New painting "Dress Pattern No.6582" (detail) oil on copper

Popcorn Box

This painting, "Popcorn Box" oil on scrap tin, will be show at the Boston International Art Show November 12-15, 2009. Fraser Gallery out of Bethesda, Maryland will be representing my work at this exhibit.

Dress Pattern No. 5178

Dress Pattern No. 5178, oil on scrap tin. Seventh in the series.
This painting along with several other paintings will soon be heading with Fraser Gallery of Bethesda, Maryland to consecutive shows in Boston and Miami.

New Dress Pattern Painting

Finished this one last night. "Dress Pattern No. 4549" oil on scrap tin. This painting will be heading to a show at Evan Lurie Gallery in Carmel, Indiana in September. Click on the image for a closer look.
-MF

Dress Pattern No. 7542 (detail)

This painting, Dress Pattern No. 7542, (detail), oil on scrap tin, is the third in a series of dress pattern paintings that I've been working. This piece will be shown at Gallery KH in Chicago, IL. The show begins with an opening reception on Friday, July 17th. Visit www.gallerykh.com for details.

Dress Pattern No. 9868 Painting

This painting, "Dress Pattern No. 9868," oil on scrap metal, is the second in a series of dress pattern paintings I have been working on. This painting is heading to Gallery KH in Chicago for a show that opens with a reception on July 17th 2009.

"Michael Fitts - Paintings" on Facebook

I now have a fan page on Facebook. Search "Michael Fitts - Paintings" to become a "Fan"

Thanks
-MF

Dress Pattern Painting

Last night I finished this painting, "Dress Pattern No. 9488." Oil on scrap tim. The idea for this comes from when I was a kid in the early 1970's watching with fascination as my mother would sit at her sewing machine, painstakingly making her own clothes at home. A few weeks back while snooping around on ebay for some painting ideas, I stumbled upon some of these dress patterns for sale. The memory of my mother making dresses came flooding back.
This painting will be heading to a show in Chicago at Gallery KH this coming July.
-MF

Twinkies No. 3

This piece, "Twinkies No. 3" 15" x 21" oil on scrap metal, will be featured at the Affordable Art Fair in New York. The show opens Thursday, May 7 and runs through Sunday, May 10.

"Animal Crackers"

This painting "Animal Crackers," oil on scrap copper, will be feature next month in the Affordable Art Fair New York.

"Comments" now enabled

I recently was asked why the ability to make comments on this site was not activated. Not having a good answer to the question, I have now enabled the ability for viewers to make comments. Unfortunately it will only work for new posts. Thanks
—MF

Two paintings for the Affordable Art Fair New York, May 7-10, 2009

In May I will be showing paintings in the Affordable Art Fair, New York. This is the second consecutive year that I have participated in the AAF, New York. As last year, my work will be represented by the Fraser Gallery of Bethesda, Maryland. The two paintings posted here, "Coffee Cup" and "Ice Cream Scoop #4" both done in oil on scrap tin, will be shown at the AAF. I will be showing approximately 20 paintings in this years fair.

Monopoly Piece - Shoe Painting

Detail

This is the third in a series of Monopoly game piece paintings titled, "Monopoly Shoe" oil on scrap tin, 9.5" x 9.5". This may be the last in this Monopoly series since I think that the Monopoly Car, Scottie Dog and the Shoe are the most interesting pieces. Click on the images for a more detailed look.
-MF

Monopoly Piece - Scottie Dog painting

This painting is the second in a series of Monopoly player pieces. This one title "Scottie Dog" is oil on scrap tin. 9.5" x "9.5. I have also included a detail here. Click on the images above for a closer look.
-mf

Monopoly Piece - Car

Yesterday morning, I painted this piece, "Monopoly Car" oil on scrap tin, 9.5" x 9.5." The car is painted actual size (about one-inch long). I'm planning on a series of three monopoly game piece paintings including the "Car", The "Scottie dog" and the "Shoe." I will post these as I finish them. The top image is the whole piece and the bottom image is a detail. Click on the images above for a closer look.
-MF

