Bailey's Island 2

6x6 Oil on Panel

Another little gem from a beautiful harbor in Bailey's Island, ME.

Small Boats

6x6 Oil on Panel

I took a day off to continue painting.  What a great way to spend time!  So refreshed.  These little favorites are always fun to paint.

Trail Walk

6x6 Oil on Panel. SOLD

I'm painting from photo references during the winter months and generally choosing whatever brings a smile.  I loved my visit to Phoenix in November and so enjoyed the scenery- the different color palette and the plant life that is so different from my New England home.  This is the second small gem this month.  They look fabulous in gold 2" frames and I can't wait for this one to dry.

Arizona

6x6 Oil on Panel

Today's little gem.  Snow here in Boston today, but certainly it's warm in Phoenix!

Cotuit Dinghys 2

6x6 Oil on Panel    SOLD

Another taken on these little rowboats.  The day I saw these the harbor was fairly flat so the reflections were eye catching.  In terms of lessons learned this summer, I am gaining confidence by doing a quick under painting in burnt sienna to set the values and the basic shapes.  

Before the Crowds

6x6 Oil on Panel

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I had a chance to go to a beach yoga class on the weekend - very peaceful with calm seas and bright sunlight.  I was not a very good student- very distracted by the light on this chair and the other nearby buildings:)

Cambridge Morning

6x6 oil on Gesso Board

This is a row of houses on a street In North Cambridge, a vibrant neighborhood full of artists and interesting people.  The old houses have all been refurbished and the neighbors seem to know each other.  You can walk to restaurants and libraries and churches.  A great place to live.  This morning, I needed to get my brush moving and so spent some time working small again.

Dinghy

6x6 Oil on Panel. SOLD

Had fun with this boat study yesterday.

Waiting for Spring

 6x6 Oil on Panel

I saw this proud guy outside my sister's window a couple of weeks ago.  So much snow.....and yet she feeds the birds and they gather throughout the day.  A nice splash of color in an otherwise white landscape.

Florida 6

6x6 Oil on Masonite

Again inspired by Steven Pressfield's book, The War of Art, I decided to show up at the easel and do the work- paint and breathe- play with values, light,heat, hue.  I am headed off to Florida for four days of respite from the heavy snows here.  Ahh....  

Florida 5

6x6 Oil on Masonite Panel

It is a snow day here- day two of blizzard cleanup.  What better subject to paint than sunny Florida!  I had some really relaxed fun with this today.  I am reading the book The War of Art and learning about battling resistance by just doing the work-showing up each day.  I learn this lesson time and time again lately.  The results are just joy and a real sense of completion.  Hope you enjoy this one too!

Reflections

6x6 Oil on Museum Panel

I love the blues in this one.  Sometimes I wander out to Concord, MA to Minuteman National Park.  It is a pretty place full of history.  There is a historic bridge and mansion and lovely meadows and a river.  A great place to stroll or paint.  This photo reference was one from a trip in September and I decided yesterday was the perfect day to paint it.  Can't wait for spring plein air!  Blizzard coming tomorrow.

Seabird Series 8

6x6 Oil on Museum Quality Panel

I've learned a great deal this week from painting in a series.  You become very familiar and comfortable with your subject.  In this case, the color pallette has been fairly narrow for good emphasis on values.  I think each one gets a bit better as I go.  I am more willing to experiment once comfortable with the approach and subject.  The compositional framework has shifted to a closer viewpoint.  It has been fun  to paint each one and I am far more relaxed than when I approached the first bird in flight.  When I finished taking photos of these birds on the beach, they all quickly clustered in a frenzy around another woman on the beach - one whom they knew well because she had bread and because it seems this area of the beach is her home at night.  I think of her when I paint the seabirds and wonder what happened in her life to bring her to this place.  I am grateful and blessed, and humbled.

Seabirds 4

6x6 Oil on Panel

For several years, I studied with a master watercolorist-Andrew Kusmin.  When I would get frustrated with lack of progress, he would counsel to paint many of one item, trees, carousel horses, florals, etc.  "Paint until you know them inside and out." This week I am finally taking his advice and painting seabirds-several.  This guy was hopeful that I might have some snacks in my pocket.

Seabirds 3

6x6 Oil on Museum Quality Panel

I am working on a series of these birds.  I like their shape, coloration and movement- and they remind me of warmer days and sunshine.  

Flight

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Panel

I am playing with seabirds a bit.  I managed to take some photos two weeks ago and want to see if I can capture their shapes and life.  This one glowed in flight above my head.

Barnstable Harbor 2

6x6 Oil on Panel SOLD

I've spent the Thanksgiving break down with the flu- no turkey, no pies, no painting.  I finally have a bit of energy today and so I thought I would return to some photos I took of the boats in Barnstable harbor a couple of weeks ago.  It is nice to think of sunny days as ours get shorter and shorter.

Anticipation

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Panel

Tonight the clocks "fall back".  In New England, that means a very early nightfall beginning tomorrow.  I usually don't look forward to the start of the dark season and so am trying to anticipate how I can make the most of the quietness of the season.   I'm thinking of doing a series of night paintings. Could be fun and it would be something new for me.  Bring it on!

Nantucket Morning

6x6 Oil on Panel

It has been a very busy week already.  We spent a nice weekend on the Cape and returned to our daughter's senior week field hockey game - and a goal!  I finally made it back to the studio this evening and decided to paint this summery scene from a bike trip last year.  A bit out of practice this week, but still painting!

Gloucester Morning

6x6 Oil on Panel

I have had a photo of this little grocery in Gloucester, MA in my studio for quite some time and have always liked it but never painted it.  Today is the day!  I had sketched it out the other night and just decided to play with it early this morning.  This may become a larger piece at some point.  I'm getting ready to 'go bigger' now that I am back in the swing of working regularly.