Mini Sargent studies

I've been painting some mini studies of John Singer Sargent paintings from the MFA in Boston. Below are the ones I've done so far. Can you name the paintings these were based on?
These are each about 2 1/2 inches square and could be a preview to my 2011 Mini Masters Ornament Collection. Someone suggested I leave them all together like this instead of trimming them down. What do you think?

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Perched
5" by 5"
Oil with a palette knife on canvas
SOLD

I'm pretty sure this is a European Robin, but all you bird experts out there can tell me if that is correct. This little guy was a quick painting at the end of a long day but was a great exercise in capturing the texture of feathers and branches with a palette knife.

Shop til you drop

Newbury Street, Boston

18" x 24" x 2"

Oil on cradled board
SOLD

I finished up this painting while working at The Art Gallery at Patriot Place last Friday night. It was rainy and miserable out so it was really quiet, allowing a lot of uninterrupted time to paint. I plan to enter this painting into the Fall Member show at the Foxboro Art Association. The show will be hanging at the gallery throughout the month of October with a reception on October 8 from 2-4pm. Stop by and see all the wonderful art produced by this talented group.

UPDATE ON : Can you help me title this painting?

City of Gold

8" x 8" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife of cradled board
SOLD at The Red Inn

I love coming up with titles for my paintings. As I am painting, it usually comes to me. But this time I need your help. Nothing is bubbling to the surface so I'd love to hear your suggestions.

By the way, this was painted from a photo I took on one of my recent visits to New York.

Thanks, good luck, and I look forward to your inspirational suggestions!

UPDATE 9.26.11 Wow-what a great list of suggested titles I received from everyone. I really appreciate them all and am going to put them all in the hopper to use for future paintings. I decided on City of Gold-this seemed to be a theme running throughout a lot of the suggestions.

Also-for Sherry, that little red building "dwarfed by the city that grew up around it" is the Merchant's House Museum on East Fourth Street. It looks like a really interesting place and I have to put it on the list for our next visit.

Newbury Street-off to a good start

I worked on this large painting (18" by 24") of Newbury Street, Boston while working at The Art Gallery at Patriot Place this weekend. I'm excited about how it's coming along so far and anxious to get back to it. I think it's interesting to see see paintings in progress, and I will post the completed painting soon!

Back Bay Stepsisters

Back Bay Stepsisters

8" x 8" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
SOLD

Another walk around Boston at lunchtime inspired this painting of these 3 lovely ladies on Marlborough Street.

Gardenias from the Garden

Gardenias from the Garden

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
SOLD

This was a quick painting done in class last week. It turned into a study of whites, complementary colors, and composition. Plus a little bit of me hoping summer doesn't go away too soon. Come into the garden, have a seat, relax, and enjoy nature with me.

Juried in at Zullo

Abstract Boston

9" by 12"

Oil with a palette knife
Now Available at 13 Forest Gallery

City Blocks

12" by 12"

Oil with a palette knife
SOLD

I am excited because it was announced that these two paintings were juried into the 17th Annual Exhibition at Zullo Gallery in Medfield. I showed some work in this show last year and I think it is such a great venue. I feel honored to be part of it again. I drop them off this weekend and then the opening reception is Saturday, September 24 from 7-9pm. Last year it was packed so I'm looking forward to it and hoping for good weather because they have great outside deck.

Portofino-take me away!

Buon Viaggio

9" x 12"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
SOLD

A friend of mine, who retired a few years ago, made it her goal to "see the world" and she is darn near close to doing just that. Every year she books cruises to exotic place, takes wonderful photos of her travels, and then creates a book out of each journey once she arrives back home. She showed me this photo of Portofino, Italy and I asked her if I could paint it because I fell in love with the colors and textures of the buildings. I have yet to see Portofino in person, but hope to do so one day.

Buon pomeriggio.

Herding Cats

Or should I say hoarding?

Starting today, and all next month at Custom Art Framing & Gallery 9, I was invited to participate in a show called Six Pack. There are 6 artists, each showing 6 paintings that are all 6" by 6". Clever, right? I submitted this assortment of kitty cat faces, but wait, is that a dog in there? How did that happen? Well, I guess there has to be a dog in every bunch. "One of these things is not like the others..."

I am pricing these cuties at $100 each. If you can't make it to the show in person, but are interested in purchasing one, you can contact Julie at Gallery 9 in Norwood by clicking here.

And these are all 100% allergy free.

