Yes, the Equinox was days ago, but we still have piles of dirty snow here and there, after a brutal late winter.
I'm working with some brighter color schemes at the moment.
I hope you'll enjoy this oil painting of a nearby farm, under a colorful sunset.
Oil on panel
I've been working on a community project to celebrate the 1776 Declaration of Independence for the City of Attleboro, Massachusetts — which is not where I live. The Attleboro Arts Museum is presenting an exhibit of commemorative works by a group if invited artists.
More on that soon.
To get back to my usual painting routine, I've gotten into the habit of doing a tiny sketch before beginning the "real" work. The sketches are done in watercolor, colored pencil, hard pastels, graphite, whatever, or combinations thereof. Then I'l sometimes import into Procreate, my digital platform of choice, to try and solidify my thoughts.
Below are the tiny sketch and the finished work.
For this blog post, I'm including a new painting, "Houses on a Hill". Liberties have been taken, but it's featuring, from memory and imagination, some summer houses on Cape Cod's Corn Hill. Unseen, to the right, are the calm bay waves. A beautiful place, specially at sundown.
Enjoy!
What a wild summer! So far I've traveled to Tuscany and Paris. Two different trips over the pond.
More to come, a bit closer to home...
Here's a quick sketch from a favorite cottage on a lake, close to home. The sketch, I find, is almost always livelier and better than the painting that sometimes follows.
Enjoy!
I'm busying myself in the studio these days, with both challenging snd simple projects. We are expecting some kind of snowstorm today so I've canceled my plans (a 2-hr drive from here) and will continue to paint over some oldies that aren't working for me anymore.
Here's one of them — in progress but the old painting is completely covered. Looks much better now, and will hopefully come to a satisfactory resolution soon.
On this grey December morning, with a driving rain and high winds providing the soundtrack, I'm sharing a probably-finished piece. Here's what was recently on the easel. I started this in August, and featured it in my most recent post. It took me this long to settle on color choices.
While I wait for paint to dry, I usually get going on a new or revised painting, so there are now two or three waiting for me to make some decisions.
Obviously, it's a take on the wildness of nature. Even in Fall, when things seem so be dying, there's quite a riot of color if you just look.
The hottest summer on record is about to end.
What does that have to do with art? Nothing!
This year, I've been experimenting with some small works in acrylic, mostly with a limited, 4-color palette, some with a collage component.
So fun! Here's one of several.
Acrylic & paper on wood
8" x 10"
After a brief pause, I ventured back into the studio for another look at this work in progress. I liked it a lot. In fact, I liked it so much that I wanted to add to it, to possibly like it more. Here's the result.
I've always had a special admiration for certain artists who include a sense of mystery in their work. Transparency, moody color, dark rumbling skies — you get the idea.
Long ago, I was told that my paintings were "too depressing" — mostly due to the same qualities I mentioned above.
Now, I'm becoming able to shift gears ( in this case, oil to acrylic ) and methods. It's likely temporary but I'm having a blast. Enjoy!
What is the What?
Acrylic and collage
5" x 5"
I recently participated in a very interesting online workshop with Lewis Noble. Delving into an abstract approach to the landscape, we began with a very limited palette — Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Black, and White. Challenging and fun! Green was created using Lemon and Black! We utilized collage methods for an even more exciting experience. Paint used was acrylic, not my usual.
This painting (in progress) is the child of the child of the child of one of my earlier workshop efforts. I used the limited palette (NO RED, really!) adding just a small amount of Cerulean Blue to the Ultramarine. Unfinished, but another session should do it.
At last, my 2024 Desk Calendars are ready to ship. Enjoy the coming year with 12 new original paintings.
CD case-style
to order: https://tinyurl.com/3h7nzcr5
I'm still investigating the abstract world that keeps beckoning to me. In fact, I am currently taking an online workshop that's got me ignoring my household chores and splashing paint around in the studio. More on that later. Meanwhile, here's a look at another pre-workshop painting.
And YES — calendars are coming. I just sent the files to the printer, and after he reviews and makes recommendations, they'll be available.
I just noticed that my most recent post here was in December of last year. Amazing! It was a crazy year to be sure, and so is this one, as it turns out.
The work I did in France had a delayed effect on my painting practice. My paintings of the Château and surroundings were small (8 x 10) and evocative, and also pretty representational. Much later, as I pinned them up on the studio wall, I realized that I wanted to work more loosely and in a more abstract way. So... here's one of my many starts in that direction.
Here's one I sneaked in during my so-called hiatus. Sometimes the studio just calls too insistently.
I'm back in the studio, effective today. I took my usual holiday hiatus — it's just too darn busy between Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Here's a small scale Winter scene done this afternoon in gouache and graphite on paper.
I love gouache! I love graphite!
Oil on wood
10" x 10"
Shipping now! Featuring 12 new paintings. Calendars can be purchased through my website OR you can contact me directly with your credit card info. Venmo OK too.
Click: https://tinyurl.com/47x5sj5m
Another from my recent residency in Orquevaux, France. At the end of this serene path live a couple of goats, a couple of pigs, and two prize-winning roosters.
