View from the Sea

The Red Inn From The Sea

12" x 36"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Another Red Inn commission but this one is the view from the sea for another lucky couple getting married there soon. Hopefully Hurricane Sandy didn't rearrange things too much this past weekend. Yikes-what a storm!

A Ptown Perspective

A Ptown Perspective

24" x 18" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

I painted this while working at the Artists Studio and Gallery this past weekend. It was a steady crowd both Saturday and Sunday due to a UMass college football game, a New England Revolution soccer game, and a Patriot's game. Also a wedding, a bar mitzvah and a high school reunion I heard. It's nice to see Patriots' Place so full of activity. And the weather was gorgeous to boot.

Here are a few in progress shots I took along the way...

The Red Inn II

The Red Inn II

12" x 36" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Look familiar? A couple who got married at The Red Inn saw the painting I had there with the SOLD sign on it and decided they wanted to commission one for themselves. This place is one popular spot to get married!

Summer Tans, 1950 is a Ribbon Winner!

Update: I learned this past weekend that my painting won an honorable mention ribbon at the FAA show. How exciting!

Summer Tans, 1950

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board

18" x 18" x 1.5"
SOLD

I was able to complete this painting while working on The Artist's Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place this past weekend. It felt really good to get back to painting people again. I love this size. You can really get in there with the knife and sculpt away at the faces. I have entered this painting into the fall members' show of the Foxboro Art Association which starts this weekend.

And as I often like to do, here is a photo partially completed after the first day.As you can see I used the red/orange acrylic underpainting again and taped the edges so I could add the photo border and date later.

I need to go hunt down some more photos like this to paint. If anyone has any old photos that they would be willing to let me paint, send my way. I am particularly interested in photos taken in the summer from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

The Art and Garden Show

Last weekend we participated in The Art and Garden Show at a wonderful place in Rehobeth Massachusetts called Country Gardens. Above is a group photo taken of all the participating artists and below are a few shots taken before the crowds filled the tent. Everyone came out on this beautiful day to enjoy the gardens and the art.

 I tried to get a shot of the entire tent.

 Here is our display.

Polo manning our section.

Our show at The Red Inn in Provincetown

Yesterday, Polo and I drove up to Ptown to hang up our show at The Red Inn. 

The Red Inn, Provincetown

12" x 36"x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board

SOLD

The hallway where our paintings are hanging sees a lot of traffic as it's how you get to the restroom and how the waitstaff gets to the kitchen. 

Here we are after all our pantings were hung. We are excited about this new venue for exhibiting our work.

Besides the Red Inn painting shown above, the other paintings that are currently on display and for sale at The Red Inn are these six:

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

Another wedding commission!

A Maine Event

8" x 10"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas board
SOLD

A few years ago I did a painting called Destination Wedding. A nice sister commissioned it as a present for her sister from her wedding in Mexico. Recently, the happy sister contacted me and wanted to return the favor by having a painting commissioned of that sister's recent wedding in Maine. From the photos she sent me, it looked like they had fabulous weather, spectacular views, and a beautiful wedding.

Docked in Provincetown

Docked in Provincetown

24" x 36" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

Here's another biggie for our upcoming show. Only a few weeks away now and I want to squeeze one more big one in. I think I can do it...and not be hanging it on the wall still wet.

Below are a couple of photos I took of the painting in progress.

Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

Monochromatic study

Carol

Approx 10" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas

I always find these quick sepia toned studies to be a good exercise in studying values. This was painted from a photo of my mother when she was very young. So cute.

A secret garden in Provincetown

Secret Garden, Provincetown

24" x 30" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD at The Red Inn

I am getting ready for a September art show at the Red Inn. This is my latest of the series of larger paintings focusing on beautiful scenes in Provincetown.

Below you can see how I sketched the scene out in orange/red acrylic paint first, and ended up painting the right side in the first day and the left side on the second day. That wasn't intentional but it's interesting that it worked out that way.

If you find yourself in Provincetown between September 16 and October 5, stop in and see the show!

Cape Cod getaway

Maushop View

10" by 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas
NFS

We had a wonderful long weekend on Cape Cod staying with some friends at our favorite place in New Seabury-Maushop Village. While it was hot and a little muggy, the beach breezes kept us cool.

This was our view as we sipped cocktails each evening after sunning all day at the beach. What a relaxing getaway it was. I great way to enjoy summer in New England.

A couple of wee scenes

Switching from big to small, I painted these wee ones in class last week. Very fun because you have to paint them quickly and you can't get too fussy at this size with the knife.

