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.

New painting from the family album

New Dolls From Peeps

16" x 16" x 2"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

Available

I love doing paintings inspired from old family photos. This painting was done from a black and white snapshot in my family's photo album. That's me and my sisters with our grandfather who we call Peeps.

I love how the dolls all have blonde hair even though my sisters and I are all brunettes. Do you think all dolls had blonde hair back then, or did we all just wish we had blonde hair back then?

Here are some process shots I took along the way.

I really like how this looks with just the people painted in and the background still in sketch form. I thought about leaving it like this but then was excited to paint the details in the background. Maybe next time, I'll experiment with doing a painting like this where part of the picture is left unpainted with just the sketch showing. What do you think?

Week 30 Get Out!

Welcome to Week 30 Jumpstarters.

As we continue FINDING INSPIRATION, this week's challenge is to GET OUT! Let's enjoy this wonderful summer weather we are finally having and get inspired by nature. 

The worksheet is below, now go GET OUT!

Big owl and demo

Wise Guy II

oil with palette knives on cradled board

12" x 16"

SOLD

I was asked to do a palette knife painting demo for the Franklin Art Association and this wise guy was my subject. I thought the various colors and textures of his feathers would show off my palette knife technique nicely.

It was my first time doing a demo via Zoom. I purchased a ring light camera with a phone holder attachment that worked well. 

The demo was about 1 hour long, and this is how far I got after it was over. I finished him up the next day at the gallery.

Week 29 Revisit Your Art Books

If you are an artist or an art appreciator, I know you have a ton of beautiful art books on your shelves at home and in your studio. This week's challenge is to dust them off, grab a packet of post it notes, and spend some time revisiting a few of your favorites. It is guaranteed to get you inspired!

Here is your free worksheet:

Cap'n Jack's Wharf new size

Cap'n Jack's Wharf

10" x 10"

Oil with palette knives on board

SOLD

I've painted this scene several times but this was a new size I wanted to try: 10" x 10".  It's an iconic scene in Provincetown and a great place to take a vacation on the tip of Cape Cod. The rooms here are all unique and artistically decorated. I hope to stay here at some point in the future if I am ever lucky enough to get a reservation.

Hope your summer is going great so far.

New pet portrait commission: Ari(zona)

Ari

6" x 6"

Oil with palette knife on panel

Diane asked me if I would paint a portrait for her good friend who recently lost her loyal companion Ari. Ari was a rescue from Arizona, where her name came from. She looks like she was a such a loving and good dog. She will be missed.

Here is a close up detail.

Week 28 Picture It

It's Week 28 in the Jumpstart Your Art challenge: Picture It. If you can visualize it, it's easier to see how to make it a reality!

Your free worksheet is here:

Week 27 Study Others

For Week 27, we'll start a new theme called FINDING INSPIRATION and this week's challenge is to STUDY OTHERS. We all have certain artists that we admire for one reason or another. It's time to learn from them and how they achieve success. 

The worksheet is below ready to download.

The Lady in Red:: Happy 4th of July!

The Lady in Red

8" x 24"

Oil with palette knives on Ampersand Gessobord

I thought a new painting of the Red Inn would be an appropriate post to help celebrate the 4th of July. The inn is red and white, the sky and water are blue. 

This painting is currently hanging up at the inn for sale and marks the 39th time I've painted this inn in one format or another. This is such a special place for so many people.

Here are a few process shots including a selfie with mask: