Gillette Stadium : : The Canyon of Champions

The Canyon of Champions

24" by 48"

Oil with a palette knife on canvas

Available

I'm finally able to post this painting as it took me several sessions to complete. A total of about 20 hours. I used several reference photos of the stadium and fans to create this piece. The progression below will give you a good idea of how it developed from sketch to finish. 

As you will see below, I did not use my usual orange background wash before I sketched. Why? Because I forgot! I was so excited to get sketching after I purchased the large canvas that I completely forgot so I thought I'd leave it and see how it worked. Well about halfway through you will see that I ended up adding the orange wash later. The white was driving me crazy.  I felt like I had to fill every hole with color.

I also took a few close up shots so you can see the detail (below). In my painting, the Patriots are playing the Cleveland Browns. I grew up a Cleveland Browns fan, so it seemed fitting.

A group of stadium security guards came in to the gallery one day while I was painting. One of them claimed that he is the top orange dot in this section below, as that is his usual "beat." Funny guy.

 A close up of the stands...it's just a bunch of dots and blobs of paint!

I signed the painting by putting myself in to the bottom left corner: GORBETT, number 19 (for the year the painting was completed). I also painted in my dad in front of me, a true Browns fan for life. I gave him a Browns jersey, number 87 for what would have been his age on April 21. Sadly we lost my dad on April 9 so he spent his 87th birthday in heaven on Easter with The Big Guy, but I did get a chance to show him that I painted him in to the painting before he left us. He was touched and thrilled. I also added a few other family members to keep me company in that corner. :)

Mother’s Day, 1954

Mother’s Day, 1954

16” x 16” 

oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

Available

This past weekend, I put the finishing touches on this painting of my mother and my grandmother by painting in the white border and date. The photo that inspired this painting had no date so I made one up. I imagined my mother being about 20 years old, celebrating Mother's Day with her mother, all dressed up for brunch.

In this image below you can see that the original photo was black and white and had a terrible crease in the center. So when I painted it I imagined some fifties looking colors and went to town using my usual orange base color.

I took this photo after I finished the color part but before I added the white border and date.  I loved how the shadows looked on the painting the afternoon that I finished up.

This painting will be hung along side my First Communion painting for the month of April at the Walpole Public Library. I will be showing my work there along with 12 other Walpole artists.

The G.O.A.T

Well Hello There! (I'm Still Here)

8" x 6"

Oil with a palette knife on panel
SOLD

I painted this for fun on Super Bowl Sunday while working at the Artist's Studio and Gallery at Patriot Place. Tom Brady and company proved once again that they are the Greatest Of All Time by winning their 6th Lombardi Trophy.

Yesterday, 1.5 million people lined the streets of Boston to see the 12th duck boat parade to roll down Boylston Street (The Canyon of Heroes) celebrating Boston sports teams championships. What a run.

Congratulations to the New England Patriots!

Colorful Provincetown

Colorful Provincetown

24" x 36"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord
SOLD

On view at Cafe Heaven in Provincetown

This painting was inspired by the view from the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown. It was our first time climbing to the top and boy was it worth it. You can see a gorgeous 360 degree view of Provincetown and the surrounding area. I liked how they have Boston area town signs carved into the walls all the way up. It keeps you busy while you are climbing and you forget how many steps it is. We were excited when we found the Walpole sign.

Here are some photos of the painting in progress as well as some close up shots that show the painting texture.

For those of you who don't know what the Pilgrim Monument looks like, click here to see a painting I did of it back in 2014.

Lulu's kids

Lulu's Kids

9" x 12"

Oil with a palette knife

This was a Christmas gift for my aunt painted from a photo of her and her grandkids enjoying some time together by the hot tub. Fun faces and colors to paint.

And as usual, here are some fun close ups.

My 10 year blogiversary!

Summer Flowers

8" x 6"

Oil with a palette knife

I can't believe I started this blog 10 years ago! I thought it fitting to post one of the very first paintings I did with the palette knife back in 2007. I remember buying this bouquet of summer flowers from the farmers market in town and setting it up on the kitchen table at home. That was the start of it all. This painting is framed now sits in my office as a reminder of where I have been.

Happy New Year to you and yours from me and my blog.

A new commission : : Catholic School Kids

Catholic School Kids

9" x 12"

Oil with a palette knife on Ampersand Gessobord

This is a recent commission I did for my cousin. This is her boyfriend's 6 kids. My cousin already has 4 kids so you can imagine the large rowdy bunch they make when they all get together.

I wish for you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family bunch.

Below are some photos that I took along the way to show you my progress and a few details shots so you can see the thick palette knife strokes.

Workshop for the Foxboro Art Association

I was asked by the Foxboro Art Association to lead a mini workshop this past Saturday. We had 10 eager artists that wanted to learn more about and try their hand at palette knife painting. It was held at the Artists Studio & Gallery at Patriot Place in Foxboro. We are so lucky to have such a large space to be able to hold events like this. Here are a few photos from the workshop.