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!