Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all.
As you know, for me this year has been one of
exploration and discovery.

One the most valuable experiences I had
was the interaction with other artists from all over the world,
through the year long on-line class I took with Mark Daniel Nelson. 

I thought I'd share a recent post that was shared by a fellow student.  

by Ira Grass 

Talk about re-affirming and comforting! 

A great reminder that we are not alone on this incredible journey

and that it's the ride, not the destination that matters.  

Happy New Year to all 

and good luck with your creative journey

in 2019.

NOTE:

Thank you all for sending me your email addresses

for my new blog format, to be launched soon.  

If you haven't, please do so I won't loose you! 

Stay tuned.  

Workshop added and Important Message!

After the holiday hub-bub sudsides,

want to give yourself something to look forward to?

I've just added a one day workshop at North River Arts 

Saturday April 27 

9-4 pm 

Yellow Cup 

20 x 20 oil

"Breaking the Literal Habit"

Step away from the representational and 

discover ways to make your paintings more engaging and contemporary. 

We'll take what we see (literally) and explore new approaches 

to expressing that idea or subject in a more personal and creative way.  

We'll work from still life, photos, and our imagination. 

Come for a fun day of discovery.  

NOTE:

I'll be launching a new website and blog format 

after the New Year.

I don't want to lose you! 

In order for you to continue 

to receive this blog you 

need to email me at 

saltydogstudio@comcast.net

before Jan. 1! 

Then I can transfer your address to the new server. 

This won't be the first time you'll receive this. 

I just don't want to lose you.

The Apple Store

I recently took a class at the Apple Store 

to learn more about the camera on my new phone. 

While playing with some of the new features, 

I captured this scene. 

I was initially attracted to the arrangaement of all the shapes of color, 

then I couldn't help 

making it a "narrative" of the 

Apple Store experience. 

(Little eye contact and a lot of waiting 

in a sterile environment.) 

The Apple Store

24 by 24 

oil on canvas 

Here is the reference photo I used,

so you can see some of the changes I made along the way. 

A fun subject! 

 NOTE: 

The year long on-line class I've been taking 

ended last week.  

I'll miss the weekly lessons and challenges 

and the interaction with the other artists. 

That said, I'm looking forward to discovering

where it all will take me.  

Bring on 2019! 

Small "Abstract" Watercolors

While watching the Pats game

I played with a small pad, marker and watercolors.

Trying to think abstractly 

I started with 5 shapes of varying sizes and color.

No reference.  

That didn't last long. 

This became the pizza we had during the game. 

This became an appetizer plate

And of course, a beach scene. 

It's funny how our brain reads shapes and 

we immediately identify them as something. 

I find it a challenge to think of 

just shapes and their relationships with each other. 

Works in Progress (WIP'S)

I've been working on the series of paintings using 

New England architecture as a thread. 

I currently have several 

"works in progress" 

of varying sizes, mediums, and surfaces. 

I'm working on them simultaneously 

and over numerous sessions. 

Still focussing on color harmonies, 

edges, and texture.  

Here are some of them in different stages. 

8 x 8 oil on carton board 

8 x 8 acrylic on Canson Canva paper 

 8 x 8 Acrylic on canva paper 

6 x 6 acrylic on canva paper 

I'm trying to let the paintings evolve over time. 

All of these need more "tweeking" one way or another
an some may not even survive.

We'll see where that goes!  

Revisiting a Favorite Subject

Another experiement layering with acrylics.

Focussing on an old favorite subject;

New England architecture,

I'm exploring color harmony,

edges and texture.  

Hadley Heaven

10 x 10 

acrylic

Thanks to my friend Page,

who shared the image with me, 

and here's the Procreate sketch I used as reference. 

"Finding my voice" 

one baby step at a time.

What an adventure! 

Acrylics vs. Oils

I now have two set ups for painting in my studio. 

One for oils and one for acrylics. 

