Fall Colors

This fall has been so lovely that I thought I would use the fall colors for painting inspiration.  When I initially finished this painting, it seemed a little safe and boring so I went to town on the background leaving an aura of darker color around the flowers.  Perhaps went too far but it was fun.

Sunflowers in Square Vase

We are having a glorious fall here in Connecticut; so beautiful that it is difficult to stay inside to paint.    

Lemon with Little Plate

A new little plate is joining the cast of characters in my still life paintings.

This weekend is City Wide Open Studios at Erector Square, 315 Peck St., New Haven.  Come visit and say hello.  I will be in Building 5 on the second floor, October 24 and 25, noon to 6.  There will be hundreds of artists exhibiting in the buildings of the former Erector Set factory.  To preview some of the artists go to cwos.org

Yellow Robe

Welcome to fall everyone.  Thought I would post another figurative painting before returning to the still lifes. And I want to give everyone an early heads up about City Wide Open Studios in New Haven.  I will be at Erector Square, Building 5, 2nd Floor, October 24-25, noon to 5 pm.

The show to see:  This past weekend I visited with Stanley Bielen at the opening of his show at the Harrison Gallery in Williamstown, MA.  Below is one of his paintings in the show which is beyond phenomenal.  Go see the show in person if you can or visit the Harrison Gallery website to see more of Stanley's paintings at  http://www.theharrisongallery.com

Mohegan Island Trees

This plein air painting was done a few weeks ago while I was on Monhegan Island in Maine.  It is true--- they are trees that could be anywhere so you will have to take my word that they are Monhegan trees.  ;-)

Coral Shirt

Where did all of August go?  I didn't realize so much time had passed since I last posted.  The above is an abstracted figure from a class this summer called the Figure in the Landscape.  The wonderful Dean Fisher was the instructor.

White Hydrangeas, Part Deux

The last white hydrangea painting went well, i.e. good value and color choices at first pass without need for reworking.   I thought I would try for a repeat.  In the last blog post, I mistakenly called the painting a paining which is what the above turned out to be.  Everything needed reworking; the greenish hydrangea blossoms changed color intensity/values multiple times.  You build on what you learn but progress can be slow!

Hydrangea with Eggshell

Above, the finished paining; have to take advantage of the hydrangeas blooming.

Below, the setup and painting in progress.

And the rhetorical question, Where is the summer going?

Art and Nature

Here is the art part.  A simple painting with a bit of nature.

Below is more nature-- the view right outside my kitchen window this morning.

Did not expect to see a black bear feasting away.  Look at the poor confused bird (tufted titmouse) sitting on the bent over pole.

Have a fun and safe July 4th weekend everyone!

Slightly Off Center

Wow, this painting is large for me-- a whopping 9 x 12 inches.

And speaking of wow-- last weekend, I visited the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts ( www.clarkart.edu ).  The current blockbuster exhibit is Van Gogh and Nature and it is over the top wonderful.  There are more than 40 paintings on loan from American and European museums, most of which I had never seen before and am unlikely to ever see again.  It is so worth the drive if you live anywhere in the northeast.  The newly renovated Clark is also stunning with beautiful outdoor spaces in addition to the renovated gallery spaces.  Go see for yourself-- the exhibit runs through September 13, 2015.

Sunflowers

Happy sunflowers to celebrate a beautiful spring day.

Red Gerbera with Pear

Back to painting after hiking in Zion and Bryce last week.  Really spectacular vistas -- can't imagine trying to capture them in a painting.

Three Cups and Grapes

A change from flowers-- the little white cups that I love and a few red grapes for color.

Redo

I had leftover paint on my palette but was not in the mood to start a new painting.  Retrieved the painting below from the "just ok" stack and decided to have fun.

Yellow and Pink Bouquet

Happy Spring Everyone!

If you would like a chance to own the above painting and contribute to a good cause at the same time, then I have the event for you.  This painting will be raffled at the Hamden Art League's 60th Annual Goldenbells reception, April 14,  7 - 9 p.m., at the Miller Memorial Library Senior Center, 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, Ct.  Proceeds go to the scholarship fund.  There will be lots of great art at the exhibit.  You do not have to be a member to come and enjoy the exhibit and reception.  Hope to see you there!

White and Brown

Decided to step back from the intense blue backgrounds and go for something more subtle.

I said I wasn't going to complain but it is snowing again tonight in Connecticut--- for the umpteenth time this winter.

Fallen Petals

This is the first painting I have done with white daisies that I am actually pleased with-- trying to make them colorful and still read as white has been a real challenge for me.

Snowing yet again tonight here in Connecticut.  Can't complain-- have been reading about the challenges Boston is facing with their record snows.

Red Gerbera

Gerbera daisies seem to be my latest obsession.

Silver Cup with Lemon and Egg Cup

It has been a while since I tried a painting with a really dark background.  Silver cup is a rather pretentious name for what is really an inexpensive plastic vase but silver cup sounds so much better.

First real snow of the season-- 6 inches of very wet, heavy snow.  Shoveling was my strength training for the day.

Pink Gerbera

Brrrr…it is 7 degrees outside and the temp is still dropping.

Had major difficulties photographing this painting and the above is the best I can do.  The background is actually darker and the gerbera daisy is a deep pink--not the red of the photograph.  But enjoyed doing this painting and wanted to share it.