Thursday, March 29, 2012

"Second String" Colors

I had to bring in some "second string" colors for these beach toys.  
Pthalo blue, quinacranome red, and cad orange.

"Orange Bucket"
6 x 6 

Pthalo blue reminds me of my new puppy, Cello. 
It gets in to everything and can be very hard to control! 

This is my submission to the GJWP challenge 
 this month, which is "Beach Day".
Check out the groups entries to be posted on April 1! 





Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Group Show Opening!

I am thrilled to be one of five artists involved in a
show entitled "Suddenly Spring" 
opening at the South Shore Art Center
this Fri March 30. 
I will be showing eight of new my Beach Series paintings. 
"Come For Lunch" 
16 x 20 

This promises to be a very eclectic and FUN show! 
The other artists are:


Friday, March 23, 2012

Rockport Art Association Weekend Workshop

I am getting very excited about the 
weekend workshop I'll be giving at the
Rockport Art Association
April 20 - 21!
Rockport, MA
A great weekend get-away!

ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! 
Click here for all the information!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Not too big. Not too small.

I recently bought a bunch of 11 x 14 panels.
The thought was that that size might "bridge the gap" for me 
in my eternal struggle to paint bigger.
Not too big. Not too small.

"Sitting Tight"
11 x 14 

I was trying to accentuate that "big sky" feeling 
at the beach so I think the composition works. 
Although I feel like I cheated a little! 
I painted a small painting, tucked it one corner, 
and made the rest sky! 
Is that really painting bigger? 







Sunday, March 18, 2012

Forcing Abstraction

Before I had my class paint from upside down images last week, 
I did this "practice" demo in my studio 

I purposefully chose a busy photo. 


Painting upside down certainly forces you to think more abstractly 
and some very interesting things can happen. 
My friend Lisa Daria Kennedy does it all the time.
That's how she gets those wonderful loose expressive paintings! 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

AD 20/21 Show

My husband and I are big fans of Mid Century Modern 
design and this weekend the
AD 20/21 Show is in Boston.
(Art and Design of the 20th and 21st Century) 
There are over 50 exhibitors offering 
modern to contemporary fine art, photography, 
jewelry, vintage and contemporary furniture, 
decorative arts, sculpture, fine prints, drawings and more.
Check it out if you are near the South End over the weekend. 

I'm excited that two of my North End paintings
will be showing in the Copley Society exhibition booth.  
Off Salem Street 
16 x 20 

Off Margin Street
16 x 20 

And I'm looking forward to going to this 
panel discussion on Saturday at 3:00! 

Boston Expressionism: Modernist Art at Mid-Century and Today.
Join panelists Richard Baiano, President, Childs Gallery; Judith Bookbinder, author ofBoston Modern: Figurative Abstraction as Alternative Modernism; and Katherine French, Executive Director, Danforth Museum and School of Art, for a lively exchange.  Moderated by Judith Tolnick Champa, Editor, Art New England.


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Upside Down Exercise

I had my last class of this session today, so I wanted to do 
something challenging and fun. 
I brought in a bunch of simple images of figures and animals
and had them paint them upside down.
That way they HAD to just put in the big shapes 
in the right value and color!
It's really a stretch for everyone, but the results are amazing. 
Here are a few, in the works. 







We had about 45 minutes left after we talked about them
so they did one more quick one. 



This was an amazing group of ten very diverse and talented painters.
As always, I feel like I learned more from them.
I am so grateful to be able to do what I do.  

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Switching gears

  I signed on to teach a one day workshop in May 
called"Figure in the Sunlight".
We're going to be doing quick studies with a model outdoors. 
 I'm going to need to practice that a lot before the workshop
so when it gets warmer out I'll plan some outdoor painting days with my pals
and we can all model for each other. 

For now,  I did this from a photo. 
My idea was to just start painting the big shapes without drawing.
and kept my brushstrokes "less deliberate".
I want to really loosen up for this. 
No gridding!  
  

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Painting from Photos

I taught my favorite exercise in class this week. 
"Painting from Photos!" 

Here is my 20 minute demonstration, 
highlighting how to get the big shapes 
down quickly.  
 I brought in images that have 
a strong light and shadow pattern 
for the students to paint from. 
Sadly, I can't post any of their work due to camera issues.
******
Meanwhile, check out the work done today













Monday, March 5, 2012

"Education is Expensive"

That's what my husband and I say whenever 
we spend too much money or time 
on something that doesn't work out as planned. 
It somehow puts a positive spin on things! 
Today, I decided to try many of the (much appreciated) suggestions
 I received about this painting, 
to see what would happen. 
The "before" 
24 x 30 

I removed the deck on the left, 
(added more laundry in it's place)  
I extended the tree on the right and added trees in the sky section. 
I lightened the side of the house in sun 
and tried to soften the sheets. 
Bottom line: 
It feels even more over worked and uptight 
and now I'm bored with the whole thing. 
Thanks to all of you helped me with this particular lesson!
Time to move on and chalk it up to
some "expensive education"! 



Saturday, March 3, 2012

More "large painting" issues



The soft curves of the sheets against all those 
horizontals and verticals in this scene is what 
initially caught my eye.   

Laundry Day 
24 x 30 

I struggled with this and think, in the end, it feels "studied" and tight. 
As much as I enjoy painting on a larger scale,  
I can't seem to capture the spontaneity or looseness of my smaller work.
Gotta work on that!