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

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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

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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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.