Little Blue Bottle

I did this painting yesterday while watching the NFL Playoffs on TV. It's of a little blue bottle that I found a few years ago (I think its a Phillips Milk of Magnesia bottle). It's done in oil paint on a small 5" x 7" tin box. I haven't done any painting in about two months so to get back into it I decided to start out small. You can click on the image above for a more detailed look.
-MF

Crayons on Aluminum Printing Plate

Today I finished this painting, "Crayons" oil on aluminum newspaper printing plate, 28.5" x 19.5."
A few weeks ago I found this this aluminum printing plate at a junk shop in rural Northern Virginia. The plate is from a Harrisonburg, VA newspaper dated April, 1979. I've painted the crayon box in the past but this one is one of my favorite versions. What I like most is the contrast of the color crayons verses the black and white of a newspaper printing plate.

This piece will be heading to the Bridge Art Fair in Miami, Florida in early December where I'm represented by the Fraser Gallery.
http://www.bridgeartfair.com/index.html

Click on the image above for closer look.

Yet another ice cream scoop

I finished up this painting a few days ago and it's the third in a series of ice cream scoop paintings I've done in the past few weeks. This one is in oil and done on the bottom of an old Milwaukee Sawzall steel case. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Ice Cream Scoop no. 2

I'm currently on an ice cream scoop painting kick. I finished this painting last night. The second of two ice cream scoop paintings in the last week or so. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Ice Cream Scoop Painting

detail

This painting, "Ice Cream Scoop" is oil on a scrap steel industrial shelf. I capped off the top and bottom of this piece by adding scrap sheet copper with pop rivets. Click on the image for a larger look. I have also included a detail of this painting.

White Shirt

I finished (or nearly finished) this painting, "White Shirt", oil on scrap tin, 33.5" x 34". This piece will be shown at Gallery 50 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Click on the above image for a closer look.

Black Phone No. 2

Last night I finished this piece titled Black Phone No. 2. oil on combined scrap metal. The lower half of this piece was formerly a small oval waste paper can that I cut off the bottom and rolled flat and then riveted to another piece of found roofing tin. This piece will be heading to Gallery 50 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for a solo show there opening on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Click on the image above for a closer look.
-MF

Clothes Pins

I recently finished this piece "Clothes Pins" oil on scrap copper. This is roughly the third variation of clothes pins that I've painted. One thing that I like about copper and in this painting specifically is the tell tail sign of my hands coming into contact with the copper. Being right handed you can see along the right edge of the piece the multiple prints made by the heel of my hand as it traveled up and down the right edge of the copper panel. I've been doing a lot of work on scrap copper. It's a great material to work with for other reasons as well. First, scrap copper usually comes in a wide variety of patina tones. And secondly it bends so easily.
Click on the image above for a closer look.
-MF

Crescent Wrench Painting

I finished this painting last night of a Crescent Wrench, oil on scrap copper. It will be heading to a collector in Belgium. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Affordable Art Fair - New York City, June 12-15, 2008

I will be represented by Fraser Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland at the Affordable Art Fair in New York City. The painting above "Fresh Popcorn" oil on scrap copper, will be featured in the exhibit. The AAF runs from Thursday June 12 - Saturday June 15.

10 Balloons

Last night I finished this painting titled "10 Balloons," oil on scrap roofing tin. 1.5" x 21" It is part of a group of paintings heading to Belgium for a show this Spring. Click on the image above for a closer look.
-MF

C&O Show Extended

Due to the over whelming public response to the C&O Gallery show, (not really, the artist scheduled for April had to bail) my show will be extended through the month of April. —MF

Belgium Bound

This painting, "Balloons" oil on scrap tin, 18" x 18" will soon be heading overseas to Leuven, Belgium for my first exhibit in Europe. I hope to have around 10 or so paintings ready to show there this Spring.

WINA 1070AM Radio Interview

Recently, Coy Barefoot of local Charlottesville radio station WINA 1070AM interviewed me for my current show at the C&O Gallery here in Charlottesville. Linked here is the online podcast of that interview.
www.cvillepodcast.com/2008/03/08/michael-fitts/

A Few Pics From Last Nights Opening

Thought I'd post some photos from my show opening last night at the C&O Gallery here in Charlottesville. Thanks to all those who made it out. Click on the images about for a larger look.

