Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Relationships



Another one painted upside down. 
O love how that helps me focus on the relationship 
of the shapes and colors,
instead of detail.  


"Fisherman's Friend" 
20 x 20 oil 


I laid in all the dark shapes first,
and worked up to the lights. 


I had to hold myself back from over "fixing it"
  after I turned it right side up! 



Friday, January 27, 2017

Keep Pushing

I keep pushing myself to focus on shapes of color 
(and not the subject)
 and I think I had a breakthrough of sorts today.  

Painting this upside down 
helped me play with the shape, color and line, 
 without any regard to what they are representing. 



Ultra Marine 
20 x 20 oil  


The initial upside down "lay in". 


When I turned it right side up, 
I was thrilled that it gives the viewer 
a "sense" of a Marina, 
with little to no detail.  

That's what I've been after. 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Concord Art Juried Members Show



If you're in the area, I recommend a visit to the  
on display until February 12. 

The Juror, Amy Fink from the Alpha Gallery in Boston 
put together a very strong 
and compelling show. 
It's worth the trip! 



"All Systems Go" 
24 x 36 oil 

I'm thrilled that one of my new Harbor Scapes 
is included.   



Monday, January 23, 2017

Getting Ready

Here's another dreaded "cat" painting.
This one has had many lives over the passed month
and I think it may be finished. 
After looking at it for so long,
it's hard to tell. 


Ever Ready 
20 x 20 
oil 

NOTE: 
I'm getting ready for a solo show 
at the Derby Clubhouse Gallery 
at Linden Ponds in Hingham 
Feb 2 - Feb 27.
(details to follow) 

It has forced me to finish, tweek, sign, 
and frame 20 paintings! 
A great January project. 

Friday, January 20, 2017

Lucky me!



During today's historic moment
(for better or worse) 
I was happily taking a gouache class 

We worked on composition
and this is my ariel view 
of a crazy busy still set up.   




Focusing on design. 
Using a new medium. 
Love the challenges.  








Tuesday, January 17, 2017

"Cat" Paintings

That's what I call the paintings that have had 
at least nine lives. 


"Know Your Lines"
24 x 24 oil  

Now that I'm painting larger,
I'm more compelled to keep working on the ones
that don't work right away. 
This one went in many different directions 
before I got it back to the initial idea;
 all about those big shapes of solid color.  





Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Go Big or Go-uache

("Go Big or Go Home") 
I'm really looking forward to taking a 6 week gouache class 
starting this week. 

I've been playing around with gouache for a while now,
but have never had any instruction. 



"Cello and Scout" 
practice 8 x8 gouache sketch 


"Hugs"
8 x 8 

A totally different medium from oils,
 I love the "immediacy" of it. 
It dries quickly so you have to work quickly. 
Recipe for some fun surprises.

I can't wait to experiment! 











Friday, January 6, 2017

Compelling Complimentaries



This was a fun challenge for 
a rainy day. 
I took the reference for this early on in Gloucester
and have thought about it since. 
The splashes of yellow orange row boats 
against the blue water,
was compelling.  


Blue/Orange Study
8 x 8 oil 

I made myself work on this upside down
in order to keep the detail at a minimum.  


I find painting upside down 
forces me to look at the shapes of color next to each other,
while forgetting the actual subject.





Sunday, January 1, 2017

Goal for the New Year

Sending you all best wishes 
for a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!  

My goal in 2017 
is to continue to paint as often as possible, 
 and only for the pure joy of doing it. 



8 x 8 oil on mounted carton board
(study for larger work)  


(A gouache study of same subject 
done while in Gloucester) 

 It's been liberating to allow myself 
to experiment and discover new ideas, 
without the pressure of painting for a show, or a gallery, 
or to please someone else. 


The good ones will find homes eventually,
and I can't believe it took me this long to realize that.