Thor : : a new pet portrait commission

Thor

12" x 9" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

This is Thor, enjoying the beach and all the interesting people, other animals, and things to look at. Don't you love all his wrinkles and rolls?

Here are a photo showing you my set up at the gallery. I used color print outs as well as an iPad for reference. If you look closely, you'll see that I moved the beach umbrella from the left of the photo to the right.

And here is a photo showing my initial sketch on the orange background color I like to use.

First Communions

First Communion

16" x 16" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

Available

This painting was inspired by a family photo of my oldest sister's first communion. I found the photo among a bunch of old slides that my dad sent me awhile ago. I remember these colorful dresses as being a favorite which we only wore for special occasions.

Some times I like to take close up photos on certain parts of the painting so you can see my palette knife strokes.

Back in 2011, I participated in a project called "The Sketchbook Project" and I included a drawing of this photo.

Cathy told me that she still has her communion veil after all these years.

I also included a drawing from my other sister, Lyn's first communion day:

As well as from my first communion day.  I am pretty sure I still have my veil too but I need to go hunt in the basement and see if I can find it. 

And finally, my dad's first communion. My dad follows my blog so he'll probably see this and remember the photo this drawing was done from. I think I still have his little communion book stored away somewhere too!

Nantucket palette knife painting workshop PART 2

We named our group The ACK PACK (ACK is the airport code for Nantucket and is often used as a nickname for the island). I designed this logo and sent stickers to everyone who attended as reminder of our time together. 

For the afternoon of the workshop, everyone chose a photo from some Nantucket inspired images I brought with me. Here are Tina, Haydi, and Ariel choosing their images to paint.

 And here are their masterpieces. Pretty nice, right?

Here is an overview shot of all of the paintings drying in the dining room...

Sunday, Andy took us on a first class cocktail cruise on his boat, My Tern. This is Sadie, our cute mascot.

Sadie and I are contemplating the beautiful view...

 The sunflowers we painted made a lovely arrangement on the porch.

And finally, a gorgeous Nantucket sunset to end a beautiful weekend.

Nantucket palette knife painting workshop PART 1

Sunflower on Nantucket

4" x 4" on loose canvas

Palette knife demo
Available

A few weeks ago, I held a palette knife painting workshop on Nantucket. A very generous friend provided room and board at her beautiful home on the water, and in exchange, she and her family tried their hand at palette knife painting. Below are a few images from the event. 

Getting set up...

Tina and Laura excited to start painting...

Color mixing and palette knife dos and don'ts...

My sunflower demo...

Everyone busy on their sunflowers...

Andy getting his palette set up...

Chase, our youngest artist, is hard at work on his sunflower paintings...

Comparing our first and second practice pieces....

Looking at cropping options...

Here are more examples of everyone's practice work...

Next, I'll share Part 2 where everyone worked on their final palette knife masterpieces.

From the family album

Sorority Sisters, 1955

16" x 16" x 1.5"

Oil with a palette knife on cradled artist board
NFS

I've missed painting these scenes from old family photos. This one was inspired by a black and white image of my mother's sorority sisters. It was fun to imagine what the colors of their outfits would be, or what I think they should be.

I also researched the car, a 1955 Ford Fairlane Sunliner, because I wanted to pick a color that would be true to that era. Here are a couple photos I found at almost the exact same angle:

I've been trolling through our family's photo albums and have found many more inspirational images. I feel a series coming on.

NEW Red Inn from the Sea

The Red Inn from the Sea

12" x 36" x 2"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

Another great view of this beautiful place in Provincetown on Cape Cod-the red inn. It has found a new home in Los Angeles purchased by a couple that were married at the inn back in 2007. They saw my painting on Facebook and wanted it to celebrate their upcoming anniversary.

Here is a photo of the painting on my work desk, just after it was completed.

And here is a photo of me getting ready to wrap the painting up for shipping. I’m showing my feet for scale so you get a better sense of the size of the painting.

NEW Pet portrait commission

Rex

9" x 12" x 1.5"
Oil with a palette knife of cradled panel board

Rex's owners sent me some wonderful photos of their beloved yellow lab. I was drawn to this one of him enjoying a day out on the water with the Boston skyline in the background. They said "It is beautiful, you really did capture the spirit of Rex." That is the best thing for an artist to hear. I hope that they can look at the painting and it will help a little bit when they miss him.

NEW Commercial Street in Provincetown painting

Busy Commercial Street

18" x 24"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

SOLD

I had painted a smaller version of this painting last year and decided to try my hand at a larger version this year. It was fun to get a little more detail in the people and buildings at this larger size. 

I decided the best approach to painting this scene was from top to bottom and took some photos along the way after each session. You can see my sketch and usual orange toned background. Lots of the orange is peeking through at the end which I enjoy.

This painting will be available at the red inn in June once it's dry.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Finished!

Meet Ozzy : : a new pet portrait commission

Ozzy

8" x 8"

Oil with a palette knife on board

This portrait was done for the highest bidder of a pet portrait commission I submitted for the silent auction event we held for Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism at the Artists Studio & Gallery at Patriot Place. Kathy was the lucky winner and she was excited to have a portrait painted of her cute dog, Ozzy.

Ruff!

A collection from a collector

My friend Haydi recently hired an interior decorator to help her redo her place, and the decorator decided to group her collection of Gorbett paintings together in the entrance hallway. I love when people send me photos of my art in their home. I think they look great together.