Ampersand Online Gallery

Lunch at Fanizzi's

24" by 24"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD at The Red Inn

When I tell people who hire me to do commission work that I paint on cradled artist board, they usually don't know what that means. Here is a visual of a brand I use often called Ampersand Gessobord. They also make versions for watercolor and encaustic medium as well. I love the big sizes that they come in and they always make the painting feel so "substantial." What I also love about them is that, while they can be framed, they don't need to be framed because of the modern clean wood sides. On their website, they have some information about how you can stain the sides or put several sizes together if you want to. You can also order custom sizes as well.

Before I begin painting on them, I tape up the sides with painters tape to keep them free of stray paint. Then when it's dry and you pull the tape off, you have a nice clean edge.

Awhile back I submitted some work I had done to Ampersand and recently I got an email telling me that they included my painting (above) in their online gallery. Here is a link to the Ampersand Online Art Gallery. Take a look at all of the beautiful artwork included.

For smaller works, I also use a cradled board made by Blick Art Supplies. These come in a great variety of sizes and depths up to 18" by 24" and are very affordable. Click on this link to see the Blick Studio Artist Boards.

Paintings in situ

I absolutely love seeing my paintings in their new homes or after they have been custom framed to their new owners vision. Here is a collection of images that people have sent me over the years that show my paintings in their new home. If you have purchased or a commissioned a painting from me in the past, please send me your photos-I'd love to see them.

Take a peek into the Back Bay of Boston

A Peek Into Back Bay

9" by 12" by .75"

Oil with a palette knife on Blick Studio Artist's Board

I took the reference photo for this painting over a year ago and have always had it on my list to paint. Its turn finally came up last week. I completed this in two sessions. Here was the painting after the first session:

That's my orange wash that you see underneath but it kind of looks like Boston is on fire doesn't it? Well today it's going to be 100 degrees here and it will feel like it's on fire too!

And finally, I took some chunky delicious closeups shots so you can see the texture of the paint up close. These look like cute little paintings themselves don't they?

 

Husky Dog Portrait

Whooky

18" x 18" x 1 1/2"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled board
SOLD

This is a surprise birthday gift from my nephew to his girlfriend. This is their beautiful dog, Whooky. Look at those ice blue eyes-aren't they gorgeous?

Below is an image of my set up. I had a large color print out to use for reference as well as the image downloaded onto my ipad so I can zoom in on certain parts as I paint. You can just barely see a rough sketch on top of my cad orange/red wash.

And this image below gives you a nice sense of scale of the final painting.

Afternoon In Ptown

Afternoon in Ptown

12" x 24" x 2"

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

Yet another Provincetown painting that will make its way up to display at The Red Inn once it's dry. I was attracted to this image because of the light coming on the cottages that is so typical of the cape. 

I was pretty good about taking photos along the way so below you can see both my progress as well as  my process. 

I started with a cad orange/cad red wash in acrylic. Then sketched the scene in pencil on top.

For some reason I started working right to left. It's either because I'm left handed or that I loved that yellow light in those windows on the bottom right and was dying to paint that first.

This was how I left it after day one. I had only the sky and the foliage to add at my next session.

More Red Inn for the Fourth

Relax And Enjoy The View, at The Red Inn

24" x 24" x 2"

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

I am in the process of working on some more paintings of The Red Inn in Provincetown to bring up there in a few weeks. You really can't go wrong with any view of this amazing inn. This deck that they have off the back is filled with Adirondack chairs where everyone goes to watch the sunset every night. Usually with cocktails in hand.

Below is a photo I took to show my set up before I started painting. I did my usual cad orange/red underpainting wash, then sketched on top with a brush (gasp!) using the same color. I was lucky enough to have a color print out as well as the image projected on the ipad for reference.

Happy Fourth of July everyone. I hope you have an amazing place like this to relax and enjoy the view!