Home Sweet Home

Many childhood summers were spent playing on these rocks in Jamestown, my grandmothers house on Narragansett Bay, staring into tidal pools and collecting mussels. The mussels are all gone but the rocks and my memories remain.

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 Quarterdeck at The Newport Art Museum

I am thrilled to share that this painting THE QUARTERDECK got juried into the Newport Art Museum' Members Show. You just never know what the juror is looking for, so it's always a surprise- good or bad! I have learned about myself over the years by entering juried shows, how to have a thicker skin, to believe in myself, to keep making art in spite of what the critics may say, to keep moving along this beautiful path of self-expression. 
Feb 8th to May 18 when you visit Newport, Rhode Island!
Did I say how happy this makes me?

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.

Coggeshall Farm

Found this tranquil scene late afternoon earlier in the week. The light on the land across the pond attracted me first, then the Bay beyond. I kept the foreground very abstract, going over what I felt to be "too careful" brushstrokes with the palette knife in order to make it less fussy. I reminded myself that showing each blade of grass is not what I'm most interested in. Leave it to those who do it so well, better than I ever could!

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!