Two Sold

Thank you to the two new collectors who purchased these two small paintings at the Danforth Art Museum School Gallery.

I've been busy with holiday errands and have done very little painting...I think I have a good idea what my New Year's resolution will be.

Just added many more paintings to my Etsy shop.

Commission

Go Meghan!

6"x12", oil

NFS

A good friend of mine contacted me recently asking if I could make a painting of his girlfriend, who is a competitive rower, to give to her parents for Christmas. I normally don't like doing commissions, but I think it's a good thing to be pushed outside of your comfort zone every now and then.

Pear Shadows and Orchid Study

I just added these two acrylic paintings to my Etsy shop. These were created just prior to me switching over to oils. I often think of pulling out the acrylic paints and giving them another go, but I just really like the feel, the texture and honestly, the smell of the oils.

How small can you go?

Approaching Land

2" x 2"

Only time for a mini landscape. Most, if not all, of my landscapes are either from the vantage point of being out at sea looking back at land or vice versa. Since there's a body of water involved, is it more appropriate that they're labeled a seascape? Hmmmm........

The Three of Us

8" x 8", oil on canvas

A little bit of glare on this one... I limited myself to 1 hour so that I would force myself to make quick decisions and not get bogged down pushing the paint around and around.

No painting today

No painting today, so I thought I'd post one of my sketches, an idea actually inspired by fellow blogger Sandra Galda. A few years ago, before I took my first painting class, I decided to take a drawing class to sharpen up those skills before ever laying paint to canvas, and this little produce ink drawing is one of the first from that class.
I've been busy submitting paintings for various local exhibits, 20 total.... we'll see what happens. Thank you to a new collector who recently purchased one of my paintings, Overboard .

Fall Colors and Puking Pumpkin

I tried to keep this fall landscape quick and loose, almost abstract. I think I've been getting too "blendy" with my strokes and have gotten away from this natural looseness that I used to have.

Something to look forward to for me, I just signed up for a virtual workshop with Deborah Paris, a tonalist landscape painter, her work just makes me crazy, but in a good way.




....and here's the puking pumpkin from yesterday's post that my daughter created just in time for the trick-or-treaters.

Before the slaughter

My paints have not been cooperating lately so I've had to resort to quick sketches, I'm sure it's the paints and not me, right? Tomorrow, my daughter plans on gutting this sucker. She asked if it would be ok to make the pumpkin throwing up by having the guts spilling out of its mouth...heck yeah!

Willie

I just made some revisions on this portrait of Willie, lounging on his favorite perch. As soon as it's dry I'll ship it out to his parents in New Jersey.

Quick apple

Probably won't get to painting today so I thought I'd try a quick apple sketch. I have some organizing, signing, varnishing, framing and other stuff that needs to get done.

Separated

6"x6", oil on stretched canvas

Still enjoying creating some small landscapes from Maine. I keep thinking that I should switch over to still lifes, but I have all these great photos that I took this past summer that need to be painted.

Tiny Island

6"x6"

Just back from a quick weekend in Maine, getting a much needed inspirational recharge.

Big Sky

Big Sky
6"x6"

Currently on exhibit

Keeping it simple and loose. Today I'm dropping off 2 paintings for an upcoming exhibit that will run until early January. I've done a lot of landscapes lately, is it time to return to some still lifes? I'm thinking most likely it is.

Maine Pickup

Workhorse
10"x10"
$195, click here to purchase
not framed


I'm trying to keep my painting time to a minimum so that I force myself to make quick choices, keeping it loose and splashy, and not overwork it too much. This is my first pass and I see some areas I'd like to alter.

Maine Landscape

Dump Truck
4"x4"
$65, click here to purchase

I like the contrast of this rusty, old dumptruck parked in the tall grass on the side of a dirt road set against all the beautiful greens and the bright blue sky. I'm tempted to do this in a much larger and wider format.

going small again

Island at Dawn

4" x 4"

Sold

Still sticking with the small landscapes, I thought I'd go outside my box and try to utilize colors I normally don't go to when creating landscapes.

Mini landscape

Water's Edge

4" x 4"

Currently on exhibit

I'm still attempting to sharpen my landscape skills, trying to keep things loose and not overworked. Today's painting has a darker feel than yesterday's, but I like it's simple composition.

