Wednesday, December 28, 2011

"Sprayer" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Sprayer" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas
Growing up, I enjoyed playing practical jokes.  My mother was my favorite target.  Periodically, I'd wrap a rubber band around the spray nozzle lever so that she'd get soaked when she turned on the faucet.  She fell for it every time, much to my delight, and never noticed the yellow rubber band.  When she started getting wise to me, I switched to black thread.  Yes, she always had to be on her toes. 

Unfortunately for me, her current kitchen sink has the sprayer integrated into the faucet so that joke has gone by the wayside.  I really hope my kids don't read this post as I still have a spray nozzle on my sink.

This 6 inch square painting is available for $60. If you are interested in purchasing it, you can do so in several ways:

1. Art on Main: For those who live in the Westford, MA area, visit Art on Main, 40 Main St, Westford, MA 01886. We accept credit cards, checks and cash.

2. PayPal: For those who live far away, click the "Buy Now" button below to pay by PayPal/credit card. I will carefully pack and then ship the painting directly to your door.

3. Personal check or money order: If you're not a fan of paying on-line, I accept personal checks and money orders. Just send me an email (LaurieGMiller@gmail.com) and we'll work out the details.



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

"Abbie" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Abbie" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
To get the reference photo for this painting, I told the dog’s owner (who is my friend Natalie), that I got a commission for a very similar looking dog named “Bonnie” who lives in Florida.  I called to ask if I could come over and take some pictures of her dog since I needed better photos.   Natalie happily complied not knowing that I was actually going to paint her beloved dachshund Abbie.

I had the pleasure of surprising Nat with the finished painting since the person who requested it (her former neighbor Ruthie) now lives in New Zealand. So, off I went to show Natalie the finished painting of “Bonnie.” Well, she was incredibly touched and started to cry which, for Natalie, isn’t all that unusual. You can see her (happy?) face above. In any case, I was honored to paint Abbie for my friend.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

"Winter Sunset" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Winter Sunset" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
I should have called this painting "Winter Sunset Redux" as I painted it once before in a larger size. I'm not sure what compelled me to paint it again, but I'm happy that I did. I've had a bit of trouble getting inspired with new material so I'm happy to now be working on a new commission of a dog painting (a long-haired dachshund named "Bonnie").

Last weekend I went to the Westford Museum for a "Buy Local, "Read Local" event. 18 Westford residents who published a book were invited to sell and autograph their books. I met a lot of nice folks and sold a handful of "Paint the Town!" books so it was a good afternoon.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

"Southbound" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas


"Southbound" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

I was driving on route 495 and thought it would make a cool painting. So, I pulled out my camera and started snapping photos while driving along. I was evaluating the quickly changing composition as the traffic, exit signs, guard rails, etc. morphed from one image to the next. I nearly missed my exit as I was completely engrossed in the scenery. 

I really let the paint fly on this one and kept it fresh and loose. I made simple suggestions for the distant cars and trucks. I scraped green paint off the canvas to let some of the pink under painting show to create the highlights on the trees.


On another note, I was invited to participate at the "Buy Local, Read Local" event for Westford Authors on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Westford Museum. I'll be selling my "Paint the Town!" book. For more information and a list of participating authors, click here. If you live in the area, stop by and say, "Hello!"


This 12 inch square painting is available for $175.  Click the Buy Now button below or click here for other payment options. 





Friday, December 2, 2011

Congratulations - December Give-Away!

Each month I randomly select someone from my mailing list and send them a free gift.  Congratulations to Leah Harrington who won my 2012 Desk Calendar for my December give-away!

To sign up and become eligible, type your email address in the box on the right side bar and click the “subscribe” button….good luck!


Sunday, November 27, 2011

"Concord Afternoon" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Concord Afternoon" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
This is Concord Massachusetts late on a weekday afternoon. I enjoyed a nice lunch at the Main Street Cafe and walked outside to browse in the small shops. I was immediately captivated by the scene in front of me -- a strong band of light that illuminated a strip of the street. That simple band of light was the inspiration for this painting.

