Sunday, June 29, 2014

Celebrating our Independence

It's official!
I am taking this whole week "off" 
to celebrate our nations independence.

The fourth of July is a great time to remind
ourselves of the freedoms
 we so often take for granted.  


"If our country is worth dying for in time of war
 let us resolve that it is truly worth living for 
in time of peace." ~Hamilton Fish

Hope you all have a safe and joyful holiday!  


Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Weekend workshop on Cape Cod July 18, 19

There are just a few more spots left in my  
weekend workshop at the Cape Cod Art Association
in Barnstable, MA
July 19 and 20!

20 minute sample demo

This workshop is beneficial to painters 
at all different levels.
It it a fun way to learn how to 
simplify, stay loose, and use a lot of paint. 


Monday, June 23, 2014

Practice, practice, practice

Painting the figure is difficult, 
because the drawing has to be accurate. 
And that, we all know,
only gets better with practice. 
For homework this week, I had the class do 
10 quick line drawings of figures
using models in a clothing catalog.

I did a few this weekend from Garnet Hill,
my all time favorite.










This is a great way to practice
getting correct proportions 
when you don't have a model! 

Saturday, June 21, 2014

5 Minute 2 Value Studies

Painting the figure in five minutes, 
using just black and white is a real challenge. 
 However, it certainly "drives home" the idea 
of seeing patterns and shapes.
Not things! 

I painted this along with everyone else 
in class this week. 
Inspiring, to say the least!   



We have an incredibly talented model, Olivia. 
Cello loves her madly
and looked over at me during a sitting 
as if saying,
"Hey Mom, why isn't Liv petting me?" 





Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Fishing

We have a lot of fisherman on the beach this year. 
They can spend hours just looking out at the ocean. 


"Fishing" 
16 x 8 

That's my kind of sport! 

Monday, June 16, 2014

Quick Demo with Model vs. Photo


It's been ages since I've painted a model,
and I struggled doing this  quick demo for our first 
"Figure in the Sunlight"
 class last week. 
20 minute demo 
8 x 10 
(wiped it off twice!) 

To "redeem myself" I did this later in my studio 
 from a photo 
in about 45 minutes.
I was terribly bored. 



Doing quick poses with a model is a great way to push yourself.
You have to say what you have to say, quickly and simply. 
No time to overwork it! 

I'm starting to think that in this class, 
I am teaching what I want to learn!
We have a dynamic and enthusiastic group 
and I look forward to the journey we are on!  


Friday, June 13, 2014

Another Arts Festival

The South Shore Art Center is hosting their annual 
Festival of the Arts this weekend!
The Cohasset Commons will be all abuzz with
craft booths, entertainment, ART shows, food -
something for everyone!
This painting will be part of the Juried Show
 in the tent in the Commons.
"A Couple of Beachcombers"
12  x 12 


And these are part of the Faculty Exhibit
hanging in the Bancroft Gallery at the Center until July 13! 

" Time to Go In?"
12 x 36 

"Tall Drink of Water" 
16 x 8 

"Beach Games"
12 x 9 

Come on by if you are in the "hood'! 
Bring the Dads! 






Wednesday, June 11, 2014

LMFP at it again

'Through the Dunes"
9 x 12 


Did this from one of the sketches I did over the weekend. 
I felt like Little Miss Fussy Pants showed up for this! 
Sometimes that happens when I 
think too much about the painting ahead of time! 
Damn her. 

Monday, June 9, 2014

Back to the Beach

We had two incredibly gorgeous days at the beach this weekend.
I was excited to gather new reference material
of my favorite subject matter!

"Holding Court"
8 x 10 oil 

I didn't have my oils, 
so I did this gouache study from our deck.


Then did a few ink sketches. 


Working out potential value patterns.




These all have potential for paintings...
Summer is here! 
I'm excited to see where it 
takes me.  








Thursday, June 5, 2014

Annual Garden Club Trip

I just spent two gorgeous days touring gardens 
in Vermont with my Garden Club. 
 I thought I'd share just some of the 
"visual treats"
  I discovered on this one.  


This painting was hanging in the learning center at 
I think it captures the essence of Vermont!  

Windsor, Vt. 
Such lush greens! 

A simple and well organized potting shed. 

A cliche for sure, but so "Vermont", 
I couldn't resist. 
(On the lawn of the Inn at Shelburne Farm. )

The Path of Life Garden in Windsor, Vt. 
Incredible! 



Horsford Gardens, Charlotte VT. 

Wild Phlox growing in between two green houses. 

Color! 

Two days to just relax and interact with a group of 
amazingly talented and dynamic woman.... 
so fulfilling. 
I'm to the brim with re-newed 
inspiration, insights, and ideas.
Thank you girls! 

What a great way to start the summer season! 








Monday, June 2, 2014

Mud Heads



While teaching painting in Provincetown in the early 1900's 
 Charles Hawthorne had his students 
paint models on the beach with their backs to the sun.  
The mud-like color of the face in shadow
gave rise to the nickname "mud heads". 


Mud Head Study #1


Mud Head Study #2

"The quality of a study was judged by the effectiveness with which 
the light was suggested by simple shapes of color."

What an important lesson in values! 
 I'm going to incorporate an exercise on this 
in my Figure in the Sunlight class at NRAS this summer.