Next Show Opens March 6th

I have a exhibit of recent paintings opening on Thursday, March 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 at the C&O Gallery here in Downtown Charlottesville. The C&O Gallery is adjacent to the C&O Restaurant at 515 Water Street East in Charlottesville VA.

Doll painting

Recently I asked my friend and fellow artist Emily Miller for some ideas for some new paintings. A few days later she returned with a few cheap and fragile little plastic dolls. I choose this one to paint. For a time now I've had this idea of doing a series of paintings of Dollar Store toys. There is something sad and simple about toys sold at the dollar store. The toys are obviously cheap, but despite that, there also comes a sense of optimism. Click on the image for a closer look

Toy Tin Robot Painting

On a recent trip to my brother and sister-in-law's home on Olney, Maryland, I spotted this little toy robot that my sister-in-law played with when she was little. I have been looking for a cool little retro robot to do a painting of and this one seemed appropriate. This is oil on scrap tin (the tin here has a faint wood grain pattern printed on it) 26" x 26." This piece is reserved for a upcoming show I have scheduled here in Charlottesville in March. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Animal cracker painting

Once again I've turned to a favorite subject to paint. The Barnum's Animal Cracker box. This version is in oil on a scrap metal panel, 18" x 16." This is for a series of "Junk" food paintings I'm currently working on. Click the image above for a closer look.

Dr. Pepper meets Doc Marten

I recently finished this piece titled Dr. Pepper Meets Doc Marten, oil on scrap aluminum, 23" x 23". The title is derived from the fact that the shoe, a classic mens Doc Marten, is painted on the aluminum fragment of an old Dr. Pepper sign. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Date Correction

The correct date for the Mid-Atlantic New Painting show is Thursday, January 24 from 5-7pm at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery at the University of Mary Washington Galleries in Fredericksburg, Virginia

Snow White Refrigerator?

On a recent trip to the scrap yard I happened upon this little piece of tin that was apparently a piece of Snow Whites refrigerator. I though it odd that Snow White, being a fictional character would have need for a refrigerator. Nonetheless, here it is fixed to another piece of scrap to create "Snow White Spoon," oil on scrap tin, 14" x 10." As always, click on the image above for a closer look.

Twinkies painting

I just finished this piece last night titled, "Twinkies" (oil on scrap tin, 16" x 18"). This is the second version of Twinkies that I've painted, the first was done in 2006.
This piece is earmarked for my next Charlottesville show at the C&O Gallery in downtown Charlottesville, VA in March of 2008. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Painting heading to Charlotte North Carolina

Here's another version of the Chinese Food Container that will be shown in a gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. The name of the gallery is Center of the Earth Gallery http://www.centeroftheearth.com/
This version is oil on copper. Click on the image for a closer look.
--mf

Sugarman Grant

I was just recently awarded an art grant from the George Sugarman Foundation in Novato, California. To learn more about the Sugarman Foundation you can visit their website at http://www.georgesugarman.com/

Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2008

This painting titled "Spoon on a Horizon" 2007, oil on scrap metal, 14.5" x 13" was just accepted into the Mid-Atlantic New Painting 2008 exhibit at the University of Mary Washington Galleries. From 350 applicants, 33 artists were chosen for this years show. The opening reception for the show will take place on Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The exhibition will be on view through March 8. Click the image above for a closer look.
-mf

CELA Award piece

This painting, "Nest" was created for the Commonwealth Environmental Leadership Awards. Six awards are given each year to honor local and regional companies, organizations and individuals from the Commonwealth or Virginia who have consistently gone above and beyond in their conservation and preservation efforts. Each award is commissioned and created by a prominent local artist. My piece was done in oil on scrap copper. Click the image for a closer look.
—mf

Operation

I just finished this painting last night. Titled "Operation," oil on scrap tin, it will be featured in the Fraser Gallery show that opens on Friday, September 14, in Bethesda, Maryland. Click on the image above for a closer look.
--mf

Postcard for Fraser Gallery Show opening Setember 14, 2007

For more info visit www.thefrasergallery.com

Egg Slicer

Here's my most recent painting titled "Egg Slicer" oil on copper. It will be shown at my next solo show that opens September 14th, 2007 at the Fraser Gallery in Bethesda, Maryland. Click on the image above for a closer look.
mf

Fruit Pie Series • Painting No. 3 - Blueberry Pie

This the third in a series of three paintings of the Hostess Fruit Pies, oil on scrap metal. Included here also is a detail of the piece. Click on the images for a closer look.

