"Break Out" - 7 x 7 inches - sea glass collage - framed

"Break Out" - 7 x 7 inches - sea glass collage - framed

I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a joyous, healthy and creative new year!  Many thanks to all of you who send words of encouragement, have purchased my art, and for those who live near Westford, MA, have supported the Art on Main gallery. 

Ok, I'm a little afraid to announce this, but, tomorrow, I start another "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge for the month of January.  This will be my 3rd challenge and the first two were really tough!  I got completely burned out by around day 22.  So, I'm going to keep it simple and try to stay focused, motivated and simply enjoy the ride....hopefully, you will too!

Congratulations to Cindy Williams who won my art give away for December.  I'm giving Cindy one of my 2014 desk calendars.  I only have a handful left and am offering them at a sale price of $12.  So, click here if you're interested in purchasing one. 

"Break Out", was created using sea glass that I collected -- mostly from beaches in New England.  This piece is very different from the piece that I posted yesterday (which has already sold).  It is much more bold and graphic.  I love the subtle shades of colors; there are at least 7 or 8 different shades of greens and browns. 

"Break Out" is a 7 x 7 inch Framed Sea Glass Collage.  The frame is 1 3/4 inches deep.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card or click here for other payment options. 

"Spring" - 7 x 7 inches framed sea glass collage - SOLD

"Spring" - 7 x 7 inches framed sea glass collage

Ever since a trip to France about 10 years ago, I've been fascinated with collecting sea glass.  I spent an afternoon on a Mediterranean beach finding a couple handfuls of smooth, tumbled sea glass in a range of pastel colors.  I was in awe and couldn't stop!  When I got home, I put together an abstract collage that hangs on my wall and it is one of my treasured souvenirs from that trip.

This obsession with sea glass has ruined my ability to go to a beach and simply relax and enjoy the experience.  I'm always walking with eyes down looking for colored bits of tumbled glass.  So, over the years, I've garnered quite a collection and I'm always looking for creative things to do with it.

"Spring", was created using sea glass that I collected -- mostly from beaches in New England.  I spent a long time arranging the pieces to come up with a pleasing composition.  To add a bit of whimsy, I also wrapped wire around a few pieces near the top.  This unique piece comes in a frame that can either be hung, or, just sit on a shelf.

"Spring" is an 7 x 7 inch Sea Glass Collage.  The frame is 1 3/4 inches deep.  

Brady Way - 24 x 30 inches - oil on canvas

I finally completed the large house portrait that I've been working on since mid-November.  It was very slow going, especially in the beginning.  I spent a long time on the drawing to make sure all the architectural details were as accurate as possible.  It didn't help that I got side-tracked with Thanksgiving and other holiday celebrations but I persevered and kept chipping away at it.

This past Saturday, I delivered the painting and am very happy to report that the family was thrilled and delighted with the final result.  They plan to hang it in their foyer and found a perfect spot.  The painting looks really nice against their walls which are a soft yellow color.  Below is the final painting.  For those who missed it, you can view the portrait in progress by clicking here.

"Brady Way" - 24 x 30 inches - oil on canvas

2014 Desk Calendars: Don't forget to order (or pick up) one of my 2014 desk calendars - they make a great holiday gift.  I only make a limited number and once they're gone, they're gone!  They are available at Art on Main, or, click here to order by mail.

House Portrait Progress - Holiday Open House at Art on Main

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends.  I was pretty good and didn't over stuff myself with too much turkey this year.  But, the holiday season is in full swing so there are plenty of opportunities ahead!

I've been diligently working on a house portrait commission.  My progress has been slower than I'd like but at this point it is in pretty good shape.  I thought I'd share my progress and will post a copy of the final painting when I finish it.  Hopefully, it will be well received.

For those who live in the Westford, MA area, Art on Main is hosting their annual holiday open house on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 5 - 8 p.m.  This year, Sweetpeas Bakery is graciously providing sweets for our reception.  Stop by and say hello!

Ok, on to the house portrait:

I started by dividing my canvas into sections using a red colored pencil.  Using a blue colored pencil, I worked, section by section to transfer the image from my reference photo on to the canvas.  The house has a lot of architectural details so this process took a long time as I wanted to get the angles, proportions, window placement, etc. very accurate from the start.




