Empty Interiors

Given the on-going circumstances,
I’ve been re-visitiing “empty interiors” as a subject.

A friend posted an image on FB a few months ago
that inspired me to do this.

“Party of One” 14 x 12 acrylic

This was my first quick pass with acrylics.
I liked it so much I thought I’d try the same subject in oils.

20 x 16 oil WIP

When re-doing a subject I often end up over thinking it;
fixing, blending, and measuring so much that it
becomes stiff, expected, and boring.
Frustrating!

My current exploration is:
How to revive the initial immediacy and excitement
in a painting after it’s been over worked.

The answer I’ve heard is;
”Destroy it, forget the original idea
and let the painting tell you what it needs”

That is MUCH more difficult than you can imagine.

Texture, Surface, Paint Handling

Last week in class, we introduced collage
to our Modern Painting approach.
”Painting with paper” to me, is the best way to
let go of detail and just play with design.

For homework, we were to take an older painting and
either use it as a reference or do a collage right over it.

I had this older painting in my studio …...

…..and just started adding paper and then some paint,
then more paper until this happened.

This turned out to be a great seque
into our discussion this week;
texture, surface, and paint handling;
another favorite topic that most of us rarely experiement with.

Stay tuned!

A Studio Visit

Last week, the folks at Concord Art asked if I’d
video myself in my studio
talking about my painting practice.

Here’s the link to the You Tube video.

This was daunting to say the least as I’m
not very comfortable talking about myself or my work.
(Or looking at myself on a camera).
That said, I now have a tripod for my phone
so I can video demos for my on-line painting class.

The joys of technology!
Enjoy.

Newly Inspired

Lately, while preparing the exercises for my weekly class,
I’m getting newly inspired by re-visiting the basics.

Last week we began talking about VALUE
and how it’s the most important abstract element in painting.

“Color get’s all the credit, Value does all the work”.

Among other things, we talked about how High or Low key paintings
can evoke a speciific emotion or expression.

The Blue Room
16 x 14 acrylic

I did this over a previous painting of same subject,
pushing myself to keep all the values higher than middle,
except the rug.
(I left the rug darker to ground the painting)

Putting it into B&W tells it all;
I probably could have made it even lighter!

This is what I love about teaching;
“I teach what I want to learn” !

On-Line Art Classes

I taught my first “Modern Painting” class on-line
this week and I’m happy to report that
it can work!
It’s not the same as being in a classroom,
but by limiting the class to 10,
we are still able to interact and share ideas
in a supportive and comfortable place.
And that is what we all, especially artists,
sorely need right now.
Here’s an encouraging and insightful interview on this topic
with Stuart Shils from Painting Perceptions.
Be sure to watch the video at the end.

After the class, I was inspired to try
an “odd perspective” of my studio
just for kicks.

I tried to keep it loose and childlike
with out-of-proportion, flat shapes.

Salty Dog Studio
16 x 20 acylic experiment

I’m very inspired and grateful to be teaching again,
and look forward to exploring all the new opportunities
this new platform offers.

Have a great weekend.

A Year in Review

As a New year approaches,
I’m reflecting on how this last year
has affected my work as an artist.
I’ve realized that given the new circumstances,
I was able to just do work
for the sake of doing it!
No pressure from shows, galleries, deadlines, and/or teaching
gave me the chance to just play and have fun.

Here are a few of my favorite experiments:

“Solace”
16 x 16 oil
I began playing with larger more textural spaces in my
architectural pieces.

“Spring Fireworks”
12 x 12 oil
I tried making things up as I went;
not using any reference.
Very scary.

Table For Two
8 x 8 oil
Even my small interiors and still lives began to get
less “literal” and more about shape.

Silver Lining
12 x 12 oil
I even dipped my toe into “full on” abstraction!

I’m looking forward to seeing where 2021 takes me
but I’m pretty sure I won’t be “painting to please” again!
Stay tuned and Happy New year!

