Painting with Ben and Sherwin

I've been painting every night this week with my buddies Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Nothing against their consistent quality, but I'd rather be spending time with my best bud, Winsor Newton.  (Sounds like a sober George Thorogood song.)  Actually, I really do enjoy painting rooms and trim, even if the final result can't be framed and sold.  It can be exciting to transform the personality of a room or just refreshing years of wear and tear.  I can't have too much fun with color as this is a rental.  After 5 days of painting, I hope to find time to produce something "framable" for my big show at the RI Home Show.

How to feel productive, without really trying?

 Go find paintings you never finished!

Marble Canyon

Nankoweap Canyon

About two years ago I started learning how to paint with oils.  I used watercolors for many years and even then did not spend a lot of time painting.  When I started with oils, I used the paint much like I did watercolor paint; very thin.  I started painting some images from a whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, but put them aside.  I'm glad I did.  I've learned a lot in the last few years and I think these paintings are better than if I had finished them before.  In a few years, I may look back at these paintings and say "I could do better."  I finished these paintings, and two below, in record time.  It helps if you have 75% of the painting completed.

Blue Beached Boat
SOLD 

Boogie Board

NOTE:  A year later (2/21/12),  I looked at the two canyon paintings and thought about taking them out of the frame to make some improvements.  This is a good thing!  I've developed better painting skills over the past year.

Learning To Paint Like The Masters - Part 5 (finished!)

SOLD

I finally finished the "Lobster Pot" painting. (Woo Hoo!)  It was a longer process because of the glazing, but I like the effects achieved with the layers of colors.  I did revert back to my direct painting techniques for the tree and other smaller spots, but tried to stay true to the process for the rest.

The Lobster Pot is located in Provincetown, MA.  It is a motif photographed and painted many times, but I don't mind being among the masses.  This is such a lively painting with the vibrant reds against the glowing white building.  One of my favorites!