New Painting: Jamestown Fishing

"Jamestown Fishing"

5" x 7" x .0.25"

Jamestown Island is one of Rhode Island's hidden gems, tucked away from it's more famous neighbor, Newport.

2013 Connecticut Women Artists Members Juried Exhibition

"Thames Moonlight 1"
Oil on Panel, 9" x 12"

Two of my Thames Moonlight series paintings have been accepted for the Connecticut Women Artists, Inc. (CWA)  2013 Members Juried Exhibition in West Hartford. I joined the CWA this year and this is my first time exhibiting with them. Vivian Zoe, director of the Slater Memorial Museum is this year's juror, so being accepted is a genuine honor and compliment.

The exhibition runs June 1- June 21,  2013, at the West Hartford Art League Clubhouse Gallery, 37 Buena Vista Road; opening reception and awards ceremony takes place Sunday June 9, 2-4 pm.


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"Thames Moonlight 2"
Oil on Panel, 9" x 12"

 The emotional pull of the full moon sometimes draws me outside to looking at and, in this instance, painting the view. But it's difficult to time things just right, so that I am there at that moment, to see the full moon, to capture the expansive sky and reflections under the moon's light.  So often when I see a perfect view of the moon that begs me to paint it, I'm in my car driving on the way to somewhere else.

Land, Sky, Water Series

"Sunset Silence"

6" x 8" encaustic on panel

This is the latest in a series of encaustic paintings I call Land/Sky/Water; the six paintings that make up the series are currently on exhibit at the Hygienic Art Gallery, part of the art = gift show.  (We went to the opening tonight and saw some excellent paintings, etchings, prints and photographs, plus work by Williams High School students in the basement gallery.) All works in the series are available for sale; the show runs until December 23rd.

I posted another painting from the series previously here on the blog, and I'll be posting photos of the others in the coming days.

Little River

SOLD

Enjoyed painting this view of Little River in Waterbury VT earlier in the summer. I had to work fast with the light changing and a few pesky mosquitos after me.  So I decided to just use a palette knife and go at it.  Palette knife painting appeals to me on many levels because I can get very clean color, very tactile surfaces, and the surface is reflective due to light playing off the ridges of paint. Setting aside my paint brush down now and then is liberating and fun.

Pawcatuck River Sketch at the Malted Barley

 Recently I went to the Malted Barley in Westerly RI for beer and a pretzel, both of which were excellent.  Enjoyed watching the Pawcatuck River meandering under the bridge in the distance from their back patio. Not quite sure of the shape on the bridge standing, but my imagination took off and I sketched in a human form.

No Ducks/ Pond and fall foliage

oil on panel

Sold

I really had to work on simplfying this landscape of many shapes.  For me, learning to stop working on a painting is sometimes a challenge.  By continuing working (to get it "right"), my mind tricks me.  What is "right"?  Why does that idea have a hold on my mind, sometimes stronger than that of the painting itself?  I may ruin the raw energy or kill the painting by continuing to work on it, but not realize it until too late.  (That is however one of the benefits of working in oils: scrape or wipe the surface, and I get a second chance!)  With "No Ducks", though, I realized early on that it was finished.

Thank goodness.

Red Boat Waiting

4" x 6" oil on panel

SOLD

Land of Textures

9" x 12" oil on panel

I am inspired by the shapes, textures, and colors of old buildings, boats, wooden objects, plastered walls, etc.  Old surfaces are rich in patinated color, and thickness of texture.  The inspiration for this painting was an old door;  I kept simplifying the shapes and details in front of me until I discovered a landscape, or perhaps a seascape, emerge in the painting.

New Haven Water Reflections

14" x 11"  oil on board

I could not resist painting this scene in the New Haven, CT harbor.   The geometric shapes of shadow and light with their contrast to the soft fluid water were definitely a must to paint.

Dusk, water and the empty space

10" x 10" oil on panel

This is a scene I painted which once had a big brick apartment building and other houses near Fort Trumbull in New London, CT.  It is the scene of an eminent domain site where many people once lived.  It is funny how a bulldozed area looks so forlorn and ugly in one kind of light, but is transformed by an evening sunset into a mosaic of color and contrast. 

Waterfall

6"x 8" oil on panel

SOLD

A quiet moment for painting in New Hampshire on a camping and hiking trip. 100 years after the Impressionists, painting en plein air is still a challenge, even with the modern comforts of automobiles and electric coolers and down sleeping bags, etc. How did Monet, et all ever do it? (In fact, I think they were far better off without some of our so-called "conveniences"!)