NOTE:
When the pandemic first hit,
I read an article about careers that would be the least affected,
and being an artist was up at the top of the list.
Lucky me (us!)

Zoom Art Classes?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to present a zoom art class
and last week I was inspired after taking a terrific
week long on-line ”Fearless Abstraction” workshop
with Amy Wynne through Concord Art .

Amy handled the platform so professionally;
it made the whole experience as close to a live class as possible.
She presented us with many exciting ideas and exercises,
and we had time to work independently.
We also got to share our discoveries and interact as a group.

Here’s one of my favorite exercises:
interpretting an image with just 5 shapes.

The whole experience has inspired me to
arrange an on-line class to teach in Jan./Feb.

(through North River Arts)

Stay tuned!

Zoom Class with a Model

Last week I joined a 2 hour “live” modelling session on zoom
presented by Concord Art.
The model was the stunning 5 month pregnant Rose,
posing from her home in a bikini.

What an eye opener!

We started with quick 5-15 minute poses.
No instruction.
Just a chance to play.

I broke out the acrylics for the last one.

Who could image a time that we’d be
drawing from a model on our computers?
Alone in our studios???

Not me.
But it’s what we have to work with
so I’m going with it!

NOTE:
I highly reccomend Concord Art for on-line classes.
A great way to get through this!

Weekly On Line class

I am so grateful to be involved with a wonderful group of artists
who meet once a week for an on-line for a class with
Mark Daniel Nelson.
This month, we’ve been exploring the idea of using large empty areas
in a painting to give the viewer an area to “rest”.
MDN refers to this as a
”big dumb shape”.

“Room 210”
16 x 16 acrylic

I left the large bed area loosely painted in order to lead the viewer
to the more detailed items on the night stand.
Here’s a terrific example Mark showed by Kim English.

(The large unfinished area on the right
is the BDS.)

Needless to say, this on-going class
has been a blessing during the pandemic.
The camaraderie and interaction with the other artists
has kept me happily engaged and excited about painting!

Thankful

I hope everyone had a safe (and somewhat festive) Thanksgiving.
As always, I am eternally thankful for my family, friends, and patrons
who support my passion for painting.
Without it, I’m not sure how I’d be faring these days!
Here’s one more Woodscape I’ve been working on.

I’m enjoying the organic, free form shapes found in the woods.
They are a nice contrast to the more geometric shapes
found at the beach.

“Yellow Cup”
14 x 14 acrylic

And now I’m excited to have some fun commissions
and gifts to work on this month.
Bring on the holidays!

Late Fall Landscape

I drove by some cranberry bogs yesterday and
I caught a glimpse of the muted purple-red color
of the foliage in the bogs
against the dark greens of the pine trees lining them.

There are still moments of brilliance in the late fall landscape;
and I couldn’t help exaggerating that in this piece below.

After the Harvest
16 x 16 acrylic

I did these quick little watercolor sketches
when I got home to use as reference.
I’m having fun with these.
Hope you enjoy.

Storing Subject Matter

Here is another “woodscape” inspired by the amazing
color show Mother Nature has given us this fall.
Now that the colder temps are here and the leaves are falling,
I’m afraid the show will soon be over.

16 x 16 acrylic on canva paper

Below is the quick Procreate sketch I used as a reference,
done as a layer over an image on my I Pad.

The original image:

Like a squirrel storing up nuts for the winter,
I’ve been storing up subject matter to help me
get through the long winter ahead.
We’ll see where that takes me.
Then again, there’s always still lives and interiors!

Woodscapes

It’s been a glorious fall this year in New England
so I’ve been spending as much time outdoors as possible.
My daily walk in the woods has inspired me to do a series of these
simple, quick watercolor sketches to
then develop into larger “woodscape”
paintings.
These are each about 4” x 4”

Today I got to work on this 16 x 16 acrylic.
I’m using thin acrylics on canva paper
and oil sticks.

I’ve noticed that
even when I try to be “abstract”,
my paintings end up looking like landscapes.
So I’m just going with it.

