Feliz Navidad

Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas and peaceful and happy New Year!

A Special Occasion

I think it was the Commodore's Ball. It seemed as though my parents went to so many formal occasions when I was growing up. I believe it was as much fun for me to watch the whole preparation process as it was for them to attend these events. My mother had a dressmaker who made some of those gowns for her and I thought each one was more beautiful than the last. She had a beaded necklace woven into the shoulder of a one-shoulder gown that I thought was spectacular...me, who lives in blue jeans and sweat shirts. She also had some "glass slippers" that I thought were just amazing. I wonder how I came to be such a slacker?
Anyway, I came across this snapshot of them and thought it needed to be painted.

Nina at Winnepesaukee

On a trip to N.H. in October, I took a picture of my daughter taking a picture of the landscape. It became a painting...

St. Paul's in Hingham Square 24"x24"

I actually painted this last summer and I never posted it because there are several things about it that bother me. Conversely, there's alot I like about it too...and although I have signed it, I keep looking at it and seeing things I would like to change...perhaps I will post an updated version later. (which will include straightening out the steeple....!)

A Game of Tag

Looks like I was "tagged" by one blogger (thanks Camille Olsen!)
and received an honorable mention from another (thanks Carol Schiff!)
...ok, I'll play! Although it is not directly connected with my painting, by including links for other artists, it creates a nice little network of artists for others to easily view by clicking the links...now I hope I can get the links in place properly...so here goes.

The rules:
1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.
2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post (*including their blog links*) and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged.

My story:

• · I took up running in my 50’s and I've completed 2 mountain races, (one an extreme race) and one marathon. I have held the distinction of coming in last in 2 races, (the extreme mountain race and a 5K several years ago! I would like to point out, however, that I did complete both! In fact, I have never dropped out of a race...but I would if I thought I needed to).
  

• · I went to see the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 at Madison Square Garden and the Rolling Stones at Boston Garden in 1969
  

• I make my own Christmas cards each year which include scenes that have some personal meaning to me. In 2004, after wanting to travel for so very long, I travelled across country, went to Italy and Mexico but my Christmas card included a scene from the end of my street and the Christmas decorations I see there.
  

• · I started an ecology group in high school and together with a wonderful advisor and the group began the first newspaper recycling program for our little town. (this was VERY many years ago!)
  

• · I was the Medium Size Christmas tree in my kindergarten Christmas pageant.
  

• · Our last 2 cats were rescues, they were homeless before coming to us.
  

• · I am married to a guy who can make the best raviolis from scratch.
  

I am therefore tagging the following artists whose blogs I check regularly:

Kelley MacDonald's Daily Paintings

Mary Sheehan Winn

Passions of an Odd Chick

My Paint Box

Liza Moves On

Art By Deborah Ross

Marian Fortunati

Open Studios!

It's going to be a wonderful art filled weekend courtesy of The Fourth Floor Artists in Rockland, MA. This will be the 17th Annual Open Studios for us (my 5th) and it's been keeping me and my studio mates really busy preparing our work and studio. It promises to be yet another great way to spend the weekend...and what better way to escape today's economic headlines than to take in some beautiful imagery? Take a look at the website for our organization to see our story:
http://www.4thfloorartists.org/index.html.

The Independent 16"x20"

While travelling through Guanajuato last spring, Kelley and I came across this little group of burros and horses. This one wasn't actually pink, purple, aqua, etc... just when he ended up on my canvas. I had been meaning to paint these guys for awhile but after perusing Frank Gardner's blog last week and seeing his "True Blue" image, I was inspired to get going on this little painting...I think it's 16x20 or so. Check his blog entry:

http://frankgardner.blogspot.com/2008/11/election-day-finally.html

On the Set 24"x24"

My son, the filmmaker on the set of one of his films. I must admit, this is from a small photograph of him from a web site, but I really liked the image...I think it's ok because I know the subject...I don't know who to credit the original photo to, but I will as soon as I find out.

12/6/08-So, I learned that the photographer is Patty Allen. Thanks Patty for taking such a great photo and letting me paint from this! For me, it really summed up what I saw from his filmmaking activity!

54 Squared 24" x 30"

A '54 Corvette and me....I love old cars, I love Nantasket Beach, all those elements just seemed to be an image possibility for a painting.

Size Does Matter

For someone who usually paints at least 24" x 24" and recently 30" x 40", trying this horse at 5" x 7" was a different experience to say the least. I

know that Rembrandt painted some small paintings, and very successfully I might add...but I'm not sure that I will be doing this size on any kind of a regular basis...trying to keep an open mind.....

