Gouache Sketches

We have had the most amazing fall this year,
and this scene took my breath away recently.
I thought I’d do a quick gouache sketch,
in preparation for a possible oil painting.

I love the immediacy and flatness of gouache
and this was great fun.
However, I’ve learned that when translating a
gouache sketch into an oil painthing,
they will not be the same.
(I often like the sketch better than the painting.)
Keeping that in mind today, I layed this 14 x 14 oil
in today over an old painting.

Will keep you posted.

Life Long Learning

My friend Page Railsback and I just finished teaching
an ”Anyone Can Paint!” class
as part of the Life Long Learning program
at Linden Ponds, a local independent living facility.
Each week we gave them a blob of red, yellow, blue
and white acrylic paint, paper and brushes
and a quick lesson.
First week, we set up small still lives
and talked about color mixing.

The next week we had them paint from photos.

The third week we had them do abstracts
and the results were amazing.
They all seemed to let go a bit more.

For the last class, we had them paint from memory.
They were each given a postcard with a painting of trees
to study for a few minutes,
then turn them over and paint from memory.

As always, I am so fullfilled and thankful
for the opportunity to work with these folks.
Their enthusiasm and willingness to try anything
is refreshing and a win, win for all.

A great big thank you to my dear and talented
friend Page Railsback for all your help!

More Paint Application

Once again, I took a painting that just wasn’t working
for me and made some adjustments.
It’s very cathartic!

Below is the original.
(This painting was in a show over the summer
and I was somewhat embarrassed about it.
Couldn’t wait to get it back to the studio.)

I removed the green trash barrell, softened some edges,
and tweeked the sunny side of the buildings.

Paint Application

I’ve been having fun re-working old paintings,
mainly focussing on varying paint application.
Here’s one I’m working on.

20 x 16 oil painted over this oldie from 2013!
(Too many details! Too many sharp edges!
Large shapes too flat!

As you can see, I deleted many of the features
on the house and simplified the shapes.
Using a palette knife, squeegee, and scrapers
I worked to make interiors of the shapes more interesting
and the exteriors less severe and defined.
Here is another one.

14 x 14 oil on a panel re-worked over this one:

Again, I’m focussing on softening the edges
and using varying paint applications
to add a little more interest.
The possibilities for applying paint
are endless!

Finding Inspiration

Monster Monstera Plant 16 x 16 acrylic on paper

While away this summer,
we left our innocent
Monstera plant
in a west facing window,
only watering it about once a week.

Last week, we moved back and
look what she has become!

Droopy, leggy with huge heavy leaves.
A true “monster” but so very healthy!
While I figure out what to do with her,
I decided to paint her.

I was fascinated by the
varying shades of green
and distinct shapes in the leaves.

Then I had this idea of cutting it into 8 x 8 squares.
(I haven’t done it yet, these are images I took of the sections)

Cut and framed seperately,
these could be fun to work with.
In any combination.

I’m trying anything to get back in the groove
as I’ve been in a bit of creative drought of late.
I just keep showing up in the studio
and hoping something good happens!

Using Procreate

I’m putting together a simple, one time class on
how to use Procreate to improve your paintings.
The main thing I use it for is experimenting with
making changes while paintings are in progress.

Here’s an example of how I use it:

12 x 12 oil
(A Work in Progress)

I began by putting the image in Procreate to simplify the shapes
and get a quick feel for how the colors interact.

Here is my first lay in of shapes.

I felt like there were too many shapes breaking up the composition,
so I put it back into Procreate.
I covered the top section with green, changed the color of the sky,
and muted the contrast in the foreground shapes….
added a few details on the barn

Then I felt confident making those changes.
Using Procreate to make adjustments during the painting process
saves you so much time and anxiety.
Not to mention wasted paint.
And the possibilties are endless!

I’ll keep you posted on where this one goes.
It needs something.

To Practice What I Preach

After teaching my Modern Painting class
this summer, I couldn’t wait to
”practice what I’d preached”.
I finally did this yesterday
just to see what would happen.

“Inside Out”
12 x 12 oil on board

I used an old orange toned wooden board
and just massed in the big shapes.
Next thing I knew, I was channeliing
Edward Hopper! ??