I usually coat my canvas with a solid colored background as I don't like to paint on a white surface.  In this case, I decided to use a variety of colors for the base.  I didn't want a solid wash of color to hide my initial drawing as it took way too much time and work!



I decided to work on the house first.  I focused on the front entrance as this was one of the more complicated sections with an overhang, pillars and steps.


Once the house was moving along, I wanted to start work on the landscape.  I started by filling in the water to the right of the house and then worked on the front lawn.



At this point, I've got oil paint on most of the canvas.  The landscaping and background trees still need some work.  I also have additional details to fill in on the house primarily on the right side as well as all the windows.  The front lawn color will also change a bit as well as the addition of leaves that will be scattered around.  So, there is still a fair amount of work to go so I'll keep chipping away.

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

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

There is just something about donuts.  They always make people smile.  Whenever I sell a donut painting, I feel like I need to paint another.  My last one sold not too long ago at Art on Main so it was time!  I kept this one loose and simple - no sprinkles.  

"Mahjong Marathon" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Mahjong Marathon" - 12 x 12 inches - oil on canvas

I know a crazy group of women who love to play Mahjong.  Besides their weekly game, a couple times a year, they book a hotel room and go off on a "retreat" where they play game after game of Mahjong.  There is barely time to eat, sleep or even take bathroom breaks.  This group is hardcore!  And, the stakes are high.  On a good weekend, you can rake in about $10!

I started this painting over the summer but life got in the way and I didn't finish it until last week.  I had taken a number of reference photos and spent a long time deciding which had the best composition.  I settled on this one as I liked the arrangement of their bodies which created pleasing shapes on the canvas. 

For various areas, I used alternate reference photos.  One example is the woman in the blue shirt.  In the original reference, her arm was at a strange angle and just didn't look right.  I was able to use another photo and found a much better angle.  

2014 Desk Calendars: Don't forget to order (or pick up) one of my 2014 desk calendars - they make a great holiday gift.  I only make a limited number and once they're gone, they're gone!  They are available at Art on Main, or, click here to order by mail.  

"Blue Vase with Bird" and other news - SOLD

"Blue Vase with Bird" - 10 x 10 inches - oil on canvas

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while.  I'll blame the Red Sox for keeping me up late night after night for the past few weeks.  Go Sox!

About "Blue Vase with Bird": For those who attended my painting demo a few weeks ago, I finally finished it.  Basically, I had to finish the 2nd apple and the background but I also worked on other areas such as the bird and the cloth.  We had a group discussion on the color of the background.  I was undecided as to whether to go with a light or dark background.  A dark background just seemed too heavy so I kept it light and bright.  Purchase info for this painting is below.

2014 Desk Calendars: Don't forget to order (or pick up) one of my 2014 desk calendars - they make a great holiday gift.  I only make a limited number and once they're gone, they're gone!  They are

available at Art on Main, or, click here to order by mail.  

Monthly Give Away: I finally picked (and notified) my winners for my September and October give-away (sorry, I was a bit behind on this!)  Check your inbox for an email from me.  For more info and to be eligible for my give-away, click here.

Upcoming Event: And finally, Art on Main is hosting our monthly Wine & Nibbles event on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 5 - 8 p.m.  Our guest artist is Sue Marion and Concord Teacakes will be supplying the nibbles...yum!  B there or B square!

 

Painting Demo - Success!

I want to thank everyone who came to my painting demo last night at the Parish Center for the Arts.  We had about 20 people in attendance and there were lots of questions with some lively discussions.  I didn't finish the painting as I was working slowly and trying to explain my process as I went along.  

I started with a canvas painted with a light purple background.  I got a good start on the apple, vase and tablecloth.  I didn't work on the 2nd apple and couldn't decide on the background color so left it untouched.  

The apple and vase are nearly finished and I just need a few strong highlights on the ceramic vase.  I'm not happy with the tablecloth so will spend more time working on the wrinkles and may also change the color a bit.  That just leaves the 2nd apple and the background to finish the painting.  A few photos follow of the painting in process, a photo of my still life set up, and me in action last night!



