Tuesday, July 23, 2019

I've Missed you!

My last post on this site was in February! 
I've recently discovered that many of my previous followers
 have not been getting my new blog. 
If interested, you can subscribe to it
 at the bottom of the homepage of my new website:


Here is a quick glimpse of what I've been up to. 



Hope to see you over in Squarespace....

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

New Blog!



There have been a few clitches
 getting all of my follower's email addresses
 over to Mailchimp,
and I apologize for that. 

If you have received this post,
please go to 
and sign on to receive the new blog. 



HINT! 
This is the painting 
posted about today!


  

Red Towel
20 x 16 oil 

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

IMPORTANT: Moving Day


IMPORTANT:
I have officially moved this blog 
over to my website:

The e-mail with the first post went out 
late Monday.
If you did not receive it,
please sign up again on the new site.
(Sorry! Still working out the kinks) 



February Favorites 
12 x 9 oil 


Happy Valentines Day! 

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Awards and Honors



I don't usually post about awards or honors,
but I'm excited that I've recently been awarded the 
status of Copley Master at the
Copley Society in Boston. 

This small work recently won an "Award of Merit"
which completed the number of awards required for the new status.


Twilight 
12 x 9 oil 


Once an Artist Member has work accepted into five juried shows,
they become a Copley Artist.
Once a Copley Artist wins three major awards 
in subsequent juried shows they become a Copley Master. 
(3 Merit Awards = 1 Major Award) 

It took me ten years to reach this goal,
and it's been an honor to be part of 
this prestigious and supportive establishment. 

NOTE:
New website and blog will be 
going "LIVE" very soon.
I'm just learning how to navigate them.
Stay tuned. 






Saturday, February 2, 2019

Works in Progress


 I have at least ten 
"works in progress"
in my studio right now,
which is a totally new way of working. 
That said, I've been away from the studio for a while  
so I couldn't wait to start something fresh today.  


 Today's WIP 
24 x 24 oil on canvas 


Here is the image I used for inspiration, 
turned pside down. 


The initial "lay-in";

Once I turned it right side up,
I made a few adjustments 
and will now re-visit it when it's dry.
And after I've looked at it 
for a few days. 



This new approach is teaching me to 
 let things happen and "accept chaos" along the way. 
The biggest challenge is to prevent 
myself from over working it by 
"fixing it".
Will keep you posted. 



  



Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Kitchens


I''e been thinking about kitchens as a subject lately,
(Probably because I spend so much time in them this time of year.)
I've had an image of my friend's kitchen 
in my files for some time
and finally got a chance to play with it.  


Donna's Kitchen 
12 x 12 oil 


Once again, I did a quick study of the subject,
directly from the photo as a warm up.


Study for Donna's kitchen
8 x 8 oil

I'm doing this to show as examples for my workshop
"Breaking the Literal Habit" in April;
Expressive ways to interpret subject,
 without merely copying images.

NOTE:
I'm finally almost ready too launch new website and blog.
Please email (if you haven't already) so I can add you to the subscription.
Will keep you posted!

Friday, January 18, 2019

Girl Power


I loved watching two flower girls
dancing at a wedding recently; 
totally uninhibited and free.

Girl Power 
20 x 16  oil 

This was done quickly 
without using a specific reference;
mostly from memory.

However, first I did this "quick" study
done from a specific photo.


12 x 9 oil on board

After I over fussed the arms, legs and faces
 I got so frustrated, I did the first one. 


NOTE:
I'm teaching a workshop on 
"breaking the literal habit" in April,
 so I'm working on potential exercises 
we can do. 






Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Second Guessing

Sometimes you work on a subject so long, 
you loose your focus on the initial intention, 
and you start second guessing your every move. 

Here's a perfect example;

RAA Kitchen
20 x 16 oil 


Here's the image that inspired me,
(I flipped it) 
I was initially attracted to the purple/ yellow palette 
and the linear shapes of dark and light. 


This is the intitial block in,
that I thought had great potential! 
Fresh brush strokes, high contrast....


Then I took out the clock, warmed it up,
 and softened the dark garbage bags 
making it feel awkward at this point. 

 
So on the I Pad, 
I re-added the clock and removed the trash cans,
which then created too many "blocks" to get to the stove.

So I kept them in, adjusted 
the values of the walls and the door, 
and removed the indent above the stove. 

At this point, it just feels too overworked and stiff.
I'll put it aside, let it dry 
and most likely paint over it.

Lessons learned;
Try to stay focussed on your initial intention. 
Don't listen to the "judge" in the room. 



Thursday, January 10, 2019

Works in Progress


Yesterday I did this small study from an image
 I took at the beach recently. 

It felt so tight and too close to the image 
so I turned it upside down and used it as a reference 
for this 20 x 20 over an old painting. 



Beginning stage 
24 x 24 

When I turned it right side up,
I wiped away areas 
and re-drew some of the shapes. 
Now, I like where this is going! 

I'll force myself to let this dry for a few days
 and then figure out where to take it. 
The tough part will be working on it,
without loosing the spontaneity or freshness 
it has right now. 











Monday, January 7, 2019

New Year Studio Clean Out

Over the weekend, I did my annual 
New Year Studio Clean Out.
I threw away all stiff brushes, dried up paint,
pens that don't write.....you name it.


It's fun to finally have everything where I can find it.


When I started, I had a list of supplies to order on line. 
After I finished cleaning out closets, cupboards and drawers;
 I realized
 I didn't need a thing! 

Next Up:;
Totaling the year's income and expenses.
Launching the new website/blog.

NOTE:
I'm working on a group of paintings at the same time.
None are ready for posting.
Stay tuned.