Who has time?

…or motivation to wrap, wrap, wrap, plan, shop, shop, cook — all in preparation for one day of undoing all of it?

After a relaxing birthday weekend on Martha's Vineyard, I set about procrastinating as usual, and made this little painting on my iPad. The scene: from the balcony of our  hotel in Edgartown, looking out at the harbor and the Chappy Ferry. Yes, the borders are uneven — the challenges of drawing a straight line with one's finger are great.

"Toward Chappaquiddick"

Digital on iPad

December 21, 2015

Holiday

"Holiday"? This new oil doesn't look like anything holiday-related! I omitted it, but the name on the sign over the door is HOLIDAY — I think they are in the decoration business. 

The painting wasn't meant to be about that, anyway. This is a building I see about once a week, and on this particular day I had to put down all of the gear I was carrying and take a few photos of the sun and shade.

"Holiday"

Oil on Wood Panel

18" x 18"

Other Plans

I wasn't sure I was ready to hang and sell this one — an abstract piece derived from a news item I saw on the Internet. The story was about some lions somewhere that were rescued from a sad fate and placed in a more hospitable environment. That's all I know, because once I saw the accompanying photo I knew I was going to interpret it in oil paint. 

"Other Plans", oil on canvas, 9" x 12"

SOLD

Holiday Open Studio today!

Driven to Abstraction

OK, so it's not really abstract, or even close to it, but I've removed enough of the actual elements of this funny building in North Truro, MA to make it seem that way. What an odd structure! I think it must have been added on to, numerous times, as it no longer follows any architectural style that I'm familiar with.
So, I present to you "A House in Truro". Oil on wood, 18" x 18". Available.
Available. Contact me for pricing info.

The CD side

One day, when my son was four, we had to drive through a down-at-the-heels part of a nearby city. "Where ARE we??" he whined. "Well, this is the seedy (CD) side of town," I told him. "Then, let's go to the AB side right away," was his plea.

Recently, I drove members of my extended family by this sad building, one I've painted twice, on our way to Belle Isle Seafood in Winthrop, MA. When I made them slow down to fully appreciate the mood and character of the neighborhood, I knew what they were thinking — the thing a lot of people think about artists. What caught MY eye? The red building, blue door and yellow hydrant.

So, I painted it twice, because I had to, and now they are both in their forever homes. Maybe, I'll paint it one more time.

On Bennington Street
Oil on Wood
s o l d

Open Studio this weekend!

If you're in my area, please plan to visit my studio this Saturday and Sunday, 12-5PM.

Framed and unframed original art in Oil & Pastel; 2016 Desk Calendars, note cards.

My sister, Jane, will be exhibiting original paintings and prints, cards, and taking orders for house and pet portraits.

For a map and list of all participating artists, visit: http://www.actonopenstudios.org

My favorite (and only) model

This young fellow is good for a 15- or even a 30-minute pose. So relaxed!
Too lazy to get up and grab a pencil and paper, I used the Brushes app on my iPad to dash off this quick sketch of Mack.

Painting uphill

Somehow, I often seem to be attracted to an uphill view when choosing a painting subject. This commission in progress is an uphill view of a local farm. The photo is obviously crooked, taken on the fly with my phone.

Work in Progress

My original goal here was to present works in progress, and now, after a ridiculously busy summer and early Fall, I'm attempting to get closer to achieving that goal.
Here's an oil, in progress, from a day I spent at West Parish Cemetery, a beautiful and peaceful place in my hometown of Andover, MA.

2016 Desk Calendars — hot off the press!

Because I'll be away for a few days soon, I'll be shipping on September 1. Calendars feature 12 new works, and at $18 + S+H, make a great gift!

Order anytime via this link or via email or personal message.

http://www.artisticsisters.com/catherine-meeks/calendars/

Another Digital Day

As I mull over some critical decisions, like what song to choose for the mother-son dance at the wedding, my painting time in the studio right now is minimal. I'm framing like mad for the upcoming WCSH6 Sidewalk Art Festival on August 22, as well as taking a trip South for a family reunion at Pawley's Island, hosting a wedding celebration in our yard, and finally, opening up the studio to the public on October 17 and 18.

