Waiting for Spring - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

Saturday was a gorgeous, sunny, winter day. I gathered up my painting stuff and headed out to find an interesting spot. I decided to head to Forge Pond and spotted this stream which leads down to the beach. I was very happy to sit in my car and paint although it was a little cramped having my canvas up against the steering wheel. I probably should have moved to the passenger seat but I was too lazy to move and just wanted to get the paints flowing. It felt really good to be painting "en plein air" once again.

The Chaperone - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

This painting is unusual in that I actually thought of the title before I started painting. I lined up these cherries on the windowsill. I put the two smaller ones touching with their stems crossed and the larger one “looking” over them. The title just seems like a natural fit! I tried to keep this painting very loose and expressive and not get bogged down with too many details.

Clementine with Leaf - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I had a really hard time thinking of a clever name for this painting and finally gave up and simply stated the obvious. Actually, I'm not even sure think this is a Clementine. If anyone knows what this fruit is, please let me know so I can rename my painting! I was particularly pleased with how the leaf came out. I think the key to success is to really study the subject and note the shapes and the subtle changes in color and value.

Life is a . . . 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I had to look up the spelling of “maraschino” to write this post. I was surprised at how difficult these maraschino cherries were to paint (and to spell). Their liquid is very opaque so it is difficult to see the individual pieces. I used a bit of artist license and added in strokes of yellows and orange to add more interest to an otherwise solid block of red. As always, the height, placement and direction of the stems was very deliberate and is an important part of the composition.

Cup and Clementines - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

First of all, Happy to New Year to everyone. It felt good to put brush to canvas as I had taken a brief vacation from my palette. One of the best parts of the holidays is that clementines are in season. They are such a perfect fruit…easy to peel, easy to eat, sweet and delicious. I specifically picked a blue coffee cup for this still life to compliment the orange color of the clementines. Since it is such a simple subject, I wanted to add interest by making a reflection in the table top. I’m pleased with how it came out and think it is a good way to start off 2010…enjoy!

Limelight - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas

I stole these limes from a friend ... I’m not much of a lime fan and never buy them. For whatever reason, she had about a dozen leftover from Thanksgiving…. she mentioned something about Margaritas. I didn't realize that was traditional as I'm used to the basics: turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

In any case, I wanted a strong light source to show the translucence of the limes. I added subtle touches of yellow-orange here and there which add a nice, warm glow. I tried to keep my brush strokes loose and expressive and not get too bogged down with detail.

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

"Pretty in Pink" - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

I spotted this cyclamen in a country store and had to buy it. After my purchase, they wrapped the plant in a shiny piece of foil that I thought would be fun to paint. But, after fooling with it for a while, I just couldn't get a shape that I liked. The foil just overwhelmed everything else. Eventually, I removed it and settled on the plain green pot.

I confess that I’m not great at caring for houseplants. My daughter left her spider plant (named “Algebra”) in my care. I remember to water it whenever she is scheduled to visit (every few months). I’ve found that spider plants are impossible to kill and don’t seem to mind having bone-dry soil. I hope my new plant is just as forgiving!

This painting is available for sale by contacting me directly, or, you can purchase it at “Art on Main”, 40 Main Street, Westford, MA where it will be hanging. The cost is $150. Shipping is $12. (MA sales tax applies for MA residents).

Big Mac Attack - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

Meet Macintosh. Apparently, this big boy has quite the appetite! I've never met Mac but got to know him through a series of pictures. The actual photo that I selected as a reference showed Mac sprawled across the carpet but I felt there would be too much white space to include his entire body. So, I cropped the image and just kept enough of his torso to show his beautiful coat. The light blue area around Mac and the green bag is referred to as "negative space". I was careful to vary the size and shape of these areas as the negative space is just as important as the main points of interest in creating a solid composition. This painting was a commission will be shipped off to the owner after it has a chance to dry for a bit. Enjoy!

Monday Night Meeting - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I've been itching to paint a night scene for some time now. I tried to capture the glow of the lights as they illuminate the front entrance. I chose mainly warm colors – yellows and oranges – probably since the weather is still relatively warm and the fall decorations were in place. You can contrast this with another night scene I painted several years ago (mainly cool colors - blues and purples - using watercolors). The title, "Monday Night Meeting", stems from our weekly meetings at the "Art on Main" gallery.

Spring Morning - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

This painting is based on a photo I took several years ago just after we installed a G-clef on the PCA's bell tower. This particular Spring morning, the Westford Common was filled with campaign signs and sandwich boards. Traffic was starting to pick up as people rushed to do errands. I tried to capture a sense of this energy along with the morning light as it reflected off the road and the cars.