Weir River Cow 26"x26"

I was asked by a friend to exhibit some paintings at a local farm day for Weir River Farm that is run by the Trustees of the Reservations. It's so close by and it is a place I had never visited before. They had lots of animals there, so I went back after the show and painted this cow and some horses. I was glad to discover this wonderful place with its distant views of the ocean and the beautifully cared for fields and animals.

Late Summer in Lynn's Garden 24"x24"

What a magical, peaceful place Lynn's garden is. A neighbor's chickens enjoy crossing the road and venturing into her yard from time to time as I realized when I turned around and saw the eyes of one of them peering at me through the plant stems! Another time I was treated to a parade of wild turkeys walking through...it's easy to feel far away when visiting her yard.

Good Weather and Good News!

After a crazy summer with wild and sometimes violent rainstorms, autumn so far has been particularly beautiful this year. The foliage has been remarkable and nature is so inspiring so my husband, daughter and I went to New Hampshire this week to pick apples, and above is a picture of them at Lake Winnepesaukee. The picture below is from Rockland, MA near my studio where the colors are also stunning.

The good news is that I learned yesterday that I was accepted as a Gallery Artist Member at the South Shore Art Center, a designation at a local art organization in Cohasset that offers gallery space, shows, events, and classes. It was a juried process so it was a valuable experience organizing and presenting my work and I'm so glad to be a part of this level of membership. Looking forward to being a part of this group and participating in some exciting events!

Late Summer at Sea View 18"x24"

"Sea View" is one of those dollhouse-like cottages that I often wonder if average size people can fit inside. Apparently they do, because in this colony of cottages at Chase's Ocean Grove in Dennisport, MA on Cape Cod, we met a few tenants and the interior spaces were wonderful. This location felt like it could bring on instant relaxation even though it was after Labor Day and most of the visitors had travelled home.

Kitty 11" x 14"

One of the gals I used to work with asked me if I would paint her cat and of course, being the cat fan I am, I did. We used to talk about our cats all the time so it was nice to finally see what she looks like! I was happy to paint Kitty.

Break Time 30" x 40"

Each summer, one of my brothers who lives in Ohio, packs up his car and moves to Eastham on Cape Cod for a couple of weeks. All of my brothers play guitar and another one of them always travels with at least one guitar, but in this case, two. I think the guitar in the foreground is an acoustic bass because it has 4 strings. When I saw the guitars left among the chairs, I took a bunch of pictures. I just thought they looked so cool. I may not be done painting guitars yet!

(10/1/08-I just found out the names of the guitars: Takamine Santa Fe, Martin D35, and NYP acoustic bass).

North End Street Corner 15" x 21"

This was painted a couple of months ago on a trip to Boston's North End with Ros. I wished I had planned it better and included more of the Cafe Dello Sport's sign, but it was a bit late when I realized how I had set up that piece of the view. I finally think it's finished but admittedly, I need to take another photo of it, there's so much glare on it. I just wanted to post it. I hope to update the post later.

Fenway Park from Landsdowne St. 24" x 24"

I've wanted to paint Fenway Park for a long time and I finally did it a couple of weeks ago. I love that it is right in the city and has all these great angles and signage that can be seen from the street.

Houses at Thomas Park

I started this a couple of years ago, wasn't wild about it, and decided to try to finish it. I spent a couple of hours on site and met a lot of people. One that wanted me to paint another nearby house and then someone I used to work with...it's a small world.

Marylou's

...it's right near my studio and I have wanted to paint it for a long time. We've had such great weather here in the Northeast for the past week or so I finally made it happen.

Brilliante Weblog Premio-2008

I was delighted to learn that I was one of seven to receive the Brilliante Weblog Award from Elizabeth Floyd Studio. Thank you Elizabeth!http://elizabethfloydstudio.blogspot.com/

As a part of receiving this award, I need to pass it along to those bloggers whose work I admire and enjoy viewing. I have included the work of 7 artists who vary widely in terms of style, focus, and direction in their expressions of creativity. This includes those who paint everyday objects and places in their own unique way, or those who paint the beautiful things and scenery in our world, or even deep subject matter in which the visuals may initially be disturbing, but thought provoking. All of them use art as the potentially powerful medium that it is, capable of lowering blood pressure or raising the consciousness. Paint on everyone, and congratulations!
--Paula

Artslice at: http://artslice-painting-a-day.blogspot.com/

Deb Ross at: Art by Deborah Ross

Mary Sheehan Winn at: http://marysheehanwinn.blogspot.com/

Kelley MacDonald at: http://kelleymacdonalddailypaint.blogspot.com/

Karin Jurick at: http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/

Robin Maria Pedrero at:"Pocketful of Colors" by Robin Maria Pedrero

Luciano Figueirdo at: http://driveoffthecliff.blogspot.com/

All awards have their rules... the "Brilliant Weblog Award" is no exception. I'm excited to pass this award on. You are all truly "Brilliant" artists and bloggers.

