"Blinking Yellow" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas

"Blinking Yellow" - 16 x 16 inches - oil on canvas

This painting depicts the main intersection in the Forge Village area of Westford...a place where several roads converge.  I wanted to paint this area for a lot of reasons. I liked how the striped red and white railroad barriers frame both sides of the road.  I also liked the blinking yellow traffic lights along with the electrical poles and wires.  Finally, I liked how the signs added a punch of vibrant green and yellow to the mix.

And, if you're starting to think about the holidays, a house or pet portrait makes a really nice gift so now is the time to start planning.  For more information on ordering a custom painting, click here.


"Blinking Yellow" is a 16 inch square painting and is available for $400.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using paypal or here for other payment options.

"Forge Pond Shadows - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Forge Pond Shadows" - 8 x 8 inches - oil on canvas

This is the painting that I completed during my book talk/painting demonstration at the Westford Museum last week. I thought the demo went very well and we had a lively discussion with a group of about 15 people. It is, however, very hard to talk and paint at the same time...very hard! I was able to finish the painting in the back of the room during the 2nd presentation. I donated this painting to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell for their annual fundraiser.

As you can probably tell, I started the painting with a bright orange background. I like the color combination of the yellow-green grass and the bits of orange. The shadows across the parking lot are what initially attracted me to this scene along with the slice of light gray-blue water that separates the distant trees from the foreground trees.

In other news, Art on Main is having our monthly "Wines and Nibbles" on Thursday March 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. with guest artist Rory Gallagher. We got snowed out last week so hopefully mother nature will cooperate this week with milder weather. Everyone is welcome so join us if you can!

"Pond Shadows" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Pond Shadows" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas

I created this painting as a donation for the Chelmsford Center for the Arts upcoming "10 x 10 Silent Auction Benefit".  The event is 100 days before the grand opening of the completely restored Chelmsford Center for the Arts in Chelmsford, MA.  All works of art start at $50 and everyone has 100 minutes to bid.  The event is on Saturday, March 24 from 7 - 10 p.m. - click here to read more if you are interested.  Sounds like a fun evening and there should be some really nice artwork.

You can probably tell that I started this painting with an orange background.  I didn't fuss much and just tried to let the paint flow.  I was especially happy with the rocks as I was able to suggest them with just a couple of brush strokes.

This painting is my warm up for the demo I'm giving on Thursday Feb 23 7 p.m. at the Westford Museum.  So, if you attend, you'll see me create something very, very, very similar...hint, hint.  :)

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Pizzeria" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

This little pizza place is in the Forge Village section of Westford. It is tucked along the rail road tracks and wedged into the curve of the street. I haven’t had their pizza in a long time but as I recall it was pretty good. I really enjoy doing street/architectural paintings and like how these buildings nestle together between the trees.

"Forge Pond" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

I sat in my car on an overcast afternoon and painted Forge Pond, one of the local beaches in Westford, MA.  I had just finished reading Kevin MacPherson's "Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light and Color" and tried to follow some of his basic teachings:  a) simplify the scene - squint to eliminate the details  b) focus on painting shapes (not a tree or a rock or a whatever) and c) use a limited palette for harmonious colors.  I'm pretty happy with the final result and definitely learn something new with every painting.

"Winter Sun II" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

"Winter Sun II" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

Here’s a 2nd stab at the “Winter Sun” painting. This one is larger and a bit looser with the color. I’ve always loved to paint “backlit” scenes as the light is so dramatic. This painting has a nice warm yellow glow. If you look closely, I put a small purple edge on the window panes to really make that yellow “pop.”

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

I’m really happy to report that the “Ocean Dip” painting that I auctioned on ebay was won by a NYC collector who is thrilled with the painting. It shipped off on Saturday to its new home. I happily wrote out the donation check to AmeriCares to support the disaster relief efforts in Japan. Many thanks to everyone who bid and supported me by spreading the word.

"Sunset on Main" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

I finished my gallery sitting shift at Art on Main and was walking to my car at the end of a January afternoon. The sun was just dipping below the horizon and I loved the effect of the oncoming car headlights as they illuminated the road. I took out my camera to capture the moment as the cars sped by.

