Out of the blue I set up my plein air gear
outside my studio late afternoon today.
The sun was low and the light was so dramatic
I couldn’t resist.
This 30 minute meditation recharged
my creative batteries.
Welcome September.
Back To School
The fall is a great time to re-charge
your creative batteries
I’m excited about teaching a new
Modern Painting Class
at North River Arts Society
Tuesdays 9:30 -12:30
Beginning September 8
Beach Barns 12 x 12 oil
This fun class is designed for experienced painters working in any medium, who want to explore a more expressive and contemporary approach to their work. We’ll explore new ways to manipulate the abstract elements of line, shape, color, and value to express an unexpected idea or statement. Through a series of quick, fun exercises, we’ll learn how to let go of just copying what is in front of us and let our intuition guide us. This is not a “how to paint” class, rather a place to have fun and experiment with fellow artists. We’ll be working independently from still life and/or photos. Cut paper collage may be introduced along the way.
Specific materials needed will be emailed each week.
Plein Air Finally
I finally got out to do some plein air painting
and it was so uplifting and fun.
A friend invited us to the Glades in Scituate;
an historic private property on the ocean that features
many barns, private homes and what was once a hotel.
The day was perfection;
no humidity, no bugs, no wind
and I didn’t forget anything!
I used a very limited palette to start;
dioxazine purple, raw umber, transparent yellow earth,
and a bit of alizarin crimson.
Last minute I added the lawn and sky.
Not sure about that, but now I’m going
to play with it in the studio.
My pal Sally Dean
and her cool new Shade Buddy umbrella
(that goes in the ground, not a clip on!)
I need to upgrade my gear!
Finding Inspiration
On a hot summer day last week,
I drove by three teenage girls riding bikes
in bathing suits and bare feet and
it took my breath away.
The freedom! The innocence!
I got home and quickly did this watercolor
to remind me of the moment.
It wasn’t easy getting an image as I was driving.
I had to drive passed them, pull over, and wait for them to go by.
I can’t wait to try this as an oil painting
when I get back to the studio.
(Still doing hand therapy
and taking it slow for now.)
Wrist Surgery
I recently had tenosynovectomy surgery on my right wrist;
a complicated procedure to “straighten out the tendons”.
(I know! Who knew?)
A long recovery has my summer activities somewhat limited
but luckily, I’m left handed so I tried painting this week.
I can hold a paper towel, but opening paint tubes is a challenge.
And forget about putting the tops back on!
I may have to switch gears and try some quick watercolor sketches.
“Mary’s Gift”
5 x 5
watercolor
Learning how to slow down
and ask others for help is not easy!
Stay tuned.
Quick Sketches
Working on a few new pieces for the
Copley Society Small Works.
“Pink on Pink”
10 x 10 oil
I did this using a small watercolor sketch I did
during the Tracy Everly workshop a few weeks ago.
Tracy reminded us how important it is to do quick
thumbnail sketches before actually painting.
It is truly a great way to work out issues of
value and composition ahead of time.
It makes doing the actual painting alot more fun!
Painters and Poets show
I’m delighted to be a part of the Painters and Poets show
at the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury
this Saturday and Sunday from 1-4.
“Star Tulips”
12 x 12
All the pieces in the show are inspired by
the poem ”This World” by Mary Oliver.
Here is my statement;
“The line in Mary Oliver’s poem This World;
“The tulip feels the heat and flaps it’s petals open and becomes a star” inspired this painting. I’ve always loved tulips and buy bunches for my kitchen counter right after the holidays. Watching them open and flourish in the vase is always welcome in late winter. The last phase, when they all droop; almost resigning themselves, is my favorite. I tried to capture that in this painting. And I never realized that they look like a star when acting that way.”
Plein Air Painting
I’m not typically a plein air painter
so when I do, I find it rather daunting.
Taking Tracy Everly’s workshop at the
Art Complex Museum, in Duxbury, MA
last week was humbling.
I’m just now absorbing some of the lessons shared.
It was overcast both days so there was very little
value contrast to work with.
This was my very first approach on location.
And here it is after a few tweeks in the studio today.
“Charlie’s House”
10 x 10 oil
I darkened the darks and lightened the lights.
Tried to make it all about the bamboo,
but the dark green door wanted to dominate.
Tracy is an amazing instructor and person.
Very generous and so earnest.
It’s all good.
Fun to be back at it.
Summer is Here
Happy Summer!
Time for some fun experimentation and discovery.
I dusted off my plein air gear the other day and did this
in my backyard.
“Spring Reflections”
16 x 12 oil
Looking forward to taking another plein air workshop
with Tracy Everly next week
with the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, MA.
Stay tuned!
Up Coming Events
Looking forward to a busy spring!
I’m having a solo show at the
Copley Society of Boston
”Barns and Beach Houses”
May 6- June 29
in the Alcove (Lower Level)
“Lady in Red” 14 x 14 oil
And I’ll be giving a talk/presentation for the
Wellesley Society of Artists
at the Wellesley Free Library on Tuesday
May 7, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
More images and information to follow.
Happy Spring!
Out of the Loop
I’ve been out of the loop most of the winter due to
a remodelling project, travelling, and some family fun.
I did manage to teach three sessions of my Modern Painting class
at the North River Arts Society and as always;
the work done was amazing.
Here are some samples of a favorite exercise we did
replicating a famous painting by limiting it to just 5 shapes.