As with many of my paintings, I started with a pink undertone. I generally work from background to the foreground so I started with the sky, next came the distant trees and steeples, then the buildings and road, and finally the cars followed by the small details.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

"Sunlit Pears" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Sunlit Pears" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Pears are probably my favorite fruit to paint.  Because of their shape, they have great personality and attitude.  I always laugh at myself when I buy fruit since I'm constantly evaluating each piece as a potential model for a future painting...shape, color, does it sit nicely, etc.  Yes, it can complicate the shopping process immensely!

In this painting, I really let loose on the color.   My main goal was to show the bright sunlight illuminating the pears as they sat on the windowsill.  I laid down broad strokes of color and didn't fuss with it much at all.  So, what do you think?  Did I go too funky or do you like it?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

This painting is available for $60. If you are interested in purchasing it, you can do so in several ways:

1. Art on Main: For those who live in the Westford, MA area, visit Art on Main,
40 Main St, Westford, MA 01886
. We accept credit cards, checks and cash.

2. PayPal: For those who live far away, click the "Buy Now" button below to pay by Paypal/credit card. I will carefully pack and then ship the painting directly to your door.

3. Personal check or money order: If you're not a fan of paying online, I accept personal checks and money orders. Just send me an email (LaurieGMiller@gmail.com) and we'll work out the details.



Monday, November 14, 2011

"Great Brook Barn" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Great Brook Barn" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas
Fall is definitely my favorite time of year. The weather is cool. I can wear my favorite sweatshirts. I can comfortably paint outside with fewer bugs and no fear of heat stroke :)

We've had a really nice stretch of fall weather so I grabbed my painting gear and headed over to Great Brook Farm, a state park in Carlisle, MA. I spotted this barn across a field and decided it would make a great subject to paint. There was a gap in the treeline so I pulled my car off the road to the side of the field and happily painted away until a park ranger approached me. He was very nice and complimented my painting before he told me to move my car. Oh well. I was nearly finished painting (and my hands were pretty cold as I was standing in the shade) so I wasn't too unhappy to pack up and move along.


As you can probably tell, I started this painting using a bright pink canvas. I used a rubber tipped tool to scrape off the paint in various spots to let the pink shine through. I just love how that looks.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

"Flag Day" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Flag Day" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas
My parents were avid sailors and I spent many weekends of my childhood sailing with my family on Lake Ontario. When simply going out for a "Sunday sail" got too boring for my father, he started racing and our family soon became known as "Ken Miller and His All-Girl Crew." A passionate man, Dad learned all he could about racing and eventually had great success winning many races over the years.

When sailing became too rigorous for my folks, they eventually gave up sailing and gave their boat to my sister Julie who docks it at the Sodus Bay Yacht Club just outside of Rochester, New York. This past summer, I saw Dad's boat for the first time in many years. It was bittersweet to see something that he loved so much when he is no longer with us.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

"October Snow" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"October Snow" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Last weekend, during an October snowstorm, I lost my power on Saturday evening. On Sunday, in an effort to get warm (and pass the time), I headed off in my car to paint plein air and spent a really lovely afternoon painting at Forge Pond. It was breezy outside so I painted in the passenger seat while the sun kept the car toasty warm.

I was fortunate to get my power back on Monday evening but most folks in Westford were in the dark for several more days. Spending a few days without electricity is really a jolt to the system. I am fortunate to have good friends that offered up hot meals and a warm place to sleep. For the most part, I enjoyed my break from my computer (and all things electric) and was happy to pass the time with people that I love spending time with.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Free Stuff!

Congratulations to Natalie Sandore who won a copy of my 2012 Desk Calendar by signing up for my mailing list. Each month I randomly select one winner and send them a gift! 