Happy Halloween

I guess we’re getting used to re-thinking holidays;
so instead of trick or treating today,
I’m posting this fun abstract that reminds me of
Halloween.

“Ready or Not”
10 x 10 acrylic on wood

These two pieces will be included in the
Copley Society Holiday Small Works
show open virtually and live! from
November 12 - December 25.

”Come On Over”
10 x 10 acrylic on wood

Stay safe everyone!

"Abstract" Landscapes

After a walk in the woods this week,
I decided to try an abstract “impression” of what I’d seen,
without using any reference.
I just started laying in colors and shapes,
pulling and pushing, and this was the result.

Red October
12 x 12 acrylic

I find it funny that most of my “abstract” attempts
generally end up looking like landscapes.
Baby steps, I guess!

That said, I’m delighted and surprised that this
12 x 12 abstract, done this spring during covid,
was accepted in to “Tipping Point”, a National Juried Show
at South Shore Art Center.

”Silver Lining”
12 x 12 oil, oil sticks, charcoal

That’s encouraging!

Switching Gears

I think I’m finally finished working on this;
my attempt to hint at a subject,
without telling the whole story.
(Although it’s pretty obvious.)

Corner of Heaven
14 x 14 oil

Last week we moved to our ”winter house”,
8 miles away from the beach.
I’m going to miss the vastness of the ocean and
the intense light over there.
That said, I find great joy in being surrounded by trees
and look forward to some new subject matter.

NOTE:
I’m mostly excited about being so close to my studio
and look forward to spending long hours in there.
Once the weather
keeps us inside!

Coloraide Paper

Over the summer I’d been playing with the idea of
using golf courses as a subject matter.
Nothing much came from it so
yesterday I got out the Coloraide paper and started simplifying.

I tried to limit the shapes, colors and values
and just let the paper do it’s thing!

When I started cleaning up,
I realized that the negative shapes of paper that were left behind
could be used for a more abstract look.

Just placing the papers on a support in different patterns and arrangements
(before gluing) was inspiring and great therapy!

Like many artists these days, I’m having a hard time focussing
on one thing and feel rather rudderless.
For now, I just keep showing up in the studio
with the hope that something wonderful will happen!
Hang in there artist friends.

Collage Inspiration

I watched a terrific collage demo via Warehouse 521
on zoom this week with Nancy Gruskin
and it reminded me how much fun doing collage can be.
So I got out my coloraide paper
and just started cutting.
I did this in about 30 minutes.

“Kristen”
12 x 8
coloraid paper on mixed media board

I’d spent the day before working on this painting,
using my daughter-in-law as a model.

“Kristen”
12 x 16 oil

I think I painted over her legs a dozen times,
struggling to get the porportions just right.
Cutting them out of paper was SO much easier.

And much more fun!

Empty Chairs

A few years ago a woman from Dana Farber Cancer Center
came to my studio looking for paintings to hang in the chemo rooms.
She chose mostly beach scenes with people relaxing.
I had some wonderful paintings of chairs on decks and porches and in groups on the beach.
When I asked her why she didn’t take them,
she said they avoid any art that includes empty chairs, empty clothing,
and/or flowers in medical facilities!

That said, chairs will always be a favorite subject of mine.

Blue Chair
10 x 8 oil

This one looked a little too predictable so I think I’ll crop it
to this; making the chair less apparent.
Maybe that will engage the viewer longer?

6 x 4 cropped version

Looking forward to getting back into the studio full time.
Wrapping up summer at the beach….so it won’t be long.
Time to hunker down!

September Light

Every September I’m struck by the strong value patterns
created by the intense fall light.
And I love how it affects interiors.

September Morning
10 x 10 oil sketch

I’m experimenting with zooming in order to avoid
“naming the subject” so I can focus more
on shapes and value.
The eternal struggle.

NOTE:
This week, the smoke from the fires out West
have created an eerie haze in our skies;
creating even more extraordinary light.
(Taken last night, no filter)

This could be fun to paint too!