Entering Mashpee

Entering Mashpee

16" x 16"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

It's that time of year again where we make our annual pilgrimage to one of our favorite places on Cape Cod: Maushop Village/Popponesset in Mashpee, MA. The blue and white awning in this painting is the beautiful Popponesset Inn, a popular place to get married and a great place to enjoy a cocktail with a view of the beach.

Hurricane Henri is threatening to make this year's stay a challenge so we hope there is still beach there once we arrive!

Week 34 Craft An Artist Statement

Trying to capture why you create and explaining it in an engaging way can be challenging. But many galleries and shows require an artist statement so having one ready to go is a great idea.

Here is your free worksheet ready to download:

A Cape on the Cape

A Cape On The Cape

11" x 14"

Oil with palette knives on board

Krissy asked if I would paint a photo of her parents’ new house on Cape Cod as a gift for their 40th wedding anniversary. They've always dreamed of owning a house on the Cape and now they do!

As usual, I took a photo during the process. Here it's nearly complete except for the lawn and the plants in the front. Krissy said her mom loves hydrangeas so she asked to make sure they were included in the landscaping.

Shore Road Sisters again

Shore Road Sisters II

10" x 10"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

Jeremy saw the first version I painted of this scene which had sold up at the red inn in Provincetown and asked if I would paint another smaller version to fit a frame that he already had. 

Here is an image of it framed up and ready to be delivered. I think it works well in this frame.

Week 33 Write Your Own Story

Week 33 challenges us to Write Your Own Story. Think about what a magazine or TV interview would say about your artwork? They would focus on what makes your art and your story unique. Finding out what makes you stand out from others can be a difficult thing to figure out sometimes but it's so important to your success as an artist. 

Here is your free worksheet.

Shuffling along Commercial Street in Provincetown

Commercial Street Shuffle

20" x 16"

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD at the Red Inn

I debated what to call this painting and decided that I liked the idea of a shuffle because that is what you see in the summer on Commercial Street. People, pets, children, cars, bikes all converging on to this skinny street going east, going west, and just enjoying a leisurely summer stroll. The Provincetown library is the tall building you see in the distance and acts as a beacon guiding you and letting you know how far you've gone or have to go. 

Panoramic Provincetown

Panoramic Provincetown

12" x 36"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

This is the view of Commercial Street if you are viewing it from MacMillan Wharf. It highlights the Provincetown library and a couple of our favorite spots to eat and drink including Pepe's Wharf and the Harbor Lounge.

Here are a few process shots. I worked left to right with the buildings first, then added the sky, beach and water last.

July in Provincetown II

 July in Provincetown II

12" x 6"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

I've painted this scene larger but wanted to try a smaller version. The cute cottage tucked in by the sea, the flower boxes, the US flag, and the beautiful hydrangea bushes make this a well photographed place on Commercial Street in Provincetown on Cape Cod. 

Week 32 Talk It Out

Practice, practice, practice! This week, we will practice talking about what we are doing as we create and why. As you think about how you would explain what you are doing to someone else, you often help to clarify it a little for yourself as well. And the more you talk it out, the more comfortable you will get doing it in the future.

Download your free worksheet here:

Thinking of you, Provincetown

Entering Provincetown

16" x 16"

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

By now, you've probably heard about the Provincetown Cluster, a surge of the Delta variant of the COVID virus since the July 4th weekend. Thankfully there have been very few hospitalizations and no deaths which proves that the vaccine is doing its job. The numbers are going down day by day so in the mean time, mask up and vacs up people! It works.

Relax and Enjoy The View

Relax and Enjoy the View II

10" x 10"

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

This is an incredible place to watch the sunset while enjoying a cocktail at the Red Inn in Provincetown. I've painted this scene larger and wanted to try a smaller version.

I tried a new canvas board for this painting. It came already framed with a natural wood frame which meant I had to tape the heck out of it before I began painting. Here is a process shot that shows the edges all taped up.

This panel board is actually designed for paint pouring so the paint doesn't drip off the sides, but I liked how it looked like the painting was already framed and wanted to give it a try. Not sure if I would do this again though because I felt that the raised edges got in the way of my knife while painting.

But it was a good experiment anyway and in the end it came out well.

Cap'n Jack's Wharf panorama

Cap'n Jack's Wharf

8" x 24" x 2"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

I am loving this new size of panoramic painting panels from Ampersand-8" x 24". It is the perfect dimensions to create vista views of the sea, especially the ones on the cape. This is an iconic view of the famous Cap'n Jack's wharf, an inn that I've always wanted to stay at but can never seem to get a reservation in time before they are all sold out for the season.

A sweet new pet portrait

Austin and Alyssa

8" x 8"

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

Alyssa came in to the gallery at Patriot Place while I was painting there a few weeks ago. She was with her brother and they were strolling around the gallery looking at all of our work. I asked her "What brings you to Patriot Place today?" She said, "I'm trying to get my mind off of things. I just lost my dog today." Then she asked if I painted pictures for people from their photographs and I said yes and showed her some of my work.

She left to think about it and then 5 minutes later returned to commission a painting of her and her dog, Austin. She loved this image because he used to sit on her lap with his back paws on her legs like this. It was a very special bond they had so this pose means a lot to her. 

She hung the painting at the top of her stairs so that she can walk by it every day and be reminded of her best friend.

Week 31 Practice Being a Critic

I am really excited about this month's theme: Writing & Talking About Art. I think this is one of those skills that all artists need to practice. Have you ever been asked to talk about your art and kind of froze? I have. "What do I say?" "How do I explain what I am trying to do?" "How do I sound?" Well this month, we will practice doing just that.

Week 31's worksheet PRACTICE BEING A CRITIC is below.

A Red Inn surprise

The Red Inn XL

8" x 24"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

Rob asked me if I would paint this as a birthday gift for his fiancé, Steve. The inn is a special place for them and he wanted a special gift to commemorate their relationship. They live in Cincinnati but were planning on a visit to Provincetown in June for Steve's birthday. Rob gave Steve the painting before they left on their trip. Rob wrote "Steve absolutely loved the painting.  We actually went to The Red Inn for dinner and saw your paintings in the hallway, which made the gift even more special." 

I also found out that Steve and I also graduated from the same college, Miami University of Ohio. We went there years apart so we did not know each other. 

XL in the title means this is number 40! The 40th time I've painted this beautiful place at the tip of Cape Cod.