Backyard nemesis? or cute creature?

Hello Bunny

6" x 6"

oil with palette knives on board

If you were like us this summer, you saw a lot of these in your yard this year. Did you know it's the year of the rabbit according to the Chinese calendar. Well they took full advantage of that and proceeded to eat everything in our yards-perennials, annuals, grass, bushes, trees. 

Darn it, they sure are cute though.

A visit to the cranberry bog

Danielle and PJ at the Cranberry Bog

11" x 14" 

oil with palette knives on board

This is a new commission of two good friends of ours. They took at tour at the Ocean Spray cranberry bog that is located in Lakeville MA and got some great shots. I just loved the colors of the bog, the trees, as well as their outfits. 

Lighting the way to Christmas

This Little Light of Mine

14" x 11" x 1.5"

oil with palette knives on board

As artists, we need to start thinking early about Christmas. I've had this image on the waiting list to paint for awhile now, and I decided now was the time to do it. 

I just loved this girl's outfit-the red tulle skirt and matching hat and scarf as well as the slightly oversized fleece jacket. The background trees and bushes also attracted me to paint this scene. The lantern light was a little bit of challenge to make it appear to "glow" but I think the yellow is a nice contrast to the red.

I'll be making these into Christmas cards very soon.

Cute baby penguins

Penguin Parents

8x8

oil with palette knives on board

Available

I've been wanting to paint penguins for awhile now and when I spotted this cute image on Pixabay.com I knew this was the one. We get quite a few requests at the gallery for penguin paintings. I think they are very popular. And I can see why. They are so darn fun and the babies are so cute!

Doggies love the beach

Juneau and Yukon at Ballston Beach

9x12

oil with palette knives on board

Bill asked if I would paint this portrait for his neighbors. They recently lost these two beautiful companions and he wanted them to have a special gift to help memorialize them. They loved the beach and this image captured that.

Nice pair of um.... boots

Nice Pair

8x8

oil with palette knives on board

Available

I recently sold all 3 of my boot paintings within a month at the Art Gallery at Patriot Place which got be excited to paint another one. I loved the kitschy design of the cowgirl on these boots that I saw on Christy's website bootitude.com.

New pet portrait with a dog and a cat together

Tumble and Azzi

12" x 16"

Oil with palette knives on board

Back in February, I had done a portrait of two cats for Dan. He wanted another painting of his other cat Tumble, who had recently passed, along with their dog Azzi. 

He described for me when the two of them used to touch noses as a greeting and show of mutual respect and wanted that to be the image in the painting. I didn't have any reference images of this exact pose so I had to do a compilation of several images in order to get the proportions, positions, and sizing of the animals correct.

Since the animals were both black, I think the rug and the wood floor help to bring out their colors.

The Red Inn at Twilight II

The Red Inn at Twilight II

12" x 24"

Oil with palette knives on board

Can you believe that this is the 57th painting I've done of the Red Inn? This list of paintings includes scenes in and around this beautiful place. It just shows you how much it means to all those that visit it every year at the very tip of Cape Cod in beautiful Provincetown, MA.

Vacation Reflections

Pretty in Pink

16" x 20"

Oil with palette knives on board

We are heading to this beautiful place soon and I can't wait. The water, the light, the cottages, and the beach are all so relaxing.

Bowen's Wharf, Newport RI

Hydrangea Heaven

14" x 11"

Oil with palette knives on board

While in Newport delivering a painting to a customer, Polo and I decided to enjoy the beautiful day and have lunch in town. This storefront on Bowen's Wharf caught my attention with its gorgeous display of hydrangeas and its colorful nautical flag.  I knew it would make a nice subject for my palette knife painting technique.

It's Fri-Yay : : martini time again!

Martini Time II

8" x 8"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

Nancy loved the first Martini Time painting I had done for the Red Inn back in April. But when she went back to purchase it, it had already been sold. So she asked me if I would paint her another one. Of course I said yes.

The inspiration came from a photo I took while Polo and I were dining at the inn last year. The inn makes the best martinis!

Kasey

Kasey

10" x 10"

Oil with palette knives on board

Bill's sister was very jealous of the 3 paintings I had done of his dog Foxy, and wanted to memorialize her precious Kasey with a portrait of her own. She said she liked this picture of her because she was "Staring up at me telling me how much she loves me. That look. Says it all. I love you mommy."

Kasey looked like a beautiful Shetland sheepdog. She will be missed.

Red Inn painting number 50 something!?

The Red Inn in Summer

8" x 24"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

Robert saw a print of the Red Inn that I had for sale but really wanted an original oil painting. So I created this one just for him. He requested a few more colorful flowers to be added and a little more ocean showing at the left. I really like this unique size and composition.

