Gloucester Revamp

16x20 Oil on Stretched Canvas

This weekend I looked at a piece 8 had done several years ago when newer to working with oils in my transition from watercolor.  When I originally finished this one I was very pleased but now- not so much.  So I decided to revamp it,paint over it, brighten it change some compositional elements.  I am happy with it once again!

Craigville Beach Cottage

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

With summer now in the rear view mirror, I'm still enjoying painting places I love.  There is a set of small house cottages right across the road from this beach that really catch the light at certain times of the day.  The hydrangeas were in bloom- all the better in this dry summer season.

View from the porch

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

This is one of my favorite spots in the summer- a great place to sip coffee or read a book.  I'll use this sketch for a larger painting very soon, but will frame this one as a keeper.

Provincetown Wharf

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas

And yet one more!  I am very pleased with this one, painted early one morning this week.  I've always liked yellows and the sun on the old Main Street storefront just glowed.  The flags, too, are a sure identifier of the town -always festive and never boring!

Provincetown Wanderings

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas.  SOLD

We travelle d to P-town for a date this weekend- great street scenes- wonderful people watching- loads of wonderful galleries.  I had a chance to visit the Anne Packard gallery- one of my all time favorite Cape artists.  Her work is amazing, evoking all that is wonderful about Cape Cod and Provincetown in particular.  I found myself feeling honored to be a painter- to share in some minuscule and remote way this craft with someone who is so talented in ways I can never hope to approach.  Still, we paint.  All of us who do can share in the joy of color and challenge and light and shadow.  We can see the world in different perspectives and notice details in the life around us.   Grateful on this Sunday morning.

Saturday at the Beach

9x12 Oil on Linen Panel

I had some fun outside yesterday.  This is a special little place for lake friends and I wanted to capture a perfect summer morning.

Joy in July

8x10 Oil on Panel

I am really pleased with this one.  After a couple of weeks of painting frustration, I relaxed and focused on this great scene near Harpswell, ME.  A quilt artist had proudly displayed her work for sale- beautiful  works and a wonderfully sunny scene.  Joy in July is my theme for all things this month, and this really made me happy.

Cape Marsh Abstracted

8 X10 Oil on Panel

After working on the large piece, I thought I would play a bit more loosely with shapes.  I'd like to move more toward abstraction.  This is not abstract, but I did paint with braid loose strokes and no detail, just representative patterns and shapes.  I like the result!

Cape Marsh '16

24 x 30 Oil on Stretched Canvas. SOLD

I decided to work on this large piece from a small sketch I had completed some time ago.  My summer goal is to complete several larger works in hopes of beginning to approach galleries and perhaps mount a show.  I love this journey!

Harpswell 3

16x20" Oil on Gesso Panel

I'll be working on paintings in Maine this week, after a wonderful wedding for our son in Harpswell.  So much to see-and paint.  

Maine Series 2

8x8" Oil on Stretched Canvas

The long weekend provided much needed rest and time in the studio.  I worked a bit on a tutorial, and then decided to paint this little gem.  I'll be spending time in the Harpswell, ME area in the next few days for a wedding and have made several trips this spring.  Beautiful bay views and amazing light.  Anyway,  I so enjoyed my time painting this one!

Ohio Roots

16x20 Oil on Panel

We travelled back to Ohio last week to honor the passing of my brother-in-law.  Once again, I found that when I move through Cleveland and on across the flat farm landscapes I can feel 'home'. It's where you come from, where your early connections, memories and morals are formed.  This is one I started while there and finished in the studio with palette knife, playing with texture and brush strokes.  Still learning every day.

Maine Morning

9x12 Oil on Linen Panel

I caught the sunlight on a historic farmhouse during a drive near Harpswell, Maine last week.  I've been experimenting a bit with surfaces, blues, and brushes which has been stretching and fun.  Looking forward to a productive painting summer!

Sunset at the Glades

9 x 12 Oil on Linen Panel
We had great fun earlier this winter on an airboat tour through the Everglades with 'Captain Gerald' who owns a home 6 miles in on a small island.  The scenery is amazing - remote and quiet.  We got to catch the sunset before loading back onto the boats for the trip through the twilight back to the docks.

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.

Rock Meadow Snow Day

11x14, Oil on stretched Canvas

I went out to paint in the snow for the first time.  Warm boots, coat, snow pants- but cold fingers and hard to adjust to gloves.  The light was fantastic and you realize how many people are out and about in our local conservation land- hiking and skiing and walking dogs.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon and I am very happy with the result.

Arizona

6x6 Oil on Panel

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

Maryland Visit

8x8 oil on Panel

I like the lines of old houses with great porches.  This little gem in MD had nice detail and the light was falling just right.

Nantucket

24x36 Oil on Canvas

Progress on this piece this week.i have taken this painting to the place where I need to stare at it for awhile to see what it needs.  Great lessons learned!

Living Large

24x36 Oil on Stretched Canvas

For the past few days I've been working on larger pieces.  Some I had started and am finishing and others, like this one, were just in the idea phase- blank canvas.  I blocked it yesterday and worked on it most of today.  Lots of paint- big brushes-palette knives- really a good stretch!