Time is Slipping By ; or is it me?

Have been thinking about this blog off and on, to continue or not. For some reason I keep coming back to it- a place of chronology, a timeline of what’s been going on, some highlights of the time since I last posted. Portrait of my Dad-lots of drawing in the winter has kept my hand in it while we travel.

Started up again for the season with the Portsmouth Arts Guild Plein Air group. The afternoon turned very cold once the sun went behind the old barns.

Entered a show and won a 3rd place prize. I have always loved flowers and still life, and am obsessed with pattern. Grateful to be recognized! Available at Spring Bull Gallery

Down in Hilton Head, I participated in the first ever Plein Air Event- lots of fun painting in a place that’s so special to me.Kept it simple and painted at Shelter Cove Marina both days.

Made a daily mandala with my collection of shells, rocks, beach glass and interesting bits I pick up along the way. I’ll be doing a pop-up event on mandala making in July at DeBlois gallery- more of that to come. Meditative and relaxing, each day so different.

Happy New Year and Getting in the Habit

 

As I did last year, I am doing the #30faces30days pencil portrait drawing class/challenge offered by Sktchy . There are six artists who present an image of their muse, and you draw along with the lesson. It’s great because the anatomy, planes of the faces, how to show form, are all discussed and demonstrated for each class. Each instructor has a different approach, which I find very helpful. Here are my first four days..plus…I really like a challenge of drawing a face each day! Great purposeful way to start the new year.

Something Newish And Some News

How did a month go by so quickly? I’m down in Hilton Head now til we go back to RI for the holidays and wanted to show some recents paintings.

Seas off Sachuest ,8x10 and sold, was painted this summer at Sachuest Point, a wildlife refuge that juts out into the ocean with many trails and spectacular places to paint. Wasn’t, and won’t be the last time I’ve enjoyed painting plein air in such a magnificent setting. 

The second image Sachuest’s Summer Light is 12x16 and is available at Spring Bull Gallery for $750. The gallery is in Newport, RI and has     a unique representation of artists working in all mediums.

 

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.

It’s June

Time to catch up- here’s the finished portrait of my son Seth. I’m slowly going through the family, painting portraits in oil.

Then I got a commission to paint these three sweet dogs. The one on the left, Beau, recently passed and I was approached by my friend’s husband. Finished in time for Easter, where he presented it to her at brunch. Grateful for his trust; quite the challenge as the photos were less than ideal. But painting them, and thinking of the close relationship she had with all of them was truly a labor of love.

                  Me and my sweet friend Sue- the painting was for her.

Stop the Procrastination!

Started up again with my family portrait project-this is my son Seth- will be tweaking it tomorrow and putting in the background. Not sure what; sometimes I put the photo in procreate and experiment.

So I just did that and chose this color, used the Niko roll brush and roughly put it in. I think I like it! This technique can be a big time saver too; when I’m ready to start painting tomorrow I have a plan.

 

Sharpening Skills

Happy to have been able to attend a couple of life drawing sessions here on Hilton Head. Instead of lamenting- “I’m not painting. I’m in a slump. I’ve lost my way.” And, by the way, we ALL have these thoughts.  I’m grateful I can turn it around to-“I’m drawing. I’m on a different path today. I’m learning and discovering new things.” Attitude and how I think about things is everything.