I'm a Pepper, You're a Pepper.... 6x8

This lesson was about keeping the darks vibrant and not beginning the painting in too high a key, a foible of mine. If you start too light you can't make the highlights 'pop'. I also worked my edges more than usual to get a more vibrant feeling. Sorry about the glare but I really wanted to post it tonight rather than wait for daylight to shoot it again.

An Experimental Painting

These Nova Scotia cows are standing on a hill and the land in the background is actually across an inlet. I had this sketched in and decided to use the mixtures left on my palette from another painting to block in. The colors are influenced by the pink light from the setting sun on the buckskin cows. I included this value image which tells me that my masses are pretty accurate. I'll clean up my palette and bring this one to completion.

Looking for My Paints

I looked in all the cabinets for these paints which I was SURE I'd left here in Naples. Luckily, I'd brought my 'car kit' with me so I did have paint but I've been puzzling over the missing paint and looking in closets and drawers over and over again. I discovered it after I used up the food my loving sister Anna Marie had laid in for us before we arrived. She enjoys buying flowers and stocking the fridge for us. So, as I used the last of the food piled on the middle and least visible shelf I found the paints! Since I played hookey at the pool today and didn't post a painting , I'll finally reply to Joyce Washor's tag and list five things about myself and tag five other bloggers to do the same. This is a way of getting people to visit other blogs and of course let others know a little more about you. My five things are: 1. Never been to Disney. 2. I stopped reading as much as I once did when I got a computer. 3. If I'm not painting I'm reading. 4. I view everything as a painting whether it's the highway through the windshield or the produce at the market 5. I'm a gypsy in my soul and I would go away 3 times a month if I could. These are my taggee's, Pablo Villicana Lara, Karen Appleton , Janette Jones , Kelley MacDonald & RDL. Check them out.

Bristol Mill 6x8

Besides my attraction to Mill Buildings in general the inspiration here is the fabulous red and green color scheme. I hope it pleases you as Qiang would say.

Bristol Mill 6x8

I'm always interested in how an artist gets to the finish line. I spent an hour getting my drawing correct, which eliminated the myriad ways in which I could have gone wrong once I began to paint. I've also started mixing colors before I begin to paint, figuring out my color scheme ahead of time and mixing the darkest darks first and lightening them value-wise before I start. After I do this with the major colors, I block the picture in using the darks and because I have premixed colors and know where I'm going it's easy to get the main values down. Here are three preliminary stages of my painting of this great old Millbuilding in Bristol, RI.

The Samovar 8x10

I was out combing the Tuesday Morning store for some new props today because I'm in Naples,FL and felt the urge to shop which is the major leisure sport here. Nothing really great there and in fact the store was not quite what I expected. Overpriced and not even as tidy as Ocean State Job Lot (for you New Englanders). Tomorrow I'll go to GOODWILL. This is a Samovar or tea server painted in one of my early alla prima classes. This one fell off the brush.

Motif # 1 Damons' Point

This little 'shack' has been perched precariously on an island near the mouth of the North/South River confluence forever. It washed away during the Blizzard of '78 and was rebuilt. It's recently been remodeled to be more of a house with a gabled roof. I'm glad I have many photos of it 'before'. I used to know a lady who lived there.

Summer People

I've been away taking care of some family stuff which put a crimp in my creative process but my site meter report says you're all still there checking in. Thanks, I'm getting back to work today. I did this 9x12 plein air painting at a paint out many years ago. Initially, I thought it was a mistake to let the arms run off the edge of the board but most viewers think the people are fishing and don't seem bothered by the cropping. I like the color in this one. Hot and summery.

Keeping It Simple

Well, it turns out that K.I.S.S. is harder than I'd thought. I added a transparent bag to the set up and a transparent ribbon. Not simple at all. This is my work so far. I was well into it when I realized my drawing was off so I corrected it. Connecting with all of you through the blogosphere has been a real joy for me. Being able see all this great painting going on in real time and participating in it is so inspiring. Check out EmptyEasel a fantastic site for artists and art lovers. Happy New Year everyone and many thanks for your messages and comments.