My still life set up looked like:



And here is me in action:

"Sunset Dunes" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Sunset Dunes" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

For those who live in the Westord, MA area, I'll be giving an oil painting demonstration tonight (Thursday October 17 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.) at the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA).  The demo is free but if you make a $10 donation, then you are eligible to win one of my original paintings at the end of the evening.  All proceeds benefit the PCA.  I hope to see you there!

This was the last dune painting that I finished en plein air at Plum Island in Newburyport, MA.  The sun was setting and the sky turned a beautiful pink color.  I was in awe. 

"Steady Breeze" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

"Steady Breeze" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on canvas

I sat in my car on the side of the road and painted this lovely scene.  A number of boats sailed by as I worked to capture the scene as quickly as possible.  I'm pretty familiar with the shape of sail boats so I was able to recreate the basic shape even though my references kept moving around.

"Great Egrets" + Oil Painting Demo and other news

"Great Egrets" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

I still have a few more of my Newburyport, MA paintings to post but have been crazy busy for the past week.  I've been hosting 2 oil painting workshops taught by a wonderful artist from Kentucky, Dreama Tolle Perry.  I had invited Dreama to Westford two years ago and couldn't wait for her to return.  It's been an inspirational ride for me and 32 other lucky participants!

For those who live in the Westord, MA area, I'll be giving an oil painting demonstration on Thursday October 17 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Parish Center for the Arts (PCA).  The demo is free but if you make a $10 donation, then you are eligible to win one of my original paintings at the end of the evening.  All proceeds benefit the PCA.  I hope to see you there!

Regarding this painting, I sat in my car and painted the marshes.  A couple Great Egrets were fishing at the far end.  I just made a subtle suggestion of the birds on the edge of the marsh using a spot of white paint.  The gentleman who purchased this painting is shipping it off to New Zealand as a wedding gift for this brother so I never know where my paintings will end up!  

"Hot Dogs and Sausages" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Hot Dogs and Sausages" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

There is a beautiful park in Newburyport, MA called the Atkinson Common.  it has walking paths, fountains, statues and beautiful gardens.  I walked around for a bit deciding what to paint.  What caught my eye was a vendor selling hots and sausages from her colorful cart.  This scene was definitely a challenge but I think I managed to capture the sense of the strong afternoon light.

For those who live in the Westford, MA area, Art on Main is hosting our monthly "Wine and Nibbles" from 5 - 8 p.m. on Thursday October 3.  Stop by and say hello! 

"Morning Dunes" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Morning Dunes" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

Back to my beloved dunes on Plum Island.  I painted these dunes early in the morning.  It was quiet and incredibly peaceful with a few birds flying overhead.

"Great Day for a Sail" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Great Day for a Sail" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

I stood on the boardwalk steps and painted this scene.  I don't have a lot of experience painting ocean waves so this was a challenge.  Anything that moves is a challenge!  

To capture the wave, I painted a dark stripe parallel to the beach.  I then added the white foam on top by dragging white across the dark area and pulled some of the dark color into the white.  Considering this painting was done on location, I was happy with the final result.

 

"Too Foggy" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Too Foggy" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

I sat in my car at the marina in Newburyport just as it started to rain.  Really rain.  I had to keep turning on the windshield wipers to see what I was painting.  

This little boat which was moored nearby made a nice painting subject.  The water was glassy smooth but visibility was poor so I simply faded out the background to create the foggy effect.  I spent a long time trying to get the shape of the boat right.  Boats are hard - especially when they move around!

In case you haven't noticed, I've been painting a lot this month.  I've been participating in another 30 day painting challenge.  There are 300+ artists around the internet who took up this challenge to paint 30 paintings in 30 days.  Frankly, I didn't make a big announcement since I didn't want to commit to something that I might not finish.  I did the challenge in January and got pretty burned out by the end of the month.  I definitely favor quality over quantity but have been so inspired by my time in Newburyport that is has been easy to paint every day.  So, by the end of September, I will complete about 25 paintings and that is good enough for me :)

Marina - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Marina" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

I'm pretty proud of this painting.  I sat in my car looking at this jumble of boats and was thinking that this is impossible to paint.  I certainly didn't want to paint each individual boat and was kind of overwhelmed by the subject in front of me.  One painting trick is to squint at a scene.  When you squint, you lose the details and can see large masses of shapes and color more easily.

