Painting Simply

We began the new Spring Session at NRAS this week. 

I find it very exciting to expose beginning painters to 

the One Hour Painting approach. 

It's like lightbulbs going off!  

Quick demo using 

One Hour Approach 

8 x 10 

Meanwhile, I've just discovered work by  

Jeremy Durling! 

We saw this painting last night at the opening gala
of the AD 20/21 show at the Cyclorama in Boston
in the Sloane Merrill Gallery booth. 

His brushwork and simplicity are stunning! 

I'm a huge new fan. 

Spring Sighting!

I saw this the shocking sight the other day 

and had to pull over and take a picture of it! 

"Spring Sighting"

12 x 12 

Color in the landscape! 

Had to paint it today.....

Spring can't be that far away now, 

can it????????

High / Low Key Exercise

We had our last class of the winter session today
(and it was the first day of spring)
so I thought I'd try something new.


High Keyed Demo
9 x 12

We set up a simple still life using
very light colored objects.


Using a 10 value scale, we were to use only the top 5 values,
(middle value being the darkest dark)

We blocked in everything in shadow with yellow ochre
to use a "guide".
Then only used values lighter than that
for the rest of it.

Then we painted the same subject  

using only the lower (darker) values 5 - 10! 

How do you paint white tulips without using white???

This exercise forces you to think about using values 

relative to each other 

in order to create a mood or overall feeling in a painting. 

High Keyed or Low Keyed Paintings can be very dramatic! 

One of the joys of teaching! 

A generous gift from one of my students, 

Happiness in a bottle! 

Thank you Marsha! 

HAPPY SPRING!

R & R

I just returned from a week away 

where I completely shut down all normal activity. 

I did nothing but relax, read, and restore my vitamin D. 

Afraid I may have "forgotten how to paint" 

I managed a quick session in the studio today 

to sketch out this fun subject.

Flamenco Dancing by the Pool

(to be continued) 

I have a lot of images and ideas to play with and 

am inspired to get back at it!  

Re-entry can be so... well... let's just say

challenging!  

Best of 2013

Every year since 2009 I have published a Blurb book 

featuring twenty of my favorite oil paintings. 

This year, many of them are included in a show at the 

South Shore Art Center 

as the Faculty Feature

(showing until March 23!) 

All those who have purchased a painting so far,
have received one of the books as a thank you!  

If interested, you can now review and purchase the book 

here at cost.

Happy looking! 

Jump on Board!

Before the Spring class schedule at 

The North River Arts Society 

is announced, 

I thought I'd give you the heads up! 

I will be teaching another 

"One Hour Painting "

class on Thursdays from March 27 - May 1
9:30 - 12:30

Orange Towel 

10 x 12 

(sold) 

Whether you are a beginner or have been painting for years,
this approach will give you the tools you need to
build a strong foundation for your paintings.
 We have a lot of fun and the results are amazing
 so jump on board and enjoy the ride!

NOTE:
These classes fill up quickly,
so the sooner the better!

Proportions of the Figure Exercise

After I struggled with toned paper demo I did last week in class 

I wanted to redeem myself a bit, 

so I did this quick demo on a toned canvas board. 

"For You Dad"

8 x 8 

The image I used was helpful
in showing the difference between proportions
of adults and kids! 

Demo Surprises

I'm continually amazed at how much my materials affect how I paint.  

That said, I do love surprises so I'll try anything.  

Last week I toned some watercolor paper with a thin wash of the 

muddy goop left in my turp jar. 

(After all, it's the perfect middle value and

has the same DNA as my pallet, so why not?)  

10 minute rather awkward demo 

during a class on "proportions of the figure."

 I never considered how much the turp portion of the mixture 

sucks the oil right out of the paint

causing some interesting "drag". 

Close up of demo

(oil on toned paper)

Another great teaching/learning moment.

Love that.