To sign up, enter your email address in the box on the right and click the "subscribe button"

Saturday, October 29, 2011

"Gray Day" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Gray Day" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

I don't think I could ever get tired of painting the ocean.  I stood among these rocks and happily painted for a couple hours.  On this particular day, the sky was overcast and there was little or no wind.  All the colors were subdued, shadows were subtle and the ocean water was quite calm. I was kept company by a flock of Yellow-Rumped Warblers that stopped to graze in some bushes behind me.

This may be the first plein-air painting that I finished completely on location and didn't make any changes or corrections when I got back to my studio.  I think the overcast lighting is probably the best explanation for this.

This 6 inch square painting is available for $60.  Click the Buy Now button below or click here for other payment options.





Monday, October 24, 2011

"Afternoon Snack" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Afternoon Snack" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas

Sometimes the simplest moments in life are the most poignant. My son was eating his after school snack while his dog Cooper patiently waited under the table. This daily ritual will be forever ingrained in my memory.

I really pushed the colors in the painting with a bold orange wall color and aqua blue in his t-shirt. I outlined the shaped in bright pink and allowed bits of it to show through here and there. I added the rug to help anchor the table and give some balance to the composition by adding a dark space towards the bottom of the canvas.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

2012 Desk Calendar is now available!

I'm pleased to announce my third annual Desk Calendar for 2012!



Each month features a different painting and the calendar comes packaged in a CD-like case that opens to display each month:



The 2012 Desk Calendar is $18 (plus $3 shipping) and it can be purchased in a couple of different ways:


1. Art on Main: For those who live in the Westford, MA area, visit Art on Main, 40 Main St, Westford, MA 01886. We accept credit cards, checks and cash.

2. PayPal: For those who don't live near Westford, MA, click the "Buy Now" button below to pay by Paypal/credit card. I will ship the calendar directly to your door.




3. Personal check or money order: If you're not a fan of paying online, I accept personal checks and money orders. Just send me an email (LaurieGMiller@gmail.com) and we'll get the process started.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

"Cat Nap" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

 

About the Painting:

I started with a bright pink ground and allowed the pink color to shine through in various spots.  I love that effect and have used it in many paintings.  I was able to keep my brushstrokes very loose and expressive.


About the Cat:

His name was Vito.  He was tough as nails.  He was rescued from a research lab at the Cornell Veterinary School just prior to being euthanized.  The insides of his ears were tattooed with his “lab number” as proof of his inauspicious beginning.  After being passed through a couple households (for various reasons), he ended up as part of my family.

Like a dog, Vito would greet you at the front door, usually meowing for food.  He was a voracious eater and never missed a meal.

Vito loved dogs and was more than happy to spend his senior years curled in front of the wood stove with his buddy Rain. 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

"Kenmore Square" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Kenmore Square" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
I always get excited when I see the Citgo sign as I'm driving through Boston. I don't know, somehow is just makes me happy. I started this painting on a bright green canvas. You can see areas where I let the green bits shine through...so cool. The painting was purchased by someone who now lives in Virginia but graduated from Boston University and worked in this neighborhood for several years.

Free Stuff! - I'm trying to build my mailing list to get the word out about my artwork. As an incentive, I'm doing one free give-away each month. It could be a pack of greeting cards, a print, a copy of my book, Paint the Town!, or, even an original painting! Each month I'll randomly select someone from my list so good luck!   So, if you are visiting this site and are not on my mailing list, be sure to type it into the box on the upper right corner of the screen and the click "Subscribe" button.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

"Ana" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Ana" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

This sweet little kitty is named Ana.  I knew Ana when she was a wee, bitty kitten -- she was constantly in motion always chasing bugs and yarn and anything else that wiggled across the floor.  Ana has since moved to Florida and is enjoying a more mature, peaceful existence.  I'm told that she still acts like a kitten sometimes but now spends most of her time enjoying a good cat nap.

