The Artist’s Eye or how we see things so differently

The Alley off Mill 12x24

                                                        From Trinity Square 12x16

Atop a Rock 24x24

These three paintings are part of a group show at Spring Bull Gallery in Newport, RI.  I’ve been painting Plein air with The Monday's Palette in various locations around Newport - getting ready for this show titled The Artist’s Eye. It’s extraordinary to see the diversity of our work- sometimes standing only a few feet away from each other! The show runs through the end of August, so if you’re in the area, please come in and see it!

$Highest bid for a good cause$

Here in Newport, RI we all look forward to Wet Paint at the The Newport Art Museum. It's a big fundraising event which culminates in a live auction and brings artists and the community together in the best possible way. This year was its' 25th anniversary and we remembered the wonderful man who started the whole thing off, Richard Grosvenor.
There was a heavy downpour Saturday morning as I drove over to the museum to check-in  and and get my panel stamped with the  official Wet Paint stamp. I was trying to figure out where I would paint, knowing that I wanted to be under some kind of cover.
Keep it simple- I said to myself.
I chose a spot on the museum grounds looking towards Bellevue Ave. The wide avenue where so many of the Newport Mansions are located. I had put a layer of cadmium red on the 12x24" panel, which would serve as my middle value, and help expedite my composition layout. 

Not the most inspiring day as of and on showers made their appearance.

The artist at work. And loving every moment of it.

Here's the finished painting. My dog Cooper was home alone, and I wanted to get back to him. Home by noon.

Thrilled to learn the next day that my painted was headed "under the tent" for the live auction. #9 out of only 20 chosen from over 500 works of art.

The auction was really exciting,led by Rupert Nesbitt and auctioneer Robbie Gordy from Christie's NYC, as my painting was the high bid of the day going for $3800. The arts are alive and well in Newport, RI.

                                 See ya next year, Wet Paint!

Watching The Tide Come In

My first time to paint outside since we've been back in Rhode Island. We have had a cold and wet spring but I took advantage of a good day to head out with a friend.
This spot is at the end of Ledge Road in Newport, where the parking is sketchy and the ocean is within steps. After my easel took a spill, I regrouped and found my way back into feeling comfortable being outside. Sun, wind, and if you paint plein air, you know that anything can happen. It felt so good to be outside painting again!

Newport Art Museum

I got into the Newport Art Museums Members Show with this 30x30 painting. I was drawn to the perspective- from the steps of my studio looking down to the street- and wanted to make the very ordinary scene into something more. The arrangement of shapes, the choices of color, the things to emphasize and the things to leave out were all part of the painting process. The show ends May 22nd, so there's still time to see the exhibit!

Three Value Plein Air

A study using just three values to flatten space and simplify all that we may find overwhelming when we paint plein air. I did this as a demo for my painting class.

A Contemporary Viewpoint

I have been invited, along with some other wonderful artists, to be in a month long show at Spring Bull Gallery in Newport. The show is A Contemporary Viewpoint and the opening is May 2, from 5-7pm. 

Here's one of my paintings

The Point

I love this part of Newport, filled with tree lined streets and historic homes.

This is Pine St, looking towards the water on a hazy hot afternoon. Took a photo after showing my plein air class my initial block in. Because the scene was essentially backlit, the form is not very distinguishable. That was ok with me as I was demonstrating value simplification.

8x10 oil on canvas

The Square

I think I've got it! Sometimes the painting has to sit in the studio for a while and one day, I realize it's done. There is

nothing more to add to what I wanted to say. I am ready for the next blank canvas!

Almost Done

I wanted to show the update on my larger plein air piece. I took the emphasis off the foreground rock, which I thought had too much light on and around it, extended those shadows over to the left and put in the pink foreground shape. Not sure if it's done. I'll have to wait and see...

Not a strong point for me!

Not There Yet

I had toned this 30x30 canvas some time ago and laid in a dark generalized composition, which got turned to the wall until this morning. Inspired by painters like Rackstraw Downes, who return with a large canvas multiple times to a location, I loaded the car and headed down to Queen Anne's Square to see what I could do. It was a fantastic feeling with that big canvas, a sort of freedom came over me and I thought, "Just paint!" Listening to music with earbuds kept the passerbys at a distance and the time flew. Going back Friday- weather permitting.

Approaching a Finish

Having made the adjustments in each area of this painting that called to me, I can now let it sit a bit, to see if it is finished. I don't want to fuss over it, but leave when there is still something left unsaid. Not to overwork it then, is my objective. This painting is 24x36, first in a series of Newport intersections.

Queen Anne's Square

An 8x10 study intended to explore a color palette I'm considering for a larger painting that I will be starting soon.

The Jane Pickens

The Jane Pickens in downtown historic Newport, RI is a world class art cinema. I painted this last weekend plein air in Washington Square. So many beautiful buildings, there will be more to come in my historic Newport series. This is 12x12 on panel, my artistic liberty was not to include the wrought iron fence that surround the park. Maybe next time, but I wanted the simplicity for this painting.

At The Dock

This was my entry for Wet Paint, the big summer fundraiser for The Newport Art Museum which took place this weekend. A fun event that I've participated in for years, we painted at the State Pier again. I started 2 paintings before this, the 1st boat left the dock, wiped that off. Luckily I hadn't gotten very far into it before the owner and his young daughter came aboard, getting underway 10 minutes later. The 2nd one didn't get too far either before being wiped off. This one came together, but not without a struggle. Took alot of photos for studio paintings. Want to explore a larger format with these boats.

Summer White House

Went back again to paint the Eisenhower House in a larger format.. Trying to simplify the trees, the multiple angles of the house, seeing it more as shape than "dormer window". Still hard, but I'm crazy about painting. On another note, many thanks for those who comment and for some reason I can't comment back! A glitch I don't know how to fix in Blogger.I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog and especially to comment!

Newport Art Museum Members Show

Wanted to share the good news of my acceptance into the annual juried show at The Newport Art Museum. The juror this year is Maya Allison who is the curator at the David Winton Bell Gallery at Brown University. There were 242 entries and 71 works were chosen. So you know how it is, if you've entered shows and not been picked, it's so hard not to take it personally. But we must develop a thick skin and just keep on doing the work. This painting is 2 canvases 30x30,framed with 1/4" between the 2 canvases.

Outside Cardine's

On any summer night outside Cardine's field in Newport, you will see the ubiquitous Del's lemonade stand, as much an icon to summer in Rhode Island as baseball is.

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.

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.