Winter Marsh

"Winter Glow" 

6x6 oil on board

I've been a bit reluctant to write about this but, this blog is about my real life, so I'll share. Little by little, I'm finding my painting mojo again. It's been a hard time and I am consumed with the chore of sorting and tossing and resolving the 'beloved flotsam and jetsam' of my dear Mama's and our family's life.

Report cards from grade school, every card/invite she ever received, newspapers containing momentous news events (Oy), bookshelves full of books and souvenirs. Precious family 'stuff' in the china cabinets. And photos, photos and more photos. 

I picked up some boxes and marked them with the names of my siblings and as I sort, I drop things into each box for them to enjoy along with things I think should be theirs. Because I insisted upon looking at every single piece of paper, they have left me to that and I don't mind except that the volume after 43 years in the same house is, um, voluminous. My dear husband is the God send to this whole task and is also on the receiving end of my prickly emotions :( Without his guidance (lists, lists, lists and advice and more advice)  I'd be lost. He is the left brain balance in my right brain world. 

So, I'm sad but, I'm grateful for my family and my dear friends near and far who continue to lift me up. Thank you all for your continued support.

About the painting. One thing I love about the winter is how the setting sun lights up the tops of the trees creating a beautiful complimentary color scheme. 

You Gotta Have Friends

"You Gotta Have Friend's"

6x6 oil on panel
Click to Buy

What's not to love about bright orange Gerbera's,  which were a little token of my affection for my partner in crime, Kelley MacDonald. We spent a wonderful day together, having lunch at the very cool Providence Art Club and then we painted the daisies, and then we had a pizza party on Kelley's riverside porch with a view to rival any! It was awesome and I'm thrilled to be home in New England!

Three Gardenias

"Three Gardenias"

6x6 oil on panel
SOLD

My girls never made a peep about having to paint these flowers today although I may have detected a bit of a grimace when they saw the setup. I started this for my demo and finished it up this afternoon. Last night I had a hard time sleeping after the unbelievable terror bombings in Boston. I have no words.

Be My Valentine

"Valentine Roses" 6x6 oil on panel
click to buy

This was my demo today for the fearless students in my Painting a Day Class. They work so hard and they are all so dedicated to improving. They tackled these silk roses with nary a whimper. That's what I love about them.

Turps Can

"Turps Can Inspired By Carol Marine" 
6x6 oil on board

SOLD

I've been super busy since I arrived in Naples, which is really not an excuse for not completing my 30 in 30, but it works for me ;)

I enjoy doing my drive by paintings and will definitely be painting more of them. 

Meanwhile, Thursday we welcomed a precious new baby boy into the family! I spent the day at the hospital Friday, rocking him and admiring his teeny weeny-ness while his daddy, my nephew, took care of business and his very tired mama got a chance to take a nap. Yesterday I made the new parents a crock pot meal and offered to stay and hold baby Win, while they ate. 

They fell for it ;D

Drive By #9 Yellow Truck

"Drive By #9 Yellow Truck"

6x6 oil on gesso board 

I took an extra day to recover from the big drive, but here's the first make up in my 30 Paintings in 30 Days painting challenge organized by Leslie Saeta. This cool overpass is at the beginning of a decent into the Newark, New Jersey area. The yellow truck was the big score in this photo from a previous trip. This time it was foggy.

Just Show Up

Almost Winter 6x6 oil on panel

I had the most fabulous time Saturday at BookStock, a meet and greet at the Winslow House featuring panels of  authors which included readings with a plethora of local writers. I had no idea!!
Meanwhile, I put in some studio time and realized again, that all I have to do is show up and the work gets underway. It's a delicious feeling for an artist. Thanks for your visits and comments. They make my day.

On the Mud

Click to bid

This kind of weather makes me feel good about being inside. Here in cool, gloomy, gray New England I'm tucked into my studio painting boats. This boat is moored at Five Islands, Nova Scotia, where the tide goes out completely, leaving beautiful red mud and rivulets of turquoise water.

After being on Daily Paint Works for a year, I've decided to offer my paintings at auction which gives me the option of starting them at a lower price than the 'buy now' price I've been setting. I know that I like bidding on and winning an item for less than the fixed price and so will you. It does happen ;)

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island 6x6 oil on board

We arrived on Jekyll Island to humidity and high puffy white clouds which soon gave way to a breeze (thank Heaven) and a sort of overcast sky. 
The result was this minimalist work, photographed with the dust embedded ;) 
If you like this kind of painting check out Stuart Shils website. Click on Irish Oils and then click on the number 4 which is the period I'm referring to. He's since become more abstract, (which I like)  but these early 90's paintings are the first works I saw of his, in a gallery in Boston.

Boston Gas Tank 6x6 oil on board

This is a copy of my previous painting of this Boston Landmark, which I redid for the Girls Just Wanna Paint show which is coming up in May at the Helen Bumpus Library in Duxbury.  Check the GJWP blog for details. 

I drove my Mama to the airport late this afternoon for her flight home to Providence, thus officially concluding the family Wedding festivities. It was a fabulous time!

Chrissie (and her new truck) and Nana 

Peachy Gerbera Daisy

Gerbera Daisy 6x6 oil on gesso board

This Gerbera was a tough one. Part of the flower is in the shadow and is very dark and part of the flower is brightly lit. The value pattern is one of the key elements in a painting and this was a bit of a struggle. Despite the brilliant colors in the flower the mixtures are mostly grays so as to set off the pops of color throughout the painting.
Also, in spite of some sprinkles I managed to get in my swim this morning.. Of course I was the only one in the pool :D
I can't tell you what a distraction sunny days are. I feel like I should be out doing something but today, I'm loving  the cool, cloudy, rainy day we're having. Perfect for being in the studio. 
My last class at Von Liebig is Thursday, April 26 from 9-12. Click on my Classes and Workshops page above to sign up on line. This class has been a lot of fun! Hope to see you there.

Cherry Tomatoes

"Cherry Tomatoes"

6x6 oil on gesso board

When the time comes to give my paintings a title I often think of music. In this case I'm singing "Cherry, Cherry, who can I turn to",  by Tommy Tutone, while I'm painting thinking, I've got a great title. 

Except, it's "Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to, 867-5309"  Why?  Don't ask ;) I can't explain the way my mind works.

I have five people signed up for my Painting a Day class at the VonLiebig Center tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Still room to sign up for my last class on Thursday, April 26th. Hope to see you there.