"Early Spring" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

"Early Spring" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

Sunday was a magnificent day with bright sunshine and unseasonably warm temps.  I just had to get outside and take advantage of a perfect day to paint plein air.  I headed over to one of my favorite local spots -- the cranberry bog in Carlisle, MA.

I set up my canvas on the side of the road and happily painted.  I chose this particular scene for a couple reasons.  First off, I love those two big evergreen trees that overlook the bog so these are really the focal point of the painting.  I also like the thin, horizontal slices of color that I could see in the distance --- the yellows, purples and blues.  I actually fabricated the sliver of water in the foreground to add a bit of color and interest.  Above is a photo of the actual scene - as you can tell I used a bit of artistic license to punch up the color.

In other news, congratulations to Trina Teele who won my March give away!  For those who don't know, each month I randomly select one person on my mailing list to win a gift...anything from a pack of greeting cards to an original painting.

This 6 inch square painting is available for $60. Click the Buy Now button below or click here for other payment options.

"Fall Bog" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas

I spent last Thursday with two college friends to celebrate my birthday. We wondered why we are still friends as we have absolutely nothing in common. We do make each other laugh and have a long history together so that must be the glue that bonds us. We had lunch at a charming country store and fortunately it was a beautiful day so they indulged me for a bit while I painted and they took a walk. All in all, it was great day with lots of laughs.

I painted quickly as I didn’t want to keep my buddies waiting too long. I first painted in the sky and the water below and then filled in the landscape moving from background to foreground. I tried not to fuss and to keep everything very loose.

This painting is available for $50.  You can purchase it at the Art on Main gallery, or, directly from me by clicking the Buy Now button below.

"Bog Field" - 6 x 6 inches - oil on canvas - SOLD

This landscape was painted a week or two ago at my favorite cranberry bog in Carlisle, MA. I used some artistic license to punch up the color of the purples and greens to add a bit more interest. Landscapes are really challenging as you have so much information in front of you and need to figure out what details to capture and what to simply leave out…a real balancing act for sure.

For those who live in the area, be sure to stop by Art on Main on Thursday, Sept. 2 from 5 – 8 p.m. We’re having our monthly “Wine and Nibbles” open house. Bob Frank, a wonderful watercolorist, is our featured guest artist for the month of September.

Cranberry Bog Upper Pond - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

Last Saturday I once again headed for the cranberry bog (one of my favorite painting spots) and spent a sunny afternoon painting by the upper pond. I selected a canvas that I had previously covered with a pink/orange hue. As I painted, I didn't completely cover the background and allowed the color to shine through. This was one of those rare days when the paints flowed just right and I didn't struggle too much along the way.

Carlisle Bog - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I took advantage of a beautiful day and spent a couple happy hours painting at the cranberry bog in Carlisle, MA. When painting on location, a viewfinder is critical in helping me figure out how to transfer the vista in front of me onto a small canvas. The viewfinder not only helps me "crop" the scene into a managable piece but also helps me figure out the correct proportions. For example, the sky and background trees take up just about the top half of the canvas. Using the viewfinder and noting these proportions, I sketch the basic outline of my composition onto the canvas. This is actually one of the more difficult (but critical pieces) of starting a painting. I'll step back, look at my sketch, and make modifications until I'm happy. Once the sketch is complete, I can start the process of filling in each area, usuallly working from the background (top) to the foreground (bottom).

Carlisle Bog - 6 x 6 - Oil on canvas

I recently bought an "OpenBox M" painting box (see below) so that I can easily pack up and travel to any location to paint "en plein air". I squeeze out my paints in the bottom of the box and the lid has an adjustable, spring-loaded clamp to hold a canvas. The box is easily attached to a tripod to make a perfect easel with attached palette. Last week, I took advantage of a glorious sunny day and went to the cranberry bog in Carlisle, MA. For a couple hours, I painted in the shade of a huge oak tree and enjoyed a cool breeze, the sound of birds chirping, and a beautiful view.

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.