Fruit Pie Series • Painting No. 2 - Apple Pie

Fruit Pie, Apple, Oil on scrap tin. 24" x 24" 2007

This is the second in a series of three Hostess Fruit Pie paintings.
Click on the image for a closer look.

Boxing Glove Painting

This is a recent oil painting I did on what I believe is a portion of and old aluminum gasoline price sign.
Click on the image for a closer look.

Fruit Pie Series • Painting No. 1 - Cherry Pie

I just finished this painting which is the first in a series of three Hostess Fruit Pie paintings.
Click on this image for a closer look.

Hey Jack Kerouac

Recently I produced an illustration of Jack Kerouac for Barrelhouse, a print journal of fiction, poetry, interviews, and essays about music and art. This illustration accompanies an article about the band The Hold Steady and it's 2006 album Boys and Girls in America which takes several cues from Jack Kerouac's book, On the Road, thus the subject matter for the illustration.
To learn more about Barrelhouse visit www.barrelhousemag.com
Click on the image above for a closer look.

And now for something completely different

I was recently invited to participate in a group show at the Piedmont Virginia Community College here in Charlottesville. The theme of the show was "Alters." I came up with this piece sort of spur of the moment. These sort of conceptual pieces don't come naturally to me so it was a bit of a challenge to find a direction that contoured to the theme of the show while staying true to my own taste. The piece here titled "Empire" accomplished that dual goal. The piece, constructed of tin, brick, rope and various other materials was the final composition of many variations in the theme. The title came from the word "EMPIRE" that is stamped into the brick wrapped in rope. The metallic sphere that is resting on top of the brick was originally a toilet tank float. You can click on the image above for a close look.

1708 Gallery Auction (image detail)

The image above is a detail of "Crayons", the piece that will be in the 1708 Gallery Art Auction in Richmond. For more information visit 1708 website at www.1708gallery.org
Click image for an even closer look.

1708 Gallery Auction

This piece "Crayons" will be in the 1708 Gallery Annual Art Auction in Richmond, Virginia. The auction is described on the 1708 Gallery Website, "This annual benefit features some of the finest work by the region’s top artists. In addition to raising funds for the gallery, the auction provides a venue for Richmond’s collectors to connect with contemporary art and support regional artists."

Click on the image above for a closer look.

New Painting

Rebecca's Twinkies, Oil on copper, November 2006, 11" x 16" Click to see a larger image.

Image post requested "Paper Airplanes"

"Paper Airplanes" Oil on scrap metal. 2006
Recently I received a request to post an image of my recent "Paper Airplanes" painting. This piece in now part of a private art collection in Houston, Texas. Click on the image above for a closer look.

Donated piece for silent art auction

This painting, "Light bulb" Oil on scrap metal, 12" x 12" will be auctioned off in this years holiday art auction with the University of Virginia Art Museum. Click on the image above for a better look.
For more on the auction visit www.virginia.edu/artmuseum/auction2006/auction2006.html

Shoes painting

Detail of painting "Shoes" which sold recently at the Mudhouse Show. Click image for a closer look.
-MF

Studio shot composite

This image is made up from several shots of my studio space. These photos were taken on Saturday, November 11, 2006. Click on this image for a closer look.

Postcard for Mudhouse show in Downtown Charlottesville - October 6, 2006

Here's the front of the postcard for the Mudhouse show. It's a detail of the "Spoon Map" piece that I just recently completed. It's painted on a found tin wastepaper can that I cut and flantened before stretching onto a wood frame. The spoon and it's cast shadow are painted in oil and the full size of the piece is 20" x 8.5"
Click on the image for a closer look.
-mf

Next opening at Mudhouse in Downtown Charlottesville - October 6, 2006

My next show will open at Mudhouse on Chalottesville's Downtown Mall. Opening night is Friday, October 6th and the show will be up for the month of October. Here's a preview painting, "Three Clothes Pins" Oil on scrap copper, 11" x 11". Click on this image for a closer look.
-mf