Still Painting...

So sorry I have not posted in a while. I've been pretty busy. It's amazing what Spring brings to the table. You're pulled into a thousand different directions. I am still painting...the one thing I have managed to do consistently. I've been working on my oils and hope to have a few paintings posted soon. This is a new challenge for me since I've spent the better time of the last year using pastels.

I'm currently unemployed, but I'm very busy painting, doing some freelance advertising and design work, coaching two baseball teams and are looking forward to the 90 degree humidity, New England so graciously offers. I've never looked forward to the beach so much in my life. The beach offers a tranquility for me I can't explain. Maybe it's putting the worst winter of my life behind me, or maybe seeing how much fun my kids have....either way, It's right on our door step. I can't wait.

see you soon.

Jeff

"How Sweet it is Too"

I've actually posted the Valentine's Day candy on ebay for those who may be interested in purchasing it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260360004783&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

When in Rome, do as...

I've actually named this "How Sweet It Is Too," second in my candy series. If you remember my candy corn at Halloween. 

I painted this because it seems everyone is doing it and I wanted to have some fun too. Only problem is, I really don't like it at all. Down to the photo I shot. Actually...I guess I like the background. That's about it. 

It's a 4x4 pastel of some candy, my son kept eating while I was painting. I finished it in about 30 minutes. I think it shows. I just splashed them on the table and didn't use anything other than the room lighting.

It was a lot of fun. Challenging actually. Writing with large pastels is not easy. Sorry, I don't like the colors, shadows, highlights, writing, composition...I don't even think I like my signature.

I guess I'll bail myself out and call it practice for the next great work of art.LOL. See you soon.

"Rocks Village Firehouse" Haverhill, MA

Hello Everyone...Sorry, I've been away. I've been working on this pastel during the week. It's 12x16 and it's the first larger painting I've started and finished in a reasonable time frame in a while. This is a little red house right around the Haverhill, Merrimack border. It's a photo I shot last summer. It's the historical Rocks Village Firehouse right next to the Merrimack River. It was build in 1861.

As I drove by the house stood out like a sore thumb. Luckily I had my camera and immediately thought "I have to paint that!" I must like the end result because I signed it. I usually take 5 months to do that. I painted this in about 5 hours I think. I'm very happy with it. I'm not sure if it's the painting or remembering what a perfect day it was. I hope everyone likes it. Thanks for looking.

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.

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...

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.

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...