Setting the Bar Higher

This coming weekend I will be part of an outdoor art exhibit in which I'm honored to participate.  It may look like an "art festival" if you drive by and see the tents, but it is much more.  It is a small group of juried artists whose work is of a high caliber and who paint in the traditional representational/realistic style.

One Pear

When I was first asked  to join this group, I felt it was a significant milestone in my art career.  My fellow talented artists are an inspiration, set the bar higher and make me push myself to reach that bar.  After three years, it also feels like a reunion of friends.  Our host, the proprietors of the Sunapee Landing Trading Company, make sure we have fresh coffee and homemade pastries in the morning and refreshing drinks throughout the day, all set up in the shade of an enormous apple tree.

The show is a reunion in other ways, too.  I get to see some of my NH cousins and the wonderful woman who purchased "One Pear" my first year is now a friend and has been a fabulous host each year.

The 3rd Annual Fine Artists Exhibition is held in Sunapee, NH down the road from the famed League of NH Craftsmen's Fair.  Click the link below for more info.
http://sunapee-landing.com/Fine_Artists_Exhibition.php
https://www.nhcrafts.org/craftsmens-fair-overview.php

It's Just a Bowl of Calla Lilies

In response to my prior post, here is my latest painting.  The flowers were from my Solo show; an unexpected gift from an unexpected visitor.  Here is my thank you for coming, Mary.

Painting for the Holidays

Green Apple and Pottery
SOLD

Green Apple and Copper
SOLD

 In the past couple of weeks I've been making lots of little paintings for two holiday shows.  These can be seen (and purchased) at the Wickford Art Association November 25 through December 19th.

Braeburn Apple and Silver

Orange and Blue Pot

Low Tide at Sunrise

Hydrangea Stem

Hydrangea Blossom
SOLD

Sailing on the Bay
SOLD

Holly and Ornament

Marsh Shadow

Single Wave

Back to Still Lifes

Three Peaches
11x14 oil on linen
SOLD

There is something about a chill in the air that makes me start back with still life paintings.  "Three Peaches" is a new painting and "Blue Vase" is one was started last winter.  With the Scituate Art Festival looming, I thought I'd bring it to completion.  I like the peaches as they have nice negative shapes, light bridges and they kind of look fuzzy (enhanced by bad photo)  Blue Vase has lots of "roundness", but there are a few triangle shapes created by parts of the arrangement to break it up.  Now to get my camera fixed.

Blue Vase
9x12 oil on canvas panel
SOLD

Working with Metals

Apple and Copper
SOLD

Orange and Pewter
SOLD 

Apple and Silver
SOLD 

With my latest paintings, I'm trying to get the knack of painting metal.  The challenge is capturing just the right color and the shape of the reflections.  Really looking at these components also reinforces skills to be used in all paintings.  After I scanned these paintings I saw some areas for improvement, but these are just little 6x6 paintings and I plan to make a few more.  Practice makes perfect!

A Month of Firsts

They say things come in threes and that seems to be true lately.  Three wonderful events in my art career have happened over the past few weeks.

1) First Place at Wickford Art Association's "Still Life & Interior Spaces" juried exhibit.  My newest painting, fresh off the easel (framed this morning) was selected for First Place.  Open Reception: Sunday, February 5th from 1-3pm

One Pear
SOLD 

2) First article about my artwork  Erin Swanson from SO Rhode Island magazine wrote a wonderful article (I almost didn't recognize me in print) and Laurel Mulherin got a great shot in my studio (a.k.a. corner of my bedroom)

3) My first Solo show at Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton CT.  A beautiful library designed to showcase art work with gallery rods throughout the building, beautiful lighting and patrons who really appreciate the artists who exhibit each month.

Life is Good!!

Getting Ready for My First Solo Show

Green Apples

9x12 Oil on Linen

$300

There is nothing like a deadline to make me stop procrastinating.  I have a number of paintings that still need some work and I want to have as many paintings as possible for a solo show in February.  Here are two that finally got a signature today.  Two others were touched up and reframed.  Now I need to decide what else I can realistically get finished and framed in time. One more tomorrow for sure - maybe two?

Zeke's Creek

9x12 Oil on Canvas Panel

SOLD

The show will be 2/2/12 - 2/29/12 at Henry Carter Hull Library in Clinton CT. 