NOTE:
The main message in Modern Painting is:
NEVER be committed to your original
idea or process.
Allow the magic to happen.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.

I’m looking forward to having some
time in the studio
to just paint for fun.
(after Labor Day)

Edges, Surface and Paint Handling

We had our last Modern Painting class this week
where we talked about
edges, surface and paint handling.

This is such a personal and individual topic,
it’s not really something you can teach
so we all just experimented with new tools.
The first exercise was to do four small
paintings of a simple object;
each using a different application such as;
thick and thin paint, straight lines, adding sketch lines,
incorporating colors from background into the object,
using odd viewpoint,
scrape, squeegee, add paper etc.
Here are my samples:

And here are some of the amazing results:

As always, I learned so much from the students
and had great fun working with them.
It was wonderful to be back
teaching in person again!

Having a Show

It’s been a long time since I’ve had a “show” of any kind.
I’d forgotten about all the details involved;
framing, naming, pricing, photographing, PR,
labeling, hanging, hosting reception.
That said, it feels good to be “out there” again.

In January of 2019, I began a series of small oil paintings
depicting people eating and drinking in restaurants and bars.
I’ve always been inspired by the dramaic lighting, body language, and
spontaneous interaction observed while “breaking bread” with others;
one of my favorite pastimes.

There are 26 paintings in the show and the
“hanging” went surprisingly well.
Now I’m having fun planning the
opening reception next Thursday.
Hope to see a few of you there!

Painting From Memory

We kicked off our 5 week Modern Painting Class last week
with some fun “memory exercises”.
First, we closed our eyes, thought about a favorite place,
then did a few sketches from memory.
Using those as a reference, we did a quick painting.

This gal remembered the blue mid-century modern couch
and orange chair in her living room growing up.

And here is a favorite spot in a garden….

“Our memories retain the significant and eliminate the inessential.”

Painting from memory gives us the opportunity for creative invention; allowing us to state some visual elements of the moment,
 AND the emotion connected to them.

This is what engages the viewer more than mere representation! 

Summer Fun

I caught an image of a very pale young woman laying in the sun
on a very white sandy beach Memorial weekend
and got inspired.

“Red, White, and Blue”
12 x 36 oil
I found this odd sized canvas with lots of built up paint
in my studio and just knew
I had to fill it with her full figure.

I wrestled with the light light skin/sand tones.
Pink sand? Yellow skin?
(I went with yellow sand, pink sand.)

What a fun way start a summer of painting
whatever happens to inspire me.
WELCOME SUMMER!

Sea Side Interiors

Happy Summer!

After a busy spring with lots of shows, festivals, and openings
it’s fun to get back to business.
I’m excited to be sending these three new “sea side interiors” down to
Solace Studio and Gallery
in Long Beach Island, New Jersey.

Cottage Kitchen
16 x 16 oil

Room By the Sea
12 x 12 oil

Summer Sleep Over
12 x 12 oil

(For inquiries contact Solace directly)

Once you put an ocean in a view out a window,
the story changes; it becomes universal
and everyone can relate.
A bit of Hopper.

Welcome summer and all the new subject matter.
Happy Painting!

Private Lessons

Last week I gave a private painting lesson to
a young couple in my studio.
The husband had purchased it as a gift two years ago (pre-pandemic)
so it was fun to finally make it happen!
After a simple review about color and value,
and a quick demo of a simple still life,
they jumped right in.

Having never painted before, and with no expectations,
they had no fear and the results were amazing!

This reminded me just how fun and rewarding teaching is,
especially when the “students” are so enthusiastic!
(Here is our simple “set up”)

Feel free to contact me if you’re interested in a lesson or two!

Restaurant Scenes

I’m happy to share one of the new paintings
that will be included in my solo show
“DRINK AND DINE”
opening July 30
at the Dolphin Gallery in Hingham, MA.

“Sushi Boat”
12 x 12 oil

Having been in the hospitality business
for most of my life,
I’m continually inspired by the quick, spontanous moments that happen in restaurants and bars.
The work in this show is in recognition of all those who work in the hospitality industry and continue to be impacted by the devastating effects of the pandemic.
Please support your local restaurants and bars!

