Big Ben - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I was with my Mom, about 30 years ago, when she bought this clock from an antique dealer. If my memory is correct, she paid a grand total of five dollars. This "Westclox Big Ben" was made in 1927 so it is just over 80 years old. With her "Pepto-Bismol" color and gold numerals, she is quite a charmer. She sat on the bathroom counter for years to compliment the pink decor.

I kept the composition very simple, similar to a portrait, to let the focus of the painting be on the clock...the star attraction.

Duff - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

This little guy, McDuff, is quite a character. Fearless and spunky, Duff is the master of his household. During "Ice Storm '08" when I was displaced from my house for several days, McDuff and I shared some quality time together. When I looked down on him standing on this colorful rug, I knew it would make a cool painting. The rug was actually more difficult to paint than I originally thought. I started with the blocks of color but they looked much too flat. When I blended the areas together and added some contrasting colors, I was able to create a more "shaggy", realistic carpet.

This Old Couch - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

This couch proudly sits in the main hall at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford, MA. I'm not sure how old she is but she's been around a very long time. A few years back, she was sent out for repair and new upholstery. She hasn't missed a concert, art reception or dance since.

I decided that painting the entire couch didn't really add anything more so I cropped the image and made sure that the center "crown" was included to show the beauty of the carved wood. I also took a bit of artistic license and made her color a bit brighter and shinier than it really is.

Grand Opening - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

This sweet little shop sits in Westford Center. I was driving by when the sign was installed by the new owner with help from a friend. I debated whether to include the car that was parked in front of the shop. In the end, I thought it provides balance and additional color so obviously it stayed.

My favorite part of this painting is the ladder on the left which casts a strong shadow on the building. Shadows and shading are incredibly important and are what make an object appear three dimensional in a painting.

Curly Qs - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I'd been thinking about painting a Hostess cupcake for a long time and couldn't figure out a pleasing composition. (My first few attempts ended up as nothing more than a nostalgic snack). I wanted to show both the curly-q's on top as well as the creme filling inside. I finally came up with this top-down view with one big bite out of the side.

Considering the whimsical nature of my subject, I selected a bright green glass plate over a blue and white dishtowel. I wanted the cupcake surrounded by bright colors. A few wrinkles in the dishcloth add another bit of interest. My favorite part of this painting is the way the blue stripes are darkened and distorted under the glass plate.

Squeeze - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I spotted this jumble of paint tubes and thought they'd be fun to paint. The composition turned out to be a bit more of a challenge than I originally thought. I spent a fair amount of time manipulating both the colors (to alternate darks and lights) and the position of the tubes. Most of the tubes are pointed towards the center of the canvas to keep your eye from wandering outside the painting. I also added two brushes for a bit more variation and added interest.

Let's Huddle - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I'm not great at arranging items into a composition. I prefer to stumble across a group of objects that catch my attention and then maybe manipulate them, just a bit, to enhance what was already there.

I spotted these pears (yes, they are fat, round pears, not apples) on my counter and thought they'd make a nice painting. I added a dish towel underneath for some added interest and color. I purposely included the bottom of the fallen pear...that dark dot at the base of the core...I'm not sure what this is called!?!?!? In any case, it seemed important to include that dark spot to help balance out the composition.

Lincoln Street - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I enjoy doing architectural paintings and especially enjoy painting old houses with a lot of character. This painting depicts Lincoln Street which is a small street in Westford center along one side of the town common.

I work hard to keep all vertical lines straight so that the buildings don't appear to be tipping. The cars were painted with just a few strokes and I added strong reflections so they'd look shiny. Finally, I simplified the area at the end of the street into a dark and uniform shape to add a feeling of depth.

Guitar Club - Oil on canvas - 12 x 12 inches

A bandstand was recently built on the town common in Westford, MA. On this particular day, the "Guitar Club", a group of high school kids, took turns performing during the weekly Farmers Market. The afternoon light was strong and created dramatic shadows around the figures. I purposely tried to keep my brushstrokes loose and impressionistic. This painting brings me right back to that October day with the warm sun, the music, and the crowd on the common enjoying a perfect fall day.