Acorn Scramble - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I've become a bit obsessed with acorns. The past couple months, I've collected quite a few and have lined them up on my bedroom windowsill. When fresh, acorns are a beautiful shade of green. Unfortunately, they dry out and fade to a dull, tan color. These acorns were actually quite dull so I used some artistic license to punch up their color. 

"2nd Bloom" - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I’ve had my eye on this violet for a while now. I finally asked my friend Cathy if I could borrow it. She is very proud that it is in bloom for the second time (hence the title, “2nd Bloom”). I love the pinkish underside of the leaves as they make a nice contrast to the green on top. The plant is like a crown on top of this little hand painted pot. I just couldn’t resist.

To those who requested a photo of my reception, below is a nice panoramic taken by my sister.

View from the Ferry - 12 x 12 inches- Oil on canvas - SOLD

Well, my life has been a whirlwind this month. My Opening Reception for “Reflections on Fifty” was all that I dreamed of and more. I had 150+ guests come through and enjoy a really nice evening of live music, gourmet food and a lively and friendly atmosphere. My friends and family pitched in and it was a smashing success…thank you to all those that helped!  Of the 50 paintings, only 7 are still available. Wow. I never imagined the response to my artwork would be so overwhelmingly positive.

Well, on to new work. The above painting is based on a photo I took from the Boston Harbor Islands ferry. I had a pretty clear vision of how I wanted it to turn out. The sky was incredibly dramatic as storms passed through. The clouds were a strong mix of deep grays and purples. The foreground water was a blue-green, almost teal color. I kept the buildings simple and wanted this to be a fairly abstract painting.

Stony Brook Reflections - 12 x 12 - Oil on canvas - SOLD

I donated this painting to the "Westford Friends of East Boston Camps" for their Fall Foliage Festival which included a silent auction.  Over 600 people attended and they raised a chunk of money to help preserve and maintain a beautiful piece of property recently purchased by the town.

I don't think landscapes are my strong suit but, with each one that I attempt, I'm getting better so I keep plugging away.  At one point, this painting looked a bit too tropical so I had to rework the shape of the foliage and tone down some of the strong blue/green colors.  I'm fairly pleased with the final result and hope whoever bought it is enjoying it.

"Reflections on Fifty" Show Preparations

Life has been very busy for the past few weeks! With help from artist friend Gail Flannery and my son Jason, we hung all fifty paintings at the PCA earlier this week for my show, "Reflections on Fifty". My first gallery hours are this Sunday from noon to 2 p.m with my Opening Reception on Saturday, October 10 from 7 -9:30 p.m. For directions to the PCA, visit, http://www.westford.com/pca/directions.htm. Everyone is welcome!

My other big news is that I've partnered with 8 other artists to open a gallery called "Art on Main" which is located at 40 Main Street, Westford, MA. We officially opened our doors on October 1st and have a grand opening scheduled for Thursday, October 29. For more info, check out our website at http://www.artonmainwestford.com/

Party Time - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas

Karin Jurick, a fantastic artist that I admire, created a blog called DifferentStrokesfromDifferentFolks.blogspot.com Every so often, Karin posts a reference photo of a particular subject. Artists are invited to create a painting based on the photo and Karin posts the results on her blog. It is fascinating to see the variety of styles and interpretations of the same subject. I finally took the challenge but then missed the deadline for submitting it! Oh well...maybe next time.

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.

Wentworth - 6 x 6 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

Last weekend I reunited with a group of college friends to celebrate our 50th birthdays. We stayed at Wentworth by the Sea - a beautiful hotel/resort in New Castle, NH. On Saturday morning, I walked through the marina to the end of the docks and set up my easel to paint. It was very overcast. About half way through my painting, it started to rain. A gentleman offered me his umbrella which I gratefully accepted as it was really starting to rain -- hard. (You can see a drip on the right side of the canvas as evidence!). I continued to paint with one hand holding his umbrella and the other with my paintbrush. After about a half hour, when sneakers were getting soaked, I decided it was time to pack up to get warm and dry.

Self Portrait - 12 x 12 inches - Oil on canvas - SOLD

First off, who, other than maybe my mother, would want to buy this painting! It's been hanging on the wall opposite my desk and it is a bit startling to look up and see yourself staring at yourself. In any case, officially, this is painting #50...the last 12 x 12 for my upcoming solo show, "Reflections on Fifty", which opens one month from today. It's been a great journey and I've learned a lot along the way. But, don't despair, this blog will continue with more paintings so stay tuned. To those who emailed and posted comments...thanks and keep 'em coming!

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).