There will be an opening reception
on Thursday August 11
from 5:30 - 7:30.
Mark your calendars!

NOTE:

I have to this painting my 6 year old Grandson did
from memory after seeing my “Sushi Boat” painting
3 weeks prior.
That detail!

Drawing with Seniors

I just finished teaching a 4 week drawing class
as part of the Life Long Learning program
at Linden Ponds, a local Senior living community.
Working with this group is incredibly rewarding as well as entertaining!
Here are a few of the exercises we did.
We explored working with a 5 value scale
and how to break things down in to big shapes. .

We did blind contour drawing of our hands.

We drew with our non-dominant hand
with surprising results.

And of course, drawing upside down was a huge hit!

They begin with the usual trepidation (“I can’t draw a straight line!”)
and eventually loosen up and just have fun doing it.
And the conversations, story telling, and idle chats
while working are priceless.

Timed Exercises

This week we’ve been talking about spontaneous / intuitive painting
(vs. calculated/analytical)
in our weekly on-line class with MDN.
It’s reminded me that doing quick, timed exercises
can really open things up and let the magic happen.
I gave myself 30 minutes to do this today.

Spring is Here!
20 x 12 oil

Setting a timer helps you lose yourself in the process
and forces you to STOP before you over work or over think.
I’d forgotten how liberating that can be!
NOTE:
I visited a greenhouse this week
on a rainy spring afternoon
and it was so inspiring.
The colors, the shapes, the sense of hope and renewal.

Long overdue and much appreciated!

Art Shows Are Back!

Having been mostly dormant for two years,
the art world is finally waking up!
So many exhibits, shows, and festivals are back on the books
and I’m excited to be participating.

“Magic Hour”

12 x 9 oil on paper
I’m thrilled that my interior
will be included in the Spring Juried Show at the
James Library and Center for the Arts.
March 25 - May 7

It’s fun to finish up, frame, and show some of the work
done during this long hiatus.
Here is are some upcoming exhibits where
some of my new work will be shown:

Copley Society Fellows Exhibition:
September Escapades
April 7- May 14

South Shore Art Center
Spotlight Artist
April 1 - May 3

North River Arts Society
”Drink and Dine”
A solo show at the Dolphin Gallery
Hingham, MA
July 29 -August 26

Happy Spring!

New Tools

For Tracy Everly’s workshop this month,
I continued to develop the “Yellow Barn”
idea I started the first week with the value sketches.
Each week she did a demo of her approach
which involves the use of many tools;
scrapers, squeegees, brayers, knives, sponges etc.
I experimented with them all and
this was the end result after many wipeouts and changes.

I feel like this is a bit overworked and almost messy
but it was great fun to push paint around, scrape it off,
and re-apply over and over.
(It’s much more difficult than you would think!)
Here are a few of the stages it went through
from value sketches to final piece.

(Halfway through I realized Iiked the second value study
better so I darkened the sky. )

Tracy is a terrific instructor; very analytical and
her paint application is considered and purposful.
It’s enthralling to watch her paint.
I look forward to adapting some of her techniques
as my journey continues.

Happy painting.

Tracy’s Demo!

Best in Show!

I am humbled and amazed that my recent 12 x 12
gouache painting ”Suite 921”
received the Best in Show award at the annual
North River Arts Society members show!

The fun thing about this is that
this painting was done purley out of love
and to just have fun.
It represents a magic moment in a newly renovated suite
at the Colonnade hotel rigth after our son
ran the Boston Marathon in October.
To me, that warm late afternoon sun reflects
all the love, pride, and hope we felt that day.

Thank you to NRAS for the honor!

Fun in February

After teaching an on-line class in January,
this month I’m taking an on-lline class with Tracy Everly
and it’s great fun.
“Buildings in the Landscape”
through the Winslow Art Center
This is an old favorite subject and Tracy’s work
inspires me to try new apporaches.

I was happy that we began with limited value studies;
to me, one of the most important ways to “plan” a painting.
She reminded us how the act of sketching can
be very calming and meditative;
a great way to relieve the anxiety of beginning a painting.

It’s too cold and dreary in my world to work from life outdoors,
so I used this archived image from a trip to Vermont!

Stay tuned.
I think this is going to be fun!