Summer Crowds - Oil on canvas - 12 x 12 inches

I haven't posted for over a week as we had an ice storm that crippled much of New England. Unfortunately, I was without power for 6 days! I've had electricity for less than 48 hours and we're now in the midst of a major snowstorm. I figured I'd better update this blog before I lose power again :)

I was getting ready to post this painting and noticed that I didn't have a shadow under the most prominent cherry stem. I don't know how I could have missed it the first time around. Most artists have an excellent eye with the ability to see shapes, values and colors easily. However, it is easy to become blind to your own work. For that reason, I almost always ask someone to critique my work. My kids are my best critics. I've modified many paintings based on their suggestions. Another trick is to put a painting away for a few weeks ... the next time you see it, you'll have fresh eyes.

Three's a Crowd - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

These nectarines were sitting on my kitchen counter in a blue bowl. They caught my eye as the blue bowl really makes the orange color "sing". I played with how the nectarines are "facing" as I manipulated their placement in the bowl. The top nectarine is "looking" directly at the viewer while the other two face inward. I also added a bit of yellow to the inside rim of the bowl to "warm" up the color and add some visual interest. I thought this painting was a fairly realistic depiction of three nectarines but a friend commented, "Those are great apples." :)

Bog - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on Canvas

There is a cranberry bog not far from where I live...a great place to walk, bird watch, skip rocks and just soak up the sun. I painted this landscape on location, or, "en plein air". On this particular day, the weather was warm, the winds were light and I wasn't bothered by bugs...a perfect day to set up an easel and get totally absorbed in the process of creating.

Happy Days 1958 - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I spotted this car at a used car dealership in town. I believe this is a '58 Chevy Impala. It caught my eye so I stopped and snapped a variety of pictures. I debated about how much of the car to paint and at what angle. In the end, I settled on this view as I really liked the headlights and that massive chrome grill.

Mixed Company - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

Apple picking has become an annual tradition in my family so I usually have an abundance of apples in the fall. I arranged these apples, decided on an overhead viewpoint, and then used a strong light source to create interesting highlights and deep shadows.

Escape - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

Cantaloupe happens to be one of my favorite fruits...sweet, juicy, refreshing. After slicing open this one, I couldn't help but marvel at the rich oranges, yellows, and that bright circle of lime green. No one is a better artist than Mother Nature!

I wanted to keep this painting simple and just focus on the simple beauty that was right in front of me. I added the knife with the dark handle to balance out the composition.

The seeds look like they are trying to escape after being liberated from the core...hence the title.

Squeaky Clean - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I don't have a dishwasher so I'm frequently at my sink cleaning and stacking dishes. The afternoon sun created an interesting pattern of shadows on the plates in the rack. I decided to add the glass jelly jar as another element of interest and to help balance out the composition.

Sunbeam - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I love this Sunbeam vintage hand mixer. It was my grandmothers so I think of her everytime I pull it out of the cupboard. I was getting ready to mix up pancake batter and was inspired by the reflections picked up in the metal spoon, glass bowl and the plastic mixer. I played with the placement of the eggs, measuring spoon and power cord before deciding on this composition. The spoon and power cord are placed at opposite angles from the mixer and beaters to help keep your eye in the painting.

Morning - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

It's funny how something so mundane can become an inspiration for a painting. Early one morning, I noticed the soft, glowing light in my bathroom. I liked the way the light reflected off the soap dispenser and the chrome faucet. In actuality, the sink is white but I decided to make it blue to complement the yellows and oranges which makes them glow.

Jelly Jar - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I wanted to paint daisies and had a hard time finding some. I finally found these growing along a stone wall. I decided to put them inside a jelly jar as I like the way the stems get distorted as you look through the glass. I chose a blue background to complement the orange in the center of the flowers. This is just a happy, simple painting.

Waiting - 12 x 12 - Oil on canvas

Some paintings just paint themselves. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's pure joy. Somehow, with this painting, my brush knew exactly what to do. Cooper, our dog, has the most beautiful auburn coat. If he could speak, I really think he'd be pleased with this portrait. Below is a photo of Cooper when he was just a pup...cute, huh?