Value Study

I did this 5x5 with acrylic paint while I was gallery sitting on Friday. I wanted to keep it within a very limited number of values. I think it works in conveying the original feeling of the scene. It answers the question: What do I want this painting to be about? I am planning to do a larger painting from this at some point.

On Process

I went into the studio and before turning on the lights noticed the quiet beauty of the light falling onto the old rocker and table next to it. A very foggy morning. Shot a few pictures, then did a painting as I saw it, both of which are posted here.Something didn't strike me as right, so I took another tact with my painting, which you will see in my next post.I thought that sharing the process from the 1st observation of a scene to how it becomes realized as a final painting would show the many steps that occur in the creative process, which is, so often, a struggle!

untitled from Lyme Academy

I'm posting this painting that was done in a class taught by Nancy Gladwell at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts a few years back. We tore sheets of paper in various ways then tacked them up on the wall to paint. Trying to find the nuances of shadow, the planes of the paper through value and hue. I was all set to paint over it, but it was saved by my studio mate Judy Chaves. "NO! Save it, it's beautiful." So save it I did. Will post various student work as I can across it and think I might have something interesting to share about this path I'm on.

At The Dock

A very foggy morning teaches the sublime qualities of grey! When the sun came through, I had to work at NOT upping the color ante too much. Happy enough with the results done with our Bristol painting group with Kathy Weber.

Wet Paint 2010

Painted this morning with Judy Chaves and Kathy Morton out at Fort Adams on Ocean Drive in Newport. This building called the Mule Barn (need to look up its history) now houses a snack bar, showers for sailors.The Australian sailing team for Invictus was there preparing the boat for tomorrows races. We were there painting for Wet Paint, the annual summer fun fundraiser for the Newport Art Museum. What a glorious morning we had!!After we turned in our paintings we went on the South Coast Studio Tours. All day, all art!!!Come tomorrow to the auction at the Museum. Silent auction from 12-3, live auction from 4-5.

Looking East

The view from my backyard looking across the Sakonnet towards Tiverton.Painted under the shade of two old Japanese Cherry trees. Not knowing tree species very well, imagine my delight the 1st spring in this house, when they bloomed!!This painting is 12x12 panel.

The Mule Barn

Painting early at Fort Adams at this structure that currently houses a seasonal snack bar and is known as the mule barn. Started in fog, not unusual for a Newport morning, then the sun burst through! Beautiful. This painting is can be seen, and bid on, at Wet Paint at the Newport Art Museum. Silent Auction Sunday from 12-3, live auction from 4-5!!

On Mill

Under a tree in Touro Park in Newport, I'm returning to a place that I've painted before. So often I hear about becoming very familiar with a subject,so often I see the masters and their repetition of subject matter. Think Monet with his water lilies or Hopper with his storefronts.After all, each day we see the world through new eyes if we are open.

On Hope

A beautiful morning in Bristol. Made a sketch first, which I seldom do but need to get in the habit of. If nothing else, it will help my compositions. Which will be huge!I like how this turned out.

Winter White

Wanted to share that this oil painting 18x24 got accepted into the 54th Regional Show at The Mystic Arts Center. The reception is this Thursday the 12th from 5:30 to 7, and the show will run until September 25th. I am really excited as this is a national show and I feel so proud to have my work exhibited at such a wonderful venue. Check it out!! Mystic Pizza is just down the street when you've worked up an appetite looking at art!

Another Day

Early morning (6AM) down at the fishing fleet hoping to get a painting done before the fleet leaves the dock. As it was, 2 of the boats did leave, but I had made a good enough start. How much there is to gain by returning to the same site on several occasions! How much there is to learn!

Hope and Bradford

Let me list the challenges I had with this painting: Pick a complicated scene, shops in a building on a hill with a vast foreground in dappled shade. This painting had me to my knees in the humbling kind of way I don't really feel good about.Well, not happy or confident anyway. Will attempt it again on another sunny morning, and just zero in on what drew me to the scene in the first place, the sun on the side of the building, the doorway with its flag. Another beautiful Bristol scene, home of the first 4th of July parade! Great feedback from Kathy Weber as usual.