Pepper Party

6"x6" oil

Peppers are fun to paint.  They have such vibrant colors and interesting shapes.  When posting images with red varieties of colors, the photography tends to blend them into one color.  The difference in reality between the orange pepper and the red pepper is significant.  You will have to use your imagination with this one.  I like the exercise of doing still life paintings and I like taking a break on occasion from painting people.  Even though they are both made up of shapes, lines and values with lovely colors, the pressure of getting people "right" can be daunting.  I mean, if I make the pepper a bit lopsided or fat, who would notice?

The Stroll

6"x8" oil

This is about the complimentary colors of their shirts and about the similarity in texture of their hair.  When I first saw this couple I thought they made an odd pair, but on painting them, they fit together seamlessly.  I especially like the composition of this piece.  I am working hard to learn new things, get my studio together, and create a new body of work for a solo show in 2017.  I think I will include this piece.

Everything Happens In 3's

12"x12" oil

These are huge, but they look great framed!

Beach Patrol 6"x6" oil on canvas

The seagulls act like they are collecting a beach tax from sunbathers.  They will stick around and steal something unless they get a better offer.

Also: remember I am giving away the following painting at the end of Oct. to one of the blog followers who makes a comment on my blog this month.

It's a Beautiful Morning 10"x4.5" oil on panel

This is a seriously beautiful place!

Also: remember I am giving away the following painting at the end of Oct. to one of the blog followers who makes a comment on my blog this month.

The Knob 7"x7" oil on panel

The orange in this image is a bit brighter than the painting.  It was painted from a photo from my summer adventures with my friends.  I can't seem to get away from the water, but autumn is here and I am trying to embrace its beauty. 

Also: remember I am giving away the following painting at the end of Oct. to one of the blog followers who makes a comment on my blog this month.

Unexpected View 10"x4.5" oil on panel

This was a DPW challenge to do the foreshortening on the bodies.  I added in the sea gull to give them something to look at and tell a story.  The sea gulls are like tax collectors on the beach, always looking for some payment for your privilege to be there.  They are willing to steal it if you don't leave it for them.  The challenge for me on this one was to simplify the photo which was very cluttered and had a third person in it, to get the values and colors right so that it was unified, warm but had some pop.  I like the size and shape of the panel.

Youth Sublime 6"x6" oil on canvas

"Youth Sublime" came from an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem and I thought it fit this painting well.  It is hard to describe the joy and magic experienced in a child seeing that open span of water with all its possibilities.

Sand Castles 6"x6" oil

Beaches everywhere in my studio and the leaves are turning outside and I am wearing socks and jackets!  This is a lake beach and a family moment.  SOLD

Fishing Boat 9"x9" oil

I have been using a lot of complimentary colors lately....there is something so pleasing about them.  The splashes of orange dance around the blues in this.  This boat waiting to go "catch" some fish, was anchor moored where the Merrimac River reaches the Atlantic, near Plum Island.

Beached Kayaks 7"x7" oil

So many ways to have fun at the beach!  These kayaks are good for quieter waters in the bay.  I love to kayak so they caught my attention, but even more so, they are such brilliant colors against the sand.

Sunscreen Optional 7"x7" oil

This was from the Cape.  The animals are so used to people they really show their personalities.   I was with friends walking along a pretty deserted beach occupied by this crow and his buddy.  I couldn't resist this image.

Eggs Anyone? oil 7"x7" $135

This is an interesting diversion from beach related paintings.  It is a raw egg with shells on a whitish plate.  It was a challenge on DPW.  Carol Marine is the master egg painter and I have often thought I should try it, as I know it is not an easy subject.  Anytime you are painting white on white, it is really important to relate the values to one another.  With white, you have to make the darks so that the light areas read as highlights.  I set this under yellowish lights and it gave it warm glow.  These exercises push the artist out of their comfort zone and make them really study the subject and learn something new (hopefully).

Hand In Hand 9"x9" NFS

I love this painting...the top two reasons are Samara and Ollie, but I also like the subject, the colors, the edginess...grandpa's big hat.....their posture...so I am keeping this one!  I think it is the second painting I have really done for myself!

not available

Red Umbrella 9"x9" oil $225

Ahhhhh!

Vacation 9"x9" oil sold

You just got to celebrate those beautiful moments when a family is all together and focused on having fun!  This is a sunny painting on a rainy day (a good day to start back to school).

SOLD

Sunset on the Bay 5"x7" oil $100

Sunsets can be spectacular with this view, but even a quiet sunset with light just peaking under the edge of thick cloud cover is an inspiring vision. I can see why some artists specialize in painting clouds and light...they are ever changing and unique snapshots.

SOLD

I had an opening at the Chaffee Art Gallery on Saturday and it was a really fun event with good food, good drinks, good music, good art, and good company.  I had 32 pieces in it...here is a photo of eight of them.

View From the Porch 5"x7" oil sold

I messed with this too much!  I liked how it turned out but I couldn't get a good photo of it because it seemed to pick up a glare on every edge.  It is the relaxing view over the bay during a sunset on a cloudy day.  I think I tried to put too much into it, and I did take out a few things, but it was a good exercise, and it does convey peace which is what I was after.

SOLD

Bucket of Sand 5"x7" $100

When you are three, you need some direction on how to build a sand castle.  This little lady is getting help from her grandpa.  I love doing beach paintings because it takes me right back to the sound of the waves.  I am so fascinated with the various colors reflected by the sand and water and sky and how they change colors as it gets deeper.

SOLD

Waves 6"x6" oil $100

This is in the evening.  The sky is hazy but the setting sun has just peaked below the cloud cover enough to shine on the edge of the wave, on her body, and touches in the sand.  Most of the beach combers have headed home while a few of us took quiet walks on the edge of the surf.  Even though sea is relatively quiet, I called it "Waves" because I like the way her skirt echoes the rhythm of the sand and waves.  This painting really captures how I felt in my quiet time at the beach.  I worked hard to give the sky a hazy look with yellows, grays and pinks and capture the color of the water.