Rules of Acceptance:

1. Put the logo on your blog

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.

5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

6. Participation is entirely voluntary (of course!).

7. Have fun...honoring the bloggers who inspire you regularly.

Jack

This is my painting of Jack, the late pet of fellow blogger Karin Jurick who painted Jack and posted his picture on her blog. http://karinjurick.blogspot.com/ Another blogger also painted Jack and sent it to her with a note to expect more from other painters! Thus, an idea for a new blog was born, and she started "Different Strokes from Different Folks" with a call for entries for anyone who wished to offer their own interpretation of her photo. She has a plan to post a new photo weekly for those who wish to participate. I know I want to be a regular part of this wonderfully creative idea and community. Please check out this special blog: http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/ Thanks Karin for this truly wonderful effort!

Maggie's Farm: Verse 2

The cow posed graciously for me....

The sheep were a different story, but they were awesome nonetheless...Thanks again to Colchester Farm, (not really Maggie's Farm!) they put up with me dragging my easel back and forth from one side of the pasture to the other...following the animals around(!) This farm is lovely and they had the most amazing collection of sunflowers. I wanted to paint them, however, it's not often that I have such a great collection of farm animals to paint. Some very large pumpkins too! I photographed a haystack they are building out in the front at a couple of different times of day. It would be nice to paint them...Monet painted his plein air, I will probably need to paint them in my studio, using my photos as a reference. It will be good to see how they turn out! Check out the farm's website: http://www.colchesterneighborhoodfarm.com/about.html

I thought I would include a picture of Simba...the hard-working farm cat. Must be that painting, when I brought it home, my cat's first order of business was to walk on it as well. I guess they approve of it. Oh yes, the cow is 24"x20", the sheep, 20"x20."

Sunny Afternoon in P-Town 24"x18"

Visited Provincetown on Sunday for what was probably one last time this summer. Another quickie painting but fun to do. I think it is obvious that I added the 3 larger figures later in the studio. The guy sitting in front of the shop was sketched in quickly while I was at the actual location and I like the way he looks the best. Next time, I will try to put all the people in using gesture type sketches while I'm on site...I think that will be a vast improvement. Looking forward to that.

End of Season 20"x16"

This was a quickie done at Nantasket Beach this weekend which is sadly, what we New Englanders consider to be the "last" weekend of summer...

Maggie's Farm

It's really not Maggie's farm...but Maggie works there and she told me about it! The animals were doing what they do best, moving around (rather than pose for these sketches), but that was part of the challenge...and the fun....The colors didn't reproduce that well here, they are more vivid. (Thanks Connie for allowing me to paint at your lovely farm today)! The goat is 20"x24", the chickens 20"x20".

Grampy's Room

Modern medicine is an amazing thing...

Little Compton Cows

The cows kept moo-ving around...a little tough to capture but fun nonetheless.

Janet's View-Work in Progress

This painting started off beautifully loose and became too uptight somehow. I'm not done with it just yet though....

To Serve and Protect 12"x9"

My Best Side 12"x9"

Life is Good 12"x9"

These aren't the best photographs of the paintings; I will need to try to reshoot them...

McGoo's Pizzeria revised

Sometimes I look at my painting so long I need to take a break from it. There were a couple of issues I had with this painting when I posted it previously but I have made a couple of changes. (I won't say where...) I conversed with one of my studio mates via email about what to change and I had to laugh...it's kind of cool that we can send images and messages off electronically.

McGoo's Pizzeria

I used to drive past this building in Southie on my way to work some mornings. I have always loved looking at it but painting it was another story. I was standing on a hill opposite this building and the vantage point was challenging to say the least. I was looking up at parts of it and down at other parts while the road to the left, Dorchester Street sloped down and being one of those unique buildings I love so much...not all the windows are the same size! (at least on the storefront) Anyway, this one was not for sissies...and I should really try it again just to see how it comes out. I met alot of nice folks while I was painting it; that's one of the perks of plein air painting.

Jo's Nautical Bar

Jo's has been at the end of Hull for as long as I can remember. It's one of those quirky but charming places that become local landmarks and I liked this view with the windmill behind it. I've been told that they open and close at random hours and I have been in there a couple of times when they did happen to be open. It's a unique place.

Catherine

A family friend asked if I would paint a picture of his late mother. This is from a photograph so I hope it conveys her appearance in a way that is pleasing to her family.

