Clementines and Flo Blue

This is a painting I did for my grandmother. I don't love it, but learned a fair amount from it.

Still life

This is a still life given to my girlfriends parents for Christmas. I think I liked it best about half way through, and then kept working on it too long... Its not one of my better paintings, I don't think, but I like its loose appearance.

Preparation for trip

This is a copy of a painting done by C.W Mundy of Gloucester Harbor. I am taking all of my painting supplies with me on a cruise in the Caribbean next week that I have been saving up for months... and wanted to play around with some tonal issues between the sky and the water. Below is both my painting and Mundy's.

If anyone has any comments on adjustments/ things to think about when packing supplies for a trip I would appreciate it!

self portrait

This is a self portrait I did of myself in September. I had never done a portrait before and I think it obviously shows with alot of my proportions. But I still like it. Any thoughts, critiques, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Regent Park- from a photo.

This is a painting I did from a photo (which I'm ashamed of), but in my defense, Cincinnati is too cold in the winter to do much else. I used a strategy from C.W Mundy of painting it upside down and then dusting it with a kleenex before turning it right side up. I think it really helped get at what Mundy calls making the power of the suggestive greater than the power of reality, as I made decisions that my left brain would never have made if it were painted right side up.

I am slightly disappointed as I feel the painting has no main focal point or area for the eye to rest.

Any thoughts, critiques, artists names with similar styles would be much appreciated
thanks!

College House

This was the first painting I was truly satisfied with. I completed it in one sitting in April of last year. It is the house I lived at in Bloomington Indiana while I was in college. One of my favorite artists is Brian Josselyn, and I think his influence comes forward in this painting. Critiques, suggestions, name's of artists with similar styles are more than welcome!

Introducuion

My name is Matt Katz. I started painting about 1 year ago by taking an introductory oil painting class and Indiana University. I came in with absolutely no painting skills whatsoever. I quickly learned that while I was not much good, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have since graduated from college and moved to Cincinnati. I now rely mostly on teaching myself through books and internet blogs as I continue to improve my skills. I am very open to any suggestions, strategies, critiques that anyone may have.
Thanks!