Thursday, February 24, 2011

Getting Closer

BIG painting still on the easel

It is still being worked on.  5'x4'.  It is a lot of fun, and there are two more big ones waiting to be worked on.  They will probably be part of a three person show about Maine, at The Art Center in Orange, in the spring.  I apologize for the fuzziness of the photo.  It was taken with my cell phone.  

Friday, February 18, 2011

BIG Painting - Keeping On, Keeping On

Large painting in process
5' x 4' oil on canvas

Back from a quick trip to Florida.  I drove down with my older daughter to take her and her horse to the Parelli Center, International Savvy Center, for a one month course.  Great trip, meeting many super people, and always giving me painting ideas while driving through an area unknown to me.

But, I digress!  When I returned home, and back to my weekly painting class, I also returned to my large painting.  It was good to have a week away from it, letting me see it with a new eye.  I was pleased with it, which is always a good thing!  I started working on the rocks in the background, and even got to move into the the water a little.  I decided to bring the water around the top.  It will be lit with bright, late evening light, hopefully giving the whole painting a warm glow.  As an aside, I went into Michael's and found they were having a 40% off canvases sale!  So, I have two more of these behemoths waiting to be given a tone.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Bigger IS Better....

5'x4' painting started

This is the second time I have worked on this big painting.  Working from a photo taken in Maine during my Artist in Residence program in Acadia National Park.  It's challenging, and a lot of fun!  I plan on doing a few more of these biggies.  Crazy to go from the tiny paintings to this big one.  I like them both! 

This photo was taken with my phone, so the resolution isn't very good.  I am painting this one in the class I take at The Beverly Street Studio School, in Staunton, VA.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Revisiting Those Donkeys Again...

Another Purple Day
2"x3" oil on canvas
These tiny paintings sell with a tiny wooden easel to go with them.  All that don't sell from the studio go over to The Art Center in Orange, where a lot of people seem to really like donkeys!  

Funny how I go from painting these tiny little paintings, to the 4'x5' canvas that I am working on in Ron Boehmer's class at the Beverly Street Studio School in Staunton.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Reclamation - Going Green in Painting

Belle, my painting buddy

Held In The Light
pastel - still on the easel

I look around sometimes at the pile (s) of older paintings in my studio, and can't bring myself to just toss them.  The horse in this pastel piece was done quite a long time ago, but I have always liked the glow that he has.  I was inspired by another artist's use of representational subject matter in some more abstract, expressive things.  So, I decided, what the heck, I'll play around with this a little.  Worst-case, I toss the whole thing.  So, here is what I have so far.  The base "thing" needs some work, and the clouds do too, but you get the idea.  Let me know what you think.  Thanks!


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Against The Current

Against The Current
16"x20" oil on canvas

I really enjoy coming up with titles.  Actually, more appropriately, the title chooses me, usually somewhere during the painting process.  I especially like when a title can have a couple of different meanings and/or metaphors.  This is a studio piece done from photos taken in Acadia NP in Maine.  The title has an assortment of meanings, from literal, to metaphoric.  Choose the meaning that best suits you.