Sunday, January 18, 2009

Nantucket Patio

This is my favorite painting so far. It's also my largest and required the most time. It still needs a bit of work, but it's almost there. I'm working on softening up the background a bit.

This is a picture a friend shot from the bed and breakfast they stayed at in Nantucket last summer. I saw the picture and immediately had to paint it. It's 18x24 in pastel. I've probably put in about 30 hours so far. It has needed to be fixed twice, which set me back, but I'm very pleased with the end result. Should I say "almost" end result. I love the way the colors pop off the page. There is something about Nantucket and Cape Cod. They have a very special feeling. A feeling I really tried to capture in this painting. I really don't think the picture does it much justice. It doesn't really pick up the texture in the bushes or the vibrant colors. I hope you like it.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Oh the weather outside is frightful...

Yes, I love the winter, but I love the summer even more. Sprinklers, Lawns, beaches and sand....I'd take them any day over 16 below zero.
Yes, that is a minus in front of the 16.6.

Must paint more summer subjects!!!

One of my favs...

I love this painting....

Maybe it's the subject, maybe not...It's from a picture of Plum Island in Newburyport, MA that Robin had in one of her first classes. It still needs a tiny bit of work, but I was pleased with the results. I'm also working on framing it too.

I guess you can figure out where I'm going...beach paintings....sprinklers....It is 3 degrees out in one of the coldest winters I ever remember.

It's about time...

I have two wonderful boys. One of them has begged me to paint him a sprinkler since the summer. He has never let up, I've procrastinated for months. I finally got around to doing it and I got the seal of approval from him last week.

It's about an 8x9 pastel, I put together on a scrap piece of paper in about 30 minutes. He loved it.

I've already got my second commission from my other son. Stay tuned...

Thursday, January 8, 2009

FIRST UNDERPAINTING!

Sorry I've been away for a few days. I've been a little busy. Actually, I have lots of time now, just haven't had time to get to my blog. I'll get in to that later.

This is another Pastel (12x18) I did in Robin's class. It was my first under painting! It was a lot of fun. I remember i made a mess while I was doing it, but I really loved the end result. The Sky is my favorite. I chose this image from some photographs Robin had taken and I love its potential with the amazing depth and the dramatic sky. I was very pleased with it. I'm not sure if I would have been without the under painting. I think this was the third painting I did in her class. Again...no name. I'll come up with one later. Yes, it's not signed either. I'm framing another painting i did, it was actually the second one I did. I'll post that soon. Thanks! See you soon.

Friday, January 2, 2009

FIRST PAINTING!

This is the first painting I did in Robin's class. It is an 12x18 pastel of a farm in Exeter I drive by from time to time. I never have my camera when I drove by, but this morning i did. Around 9am, the sun was shining beautifully on the field and from the road I could see the horses through the fence. The dew was dripping off the fence which I thought added a nice touch. I don't think I captured that very well, but again this was my first pastel and I think I bit off more than I could chew. I worked very hard on layering the trees and getting the texture right, which I think came out ok. I guess I should come up with a name for it...