I'm discovering that acrylics are more suitable for 

the layering approach I'm experiementing with.  

Pink Chairs

8 x 8 acrylic 

You don't have to wait in between layers 

and you can keep on working 

without causing "mud."

It's very forgiving. 

That said, 

I still love the thick juicy strokes 

you can get with oils.  

NOTE: 

I'm painting over old paintings, 

and have to be sure I only use oil

 over an old oil painting. 

Using acrylics over oils is never a good idea! 

Stretching is Good

I'm currently working on interpreting 

a favorite subject 

(beach houses)  

in new and different ways. 

Twilight 

12 x 9 oil 

For this one,
I focussed on texture;
applying the paint in thin layers,
letting them dry in between.

This is new territory for me.
I've been teaching the
"big strokes, lots of paint"
approach for years.

Stretching is good.

Finding My Voice

The final session of the on-line class I'm taking

is "Finding Your Voice".

We've been gathering, compiling, and analyzing 

our personal visual influences; 

including paintings, as well as other art forms.
It's been a revealing and eye-opening exercise.

I recently submitted these pieces 

to the Copley Society Holiday Small Works show, 

where I noticed a common thread in my work.

  

Corner View 

14 x 14 oil

From Above 

14 x 14 oil

Sky Lit 

14 x 14 oil

Cross Roads 

10 x 8 oil

I clearly have a tendency toward a structural composition,

with "geometric clarity."

Stay tuned! 

Still Life Collages

Yesterday for our "painting with paper" class at Linden Ponds

 I set up simple still lives, 

and let them "be designers". 

Here are just a few of the results! 

  

Some of the gals brought in their own  

inspirations to work from. 

The top is a photo her daughter took, 

the bottom is her collage! 

This gal brought I a favorite wooden bird. 

NOTE: 

Our daughter just had our fourth Grandchild;

June Everett Colwell 

arrived on Saturday (after many false alarms) 

at a strapping 10 lbs. 

Our oldest, Nico Colella, had his 3rd birthday on the same day! 

4 Grandchildren in 3 years....

life is GOOD! 

Joys of Teaching

I am newly inspired after teaching a 

 two day workshop last weekend a North River Arts.

We had a terrific group of multi-talented artists 

who were willing (and able) to try anything. 

 Designing with Three Values 

Translating Value to Color 

Two Value, Crazy Color Exercise 

"Pattern" Painting

Collages from Paintings

Paintings from Collages 

(I was so excited about all the work we were doing, 

I didn't get as many images as I'd like.)

As always, it was incredibly fullfilling 

to share ideas, exchange thoughts, 

and just talk "art" for two full days. 

The joys of teaching!

Abstract Exercises

Last week in Nancy Gruskin's class 

we were to integrate the model into a still life. 

This was my attempt using this Milton Avery painting.

Here is the model. 

 I just focussed on her shoes and that fun skirt. 

These are terrific exercises for me;

helping me think less literally

 and be more inventive. 

Collages to Abstract

I'm taking a wonderful abstract class
 at Concord Art with Nancy Gruskin.
This week we had a terrific model
who sat for three poses.
We used cut paper as our medium.

I loved those blue suede boots! 

 She had some wonderful outfits! 

We ran out of time for the last one
so I just focussed on her sneakers.

"Painting with Paper" is a great way to break things 

down into big shapes 

and force yourself to simplify! 

NOTE:

Here is Nancy Gruskin's interpretation.

I just love her approach and simplicity. 

It all works on so many levels.

Life Long Learning

The Fall session of Life Long Learning started 

this week at Linden Ponds, 

an Independent Living facility nearby. 

I'm teaching a "Painting with Paper" collage class

similar to the one we did in the spring. 

We started by cutting 5 differet shapes,

different sizes and color. 

Then they all just went to town.    

It's great fun to spend an hour with these very 

intelligent and fascinating people

while they create something.

And the conversation is priceless.