Next Pass at the Sky

Getting close to the end of this painting. I want to layer in more colors in the water, and soften the land formation. I will probably add a little more color in the lowest strata of the sky, although it is a very dark section. I am working off a photograph, but after you get the basic values, and the general colors, you have to, in the words of Karin Jurick, whom you all may know from her art, "paint the scene, not the photograph".

More/Better Photos and a WIP

The sky is almost done - still left is the land and the water. This is 30x30.

Got more paintings up ( then had a minor collapse when a bunch came flying off the wall - the top painting slammed into two others on the way down - fortunately they were UNframed! I LOVE my studio!

Everybody UP!

I'm trying to get my studio less cluttered.  I mean, it's 1,200 square feet, and you can hardly MOVE in it!  So.  All the framed pieces that I don't HATE are going up.  The framed pieces that I do hate are coming out of frames, frames stacked in my big built-n drawers, and they're getting painted over.  That's it.  And the hundreds of paintings that I actually don't like are going to get painted over or tossed.  THEN the ones that need or may benefit more work will go in a special bin.... and those I'm reserving for history (heh heh! - in other words, pieces that have a sentimental value to me, even though they may not make the grade right now) will go in other bins, against the wall.  Here's some bad shots of what the back end of the studio looks like.  There's so much light (yes, there is a thing as TOO much light) that everything is back lit and hard to photograph!

Re-Do of the Callas

I tried a different vantage for these Valentine's flowers, but it didn't work out. They probably look more like Callas, but the point of view is weird. I consider this one a failure. Nice flowers, bad painting... This is just to show one of my failures to you.

February 2009

Above I'm working on a Paris view - a lot looser then I usually work, just full of energy and feeling.
I started this piece below of Mexican pottery last week with Paula Villanova (she may just post her take on it on her blog)


Two daily paintings and work on 2 bigger pieces on my first day back at the studio. I took a walk and saw someone you might know (below...).

January Happenings

The 'wall' of Daily Paintings in my studio...


A larger work up of a small painting from a farm in Bristol...



Walking The Dog On The Beach, needs just a leeeettle bit more....


Almost done with Brasserie Lipp .....


Almost done with the Bay of Fundy Sunset...

And THAT's what I've been working on aside from my Daily Paintings!

Artist In Residence - Marshfield

This was the demo (mine)...

Every child got to put brush to the painting...

We talked about values and color...

Last Friday I spent the morning at the Furnace Brook Middle School as an Artist In Residence, along with Mary Sheehan Winn and Sally Dean - how cool was that?  Extremely.  The kids were so interested, with good questions on technique, and the teachers were very supportive - they have an exhausting job - the art teachers have no time to do anything but set up and take down between classes - and Middle School kids are..... energetic.  Here are some shots - I set up a panel for me and one for them, and displayed some Daily Paintings, and explained basically what that is and why I do it (did I ever say it on my blog?).  Mary and Sally were wonderful to be with.  Afterwards we went to lunch and chilled - joined by our friend Jeanne MacFarland, another wonderful artist (who has yet to launch her website!).  On Mary's Daily Painting blog she posted a picture of me with one of the kids.

Parrsboro Painting Trip

A couple of photos from the trip, what a sunset!

Gone to Nova Scotia to paint with Mary Sheehan Winn and Joan Brancale.  Mary's DH gave her this week as a treat, and Joan & I were the lucky ones who did not have a studio sale, teaching schedule or other work to keep us here.  We've been exploring the pink sands of the Bay of Fundy and painting and gobbling up the culture. The tides here rise & fall 50 FEET every day.  Amazing.  It looks like a tsunami when the tides out! What a treat.  

We do look a little 'paint-logged', though, I think!  All week eating, drinking and sleeping painting!  We've discussed every aspect of painting there is, when we were not actually doing it (or climbing down and up massive cliffs to inspect the view).  Here's some photos...

Carol Marine Workshop Girls, Song #1

Here's Robin and Lois from the workshop, singing about painting.... shadows & light, stepping back, etc......  They were fun and great painters... as a whole it was a fabulous workshop that I would recommend - it's about Daily Painting, but there were no shortcuts to a good painting.  Carol made us toe the line, it was hard, and it was tremendously rewarding.  And the GROUP -  well, let's just say we BONDED!  Everyone was so nice, supportive, and encouraging.  And these gals can PAINT!  We are thinking of doing a group blogging project.... I'll keep you updated!

Plymouth Art Guild Festival 2008

SOLD

I got 2 pieces in this show which runs through Sept 21st in the center of Plymouth, MA at the annual Festival. The Path To The Beach, 12x48 in oil, won Honorable Mention. I'm thrilled.

You're Not Getting Older, You're Getting Better, 11x14 Oil

Yesterday I happened to be on the Cape and I dropped in on my friend Joan Brancale.   Of course I had to see what she was painting these days and she is in a very industrious phase right now... my favorite piece being hydrangeas, which are past the 'blue' stage.  I never thought to paint them at this point... never really saw the beauty in them, till I saw Joan's rendition, very Thomas Buechner-esque, hers was subtle drama, and it took my breath away.  So this morning I gathered a couple of stems and attempted to paint them, too.  Always I though I wouldn't paint hydrangeas because of all the petals, but I tried Joan's method of wiping off the blocked in color and just suggesting the petals.  I may try them again.  This weather is unbelievable.   I hope everyone's enjoying it....

