Powder - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

When I finally ate "my subject", it was a huge disappointment as it certainly looked and smelled a whole lot better than it tasted. In any case, I finished the painting and showed it to my 14 year old art critic who immediately told me that the napkin was way too clean. He was right. The painting improved immensely when I added the assortment of crumbs to the foreground.

Clementines, Peanuts & Garlic - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

This trio of pottery bowls (made by my sister Julie), sits on my kitchen counter. I didn't do much to change the composition from how I found it. I did, however, spend a long time figuring out the cropping and the viewing angle. In this case, I "zoomed in" to show a piece of each bowl. I wanted a mostly top-down view with part of the bowl sides showing so I could add a few reflections. To make the tan-colored peanuts more interesting, I accentuated the shadow color with hint of purple.

Timberland II - Oil on canvas - 12 x 12 inches

I have a friend to thank for inspiring me to do this painting. We recently celebrated her 50th birthday and she commented on a painting I did many years ago of my first pair of Timberland boots. She talked about how much she liked that painting.

Prior to this conversation, I had been thinking about painting these boots but couldn't get too excited about a dull, primarily brown subject. I knew I had to add splashes of color to make the boots more interesting. The photo probably doesn't show it very well but there are a variety of yellows, reds, blues and greens in these brown boots. I'm very happy with the end result...thanks, Taylor, for giving me the push I needed!

Undressed - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I often cover my canvas with a layer of color before I start a painting. In this case, I started with a light blue undercoat. When I painted these clementines, I allowed some of the undercoat to shine through and create reflections on the wood table and the peels. I used a limited palette (mostly yellow/oranges, blues and browns) and think the combination is very effective and powerful.

Carlisle Cornfield - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

This cornfield is in Carlisle, the next town over from where I live. In winter, the field is filled with snow, and, on warm winter days, puddles that reflect the surrounding trees and sky. The actual scene was very grey and dull with little color variation. I decided to accentuate the purple color in the distant trees and added a variety of color to the melted snow in the foreground. Initially, I painted the sky a much lighter color but felt it competed too much with the white snow. This painting was a challenge and a bit of a struggle, but I'm very happy with the end result.

Plum Island I - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

Plum Island is one of my favorite nature spots especially in the colder months when fewer people are around. Landscapes can be incredibly challenging - trying to represent a large area on a few square inches of canvas. In general, painters typically use warmer colors in the foreground and cooler colors in the background to create an illusion of depth. In this case, I made the rich browns (for the wet sand) very prominent in the foreground which fade to a grey-blue in the background.

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.