Beach Light

We've moved to the beach a bit early this year 

and I'm, once again astounded by the ever changing light. 

Close Quarters 

8 x 8 oil study

 Today, I finally got out on the deck

to work on this study I started a few days ago. 

Note: 

It was a much needed diversion from 

the horrific news of Orlando.

It's almost impossible to see light when 

there is so much darkness in the world.  

Garden Designs

I just got back from a two day trip 

to NYC with my gardening pals. 

We toured many amazing gardens 

and my favorite was the

  Central Park Conservancy Garden 

(5th and 105th St)

Gouache studies on paper

7 x 9ish 

Our knowledgable and enthusiastic guide gave us a 

90 minute tour that just took my breath away. 

 The dramatic designs with the various greens and pinks 

of this season were so inspirational,  

 I couldn't wait to put some of my impressions 

down on paper when I got home.  

Next time you are in NYC,

 it would be worth the trip uptown 

to see this horticultural gem. 

When is a Painting Finished?

We all struggle with that critical question
so I was thrilled when my good friend Ann Marie Dowd
sent me the link to an exhibit
currently showing at the Met Breuer 

"Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible".

I highly recommend watching the
one minute video. 

Portrait of Ria Munk III 1917-1918
  Gustav Klimt (Austrian, 1862–1918)

While working on this portrait Gustav Klimt died, 

so this unfinished work gives insight 
into the artist’s process.

(Paraphrased from a recent review on line) 
"The exhibit examines the critical question of when a work of art is finished. 
Featuring 197 works dating from the Renaissance to the present,
it demonstrates The Met’s unique capacity to mine its rich collections
 and scholarly resources
 to present modern and contemporary art 

within a deep historical context."

Oh how I love the internet. 

Designing a Painting

My painting pal, Page Railsback and I 

were asked to do a painting presentation yesterday

for our Garden Club.

Our theme this year is "Designing Woman",

with programs focussing on using design in gardening

and other creative endeavors. 

14 x 11 

acrylic and oil  

We set up a simple still life and Page started it in acrylic,

then I "finished" it oils! 

What a fun experiment!  

We also gave each member small cards, pencils and watercolors

and asked them to "design" a painting using just three straight lines

and coloring in the resulting shapes.  

This is an incredibly talented group of gardeners, 

so it was fun to expose them to another form of design! 

Poppies Galore!

Poppies are such cheerful and happy plants.  

"Poppies Galore" 

9 x 9 oil on carton board

Poppies are associated with

Morpheus, the God of sleep. 

I love how the bud hangs its head

almost as if sleeping,

only to wake up in a vivid orange dream! 

Happy Spring  

Keeping Gouache Wet Outside

I brought my gouache to a friend's beach house yesterday
to experiment with it outdoors.

"Sea Wall"

gouache study on bristol board

My friend Gail Sauter shared this info on Facebook 

so I stopped at the Dollar Store and bought some micro fiber cloths. 

(they didn't have the sponges)

I wet them and put my palette paper on top 

inside a tupperware box with a lid. 

that I put on whenever I wasn't painting. 

I managed to do three small quick studies on paper and 

the left over paint was still wet!  

My set -up and the view! 

My goal is to see things more simply and 

I'm finding gouache helps me do that. 

On Rejection

It's Juried Show time and emotions are high. 

I think it's a good time to remind ourselves of a few things: 

Everyone gets rejected. It's part of the process. 

The decision simply means that your art 

was not appealing to that judge. 

Nothing more.

Remind yourself why you are doing your art

and continue the journey.  

Here's a great article I recently read on getting rejected on the 

 Light Space and Time on line gallery site

"Pink Sheets"

24 x 36 

"Burst of Light" 

12 x 9 

I took a gamble recently and submitted two of my newer works,

done this winter during my semester at Mass Art. 

They were both rejected.
That said,  I'm excited about the direction these are going 

and look forward to where ever I'm going!    

And that's what it's all about.  

I say;

Paint on!