"The Miracle" /  by Philip Tarlow

the miracle, 2025, 38x83” this is the first fisherman figure on day one.

3:50 PM: i got started today on the miracle, 2025 38x83” the canvas is 78” wide, so this is just the first of what will probably be five or six figures, rather than the seven in the original.

the miracle, 14 1/2 x 49”, oil on canvas mounted on board, 1979

1:06 PM: this morning i took the miracle, 14 1/2 x 49” oil on canvas mounted on board, out of my storage room with the intention of creating a new , more accurate image for my files. as well, i’m planning on making a new version, incorportaing all that i’ve learned since 1979, when it was painted.

the miracle was inspired by my experience with frangos, a fisherman from the village of corthi, on andros, greece. i spotted him emerging from his fishing boat with fresh caught fish, which he was about to sell to nonas, whose little seaside restaraunt was just a few hundred feet from my andros studio in the plakoura.

when i approached him with my camera, he unexpectedly launched into his experience years ago of a miracle. it was 46 years ago, and if i took notes at the time, i have no idea where they are, so i can’t tell you what exactly what that miracle was.

once my friend marika developed the photos i shot, i worked from 7 of them in my athens studio at the time, where frangos tells his story and, in the 7th one, rests, hands by his side, his head surrounded by a celestial light, with a flower at his feet. this was my way of giving the viewer a little taste of the awe i experienced in that moment.

"dancers" was stretched this morning /  by Philip Tarlow

dancers, 32x22” oil on portrait linen, march, 2025, was stretched today

12:13 PM: a special, very thin stretcher bar with brace arrived yesterday for dancers, 32x22” which was painted back in march. i didn’t leave enough canvas because i thought i’d end the painting where you see the pencil marks. but after mikela came and looked at it, i realized i’d be cutting off some of the richness of this composition, so i had to order a custom made, very thin stretcher bar, allowing me just enough room to include the edges of the composition, which would have been a real shame to lose. so here she is, stretched.

WD Commission, canvas #2 /  by Philip Tarlow

WD Commission 2, 14 1/2” x 57 1/2”, oil on portrait xtra fine portrait inen, as she looked at 1 pm

BELOW: WD Commission 1&2 side by side on my painting wall

1:17 PM: i decided that yesterday’s version of WD Commission-1 is resolved as is, and created WD Commission-2, which is 14 1/2 x 57 1/” and designed to be installed above the new washer/dryers, at a 90 degree angle to WD Commission -1. To illustrate, i shot photos of each designated location, which you see here.

WD Commission, day 2 /  by Philip Tarlow

WD Commission, 48 1/2 x 51 1/4” oil on portrait linen, as she looked at noon today.

12:48 PM: i did more work on wd commission this morning, continuing to maintain a lot of white space. here she is at noon.

WD Commission /  by Philip Tarlow

BELOW: left to right: the first 4 stages of the WD Commission

2:50 PM: today i cut the canvas, pinned it to my painting wall along with inspirational creek photos i’ve taken and began work on this 41 1/2 x 58 1/4” painting, to be installed in the space above our new washer/dryers.

thus far, i’m working with a brush attached to a long pole to give my marks more freedom, and i’ll be stopping here for the day so i can get back to the house and help prepare for our dinner guests.

tweaks to ano kato museum” / bather at yialia beach /  by Philip Tarlow

i made a few tweaks to ano kato museum just now, which has allowed the entire composition to sing. i worked mostly on the left portion of the composition, painting over the boring architectural details and allowing the painting to breathe, as well as giving space to the collaged elements i introduced yesterday. the touch of red in the shoulder bag the figure on the left is carrying, which seemingly minor, is critical.

12:36 PM: bather at yialia beach, 18.5x28 cm. watercolor on arches paper. this was painted last month. it’s available for purchase; email me if you’re interested: tarlowart@gmail.com.

ano kato museum / new phone /  by Philip Tarlow

ano kato museum, 32x32” oil & collage on linen

4PM: i did another round of work just now and will continue on friday. she’s shaping up, but not there yet.

ano kato museum, 32x32”, oil on linen, as she looked moments ago

2:44 PM: i continued work on ano kato museum over the past hour, and here’s how she looks now.

ANO KATO MUSEUM , 32x32” oil on canvas, as she looked at 2pm

1:44 PM: ano kato museum is being painted over an old 32x32” painting from 2018. this is day one, and i may do more before ending my painting day, in an hour or two.

yesterday was literrally spent on the phone with at&t, trying to figure out how to set up my new phone and get everything transferred from my old one. i’d like to get some painting done today, and i’ll update as the day progresses