Fall Pear

"Fall Pear"

Sold

Daisies and Mum

11x14 (27.9x35.6cm) Oil on linen

Sold

Pear Portrait

5 x 5 inch (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Oil on Board, framed

$75
Sold

Plum Portrait

5 x 5 inch (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Oil on Board, framed

SOLD

Pepper Portrait

5 x 5 inch (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Oil on Board, Framed

$75
Sold

Tomato Portrait

5 x 5 inch (12.7 x 12.7 cm) Oil on Board, framed

SOLD

A Helping Hand

SOLD

You don't have to go too far to find a good subject to paint.  For homework, I had to create two paintings of my hand using a reductive method with burnt umber.  My first two sketches were my hand in my lap and then in holding it up in the air, but they were pretty boring.  I wanted something that someone would actually find interesting.  With the timer on my camera and my reflective light, I took about 30 shots.  I spent about as much time setting up the lighting and running back and forth to the camera as I did painting.  Actually, it was more time painting, but the time spent on the setup made a big difference.  I love tonal paintings and I'm always scared that I will ruin a good tonal study with color.  If I don't make a mess of these two, I'll post the finished paintings.

Happy Birthday to Us

I recently found out I share a birthday with Burt Lancaster, Marie Antoinette, Daniel Boone, Cookie Monster (yay!) and Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin.  So to celebrate our day, I had some cookies and created a painting after one of Chardin's paintings.  His paintings often depict common settings, like the kitchen, and have wonderful diffuse lighting.  I picked one of his easier paintings and one without critters.  

Pears, Walnuts, and a Glass of Wine

I can easily get hold of pears, walnuts and wine, but not so much rabbits and birds.  The challenge was trying to get the right lighting.  Chardin's lighting is soft, yet strong.    Below is my version.

Blue Glass
SOLD

This was a fun exercise and may try emulating some of his more complex paintings.  As always, critiques are welcome.

Life's Lesson for $50

I look at all my art related activities as contributing to my “education.”  My classes at Rhode Island School of Design and other workshops I’ve taken are the most obvious formal lessons.  On the other end of the spectrum, I consider each painting a “class” that I may or may not learn from. 

Last weekend, I participated in the Pawtucket Arts Festival and got a lesson in marketing AND life.  The marketing lesson cost me $50 (entrance fee) and taught me that my work may not be appropriate for all Art Festivals.  But, I also got a few life lessons that were (o.k., I’ll say it) priceless!  First, I had wonderful neighbors (unexpected cold beers where the best!) but secondly, were the wonderful people who stopped by my booth.  No one bought a painting, but the morning of the second day, one of my booth neighbors altered my frame of mind.

People came to the festival for many different reasons (food, music, culture, crafts).  Fine Art was not high on many lists and many probably stopped at my booth just because it was on the way.  I got wonderful compliments, but I was caught off guard by the number of people who couldn’t believe that I had actually painted all the paintings in my booth.  I think it may have been the first time they connected a painting to a live person.  Their reactions of surprise and admiration seemed quite genuine.  I often get that reaction from kids, but never from so many adults.  One gentleman had been out of work for many years (and probably longer without healthcare).  He just wanted to just stand and watch me paint.  He was amazed how a mass of purple transformed into grapes. 

So here is my life lesson:  I didn’t sell a painting, but I like to think there are a few more people out there who will look at a painting differently. 

Cultivating Young Artists

Glass Flowers by Colleen

I might be biased, but my niece seems to be very perceptive for someone her age.  A couple of years back, I noticed she was good at picking out details and patterns in the world around her.  I introduced her to contour drawing (good for a few laughs) and we did some plein air sketching at the zoo.  But kids often don't have a long attention span.  She recently bought herself a camera and may have hit upon a creative outlet that can happen "instantaneously."  I've been sending her some photo challenges and I then get to see what she sees via email.  She may never take up painting, but if she does, I hope learning how to see, at a young age, gives her a head start.  Only time will tell...

Under the Knife

Tangerines and Tome
SOLD 

I'm finally getting the hang of the palette knife.  I started out as a watercolorist, so this truly is a big leap!!  I love the juicy paintings my fellow artists create with the knife so I tried for the first time last summer.  I fought the urge to pick up the brush and it is getting easier each time.

I have no problem putting in my large masses, but have a very hard time progressing to smaller areas and details.  The heal of the knife would unintentionally pick up paint from places it didn't belong and move it to places I surely didn't want it. 

There is nothing better to keep colors clean and pure.  As someone who still fights the urge to work the little places too soon, struggling with the knife in details makes them the last thing I want to do.  It is a very liberating little tool.

Here is my latest painting with the knife.  I'll admit I cheated a little and used a brush for some small spots, but other than that, it was all knife.