Ptown Cottage

2" by 3"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas
SOLD

 Beacon Hill Steps

3" by 2"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas

Georgia on my mind

Mini O'Keefe

After Green Oak Leaves by Georgia O'Keefe

Approx 5" by 4"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas
SOLD

I just learned that this painting from my mini master series went to a new owner this month through Custom Art Framing and Gallery 9 in Norwood.

Thrilled and happy for the news. Thank you.

Lunch with a View

Lunch at Fanizzi's

24" x 24" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

I painted this large painting while working at the Artists Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place this weekend. It was painted from a photo I took while in Provincetown. I really wish I was there right now, don't you?

Meet Cute Cassie

 Cassie
9" x 12" x .75"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
SOLD

Jeremy commissioned me to paint a portrait of his family's beloved pet, Cassie. Unfortunately they lost her recently and wanted a painting done of her from a time when she was so happy relaxing in the grass. You can see that she had the most beautiful smile. What a sweetheart. Look at this cute face.

I took this photo to show my work area as I painted Cassie.

And just for fun, always remember to....

Just put down the knife, and step away

Biking on the Boardwalk (v1)

18" x 18" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board

This was done from a photo I found of my sisters, my mom, and me biking in Atlantic City one summer. I think it was probably taken somewhere around the mid 70s. I love that my mother looks just like one of the girls. And my dad is actually in the photo too. Can you spot him?

I've put this painting away for awhile because I'm not sure if it's done yet. I figure if I look at it with fresh eyes again in a week or so, I'll know what it needs. Right now, I think the boardwalk could have more obvious planks painted in and the background could use a little more detailing. But sometimes you need to just put the knife down and step away. Don't you wish you could hire someone to look over your shoulder as you are paintings and tell you when to stop? "It's done, put the knife down... now!"

I also took some photos of it after each stage so you can see how it progressed along the way.

I started painting the people first since that is usually the most difficult. I am getting used to and liking this orangy background color.

I'll keep you posted on any changes I make. Now-I'm off to paint a new commission I received last week!

Quansoo Beach, Martha's Vineyard

Quansoo Beach, Martha's Vineyard

12" x 24"

Acrylic on canvas
NFS

In the absence of a new painting to post this week, I pulled this from the pre-palette knife archive. Ten years ago (can't believe it's been that long)  I went on an amazing week-long painting trip to Martha's Vineyard. Our instructor brought us to incredible properties and beaches on the island each day, this being one of them.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Just Hangin' Around

Just Hangin' Around

12"x 12" x .75"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist panel

SOLD

This is a commission that I worked on this past weekend. Haydi gave me a black and white photo that she said her mother had hanging in their house on Nantucket for as long as she can remember. It was her mother's favorite photo of her and her two sisters. Can't you just hear the giggles?

Below is a photo I took after the first stage of the painting. I turned the photo "upside down" to paint their funny faces -you can see this on the iPad screen, but I also had a print out that I used for the "right side up" version, which is really the three of them upside down. Ha!

I also started with the orange underpainting again which I am really starting to like a lot. You can see little peaks of it showing in the final painting which is nice complement to all of the blues and purples. I use a dab each of cad yellow, cad red, cad orange, and yellow ochre acrylic paint and then just mix them all up to get this color.

A day at the beach

Perfect Beach Day

10" x 8"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas
SOLD at The Red Inn

What a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend it was. It had the feel of summer every day. I am so excited for summer to start that I couldn't resist painting this scene inspired by a photo taken on Nantucket last year. It reminds me of what a perfect summer day looks like. Bring it.

Seeing Red

The Red Inn, Provincetown

12" x 36"x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

I painted this while working at the Art Gallery at Patriot Place this past weekend. The weather was beautiful here in New England and the gallery had a steady flow of visitors. It's interesting how you get used to painting with all the interruptions. In a way it's a good thing because it forces you to step away from your painting for awhile and then come back with fresh eyes. It's also so interesting to hear comments from the gallery visitors while you are working. One man said, "It makes me feel like I am right there, in the car, just driving by..." I loved that. It is also fun to watch the kids (usually young budding artists themselves) as they stare in amazement at your painting. So cute.

Frank sent me this funny photo he took as I was trying to take a photo of this painting at the gallery.

Below is a photo of the painting in progress after Saturday's shift. I then finished it up on Sunday and remembered to bring my bigger palette knives which helped make the job easier. You can also see here that I used the red orange underpainting again.

And if you ever get to Provincetown, you need to stop in at this place, The Red Inn. Spectacular views, food, and hospitality.