For the boats, I started with an area of white dabs that was the approximate shape of the entire mass.  I then when back with various shades of color and tried to carve out the suggestion of boat shapes.  When I added the vertical lines for the masts, it all came together.  Overall, a very successful painting of a daunting subject! 

"Marina" is a 5 x 7 inch oil on paper painting and comes in a white, 8 x 10 mat.  SOLD

Merrimack River - 5 x 7 inches oil on canvas - SOLD

"Merrimack River" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on canvas

There is an Audubon Nature center in Newburyport called "Joppa Flats" so I guess technically I should have named this painting "Joppa Flats" since I stood in their parking lot to paint this scene.  
 

Plum Island Marshes III - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Plum Island Marshes III" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

Back to the marshes for more inspiration.  The great thing about painting outside is that you can paint the same scene many times, but each day brings something new.  The light can be very different depending on when you choose to paint, seasonal changes impact the color palette and of course, changes in weather can dramatically affect the scene.

I painted these marshes in the afternoon.  Not a cloud in the sky.  In fact, the marshes were very quiet and I didn't see much wildlife at all.  I guess everyone was taking an afternoon nap.


 

"Plum Island Dunes III" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"Plum Island Dunes III" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on canvas

I don't know what it is about sand dunes but I love their soft curves and all the grasses and brush that surrounds them.  This scene was painted in the afternoon on a perfect warm sunny day.

"At Rest" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper - SOLD

"At Rest" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

I'm really pleased with this painting and I don't say that very often!  Boats can be a very tricky subject.  This boat stayed relatively still but occasionally shifted a bit which made my job more difficult.  I spent a long time trying to get the shape just right as well as the reflection in the water.

For those who live near Westford, MA, I'll be giving an oil painting demonstration at the Parish Center for the Arts on Thursday October 17 at 7 p.m.  The demo is free but if you make a $10 donation, your name is entered into a raffle to win an original oil painting at the end of the demo.  All proceeds benefit the PCA. 

"Carter Street" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

"Carter Street" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

Painting is such a meditative "sport."  I stood on the street painting this for about 2 1/2 hours and couldn't believe how quickly the time went by.  One problem with painting plein air is that the light changes very quickly so everything is a moving target!  The most obvious change is the length of the shadows as the sun moves across the sky.

I should mention that Gayle Kenyon won my August give away.  Since Gayle lives in Westford, I have her a copy of my book, Paint the Town which is a collection of my Westford paintings and includes my personal observations and historical tidbits about the town.

"Carter Street" is a 5 x 7 inch oil on paper painting and comes in a white, 8 x 10 mat.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase by credit card, or, click here for other ways to purchase a painting.

"Plum Island Beach I" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

"Plum Island Beach I" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

I just can't get enough of the beach at Plum Island.  The weather has been fantastic so I'm trying to get there every day to paint, walk and collect shells. 

Someone asked me about painting oil on paper.  Paper is a perfectly acceptable surface to paint on as long as you prepare it properly.  I'm using artist quality watercolor paper which I treated with several coats of gesso.  The gesso creates a seal on the paper to prevent the oil from soaking into it.  In fact, canvas is also treated with gesso for the same purpose.

"Plum Island Beach I" is a 5 x 7 inch oil on paper painting and comes in a white, 8 x 10 mat.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card, or, click here for other payment options.

Plum Island Dunes II - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

"Plum Island Dunes II" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

Back to the Dunes.  One of the hazards of plein air painting is bugs.  I'm not sure what bit me but deodorant does a good job of taking away the itch! 

"Plum Island Dunes II" is a 5 x 7 inch oil on paper painting and comes in a white, 8 x 10 mat.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase by credit card or click here for other payment options.

Moored - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

"Moored" - 5 x 7 inches - oil on paper

These boats were moored on the Merrimack River in Newburyport, MA.  I didn't realize that this is the same river that flows through Lowell, MA.  In doing a little research, I found out that it originates in Franklin New Hampshire and ends in Newburyport where it flows into the Atlantic ocean -- a total of 117 miles long!   

"Moored" is a 5 x 7 inch oil on paper painting and comes in a white, 8 x 10 mat.  Click the Buy Now button below to purchase using a credit card, or, click here for other payment options.