Peace Garden

This painting is not quite done yet but I wanted to look at it on-line for awhile in addition to in my studio. Rather than paint the buildings or happenings in the North End of Boston recently, I turned to my left and saw this grouping of statues in St. Leonard's Peace Garden. You might think that since the models weren't moving, that they would be a little easier to capture! I'm glad I tried this, but I need to step back for a bit and work on something else. I signed it, but when I looked at it a little later, I thought...hmmmm....

High Fashion 24"x24"

Happy Blog Day to me! Today marks the anniversary of my first ever blog entry one year ago! I love this process and the ability to easily view the art of so many others both finished and in process. Anyway, this painting is on Newbury St. and while I was painting, I was filmed by the crew from TapouT, the martial arts show on the Versus Network. I'm not sure why I was included in the shooting, maybe I look like a contender. Anyway, if they use the shots, I will be in the one of the episodes at the end of the season!

Madonna on Dorchester Street 24"x30"

While looking around trying to determine what to paint, I was considering the usual, all those buildings that seem to be unique to the Boston area that house people and businesses. I was parked in front of Marion Manor, a nursing facility in South Boston and Ros had already set up down the street working on a street view. I didn't think I would see anything from that vantage point that I really wanted to paint that day when I noticed the statue of the Blessed Mother, a visual oasis with street signs and flowers around her and one of the buildings that I find so typical of the area. Here's my view.

Garden Magic

Painting in Lynn's garden is always a treat...and a challenge. Flowers are a real excercise for me because as Ros pointed out in one of her classes many years ago..."God already made the flowers pretty..." meaning...we had to translate them to the painting in a way that made an image that reflected our own creativity....man, is it difficult...but this is my latest try. The actual colors are deeper and more intense (with no glare!) so I will attempt to reshoot this...(again!!!)

Ready for Work 18"x24"

These guys were lined up at the shipyard...I have wanted to paint them for a long time now...I finally got the chance on Sunday!

One Day in P-Town 24"x24"

I started this last year with Ros and Kelley and I was pretty unsure about it so it sat in my studio in a pile of other unfinished works. I decided to take it with me when we visited my brother in Eastham a couple of weeks ago and after we left, we went to P-Town so I could spend a couple of hours on it to see if I could do anything with it. I saw John Waters pass by while I was painting this! (It was Provincetown International Film Festival weekend). I should have asked him to pose for my painting!

Houses at Gunrock Beach

There seems to be a kind of funky rhythm to the styles and arrangements of these former cottages. What a great spot.

Field of Honor 24"x36"

What a sight in Cohasset Harbor for Memorial Day, a "healing field" of approximately 400 American flags in honor of people who have given their lives for our freedom. It is sponsored by the American Legion which is right across the street on one side of the street and directly across from Veterans Memorial Park on the other. It's a great idea and had much impact. I hope my painting does as well.

Hey Now

While driving to my painting site yesterday, I heard that song from Crowded House on the radio, "Don't Dream It's Over," and for the first time, I listened to the lyrics. The opening lines grabbed me:

"There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup...."

It reminded me of how easy it is to become overwhelmed with less than important details that can really wear us down over time if we're not careful. I see it all the time, and I even let it happen to me for awhile, and I'm just glad I was able to identify it and move in the direction in which I could flourish rather than burnout. That said, I will be posting images soon, at least I should be anyway. I've been painting like crazy, I just need to finish some of them. It's been great.

Test Pattern

So, it's been awhile...but a good stretch with much going on. I made a decision to leave my job awhile ago and my last day was a week and a half ago. I have had my parents visiting since last week through next week which has been nice since they live out of state, a family party, and a painting demo at the NRAS...it's been busy to say the least, taking this new found time to clean house and work around the yard, although not much time for painting....yet. Beginning June 16, painting will be my focus for the short term anyway; I needed to take some time to make this happen. I have so much I want to paint, but my past time commitments have been such that I just couldn't make it work the way I needed to, and for at least a brief while, I will be able to immerse into the world as I think it should be, and then take it from there. We'll see...Anyway, the great news is, I have made it into a couple of juried shows, and won awards in one juried and one members' show...it's a nice segue into my new direction. I will most likely not post for a few more weeks, but I'm already looking forward to my next entry.

A View from Sandie's Casita 14"x11"

I could live in San Miguel de Allende and paint forever and not complete all the images I want to capture. Everywhere I looked I saw at least one painting. This is a detail of the view of the backside of some of the architectural details of the Oratorio. This town is so stunningly beautiful, it always overwhelms me.

The View from Barbara's Rooftop in San Miguel

Here is the finished version of one of the paintings I posted earlier from Mexico. This was a wonderful day painting from another rooftop. It would be possible to paint every day from that vantage point...it was hard to narrow down one particular area to paint.