New Yorkie

New Yorkie

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
SOLD

I saw this photo and thought that the fur and the colors would be great fun to paint with a palette knife. And it was. Curious onlookers asked if this was my dog. It's not but he is now a new member of my animal family of paintings. Would you like to adopt him?

UPDATE I found out that this little guy's name is Steven Tyler. What a hoot. Click here to see the owner's blog and scroll down to Sept 3 to see my painting. What a cutie he is and so famous. I think he might need some feather extension in his fur.

A return to Nantucket (in my mind)

Joan's view

4" x 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas
$50 unframed

Several weeks ago, I wrote about a painting getaway we took to Nantucket. I had to leave my paintings behind because they needed to dry, but I just received them back again. Thank you Haydi for their safe return!

I forgot to take a photo of this little scene I painted before I left, so now that it's back I was able to photograph it and post it here today.

It brings back such wonderful memories of a wonderful trip.

Are black cats bad luck?

The Witch's Familiar

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
SOLD

I thought it would be a challenge to paint an all black cat and boy, it was. The subtle variations in his fur made it so tricky-is it more blue black? or green black? or what? How do I define the shadows and still give his fur dimension and his face some shape? And black cats have black noses too-did you know that?

I don't believe black cats are bad luck. Sure hope you don't either!

Feed the kitty

Curious

6" x 6"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
$100 unframed

I do so love orange and white cats. Probably because I had one for 17 years, Skippy. Or should I say he owned me? Once, my neighbor's son said to his mother when he saw me "Is that who Skippy owns?" I just loved that.

My reference for this painting wasn't actually an orange and white cat, but I chose to make him so. Artistic license at work. I am a card carrying member!

Boston Building Blocks

City Blocks

12" by 12" by 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
SOLD

Another Boston city scene, very familiar to me. I love the buildings, all so different, yet all interacting with one another. Fun fun, fun with windows galore.

An Updated Look

I just had some new business cards made and thought I would update my blog banner to coordinate the look. I've been using the same banner since I started blogging in 2009 so I thought it might be time for a refresh. I really like this macro zoom photo of one of my flower paintings. I think it represents the thick texture and bright colors of my paintings. It is also the profile picture on my Facebook page.

And speaking of macro zoom photos. Last weekend at the The Art Studio and Gallery @Patriot Place, one of our featured artists, Rebecca Skinner took some amazing close-up photos of our painting palettes. I asked her if I could share them here on my blog, so here they are. These first 3 are all from my palette.

These last 2 are from Polo's palette.

Pretty cool, huh? Check out Rebecca Skinner's beautiful photography on her website and her Facebook page.

Releasing your inner lion

Inner Lion

6" by 6"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board

Another new kitty face to add my collection. This cat looks so regal and lionlike to me. And like he wants to be fed some meat!

As I was painting, I stopped to take this photo of the painting partially completed. I thought it had a striking look about it.

Meow.
Or should I say ROAR?!

Busy Back Bay

View from 500 Boylston

12" x 12" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
Available

We used to be able to see this view from the 5th floor of our office building. But now a new company moved in and took over this space. So I'm glad I captured this view with my camera before that happened. This is Boylston Street looking back towards Copley Square. I just can't seem to get away from painting windows. In fact, I seem to seek them out. Yikes.

Hibiscus Gift Box

Many years ago I bought a watch and it came in a beautiful, colorful box. I have kept the box all these years thinking that some day I would repurpose it. This past weekend, I got inspired and painted a hibiscus flower on the top of it to go with the pattern that appears on the side.

Hibiscus Gift Box

4" by 4"

Oil with a palette knife on wood
$60

Here you can see what the side of the box looks like. It also came with white ribbons that you can tie it up with. Quite an elaborate box, for such a simple watch.

In the image below you can see what the inside looks like. It even has a cute little purple pillow to put your treasure on. I painted the top and bottom of the box with acrylic to match this inside color.

And of course I had to include a chunky delicious close up.

The Art Gallery at Patriot Place in the news

The Art Gallery at Patriot Place was in the news this week. Evie Malm wrote a wonderful article about the gallery for the Foxboro Reporter which was then picked up by the Attleboro Sun Chronicle. She also took some accompanying photos, one of which I'm reposting on my blog here because it shows this cute family in front of my art holding one of my cat paintings. I love it.

Click here to read the Foxboro Reporter article and here to see the Sun Chronicle's version.