oil on linen panel, 18 x 24 inches, 2008

#106

Blue Mirror

This is another in my short series of paintings by artificial light. The furniture and the room itself are doll house miniatures. The figure was a real model. I composed the piece in Photoshop. The original is available from the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI. 

To order a fine art print of this painting, click here.

Oil on panel, 18 x 17 inches, 2007

#105

The Gift

This piece is one of a short series where I attempted the figure in artificial light, which I find very challenging. It is now in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Art.

This painting is available as a fine art print here.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007

#104

Seashells and Guitar

I tried to capture the feeling of a laid back summer day at the cottage. Kick off the sandals and have a glass of wine. You can see Lake Huron out the window.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here to learn more.

Oil on canvas, 24 x 30 inches, 2006

#103

Clare and Jordyn

Many of my paintings involve two women in a room, often in an ambiguous relationship. Here I was interested in the psychological tension between Clare sitting upright and Jordyn reclining in the background. This work is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI. It is also available as a fine art print.

Oil on linen panel, 20 x 30 inches, 2009

#102

Lily and Hoop

This is one of a series of paintings where I attempted to explore an ambiguous relationship between two figures. It is now available as a fine art print. Click here for details.

Oil on panel, 16 x 20 inches, 2006

#101

Duet

This painting captures the interaction of two musicians rehearsing a song. The painting in the background by Lorenzo Lotto depicts Apollo sleeping. It stands in contrast to the discipline of the young musicians.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for details.

Oil on panel, 22 x 20 inches, 2005

#100

Garland

The setting for this work is the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse near Harrisville, Michigan. The mystery and ambiguity of the two women are fitting in the musty attic of the old lighthouse.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for details.

Oil on panel, 24 x 32 inches, 2004

#99

Under the Dock

One summer on the beach at Tawas I saw two girls giggling and playing under the dock next to where we were sunning. Later I made this watercolor based upon what I saw, but included only one figure and changed the mood entirely.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for details.

Watercolor, 12 x 16 inches, 1996

#98

Sleeping Cupid

This small still life goes back about ten years. I don't often paint still lifes as such, though my figurative works often include still life arrangements, and may themselves be thought of as highly considered arrangements of forms both animate and inanimate.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for details.

Oil on panel, 6 x 6 inches, 2013
#97

Artist's Studio

This painting is from 2008. I painted it right before I moved out of my old studio in downtown Ferndale. I wanted to put in all the things one expects to find in a painter's studio, even the cliches. Out the window is the studio I moved into, the one I occupy today. The door is open, and on the easel sits a blank canvas.

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on panel, 36 x 40 inches, 2008
#96

Lute Player

The lute belonged to my father. He played it now and then, but eventually it fell into disrepair. My mother had it restored not long after his death. I have it hanging now in my studio.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#95

Haircut

This painting is from 2004. I tried to capture the feeling of a summer day and a haircut at home. Can you find the scissors?

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on panel, 30 x 24 inches, 2004
#94

Breaking Away

This painting is from 2005. It is an attempt to represent two states of mind, with an emphasis on the light from the open window. 

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 inches, 2005

#93

Golden Morning

The background is taken from a Roman fresco, but I can't remember which one. Painting candlelight is very challenging. Georges de La Tour was perhaps the best.

This painting is available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#92

Diana

Diana is the Roman goddess of the hunt, as well as the moon and birthing. An arrow is often her attribute. I found the one here at a local archery shop. I liked it's classic look. All of the architectural elements in the painting are dollhouse miniatures.

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#91

Jester

This painting is also somewhat older. The patterned tights are commonly seen on jesters and harlequins in Western art history at least since the Middle Ages. The parquet floor was enlarged from a dollhouse miniature.

Fine art prints of this painting are available here.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2007
#90

Reflection

This is almost eight years old now. The Vermeer reference is obvious, but I was also interested in the glass of  water just out of reach of the seated figure, in relationship to the glass of red wine and the reach for the red roses.

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen, 36 x 34 inches, 2005
#89

Girl with the Golden Ball

This composition is based on The Frog-Prince fairy tale. It is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Fine art prints of this painting are available here.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 24 inches (approx), 2009
#88

Rosamond

Rosamond is the name of the princess in Sleeping Beauty. The rose trellis and other elements relate to the original story as told by the Brothers Grimm. This painting is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Also available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen panel, 20 x 32 inches, 2009
#87

Tablut

Tablut was a game played on reindeer skin by the Sami people in Lapland. It is a variation of the ancient Germanic and Celtic board games known as Tafl. The one depicted in the painting was given to me by my son Gabriel, who is the player on the left. This painting is available through the David Klein Gallery in Birmingham, MI.

Also available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen panel, 24 x 30 inches (approx), 2009
#86

Fr. Edward Prus

This is my portrait of Fr. Edward Prus, who enjoys senior clergy status at St. James parish in Ferndale, MI. It will be auctioned in April to benefit St. Raphael parish in Garden City, MI, where Fr. Prus was once pastor. I posted a study for this last July. Scroll down to see it. You can see all my portraits at my website, Charles Pompilius Portraits.

Available as a fine art print. Click here for more information.

Oil on linen, 36 x 24 inches, 2013
#85

Brother and Sister

This is a recent double portrait. It is always a challenge to compose multiple figures, especially in a formal portrait. The turntable was a Christmas gift to the sister. The lighthouse is at Tawas State Park on Lake Huron, where the family vacations. You can see more of my portrait work at Charles Pompilius Portraits.

Oil on linen, 40 x 30 inches, 2013
#84