If you are interested in a pet or house portrait, contact me at LaurieGMiller@gmail.com for more information.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

"La Tourelle Gazebo" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"La Tourelle Gazebo" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Last weekend I was off to Ithaca, NY to reunite with a group of college friends.  The Finger Lakes area of New York state is beautiful with rolling hills, wineries and dramatic gorges with waterfalls.  We stayed at "La Tourelle" - a lovely spot that included several gazebos and a koi pond on the grounds.  I wanted to paint this particular gazebo because of the large, colorful flowers.  Below is a picture of just one of the many waterfalls in Ithaca.

Lower Buttermilk Falls - Ithaca, NY


Monday, September 12, 2011

"Voila" - 8 x 8 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

"Voila" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
I just finished taking a 3 day painting workshop with Dreama Tolle Perry.  She is not only an amazing artist but is also kind, generous, funny and a whole lot of fun to hang with for a few days.  I am energized and ready to get back to my palette with a new sense of purpose and a couple new tricks up my sleeve.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

"Paint the Town! An Artist's Perspective on Westford, MA" book

I'm pleased to announce the publication of my book: 

Paint the Town!  
An Artist's Perspective on Westford, Massachusetts

A collection of my Westford, MA paintings, each image is accompanied by interesting historical tidbits and personal observations.  This softcover book is 6.5 x 6.5 inches, 58 pages, and contains full color images.  To preview the book, click here


You can purchase the book at Art on Main, or, for those who don't live locally, you can purchase it by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below and I will ship it to your door.  The cost is $14.95 (plus $3 shipping).

Contact me at LaurieGMiller@gmail.com if you have any questions or prefer to pay by check or money order.





Tuesday, August 23, 2011

"Ocean Dip II" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas

"Ocean Dip II" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas
This is a 2nd version of my "Ocean Dip" painting.  In this version, I decided to widen the view and include much more of the background.  This yellow lab was sooo happy to be swimming after a stick that his (her?) owner kept throwing.  This scene is from Kennebunkport, Maine where I vacationed last summer. 

This 16 inch square painting is available.  Click the Buy Now button below or click here for other payment options.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

"Cleo" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - sold

"Cleo" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
This is Cleo - a beautiful Chocolate Point Siamese. I really enjoy painting animals so this portrait was a pleasure to do.


If you are interested in a pet or house portrait commission, contact me at LaurieGMiller@gmail.com.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

"40 Main" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - Sold

"40 Main" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas


Last week I was completely unprepared and didn't have anything to paint during my shift at Art on Main.  What's a girl to do?  Paint the building, of course!  The entrance was very colorful with the "Open" flag and some shirts hanging out front.  I like the little splashes of red and orange that "pop" throughout the painting.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

"Cherry Line Dance' - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Cherry Line Dance" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas
It's that time of year again when cherries are in season.  I had a hard time saving a few cherries for my still life and couldn't resist eating them after the painting was finished ... I usually avoid eating my models if they've been hanging out with oil paints.  So delicious!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

"Westford House of Pizza" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Westford House of Pizza" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas
Ever since I painted “Westford House of Pizza,” I’ve had a craving for pizza. This place has been in business since 1972 and is a favorite gathering place for Westford Academy kids.

This painting was a real challenge as the glass reflects items in the parking lot but also allows a partial view into the restaurant. It took a long time for the painting to pull together as I worked slowly to fill in the glass section by section.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

"Stonewall Trio" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Stonewall Trio" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas
Le Gourmet Jardin, the small shop connected to Art on Main, sells Stonewall Kitchen products. Lately, I’ve been buying the “Spicy Corn Relish” which tastes very fresh and has a nice kick to it. I always wanted to paint it since I really like the shape of the jar and the color of the relish: yellow corn mixed with bits of red peppers and green Jalapeno peppers.

The main rule of creating a good composition is variety. Take note of how the jars face slightly different directions, there is a larger gap between the middle and right jar, and I selected three different flavors to vary the color of the ingredients.

You can purchase this painting for $60 at Art on Main or directly from me by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below.