A Pause That Refreshes, Little Compton, 18x18, oil

Today 2 friends came to visit & paint, Paula Villanova and Jody Regan (both have links on my Daily Painting Blog).  We drove down the Main Road and spotted these cows & calves taking a dip in their little pond.  What fun it was to try and nail a composition while they were leaving and coming back, getting back into the water, leaving, etc.!  I remembered Peggi Kroll Roberts saying "Be a Designer!"  And Ken Auster saying "Be Inspired by Nature, but Not Held Hostage By It!".    We had a picnic lunch, but it was HOT HOT HOT in the sun.... and on the way home we had Dell's frozen Lemonade - perfect end to a perfect day!

Isolated Shower, 24x24, Acrylic

SOLD
This is a work up from the little Daily Painting I did of it last week. Easier and harder. Easier because the composition is all done for me, harder because it's boring to copy, and at least with the values, you have to. This was, I think, the most difficult painting I've ever photographed. Under ever light it appeared much darker than in real life. Then when I got it lightened, the colors were all washed out. Or too purple. Or Green. Grrrr.... This is a little vapid compared with the real thing.

Portsmouth Farm II, Oil 12x24

This is the second work up of a farm piece - love the light on the buildings.  I can't say I won't take the brush to this one again, but it's going to sit a bit then I'll look at it afresh. That is how I often handle the 'finished' painting.  I hang it up or display it in the studio so I can't help get a fresh look at it.  Usually after a couple of days, but it's sometimes as long as a couple of months when I look... stop dead in my tracks and say to myself "Of course!  That roofline is off!" or "Yes, the shadow side of that cheek needs to be much darker!!!"... Or even - "That's just right."  You never know...

WIP, Hull View 18x24 Acrylic

Did a little more work on it (see above) and thought I'd post the progress....

Friday Paula Villanova (check out her cool blog) and I visited the beautiful home of our friend Janet who lives in Hull, MA (right near Oceanside 17 Gallery, which you should DEFINITELY check out).  We painted from the small juliet balcony which had a panoramic view of the Bay in Hull.  She served a wonderful lunch (so why does painting make you so hungry?) So much to choose from to paint!  I chose this view down the hill looking out towards World's End in Hingham, a Land Trust Preseve which is open to the public with wonderful walking trails and views from Hull to Boston.  Painted there last Fall.  

Anyway, it was hot as blazes, and I had to leave before it was finished, but this is what I got so far.  I will work on the distance, and shore up the shadow areas, but I like the view!  Thanks, Janet!

The Barns in Portsmouth, RI, acrylic 14x18

We painted Plein Air at Judy Chaves' house yesterday in the late light.  We were waiting for the cows to come out, which they did, as we were packing up to go home & cook dinner :(   Apparently the cows (which are dairy cows, but I don't know that that matters) like the grass to nibble, but not these tuft-y weeds, so they grow, while the grass gets nibbled down.  Loved the light on the barn and out building.

Pembroke Arts Festival, August 1 and 2, 2008

Today I heard that I got 3 pieces into the Pembroke Arts Festival Juried Show.  I'm thrilled that "Atheena Ballerina" won an Honorable Mention Award!

Opening at the Ventress LIbrary 7/14

A young art lover....

Paula Villanova and Nina Villanova being so kind, after hanging the show, to come to the Opening, too....

Tim and I, trying to get a good photo of both of us...

Well, the 'Opening' finally happened.  Monday night, with a light turnout.  My family & friends were there, however, and I think the show looked good.  Here are a few photos.

New Stuff

A 'Toulouse Lautrec" inspired model...

A sunset on a "Hot Summer Night"...

And a Potato Field at "Wingover Farm" in Tiverton...

These paintings are what I've been doing on my 'week off' after my show got hung last week.  I swore I was going to give myself 2 weeks of 'no-painting', to lie fallow, so to speak, and rest from the (exciting) goings on of putting up a one-person show.  To repeat my Daily Blog - my show is at the Ventress Library, in Marshfield, MA through Mid August.  The show is sponsored by the North River Arts Association, and I am eternally grateful for this opportunity.  Photos from the Opening will be posted later this week.  The Opening is July 14, Monday, from 7 - 8:30.  No alcohol is served inside the Library, and there will be light refreshments inside.  But my car will be serving a Tailgate Party!  So to paraphrase Ernie Boc the car dealer ... "Come On Down!"

Off On Another Adventure

This week I visited Phyllis Adams in Truro at a wonderful 'cottage' just a few houses up from Edward Hopper's house on a huge bluff overlooking the Bay.

Here's a painting of the cottage we stayed at:

Denise Zompa and Trish Hurley were there for the whole week, too - so much fun! This was an amazing 60's 'cottage', a real party house with it's own place in the Art History of Cape Cod.  I think the room I had to myself could have slept 7, and all together I think the house could have comfortably fit 20 or so.  First night there a storm rolled over the bay (didn't touch us)  and we all painted it, here's mine:

and in the afternoon visited Provincetown, and gallery hopped, then painted at Days Cottages (see my Daily Blog for that painting).  This morning we had a terrific breakfast at the Wicked Oyster (see happy faces below), and I headed home, refreshed and renewed!