Someone asked me how many times I have painted The Red Inn so I decided to start a tally sheet. This painting is the 56th one I have done of the inn including scenes inside and around the inn. Can you believe it? I sure can't.

I hope everyone's summer is going great so far. If you are anywhere near Provincetown on Cape Cod this summer, stop in to this beautiful inn at the very tip for dinner or drinks. You'll be glad you did.

On daddy's shoulders

Danny and Daddy

14" x 11"

Oil with palette knives on board

Patricia asked if I would paint this cute painting as a present for her daughter, This is her son in law, Daniel and his new baby Danny. He's holding a little dinosaur so I decided to make matching dinosaur socks. 

I bet the view up their on daddy's shoulders is pretty sweet. 

All tucked in

Tucked In

14" x 11"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

I painted this scene from Newport RI during an event at the Renaissance Hotel at Patriot Place. I painted live while hotel guests sampled craft beer and whiskey from local vendors for their international Global Day of Discovery. When I finished the painting, I posted it to Instagram, and the owner of the sailboat recognized his boat, Leo, and his wife contacted me to purchase the painting as a gift for him for Father's Day. How fun is that?

Happy Fourth!

Sea Watcher

16" x 20"

Oil with palette knives on board

Available

I hope you are enjoying the long 4th of July weekend at some place like this with a gorgeous view of the ocean. Shouldn't we all be so lucky? This is the porch at a friend's house on Nantucket that I have have been fortunate to enjoy several times in the past.

Have a great day everyone!

Room with a view

Nantucket Morning

16" x 20" 

Oil with palette knife on board

SOLD

I was lucky enough to wake up to this view a few years ago while staying at a friend's house on Nantucket. It doesn't get much better than this!

New CAT painting

Dancer III

24" x 18"

Acrylic with gesso

Available

Here is the latest in my series of paintings under my pseudonym CAT. My technique here is fun because it gets me to loosen up a bit from painting with palette knives all the time. I first paint on a black canvas with colorful acrylic paints, then put a layer of this gesso on top. I then use the end of a paint brush to draw the figure which "carves" out the gesso and reveals the color underneath.

A little bit of autumn in the summer

World's End Hingham in the Fall

11" x 14"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

My friend Jeremy asked if I would paint from an image he took while visiting World's End in Hingham Ma. If you've never been, it is a beautiful place with lots of trees and views of the ocean. He was visiting in the fall and captured this scene of the light coming through the trees and the colorful leaves on the ground.

Five sisters

Bobbi's Family

11" x 14"

Oil with palette knives on board

Bobbi (the little blonde girl on daddy's knee in the painting) is the youngest of five sisters. She had this wonderful photo of her sisters and her mom and dad on the porch of her grandmother's house and she asked if I would paint it for her. The photo was black and white but I decided to "colorize" it. It was such fun imagining what the outfits might look like in color. 

Foxy's Sign

Foxy's

2 sided, hand-painted sign

20" x 8"

Acrylic on wood

This is the third installment of Bill's tribute to Foxy, his beloved dog he lost a few months ago. He pictured a pub like sign in her honor that would display near his Provincetown pool where Foxy loved to hang out.

Here is a photo of my work in progress. I painted the two sided sign using acrylic paints and brushes (gasp) so I was a little rusty but it worked out great.

Here are Bill and Dan trying to figure out how the sign will hang off the poolside bar. Can't wait to see it finally hung!

Foxy at the Beach

Foxy at the Beach

9"x 12"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

This is the second portrait for Bill who lost his greatest companion Foxy a few months ago. This will be heading to Provincetown soon to spend the summer there and hopefully help Bill get through the tough months ahead without her by his side.

Foxy by the Pool

Foxy by the Pool

9" x 12"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

Bill recently lost his best friend Foxy and asked me to do a couple of portraits of her. This is the first one showing her looking so regal guarding the pool and supervising all of the poolside activities.

Summer is almost here so these portraits will be heading up to Provincetown very soon.

Who's ready for a martini?

Martini Time

8" x 8"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

This week we made our annual day trip to Provincetown to drop off new artwork at The Red Inn. They opened for dinner yesterday and they make really good martinis. So the next time you are looking for the perfect spot to enjoy a beverage in Provincetown, make your way all the way down Commercial Street to this amazing place. You will not be disappointed.

And while your are there, check out Polo and my artwork hanging on the walls!

A new panorama of Provincetown

Four Towers

12" x 24"

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

This view from Fanizzi's restaurant caught our attention while we were having a fabulous meal there. We noticed that you can see all four of the familiar towers that identify Provincetown. Polo and I decided to each do our own version of this same scene at the same size and scale so they can hang together at The Red Inn. 

I really amped up the beautiful sunset colors in my version. Polo is working on his version now so I'll keep you posted on that.