Cloud Study

Simple Cloud
4"x4" , oil on stretched canvas

Currently on exhibit

Here's a quick, little cloud study. After working for a few days on a larger landscape I realized I could use some more practice working on clouds. I don't know why I find them so challenging.

Website Launched!

Ok, here's the second pass on this painting, almost there. Thanks to Sandra and Jo-Ann for their tips on how they handle clouds. Jo-Ann had a detailed process that she had posted in her blog awhile ago, very helpful.

I haven't been spending enough time painting lately because I've been spending time setting up my website, which can be found at robhazzard.com . If you think you might be interested in setting one up for yourself try this link to check out the 2 months free trial offer.

Maine Landscape

Hidden Cove

6" x 6", oil on panel

$105 click here to purchase

I'm determined to keep plugging away on landscapes, even if it means I have to get through a few dogs, I'll eventually hit one that I'm happy with, right?

Black Eyed Susans

Back to School

4" x 4", oil on canvas

SOLD

I've noticed that as the Black Eyed Susans hit their peak, it's almost back to school time, woohoo! Don't get me wrong, I love my kids, but after all of us being together 24/7 all summer I think it's time for us to see other people.

I need new brushes!

My Tool

4" x 4", oil on stretched canvas

Sold

After not painting for a few weeks, I pulled out all of my gear and started working on a landscape and ended up wiping it down. I'm realizing that even though I'm drawn to landscapes, I'm better at still lifes. I also realized that if you're not going to paint for many weeks you should make sure that you wash your brushes thoroughly, many of mine were stiff and in need of replacement.

Off to Auction

Hiker's Reward

12" x 12"

Sold

After selling a handfull of paintings in my show at The Haven, including Family Reunion, which sits at the top of my blog, I donated this painting for a fundraising auction coming in August at the Fog Gallery in Vinalhaven, ME.

Rain is predicted here today so I'm off to take the kids to see the Harry Potter movie in 3D Imax, I'll try to get to a small painting this afternoon.

Day's End

Day's End

6" x 6"

Sold



I'm back from Maine and I really need to get out of vacation mode and back into the swing of painting. Here's one of the small paintings that sold from my exhibit at The Haven in Vinalhaven, ME. It was a lot of fun to bring the family and hang out enjoying dinner with all of my paintings hanging up on the walls. Now it's time to regroup, focus and get painting.....soon, I swear.

Photos of exhibit set up...

Here are a few photos of my current exhibit at The Haven, in Vinalhaven, Maine. I hung 27 paintings in total. One wall of antique beadboard filled with my small daily paintings showcased with the owners collection of cool, retro lunchboxes, and my larger paintings grouped together on white plaster walls hanging from moulding with fishing line... very appropriate for this fishing island community.

One more....

Here's one more from my Charlotte Wharton workshop.

Charlotte Wharton workshop

Here are two small studies I completed in the Charlotte Wharton workshop that I'm taking this weekend at the
Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, MA. Charlotte is a great instructor and is obviously so passionate about her art and sharing her methods and thoughts with her students. I also highly recommend getting your tail over to Weston Nurseries if you ever have the urge for plein air painting. There are 300 acres filled with boundless subject possibilities..... waterfalls, ponds, statues, fountains, pergolas, gazebos, barns, sheds, goats, pastures, you name it, they have it. Just make sure you get their permission first before you start lugging your gear in.

Maine landscape

Heading Home

6"x12", oil on stretched canvas

click here to purchase

Ok, I guess I was feeling inspired, so here's a second painting I completed today. This is a great view across the harbor in Vinalhaven, Maine towards Lane's Island and the original house owned by Captain Timothy Lane.

Victorian Pose

Victorian Pose

6"x6", oil on stretched canvas framed
$125, includes clear maple floater frame

click here to purchase

This victorian home was probably built around the time Vinalhaven had hit it's peak in the 1880's, at the height of it's granite and fishing industries. We're fortunate to be able to spend a few weeks on this beautiful Maine island every summer and look forward to getting up there again soon.

Vinalhaven Skyline

6"x6", oil on stretched canvas

I haven't tried a landscape in a while so I thought I'd give it a go, trying to keep it pretty loose and not overworked. I'll be taking a plein air workshop with Charlotte Wharton next weekend so I might try a few more to get in the groove.

