Sometimes a still life

My first still life in oils -11x14-Juicy  Nectarines
This won honorable mention in the Art in the Park show
 in Norwood, MA 2011

I had fiddled around with painting things before actually doing still life paintings.
18x24-primarily peppers

Sometimes a still life is a good way to hone skills and focus on technique, color, composition,etc. without packing everything up and facing the inevitable question-"what shall I paint today?" I am fortunate to have a really great group to paint with. Feedback from other artists is helpful. Having a quiet uninterrupted time to paint is essential.

"Autumn's Delights" was juried into a show at Fountain Street Fine Art in Framingham, MA (11x14)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                              

Judge's Choice Award!

I was honored to receive the judge's choice award in the Hull Museum show. There were many outstanding works and seeing the ribbon on my painting evoked a certain pride knowing that others enjoyed it too. One of the judges commented, "I wish that I had painted this!"

Cityscapes

Church St. Burlington ,VT  18x24---

Swanboat Memories 16x20---

The old and the new, Oxford University, UK-16x20-

Winooski Falls, Winooski, VT-

When thinking about painting  city scenes, first thoughts are the downtown hustle and bustle. The great thing in exploring a city is discovering what makes it unique and what makes it universal. The old mill towns in New England are great;  factory buildings are converted and the flavor of the community is preserved. Some old mills are marketplaces, artist studios, restaurants, fitness centers and a multitude of other things. In some cities parks and walking streets provide places to gather or relax. Sometimes it's the history that attracts me. Although painting the city provides a lot of opportunity, I have much more exploring to do in this area. I was able to set up my easel on my daughter's balcony to paint the Winooski Falls. The blue and orange harmony attracted me as well as the rushing  water patterns;  but today that view is gone as new high rise condos went up right after I painted this one. Some scenes, like the swanboats, are iconic and others are pure luck. When I saw the students come through the doorway at Oxford it was the moment when it all came together. I was already hooked on the lighting, but the new and modern juxtaposed with the old and established was the moment I wanted to capture. Church Street in Burlington is another iconic scene with the white steepled church at one end. Sometimes there are banners and flags or street performers and pushcarts or in the winter-lights and people bundled up against the VT cold. Any season is a good one to paint Church Street.

A couple more examples

Dynamic Trio -small version-winner of Judges Choice Award

Dynamic Trio 2 (or "Surf's Up") 24x30

Bird Park -9x12 pleine air version -

Bird Park 16X20 studio version -

These are a couple more examples of "big and little". Painting outside requires painting quickly. The painting has a  spontaneous, fresh quality. While enlarging it's  easier to stop and return to the painting  later, making layering and glazing an added dimension. There is sometimes an opportunity for more detail because the pace is unhurried. But when I completed the larger version of Dynamic Trio (above) I realized I had to go back and redo the horizon line; this is the version before the redo and I think you can see why. The painting is too large for most shows because of size restrictions, so I was really happy to have the smaller version. I really wanted to submit the 24x30 painting to the Hull show. Not only was the small version judged worthy for the Hull Museum show (see 2/2/13 entry) but I received the "Judge's Choice Award" for the painting. So even though there is learning every time we do something (if we pay attention!) don't discount the quality of previous works.

Big and "Little" or 'do it again".

Pleine air version 9x12 of Robert Frost's farmhouse-

Large Version of Robert Frost's farmhouse-

One of my very first mentors, James Wilson Rayen, passed away yesterday. He was my art professor at Wellesley College back in the 60's. He had a really huge influence on me. He was kind, extraordinarily talented, patient and an inspirational young man. He stayed that way up until his death-(except perhaps the young part). I was thinking a lot about him and how he taught me so much and all about patience. We would draw things in the studio over and over and over again. Initially they looked pretty good; but the more we drew, the more we realized how much room there was for improvement. When I first met him we drew circles for a week. Yup-circles. Every day in every way imaginable. We got better and better and soon realized it could never be "mastered". Now when I go out and do a small painting, I often like to return with that and photos and do a larger version in my studio. Sometimes I like them better, sometimes not, but I always think about what I learned from James Rayen-keep on painting!

The Sea as Inspiration

Along The Marginal Way, Ogunquit, ME/private collection

Let's Boogie 6x6 oil

Big Surf/gallery wrap oil

Kathy and Emma/gallery wrap  oil

Beautiful dawn/private collection

Growing up on the beach in Old Rexhame, in a house that my grandfather built, provided me with an idyllic childhood that began my love affair with the ocean. I respected it's power, was in awe of it's beauty, and was mesmerized by it's abilty to bombard of all my senses at once.

Plein aire painting-my favorite!

 Turner Pond, Walpole, MA

Charles River, Medfield, MA    

Camden Harbor, Camden ME-view from Mt. Battie

Manana from Monhegan Island, ME

West Street, Walpole, MA-

Jercho, VT-Mt. Mansfield-

West Street, Walpole, MA-

View from our deck on Monhegan Island, ME-

Early morning in the Adirondacks-

After teaching in a room without windows for 24 years, I couldn't wait to be outside. Fresh air, ever changing light and conditions and "sunshine on my shoulders"-all this has great appeal!  These are a few examples of various places I have painted. I find lots of inspiration right here at home. When I go anywhere, I feel more connected by painting than by photos. Of course I take a lot of photos as well, but painting really makes an imprint in the brain.