YANA and my Donated Painting

 YanaNewport is dear to my heart and this year was our 4th Anniversary. I donated my painting Let’s Meet at the Beach, a title that captures the feeling of promise and connection. The empty chairs are just waiting for friends to arrive and enjoy each other’s company. For more info on YANA Newport just click on the link. The painting went to the highest bidder, making someone happy and giving back to a non-profit that has a very special place in my heart!

Feeling Grateful

We are on a month long trip to Colorado and Montana in our motorhome- visiting friends and family. Ted’s son is living in Bozeman now and it was great to connect with him-we even went up to Glacier National Park for three days. A spectacular place-even with the crowds. I met a plein air artist perched and painting over the river for an upcoming event in Kalispell. It made my day to chat with her!

I received an email that these 2 had sold from Spring Bull Gallery, which was really great news. One is a gift to a couple getting married at the Castle Hill Inn, where this lighthouse is located, the other to a collector- especially grateful for someone who has more than one of my paintings.

Collecting original art shows you are a person who takes their time to find a painting that speaks to them, who appreciates the artists hand, eye, and training to produce something that evokes emotion, recalling a memory or anticipating something new. 

 

August is Ending

 It sure feels as if time is flying by; I’m posting more and more on IG and FB these days- should the blog even continue? I know lots of people have stopped blogging but…there’s something I enjoy- the recounting of experiences-maybe it’s just for me. So here’s a few images from a workshop I took in Maine with Kelly Milukas at the end of last month. Monhegan is a tiny island off the mid-coast of Maine- but the memories are huge.

Golden Hour at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

Painted with The Portsmouth Arts Guild Plein Air group out at Sachuest Point. It had rained earlier, and seemed like it might again, but we hung in there and were rewarded with a spectacular night. Stayed on the path as there were lots of ticks!

 

Painted with a group from the Newport Art Museum at a spectacular location - The Blue Garden. This link tells the story of its history, and the ongoing preservation. I walked around quite a bit, enjoying the variety of perennials and annuals, the water features, and the gentle, peaceful ambiance. 

 

 

Plein Air on the hottest day in June

Out on the hottest night of June with the Plein Air group of the Portsmouth Arts Guild to paint at Linden Place in Bristol, RI. Found a shady spot, behind the main house, a Federal mansion built in 1810.

Not a big group tonight- but kudos to those who braved the weather.

Plein Air isn’t for the faint of heart, heat, bugs, wind, and on and on. It was 100 degrees at 5:30 when we started; I was drenched in sweat a 1/2 hour in. It felt great to come home to a shower and AC, but so glad the heat didn’t stop me from coming out to paint!

These shadows were what drew me to this scene. But the light changes fast, and soon they were gone. Laying them in right away helps me from trying to “chase the light.”

Ready to go with my 8x10 linen panel. Kept it to a limited palette of Ultramarine Blue, Radiant White, and Burnt Sienna. Only added the greens and reds at the very end.

 

Plein Air Season is Underway

 Sachuest Point is a special place to paint- a National Wildlife Refuge that has grasslands and overlooks both Sachuest Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Trails and beaches, so many places to paint!Here’s my pick.

It was so windy I didn’t even set up my tripod, but braced my paintbox between some rocks and tried to capture the essence of the scene. 8x10 oil on a linen panel. It felt great to be painting outside! When it’s framed-heading to Spring Bull Gallery in Newport, RI.