"Broken Vase" measures 24x12 inches and is my most recent figurative painting.  Inspired by the work of Nicolai Fechin and the way he works in under-painting with heavy gesso in areas as well as leaving some areas of the painting rough in contrast to some delicate.  I had first been introduced to his work from an artist friend of mine Gina McComas.  As I was working in our Scottsdale Gallery (that has since closed) she came in with a book about Nicolai Fechin.  It was brown with an Indian girl sitting and cradling a type of baby carrier, and packed full of Nicolai's imagery in great detail and color.  I was familiar with a few images but not enough to have fallen in love...yet.  She lent me the book and I could not tear myself away.  I studied the images more so than the text (it was written in Chinese).  I was to return it shortly so I found a copy online and have thumbed through its pages regularly.  I had always loved contrast in color, line and texture but I was exposed to extreme changes from a delicate cheek to deformed hands boldly blocked in with pallet knife.  This newest painting has all of the same textures that move me and ties in my love for Nicolai's compositions with the girl cradling her pretend baby after braking her mother's vase.