I started this painting with a bright pink ground and allowed that color to peek through to create the dramatic lighting. Occasionally, a painting will paint itself and this was one of those rare occasions where my brush knew exactly what to do and it all came together quite easily.

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

Snow Day - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

I was itching to paint outside yesterday so I piled my stuff into Opal (my new car) and went off searching for something to paint.  Yes, I name everything including the occasional body part.  But, I digress.  I passed a parking area with a bunch of school buses all lined up and loved all the bright yellow/orange colors.  I parked directly across the street and decided to focus my attention on the two buses directly in front of me.  I had to work quickly as the sun was setting (and happened to be shining directly into my eyes which made it a challenge to see what I was doing).  I’m happy to report that I didn’t get one drop of paint on Opal which is probably a small miracle.  My pants, however, that’s another story…

"Westford Museum" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

Westford Museum - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

Right now I’m in the groove of painting Westford landmarks and am enjoying every minute of it.  Westford is a great town and I feel fortunate to live here.  I thought about painting the Westford Museum for a while, had photographed it from various angles and at different times of the year, but nothing really grabbed me.  A few weeks ago when I saw the antique sled out front, I knew this would add a spark of interest to the scene.  I just love how the little bits of red flow throughout the painting from the cupola to the chimney, to the ribbon and finally to the front door.

Westford is hosting their first annual Winter FunFest and a snow sculpture contest is part of the festivities.  Below is a photo of  Art on Main' s entry for the contest.  (The sculpture is on the lawn directly across from Art on Main so be sure to drive by if you live in the area).  I created the sculpture with two of my artist partners, Mary Jane Brunelle and Sue Haley.  I haven't "played" in the snow for quite some time and thoroughly enjoyed romping around in it for a total of 3 afternoons to create our masterpiece.  Westford Winter Funfest is exactly the type of event that makes Westford such a great place to live.




Westford Winter Fun Fest Snow Sculpture



"Sargent Mill" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - sold

I started this painting with a dark blue ground and used it to create the texture in the building by allowing the blue to peek through.  I really like how it looks.  I’ve recently learned something new.  When I started painting in oils a couple years ago, I usually started with a detailed pencil drawing directly on the canvas.  Lately, no matter how complicated the subject, I create my "drawing" by using brushstrokes.  I just try to get the basic proportions and angles correct and not worry too much about defining every little detail.  When I begin to paint, I’m able to keep my brush strokes looser as I’m not as worried about conforming to my pencil sketch.  This has really been a break through for me!

"Winter Reflections" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

Last weekend, I was pretty proud of myself for getting my painting stuff together, bundling up and setting out to paint in cold weather.  Fortunately, there was no wind, so I really didn’t feel cold and the time passed quickly since I was focused on doing something that I love. 

"Abbot Mill" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

This painting is of the Abbott Mill, one of the historic mill buildings in Westford, MA. A developer will be starting construction on the mill this month to turn it into housing. I just love these old building – they have such tremendous character and personality. I’ll be happy to see this building restored and put back to good use.

Normally, when I start a painting, I cover the canvas with a solid wash of color that I allow to peek through. (In oil painting terms, this is called the “ground.”) For this painting, I painted on a previously used canvas that had a colorful painting of an abstract flower arrangement. As usual, I allowed the “under painting” to show though, particularly in the snow and window reflections. Since there were so many colors underneath, I had some serendipitous results. I may never use a solid ground again!

This painting is available at Art on Main for $150.  Or, you can purchase from me directly by clicking on the Buy Now button below.

"Roudenbush" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - sold

This painting is of the Roudenbush Community Center which sits in Westford Center. The building, built in 1897, has tremendous character with its complicated roof and tall steeple. I have fond memories of taking both my daughter and later my son to attend preschool classes here. At that time, Roudenbush was one of the few preschool options in town. Folks would line up in the early dawn hours to be the first line to sign up their child. I can remember meeting a friend at something like 5:30 a.m., bundled in winter clothes, equipped with lawn chairs, blankets, and a hot thermos of tea. As the crowd gathered, it usually turned into a fun party with folks sharing hot coffee and donuts while we watched the sunrise and waited for the doors to open.