Support local artists this holiday season

This coming Friday, December 4, Custom Art Framing & Gallery 9 in Norwood is having a Shop Til You Drop event from 6-10pm with wine, cheese, and socializing. I can't think of a better way to shop-I mean who else is doing that? If the mere thought of going to a mall makes you sweat with anxiety and dread (like me) why not support your local businesses and artisans by buying unique gifts for everyone on your list?  I can't think of a better, more meaningful way to deck the halls.

Yesterday I visited the gallery to have some framing done and drop off a few smaller pieces. I took a few shots of some of my paintings that are hanging there. The ones seen here are from my Family Album series, as well as two of my tree paintings. All done with a palette knife, of course. It always makes me feel so proud to see them. What a terrific job Julie has done transforming her new location into a wonderful shop.

Life is a bowl of mashed potatoes

Life is a Bowl of Mashed Potatoes

Oil with a palette knife on 1.5" cradled artist board

10" x 10"
NFS

This painting was done last year from a family photograph of a Thanksgiving dinner just before we dug into that big bowl of mashed potatoes and mom's famous strawberry jello mold.  It is currently hanging at Gallery 9 in Norwood. I love painting from old family photographs. They bring back such fun memories. And I love Thankgsiving. I'm pretty sure it's my favorite holiday. It always means family, food, and a long weekend away from work. If you have a favorite family photograph that you might be interested in having a palette knife painting like this done, check out my commission prices in the side column. They make great Christmas presents! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and eat lots of mashed potatoes.

Abstract #2

Looking Down

Oil with a palette knife on canvas paper

8" x 8"

Click on the image to enlarge
SOLD

This is my entry to the latest challenge from Karin Jurick's blog, Different Strokes from Different Folks. Like the last challenge, I was trying to paint just the shapes I saw to keep it as abstract as I could. The photo was full of straight lines and angles-difficult to achieve with a palette knife, so I told myself that they didn't need to be perfectly straight and to just let go and had fun. This was the first time I painted while looking at the image projected on my computer screen. In the past I have printed out a color copy and painted from that. I'm curious what others artist do. Do you print out Karin's photo or do you project in on your computer or do you use some other method?

Going once, going twice...SOLD!

Polo's painting, Apples in Red and Green was one of the more popular pieces at the art auction to benefit Walpole's new library on Saturday night. Wow, what a turnout. The tickets sold out ahead of time and as the very busy bartender said to me "It looks like everyone showed up." We'll find out soon how much money was raised but a quick calculation of the art auction part alone is probably more than $10,000. They also have silent auction items and ticket sales to add in. It was fun evening and great to see how people really value and appreciate art in the midst of a suffering economy. Here are a few photos from the night. Sorry for the bad quality, maybe the paper will have better photos to share later.

Here is Polo's painting being auctioned.

My painting, Prim Rose was bid on earlier in the evening. You can just barely see it there sitting on the table behind the woman.

Here's the view from the back of the crowded room. There were also many people standing in back.

Friends of the Walpole Library should be very happy with the turnout. We're on our way to a new library. Yeah!

Tastings at Patriot Place

Tastings

Oil with a palette knife on artist board

12" x 12"

SOLD

I worked on this painting some more after our Patriot's Place plein air event last month. Here it is after I glazed it and framed it up. I love how the glaze brings the colors back to life after the paint has dried. I'd love to hear if other artists glaze and/or varnish their paintings after they have dried and what brands you use. I used Liquin Original here but have also tried Dammar Varnish. The varnish seems to be smellier (is that a word?) takes longer to dry, and leaves a much shinier coat.

In her element

In Her Element

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artists' board

10" x 8"

NFS

I painted this picture of my friends' daughter Elizabeth, an avid reader. I just loved this photo of her taken in a bookstore in Paris, France and couldn't resist trying to paint the pretty dress with the pink tulle she was wearing. You may remember that I had done a sketch of this photo back in August.

I also wanted to post this updated version of my painting Sunday Morning. In my Thursday night painting class, Kim showed me how to glaze this painting to warm up a few areas of the painting and make it more cohesive. Here is a before and after. I just realized that I also made a few adjustments to the composition after I took the second photo. Can you spot them?

Thanks Nancy and Greg for the great reference photos!