A painting on the iPad, usually done at my kitchen table, is a spontaneous way to express myself without getting at all messy or using up precious art supplies. "August Observation" takes a look at a pot of fading summer flowers against a backdrop of lush, deep greens as summer winds down.

Summer Break — NOT!

Yes, it seems as though I've slowed down here this summer. Actually, I've been very busy traveling to Asia and Cape Cod, getting ready for a solo show in Provincetown; plus taking classes, painting in the studio and now, preparing for a September wedding here on our property as well as getting geared up for teaching three or four courses this Fall. 

Here's a piece I've been working on, one of an ongoing series featuring our silly rescue, Mack. Another  session or two and this will be ready for prime time, I think!

Opening Reception Provincetown, MA

Opening Reception Friday, July 10

7:00 PM

Memories of Cambodia

Here's a scene from the outdoor market in Siem Reap, Cambodia. While the market is gigantic and at times overwhelming, the farmers who set up on the sunny perimeter are able to present their wares in a stunning, sunlit setting. This farmer's marketing strategy: dress in colors that intensify the many shades of green in her produce.

 Pastel on Paper

"Greengrocer, Siem Reap"

Really old art

I haven't posted lately because last week I watched my firstborn marry his love in Seoul, Korea. What a busy time! After taking a lot of photos at the wedding, I left my camera someplace so it is probably gone forever, even though I had attached my name and address to it some time ago. I'll be relying on others' photos.
After Seoul, we traveled to Cambodia. We visited some very old temples (think Tomb Raider!!) over four days, and were amazed at the wreckage caused mostly by the growth of surrounding tree roots. Though efforts are in place to restore these old temples, cutting down trees, (some of which have become part of the structure by now), isn't an option. Here's a door frame, one of many at Beng Mealea Temple.

When she was bad...

When I was young, my mother's preferred form of punishment for my shenanigans was a timeout in my room. Well, let me tell you, that was no punishment at all for me because then, as now, I relished the alone time, when I could draw up lists of my parents' failings, read voraciously, draw, and best of all, NAP!
The napping part continues to hover near the top of my list of ways to escape. Here's the first in a short series of "messy bed" pieces.  Oil on canvas, 9 x 12.

The End of (Snow) Days

Here is a 12" x 12" pastel on black Canson Mi-Tientes Touch.

Any use of this or any other image downloaded from this blog is without permission of the artist and constitutes a copyright violation. 

"Winter Sun"

This winter, all we in New England have wanted was a shred of hope that Spring would someday be here. This interior is from a recent rare sunny day. Although the snow is still 4' deep in the yard, the path to my studio is showing a few brave blades of grass — finally!

WINTER SUN

Oil on Wood Panel

16" x 16"

Visiting New Hampshire

Well, I visited New Hampshire last year, and there was no snow on the ground at the time. Now, as I've finally dug my way through waist-deep snow (with help from my neighbor and his snow blower ) to the studio, I've resumed work on several new paintings. Here's the start to an oil version of a pastel I completed and posted here recently. Work in progress, 12" x 12" Oil on panel.

Today on the easel

We still have two feet of snow on the ground from Monday's blizzard, and we are expecting another 12 inches  tonight and tomorrow. I'm not a big fan of snow, but when I can look beyond the inconvenience it brings, it can be an enjoyable subject. Here's a pastel on orange Canson paper. As yet untitled. Approx. 10 x 13.

S O L D

Happy New Year!

I haven't posted here in over a month. School vacation, general holiday busyness then laziness and an attempt to exchange screen time for easel time have all contributed to this hiatus.
Here's a pastel I finished ( I think it's finished) yesterday. With 28 inches of new snow on the ground and more in the forecast, I thought it would be a good idea to recall a warmer time.
"Daylilies, Concord, Massachusetts" pastel on paper, 11" x 16".