Happy New Year

I added the highlights to finish this bell. Watch for more ribbon paintings. Happy New Year everyone.

Jingle Bells and Red Ribbon

Here's another version of this bell and ribbon. I'll go back and add some highlights later. Time for a break. This is a good subject as the ribbon is just a series of angles, darks and highlights. Strangely, I am not afraid of reflective subjects and even find them easier to paint than, say, trees.

Jingle Bells

You know the expression K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid) I find it hard to do. It may not be in my nature? Anyway, this not so simple set up is what I've been working with for the past week::::repeating to myself:::::keepitsimplekeepitsimple:: Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year too.

My Website Cache

Just to let everyone know. It turns out that the marysheehanwinn.com site which disappeared this past summer is cached and comes up when the Google search query is Mary Sheehan Winn fine art. And.. usually I don't post non painting related material on this site but I've been in New Hampshire for the weekend visiting with my two little nephews, thus, no painting but a whole bunch of fun. Colin is all silly smiles and Ryan has his man of mystery air in this photo.

Fall Birch Tree 8x10

I began this landscape several weeks ago when the leaves were still quite colorful and this birch tree was sporting its yellow green Fall foliage. The tree on the left is calling out for more work. Can anyone weigh in with a critique?

Playboy Lighter

I love these parasols. They're the perfect compliment to the 'party' mood this lighter conjures up. A Chinese New Year party at the 'Mansion' maybe? This was painted in ambient light thus no strong shadows. It needs final highlights on the lighter and more color in the parasol and a touch of dark to make the parasol 'sit' down. Some of my blog paintings are featured in Holiday Small Works at Oceanside 17 Studio and Gallery in Hull which is a sweet little space just next to Saporito's restaurant on Rockland Circle. Franny Andahazy is the artist/gallery owner who also throws parties as a business. Stop by and visit her and check out the work of a number of the South Shore's finest painters. Thanks for the visits and the comments. I really enjoy reading them and again, it's more fun to paint if people are looking.

Parasol Trio 5X5

Abandoned Blog? Not really, but I have realized that I'm not up to a painting a day. Other things take over and must be dealt with. I'm amazed by the painters who can bang out one great painting after another. Check out some of the links to the right. Edward B. Gordon from Germany is one of them. Beautiful work! Open Studios is finally behind me and I think it was quite successful. Many familiar faces found us at our new locations and many friends trucked up the 4 flights of stairs to bless my new studio with their good vibes. I appreciate it more than you can know. I finally changed the background on this painting and this is the finish.

Parasol Painting Update

Every once in a while I hit the send button by mistake and all my readers get a blank or incomplete post. Oops! What I meant to say was that after working on this painting to darken the values, I think I over did the dark orangy background and will have to rework it. Not today though. I'm in the final preparations for Open Studios which is this coming weekend. The photo with the set up is the before, where the darks aren't dark enough. The second shot looks pretty good under the light BUT in natural light the contrast between the blue umbrella and the background is lost. Another lesson. By the way, I invite critique and suggestion from all of you.

Parasols

This painting was started yesterday at Rockland Middle School's Artist in Residence day which is put on by a volunteer parent committee. We set up in the lobby and did our thing, chatting with the kids as they changed class and had a few moments to watch and ask questions. I set up my still life again today to work on the painting and I finally got the contrast I was looking for. In order to get the highlights you have to 'see' everything darker than it actually is. I'll photograph the painting in daylight tomorrow.

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.

Cemetery Maple 6x8

Has anyone ever noticed that the most beautiful trees are in cemeteries? I did this little block in from my car before the hurricane winds took all the leaves. I am in the midst of trying to get ready for Open Studios and since I just moved in and the lights still have to be hung, and everything is packed. It's quite daunting.