Wharf House Pride

Wharf House Pride

16" x 8

Oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

This house on Commercial Street is one of the most photographed in Provincetown. I've painted it several times but this is the first time painting it with the rainbow flag. It usually displays a big American flag. I heard this called the Wharf House but most recently I've seen people referring to it as the Flag House. Either way, it has such a cool summer beach vibe don't you think?

Lunch at the Red Inn

Lunch at the Red Inn

Approx. 8.5" x 11"

Oil with palette knives on rough birch panel

I like to paint on these rough birch wood panels when I think the subject matter can be enhanced by it. In this case, the cozy interior of The Red Inn in Provincetown lends itself well.

I always have a hard time photographing these painting to capture the correct color so I'm adding another photo I took in case this one helps show the warmth better.

Cap'n Jacks

Cap'n Jacks

10"  10"

oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

A favorite spot in Provincetown, MA is Cap'n Jack's Wharf. I've painted this unique place several times but this is a new view for me that shows the entrance off Commercial Street that leads you down to the beach. I'd love to be able to stay in one of the fun and artistic rooms at this place, but of course they are very difficult to book. So in the mean time, I'll just keep painting it.

A sailing adventure awaits

 

Waiting To Board

8x10

oil with palette knives on board

Last September, Polo and I took a wonderful 2 hour sailboat ride on the Bay Lady II. This painting is inspired by that trip as this is where you board at MacMillan Pier in Provincetown, MA on Cape Cod. In the background you can see the Pilgrim Monument and the Portuguese Flags flying on the little colorful sheds.

Entering Provincetown : : a NEW technique

Entering Provincetown

16" x 16"

oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

I've painted this sign many times but I decided to try a new technique with this painting. I ordered a canvas that had the sides painted white instead of the usual natural wood sides so I extended the painting to all 4 sides instead of stopping at the edge.

Here are some photos that show you what I'm talking about:

I'm really happy how this came out so I might try it on some future signs that I paint.

White Party

White Party

9" x 12"

oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

There is a fun party every Labor Day weekend in Ptown and everyone dresses in, you guessed it, white. It’s so fun to just sit and watch the parade of creative outfits and entertaining groups stroll all the way down Commercial Street to Delft Haven. This group was spotted outside The red Inn.

Table for Two at Pepe's Wharf Restaurant

Table For Two

14" x 11"

oil with palette knives on cradled board

SOLD

I spotted this couple at a table near the window at Pepe's Wharf, one of our favorite spots to have lunch in Provincetown on Cape Cod.

I loved the pair's body language as well as how the rainbow flag was framed by the window.

This painting will be up for sale at the Red Inn once they open in April.

Introducing Paintings by CAT

Dancer I by CAT

Textured Gesso over Acrylic

18" x 24"

SOLD

Dancer II by CAT

Textured Gesso over Acrylic

18" x 24"

SOLD

Football Player by CAT

Textured Gesso over Acrylic

18" x 24"

Available $53

I've been experimenting in the studio with a new technique that is fast and loose.

I started with a black canvas, then painted swatches of colorful acrylic paint on top. I then added a thick layer of gesso and texturized it with a rubber catalyst. With the end of a paint brush, I then drew in the figure lifting up the paint to reveal the colors underneath. 

While in art school, I always loved the drawing warm up exercise of quick gestural studies of the figure. The model would change poses every 30 seconds or so and you had to keep up. I tried to keep these loose and quick like those drawings had to be.

Since these are very different from my palette knife work, I am creating and selling these under a pseudonym CAT. Here is the branding I created for her work which I made into tags that hang on the paintings.

You might have noticed the little cat face I used to sign the work on the front. And here is how I sign the work on the back.

Red Hot Ptown

The Golden Hour, Provincetown

6" x 18"

Oil with palette knives on canvas panel

Available

There is a beautiful red light that overwhelms the entire town of Provincetown at dusk, and it's often referred to as The Golden Hour. I tried to capture that light in this painting of MacMillan Pier.

Experimenting with oil pastels

Flower Girl

6" x 8"

oil pastels on board

Grandpa's Little Golfer

6" x 8"

oil pastels on board

A friend gave me a set of oil pastels that she no longer wanted so I thought I would experiment using them on a few small canvas boards I had. While it was certainly a worthwhile experiment, I was not crazy about the waxy feel of the oil pastels. They were a little too much like trying to paint with crayons. Maybe it was the brand I was using? But it was a fun experience nonetheless.

New cat portrait duo

Toot and Rumble

12" x 16"

Oil with palette knives on board

Dan asked if I would paint a portrait of their two cats as a surprise birthday present for his wife Donna. Toot is the calico and acts as a mother to the black longhair named Rumble. They love to snuggle together, especially if there is fleece or jacket of their owners lying on the couch.