And here is the group,
fully engaged in collaging!
Now, I’m finally looking forward to getting back in the studio
for some experimentation and fun!
I’ll keep you posted.
Personal Subjects
This time of year, I tend toward interiors.
The winter sunlight can create beautiful patterns
and shapes indoors.
Here’s one I’ve been working on lately.
18 x 12 oil
I learned a long time ago how difficult it is to paint
personal subjects;
old friends, Grandkids, parents.
When I know and love the subject, I try too hard to
”get it right” and it never works.
As soon as I began working on this of our 13 year old lab
I knew I was in trouble.
It ended up losing the initial sense of immediacy,
but I loved spending so much time with my sweet old dog.
Juried Shows
I recently had three paintings rejected from a
prestigious local Juried show.
After going through all the predictable reactions;
shock, anger, self doubt….
I was reminded of the Buddhist saying
”you never know when something bad could be good”
(and vice versa)
“Beach Road” 12 x 7 oil
Yesterday the Solace gallery owner in
New jersey called to tell me a client wants
to purchase the painting above
and is interested in me doing a large commission for her!
So, I guess a positive attitude and faith in yourself
goes a long way.
Not to mention,
juried shows do not mean a thing
about your talent or personal journey!
(PS. This is a repeat of a post I did last May,
but I think the lesson here is very valuable.)
New Year / New Approaches
I love getting back in the studio this time of year.
It’s a time to experiment and just have fun!
This one has been in the works and I thought I’d share.
16 x 12 oil
title TBD
Trying out a totally new limited palette:
Burnt Umber
Transparent Earth Red and Yellow
Cadmium yellow medium and deep
Ultramarine Blue
B&W
I’m also using lots of new tools;
knives, scrapers, squeegees, chop sticks etc.
(I’ve been having issues with my wrists lately
so I’ve had to re-invent how I do things.)
Happy New Year everyone!
Here’s to many happy, productive and fullfilling
hours in the studio in 2024.
"Apricity"
I just learned a new word!
Living at the beach this winter,
I have been inspired by the dramatic affect that winter sunlight has near the ocean.
My son recently sent me this info
after seeing some of my recent paintings.
“Apricity is an old English word for
the warmth of the sun on a winter’s day.
To bask in the sun is to apricate.
The air may be cold, but radiant solar heat
can raise objects to much highter temperatures,
especially away from the convective cooling of the wind.”
“On The Way Home” 8 x 8 oil
I saw this on my way home around 4:00 pm
the other day;
the homes on the distant beach
lit up by the setting winter sun.
I never knew there is a word for that!
Save the Pink House
A friend recently told me about an iconic landmark,
on the North Shore of Boston and suggested I paint it.
Once I researched it, I became fascinated and
had to give it a go.
According to Wikipedia:
“The Pink House is an uninhabited historic house and popular photography and painting subject located in Newbury, Massachusetts, United States. The house was built in 1925 and was privately owned until it was sold to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for $375,000 in 2011.
On October 31, 2023, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (FWS) announced their intention to demolish The Pink House (to occur after a 30-day public comment period from November 1- 30). This sudden announcement came after eight years of Support The Pink House Inc (STPH) working tirelessly to find a solution to save the house - included paying all expenses demanded by the Fish & Wildlife to prepare the house for trade.
I’ve been following the website
and it looks like it may be saved after all!
Stay tuned!
Late Winter Light
The other day the clouds broke
just as the sun was setting
and that intense late winter light
lit up the houses on the beach.
“Late Winter Light”
12 x 12 oil
I was taken by the high contrast of the
bright orange/yellows and deep dark blues,
(and didn’t even have to exaggerate it!)
The light at the beach this season
has been spectacular.
It’s truly a gift.
Something New
My classes are over for the year
and my work is out for holiday shows
so it’s time to have fun experimenting in the studio.
Rustic Re-imagined 20 x 16 oil
We recently went out to Western Mass and stayed at a very hip
(expensive) motel and this is my expression of the “lobby”.
Of course, I was attracted to the light on the books
and the shadows on the unfinished plywood walls,
but the clip light is priceless.
(Available on Amazon at $13.99 each!)
Exhibition at the State House
I’m honored that my painting
”Blue Sky Barn” will be included in the
Placemaking; Explore the South Shore
show opening tomorrow at the State House
“Blue Sky Barn”
16 x 16 oil
Placemaking is defined as “capitalizing on a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that improve urban vitality and promote people’s health, happiness, and well -being.
Explore the South Shore
“features works by 16 artists living in the coastal communities
represented by Senator Patrick O’Connor;
Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield,
Norwell, Scituate, and Weymouth
that capture distinctive space through both
representational and abstract images.”
Congratulations to all!
(More info to follow)
Color Harmony
This week in Modern Painting we did an exercise using
a limited pallet to create color harmony.
Using a black and white image as a reference
we chose either:
-complementary/analogous colors
-one dominant color family
or
-mostly neutrals with splashes of color.
I did this using predominantly greens and blues
(analogous) and a titch of cad orange (complement).
When doing this for a demo, I intitially wanted the house to be blue-ish;
but there wasn’t enough contrast.
Then one of the students used the same reference
and painted this red/ green complementary combination
Now this really pops!
So that’s when I changed the house to orange,
and I think it works much better.
(I am continually amazed by how much I learn from my “students”)