Cello's Birthday Portrait

In honor of Cello's second birthday tomorrow 

I thought it was time I do a portrait of her. 

Cello

8 x 10 

She is the sweetest and most mellow lab pup 

and our family is so blessed to have her. 

 She takes her job of guarding us very seriously!  

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! 

And Happy Thanksgiving and Hanukkah everyone! 

Lesson Learned. Again.

This was a quick and fun painting I did last week

 from an image I've had for awhile. 

Spring on Newbury Street

9 x 12 oil 

I rarely go in and make big changes after the fact. 

Usually just a few tweaks and fixes, that's it. 

Whenever I do, I end up loosing the freshness and spontaneity.

For some reason I thought the railing needed to be straightened and,

well you can see.....

 the painting became over worked and fussy. 

Lesson learned.  

Again! 

Last class of the year!

We finished up the fall session 

of the One Hour Painting class yesterday

by doing figures from photos.
(Our model cancelled last minute) 

by Gretchen

The OHP approach is based on the practice of
building good paintings by building strong foundations. 

The tools we learn help simplify the process
 and take the fear out of painting anything.
Even figures!

The camaraderie and creative interchange
that happens in these classes is invaluable.
Thank you everyone.
See you in the New Year!

Meanwhile, I can't wait until Austin Kleon's
new book comes out!
Wonderful pearls of wisdom.

Who Am I?

 This summer I sorted through hundreds of my old paintings

to clean up the studio.  

I kept a few random pieces and for some reason 

I kept this one.

It was done three years ago,

using the push pull thing!
I didn't even know it at the time. 

Marina 

11 x 14 

This painting always felt sort of weak to me.

(not enough paint)  

so I fooled with it today. 

Not sure it's better,

but it sure was fun playing with those colors! 

"Marina 2"

11 x 14 

Push and Pull

 I watched a YouTube video about 

Hans Hoffman the other day. 

He talks about the "push and pull" of 

color.

That inspired me to paint this using a pattern of 

made- up colors, but keeping them in the correct value.  

I tried to "push and pull" the  

 warm and cool, dark and light. 

Late Light

10 x 10 

oil 

This was a real stretch for me! 

I'm working on being less literal in my paintings

and this is a great way to push myself. 

A great exercise for a class.   

NOTE:

Here it is on "levels" setting 

(three values) 

on the Value Viewer app. 

If it works in three values,

chances are it will be a good painting. 

"Value does all the work,

color gets all the credit."

Hell yeah! 

(The image) 

Inspiration Gathering

Before the internet got so plentiful,    

I would cut out images 

of paintings that inspired me, 

(from art magazines) 

and put them in a three ring binder. 

I refer to it often when I'm uninspired or stuck.

(like now) 

Urban Figure No.1

9 x 9 by Mark Nelson

I found this in there the other day and

 what do you know? 

It's from a 2007 issue of American Art Collector. 

 Mark Daniel Nelson! 

And here,

 I thought I'd just discovered his work! 

Fun with Technology

The digital photography class I just finished with 

Tim Waite

inspired me to think more about using 

the photo apps and programs available 

as painting tools.  

City Chicks

8 x 10 

I'd submitted the photo for this as homework about composition. 

Talking about it and seeing it on the big screen

 inspired me to paint it.  

 I then took the image of the painting

 and did a quick I Pad painting over it using the Brushes App.

(Download it then watch the ten minute tutorial on YouTube.) 

Showed me instantly how to simplify it 

even more! 

Painting Upside Down

Painting upside down really forces you to  

focus on the shapes, not the object.

And it's always a thrill when you turn them 

right side up!
Here is are a few from class last week. 

This exercise helps create wonderfully loose and expressive 

almost abstract paintings  

Like these awesome landscapes from the same class. 

Very Milton Avery don't you think?  

Heads Up!

I just booked more One Hour Painting classes and 

and some two day workshops.

They have not been posted on the websites yet 

so I thought I'd give you (my followers) 

the heads up! 

Quick demo  

8 x 8 

North River Arts Society 

Jan 16 - Feb 27

Thursdays 9:30 - 12:30

South Shore Art Center 

weekend workshop 

Jan 25 / 26

9:30 - 3:30  

Cape Cod Art Association

Weekend Workshop 

July 19 / 20 

9:30 - 3:30 

 They tend to fill quickly so if you are interested,

contact the association asap!