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

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

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.

A Mother's Touch II

A Mother's Touch II

10x8 oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

Jody saw this first painting I did of this scene on display at the red inn in Provincetown. She decided she wanted to purchase it for her daughter who was expecting her first baby. When she returned to purchase it, it had been sold. So she asked if I would paint it again but adjust the hair color to better match her daughter and the likely color of her son's hair.

Rounding The Bend

Rounding The Bend

11x14 oil with palette knives on board

Available

If you've been to Provincetown, you will probably recognize this corner on Commercial Street. As you are walking from the center of town west towards the Red Inn, you will pass this cute house on the water with the sweet yellow door. Bikers will frequently ride by here on their way back from the beach just like these two are doing.

 

Summer Retreat in Provincetown

Summer Retreat

12x16 oil with palette knives on panel

Available

I love painting summer scenes in the middle of winter. It makes me think that warmer weather is not that far away. This house on Commercial Street in Provincetown has a beautiful deck, garden, and view of the ocean. It was just calling to be painted.

Little Sox Fan

Little Sox Fan

14" x 11" 

Oil with palette knives on cradled 1.5" board

Available

I've been working on a series of little girls called "Las Ninas". This painting was inspired by a copyright free photo I found on Pixabay.com but I changed several things about it. I added the red hat and the Red Sox logo to her shirt. I added the wicker basket and the black and white kitten peering out of it. There was also a boy in the background that I removed. I wanted to focus on just her.

I love painting photos of summertime images in the middle of winter. It makes me feel that warm weather will soon be here again.

Entering Falmouth commission

Entering Falmouth II

16" x 16"

oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

Heather saw the Entering signs I had on display at the Artist's Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place in Foxboro and asked if I had one for Entering Falmouth. I had painted one last year but that one sold so I offered to create a new one for her.

That's the Nobska Lighthouse shown in the background and that road is where the famous Falmouth Road Race marathon goes through each year.

Pickled red onions as Christmas gifts

Pickled Red Onion Tags

Approx. 2" x 4"

Oil with palette knives on board

Not for sale

I'm still catching up on my Christmas posts! I painted these tags as gifts for my art pals. I love pickled red onions and the pinkish red color is just right as a gift for the holidays. I actually used the onions as my models for each painting before they got cut up to pickle.

I put the onions in these cute jars I purchased at Michael's and then added the ribbons and tiny forks to each one. 

Here is how the group looked all together. I'm really happy with how they came out-I might post these images on Pinterest. I found tons of recipes for pickled red onions on Pinterest, but I don't think anyone else has thought to give them as homemade gifts like this for Christmas.

New paint pour/palette knife painting combo

Xtasea (Long Point Lighthouse)

16 x 40

Acrylic and oil on canvas

Available 

Last September, Polo and I took a wonderful sailboat trip in Provincetown on the Bay Lady II. This painting was inspired by the view we had sailing by the Long Point Lighthouse and beach.

I created the water and sky using an acrylic paint pour technique. Then once that was dry, I painted the sailboat, lighthouse, and beach, and land using my palette knives.

Here's a link to a movie I created showing you the paint pour process. It was very messy but a lot of fun.

The famous Lobster Pot in Provincetown

The Lobster Pot, Provincetown

20" x 16"

oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

Chris asked if I would paint this famous restaurant on Commercial Street in Provincetown as a Christmas gift for his mother. He and his siblings spent a lot of time in Ptown as kids and they have many family memories there.

Mary Ann loved the painting and it is now hung in their living room for all to see.

I just learned that the Lobster Pot is up for sale. Only $14 million. I wish only the best for this iconic restaurant’s future.

Colorful Provincetown II

Colorful Provincetown II

24" x 36"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

Diane and Annie were admiring the first version I did of this painting hanging at Cafe Heaven on Commercial Street in Provincetown and asked if I would paint them their own version of it. 

Here is the link to the post about the first painting.

Their painting will hang in their home on the scenic Shore Road in Truro.

I took a few photos of the painting in process along the way. 

A Very Meowy Christmas

Owen

6" x 6"

Oil with palette knives on board

Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday. 

I realized that I didn't get a chance to post anything in December and that's because I was busy working on commissions. I couldn't post them until their new owners received them as gifts. So now I get to share with you what I've been working on. 

First up is this cutie, Owen. His owner named him that because Owen kind of sounds like "orange". Owen had a good life but recently went over the rainbow bridge so Donna asked if I would paint him so Sandy would be able to see his cute face every day and be reminded of what a special cat he was to her.