"...I'm ready for my close-up.", Norma Desmond

Close-Up
12" x 12"

oil on stretched canvas

Sold

A simple painting for today's posting. I was happy with how a similair painting turned out with a green apple and thought I'd attempt a red one.

A special thank you to two new collectors, Holly and Annah, who recently bought 3 paintings....each!

Hangin' with Grannies

18" x 18"

oil on stretched canvas
click here to purchase

Heading back to the apple and glass bowl theme... I really think I could make a whole series of nothing but fruit and glass. I spent an entire session on this hoping to complete it, but I think I need to put it aside and look at it again tomorrow with fresh eyes for a few more tweaks.

You and I

You and I

10" x 10"
oil on stretched canvas

On exhibit at the Danforth Art Museum School Small Works Exhibit

Wow, it really has been a while since the last post. Between having a new puppy, a child home with the flu for almost the whole week and life in general, I haven't been doing any painting. I guess there's always excuses, the trick is to carve out some time everday no matter what's going on in your day.
Good news, I have a restaurant, The Haven, on Vinalhaven Island, ME, lined up to showcase my work for the month of July. I just need to crank out a few larger paintings to make sure I have a cohesive collection.

“I'm fat, but I'm thin inside... ", George Orwell

Naturally Thin

6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas

Sold

When I went to the market recently to pick up a few more subjects, I came across some Bosc pears that were unusually skinny and they were plunked right next to some of the fattest, almost obese, Bartlett pears I've ever seen. I couldn't help but wonder if there might soon be a rumble between these two seemingly rival gangs. I can spend a lot of time in the produce section, needless to say the kids refuse to go shopping with me anymore...

“The simplest things are often the truest.” Richard Bach, Jonathan Livingston Seagull author

Backlit

6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas

On exhibit at the Danforth Art Museum School small works exhibit

It's been a while since my last post so I thought I'd keep it simple for today's painting.

Azalea Bloom

6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas

$125 framed

click here to purchase

Our house backs up to a state park which means that there is an endless parade of wildlife going through our yard. Great for the kids and the cats viewing pleasure, not so great for the plants. I found this azalea bloom hiding underneath the shrub seeking refuge, pretty ironic that I saved it by snipping it off.

“I'm a survivor, at least that's what everyone tells me.” Courtney Love

Sole Survivor

6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas

Sold

I finally put all of those apples to use and made a pie, resulting with this one leftover apple. Believe it or not, my daughter and I are the only ones in the house who love pie, so we've been pigging out. Pie for breakfast, pie for a snack, and of course pie for dessert. I've got to get on the treadmill....

“No one goes there anymore - it's too crowded”, Yogi Berra

Stand out from the crowd

10" x 10", oil on stretched canvas

$225 framed

click here to purchase

Continuing with the apple theme, I placed a bunched up piece of white satin cloth underneath this bowl of apples in order to give the background some interest with a more textural feel, is it fighting too much with the rythm of the apples? I don't know...

“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.” Dr. Carl Sagan

Destined for Pie

18"x18", oil on stretched canvas

$395 framed

click here to purchase

Today I grabbed some big brushes, big tubes of paint and a big canvas (big for me anyway) and got to work. After working with such smaller canvases it was a nice change to get a little splashier with the paint, something I find more difficult to do when you're working with a small, confined canvas.

Cherry Peppers still life

Packed Pickled Peppers

6" x 6", oil on stretched canvas

Although this was fun to paint, this small painting took longer than I thought it should have, due to all the shading required on each individual pepper. I'm going to have to go hit the market and see what else I can find.

Mini Triptych

Primarily Apples

Mini Triptych

3 @ 2"x2"

oil on stretched canvas

I came across these 2"sq canvases in my kids' craft box and thought I could use some tiny brushes to whip out a couple of quick apples. I'd like to do a larger painting with lots of apples so this was good practice.

Overboard
10" x 10", oil on canvas
Sold

I'm back from a week's vacation in sunny Florida with the family. I brought some art supplies with me, as well as my best intentions, but I ended up never lifting a paint brush. It feels good to be back in the saddle again.