Still Life Set Ups

When teaching beginners, it's hard to come up with the right still life set up.

Since I had some success last week with bananas,

I decided to use them again for my workshop at the 

South Shore Art Center this week.  

Student Work

I was so excited about these results! 

Bananas work well because they have definite plane changes.

Not only are they fun to paint, 

you get to make banana bread when you're done! 

FYI. New post today on 

Patience with Patients 

Fluffy

This month the subject of the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge is "Fluffy". 

My first thought was sheep, then pillows, then towels.

I ended up doing this in honor of my friends Joan and Kelley. 

They love anything that is a "vehicle for butter" 

"Fluffy French Toast" 

6 x 8 

(Real butter and maple syrup PLEASE! )

National Seashore Show

The Addison Gallery in Orleans, MA is hosting a juried show this summer 

celebrating the 50th Anniversary of one of my favorite places. 

The Cape Cod National Seashore.  

Just Caught

6 x 6 

I'm happy to report that this painting 

and three others will be included in the show! 

Re-painting a Painting

I find it challenging to paint a subject that I've already painted. 

There is that "you can't repeat a good time" syndrome that kicks in.  

The trick is to approach it differently.

Let's Play
8 x8
2009

Come On. Let's Play!
10 x 10
2011

I had fun doing this!

Mother- Son Painting Lesson

My 28 year old son asked me recently if I'd give him a painting lesson! 

Other than a lot of doodles and drawings along the way, 

he's never taken any art classes and certainly never painted with oils before. 

I couldn't think of anything more fun to do on a rainy afternoon!  

I did a quick demo to show him how to break the subject down 

in to big shapes in the correct value. 

Like a puzzle.

He donned a beret and went right to work! 

I couldn't believe how easily he "got it"! 

"Monkey Lunch"
8 x 10
by Sebastian Colella

That's my boy! 

Fresh Paint

This past Sunday was the painting day for 

the Copley Society's Fresh Paint event. 

Given that rain was forecasted, I brought my gear in town Thursday

 to hopefully get something at least started.

 As soon as I got there, it turned cloudy, windy and way too cold.

No color, no drama, no darks and lights. 

I took some not-so-great images and came home. 

"Soaking It In"
8 x 10 

I did this on Saturday in my studio.

Good thing I had a back up plan. 

As  a new member, I really want my painting to raise some money. 

So I put this one in instead.

It's one of my favorites, done a few weeks ago. 

  

Sunny Side of Newbury
10 x 16

About 40 members were juried in to participate in the event. 

The show of paintings submitted will be available, 

both in the gallery and on line

 in a silent auction format from April 19 - May 7 

when bidding will end at a gala reception. 

Check it out in a few days!  

Getting Warmer!

My very brave Plein Air Thusday group met again yesterday.

We were thrilled to finally be able to bask in the late afternoon sun! 

The New England landscape is still a bit dull, with only spots of bright green poking through.

Joanne's 

I love her treatment of the river and the suggestion of spring.  

Sandra's

Beautiful movement in this! Great brushstrokes! 

My demo 

(I left the river out)  

Since the light changes so quickly this time of year at that time of day

we are going to do three small quick studies next week. 

Hopefully there will be some more color to work with! 

We have a few more spots available if you are interested in joining us! 

4:30 until Dark  /  $35 per person. 

Contact me! 

Notes: 

This weekend I will be painting on Comm Ave in Boston for "Fresh Paint".

Organized by the Copley Society, artists will be painting en plein air all over the city 

The show of the work will be on view from Tues April 19 until Sat May 7th

in a silent auction format that concludes with a gala reception.  

Tonight is the opening of " Focus on Figures" show at the

 North River Arts Society 

The show runs until April 24

This is always a great show! 

I'm So Ready For Summer!

Surfs Up!
10 x 10
contact for info 


 I found this image from last summer in my files recently.
I couldn't resist painting it.
The days, when getting to the beach is your only goal, seem so far away!

Note: See my new post on Patience with Patients blog.
I'm definitely learning as I go!  

Archived Chicken Paintings

When I switched over to a Mac from a PC about three years ago, 

all of my existing images were dumped into one big file in I Photo. 

While recently re-filing them, I came across chicken paintings from 2006. 

In light of Carol Marine's challenge this week,

 I thought I'd post some of my favorites! 

Girl's Night Out
8 x 10
SOLD 

Excuse me. Have We Met?
7 x 9
(SOLD)

Meeting Adjourned
8 x 10
(SOLD)

You Talkin' To Me?
9 x 12
(SOLD) 

 I live in an area where folks have chickens as pets.

One of my friends actually gave one of her's mouth to mouth recitation,
and she saved it's life!  

Another Modern Interior

Painting like this is about as much fun as a girl can have!

I posted them together so you can see where I'm going with these. 

First One
8 x 8 

Second One
8 x 8 

These were both done in afternoon light. 

Morning light is next I think. 

Plein Air Thursdays

We had our inaugural Plein Air Thursday meeting today! 

(Be in touch if you are interested in joining us!)  

We met on the Driftway in Scituate at 4:30 and set up facing the sun. 

(As far away from the sea breeze coming off the ocean as we could.) 

Demo  #1
9 x 12 

Demo #2
10 x 10 

The lesson here was to capture the sense of time and place. 

(Very early spring in NE, chilly late afternoon, near the ocean.)

I saw lots of muted purples and warm yellows and stayed with that.  

Talking and painting at the same time 

For our first time "out" as a group, 

I'd say it was a success! 

We were all happy as clams 

until the temperature suddenly dropped 15 degrees! 

Session was aborted by 6:00!  

Bumper sticker

My son bought this bumper sticker for me at the MOMA a few weeks ago. 

It says a lot with a little.

I love that. 

Inspiration!

I've been collecting images of modern beach house interiors for a series. 

My idea is to capture the essence of mid-century architecture

(open spaces, clean lines, the bringing of nature inside)

in a simple abstract, yet interpretive style.   

 I found this artist on the internet today

 and her paintings just knocked me over.  

Peri Schwartz

Her paintings feel very modern to me. 

 I got so inspired I had to get started! 

Study for MCM interiors series 

8 x 8