Monday, July 11, 2011

"Ginger" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

This is Ginger, a yellow Labrador Retriever that lives in NYC. Ginger is quite dapper with her red polka dot bowtie. I’ve packed up the painting and will ship it off on Monday to her owner.


Whenever I paint from photos, the prints lose a lot of depth and color. When working on this painting, I positioned my computer right next to my easel so I could see the image on the screen.  I could still see details in shadow areas and it worked great. 

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

"Parkerville Schoolhouse" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Parkerville Schoolhouse" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas
This one room schoolhouse was built in 1880 and is located in the Parkerville section of Westford.  Every year the 3rd grade classes make a special field trip to the schoolhouse to  learn what life was like before modern conveniences like plumbing and electricity.  The kids dress in period clothing with the girls in long dresses and bonnets and the boys in caps and suspenders. 

This painting is the last in a series of Westford landmarks that I've been working on.  I'm now in the process of assembling all these images into a book.  I wanted to include some interesting historical facts so I'm learning quite a bit along the way as I pull this together.  I'll have more info on this project, hopefully very soon.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

"Kimball Farm Ice Cream" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

"Kimball Farm Ice Cream" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas
Kimballs is probably Westfords most famous landmark.  Kimballs probably employs half the teenage population in Westford.  Too bad neither of my kids worked there since they get to take home a serving of ice cream at the end of their shift.  On the other hand, my cholesterol level is probably better off without it.

You can purchase this painting for $175 at Art on Main or directly from me by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below.



Monday, June 20, 2011

"Darlin' Daisies" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Darlin' Daisies"  - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas
“Darlin’ Daisies” is the result of the painting demo I gave at Art on Main during the Strawberry Festival. Flowers are ALWAYS a challenge to paint especially when someone is looking over your shoulder :)

 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

"Just Ducky" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD


"Just Ducky" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas
Last week I took a still life painting workshop with Sam Vokey.  We were supposed to bring stuff to paint and Sam would help us design our composition.  Most people brought china vases, delicate linens, and beautiful flowers.  I’m just not a roses and teacup kind of person so I had one heck of a time figuring out what to paint.  At the last minute, I spotted my trusty Peterson Field Guide and binoculars.  Knowing that I needed something else, I added a rubber ducky which adds a nice color contrast (and a wee bit of humor).

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

"Ode to Andy" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Ode to Andy" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

My paintbrush has been busy for the past few weeks although I still don’t have anything to show for it. I’ve been working on a commission piece – a dog portrait. It is going well but I ran into a snag (too complicated to explain) so I just needed to put it aside for now.

I was looking through the cabinets for something fun to paint and came across this soup can. Of course, Andy Warhol made these cans famous in his first exhibit in Los Angeles in 1962. He created one canvas for each type of soup, 32 in all. He sold the entire set for a grand total of $1000.  About 5 years ago, one of his 1962 soup can paintings sold for 11.2 million! (That painting was not part of the original series of 32 which are now in the Museum of Modern Art). Just think, you can own mine for a mere $60!

You can purchase this painting Art on Main or directly from me by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below.  Speaking of Art on Main, we're hosting an opening reception on Thursday June 2 from 5 - 8 p.m. for watercolorist Joyce Youngberg.  If you live in the area, be sure to stop by!



Tuesday, May 17, 2011

"Stoney Brook Acres" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

"Stoney Brook Acres" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

Stoney Brook Acres is a sweet little farm stand.  The place always smells great as they usually have cookies baking in the oven.  It is a fun place to pick up flowers, fresh fruits, veggies and even soft serve ice cream or a sandwich. 

The challenge in this painting was the composition.  I could have included the rest of the greenhouse area on the right, another structure with some farm animals, picnic tables, etc.  In the end, I decided to focus on the main building to highlight the colorful sign letters and the trays of bright flowers.

You can purchase this painting for $175 at Art on Main or directly from me by clicking on the "Buy Now" button below.