The Greats

"Iced In" 30x40 by Charles Movalli

I don't have a painting to post tonight but I've been thinking of sharing the work of some of my favorite painters instead. The list is long but I have to start somewhere and today I was browsing the work of Charles Movalli and  marveling at his mastery of his medium-he works in oils and acrylics-and his total understanding of composition and understated, but powerful color harmony. I love the way he includes a fearless foreground in many of his paintings. I mean that the foreground leads the eye into and around the work. It may be just shapes and colors that indicate a dock or harbor but each brushstroke is perfectly placed. There are many links on the web but mostly to Galleries who represent him so I'll include the link to Bayview Gallery in Camden, Maine where you'll also enjoy the roster of other high caliber artists. Enjoy.

"Cup Shadows"

Click to Bid

  

 Three beautiful cups and a saucer from my extensive collection of white objects found mostly at Goodwill. Naples is loaded with second hand shops, filled with any and all kinds of treasure. Don and I went into a place called Sensible Chic which is in a strip mall sort of building. Come to find out the entire building was filled with second hand 'vendors', each renting space. What we initially thought was a 3 store section, turned into a maze of conjoined shops all filled to the brim with YOU NAME IT! We were in there for an hour before Don had to go sit in the car and read his book. I finally exhausted my sensory receptors and quit without buying a single 'Prop'....but I saw some tempting stuff ;) so I'll be returning.   

Cordage Park in Fall 5x7

Yesterday was another glorious fall day despite the hurricane winds we took over the weekend. The trees are still colorful and not all have turned. It's very late for that phenomenon to be happening in this region. Yesterday, I painted this little study at Gray's Beach in Kingston. Sitting in the car, of course, with my little 6x8 pochade box. When I got home I opened up Emile Gruppe's books to check out his pointers on landscapes. Gruppe , a Cape Ann artist was a student of John Carlson who wrote Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting, (arguably) the definitive book on the subject. Both of these guys were masters in their own right. Check them out. I'm after more polish in my paintings, loose control as it were. Doing these little studies is a good way to improve. Not to mention the enjoyment factor.