"Bug II" - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas

I enjoyed painting “Bug” so much that I decided to paint a 2nd version from a different angle. The composition on this one was tough. If I had included the entire car, there would have been a significant amount of “negative” space on the canvas – the space above and below the car. I played with different configurations and decided this was my favorite option - simply cut off the back end.

This painting is available for $50 at Art on Main or by contacting me directly at LaurieGMiller@gmail.com.

"Bug" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

Vintage VW bugs make me smile every time I see them. Growing up, my Aunt Rachel had a black VW bug. When I was about 7 or 8, my cousin Debbie drove me, my sisters and my cousin Shelley to an ice cream parlor in Manchester, CT that was famous for making huge ice cream sundaes with 10 or 12 scoops of ice cream. We sat around a small marble table with long spoons in hand and ate until we could eat no more. It was a long drive home for cousin Shelley who hung her head out the window to keep the car interior clean.

"Berry Bright" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

I set up my easel and started this painting at "Wine and Nibbles" - the monthly open house at Art on Main. My canvas was originally covered in a a wash of Cadmium Red which I allowed to peek through. Strawberries are a lot harder to paint that you'd think. At one point, Marie, the shop owner from next door, took a look at my canvas and said, "It looks like a shoe... you need to fix that." Damn that Marie. but she was right. I had painted a big red shoe. When the painting was finally finished, Marie gave her coveted "seal of approval."

"Spring Creek" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

Last Saturday was a near perfect day for plein air painting. I set up my easel near the Courier Corporation in Westford where a creek runs along the entrance. The trees are budding and don't yet have strong color. I just enjoyed playing with the colors and interpreting the scene in front of me without getting too hung up on details.

"Morning Light - First Parish" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

When dropping some books off at the library, I noticed the morning light shining on the First Parish Church and snapped a couple photos. As usual, I printed two copies of my reference photos: one in color and one in black & white. In the color photo, the shadow side of the building appeared to be almost exactly the same value as the sky. However, in my black & white photo, the building was actually a few shades darker. Having that black & white reference is very helpful as it is often difficult to determine the subtle value changes in a color reference.

For those who live in the Westford area, drop by Art on Main on Thursday, May 6 from 5 - 8 p.m. for our monthly "Wine and Nibbles". This month, in honor of spring, the theme is "blooms". It's a fun party with food, wine, and new art to check out. Marie's shop, Le Gourmet Jardin, will also be open.