Absecon Inlet Sentry

"Sentry, Absecon Inlet"

8x8 oil on panel

$100

This brick house sits on the very edge of Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Don and I have used up a couple of expiring time share weeks at the Flagship, a high rise that overlooks this little house and the distant boardwalk. It is so close to the water that the surf pounds it and the tenants park their cars far from the building.
Walking to and from the boardwalk at different times of day I was struck by the light on this place and the desolate fields around it. This view is late afternoon and I framed it to include the gnarled, vine covered tree. 
We really enjoy the time here. Don plays poker and I paint and we walk the boardwalk. There's something for both of us.

Monhegan Garden

Monhegan Island Garden

I was painting on Monhegan at the beginning of June with my cohorts Bobbi Heath and Carol Douglas. 
While waiting for the ferry we decided to try and slam another painting in. This has remained two thirds completed until last week when I got serious about finishing it. 
I probably had FOF, which is painter lingo for, "fear of finishing", just one of the many phobias affecting most of us painters.  A whole post could be written on artist's phobias and maybe I will, but, that's for later.
I have two more very good starts from that trip to finish up and you will, hopefully see them soon. 
I the meantime, Don and I are back in glorious Parrsboro.

Finial House Provincetown

"The Finial House"

8x8 oil on panel 

$150

My gal pals and I headed out Wednesday for our "jeep trip" to paint in Provincetown.
It was a glorious day and although it was a bit hot, once we set up to paint this awesome cottage, the breeze off the water and the shade changed everything. 
P'Town is known for being one of the original art colonies with a roster of who's who artists and as the Provincetown Trolley kept passing by, we could hear the driver saying, "and here are some artists", making us part of the 'show' so to speak which is just as it should be :D
We topped it off with an early bird dinner at Fanizzi's, which is my pick for dining in Provincetown and we all, if I may say so, got 'keepers' which was a bonus. 

"That's Classic" Yellow Volkswagen

Classic VW 

8x8 Oil on Panel

SOLD

Since posting my original VW painting I've met so many people who have had a love affair with the classic "bug". This particular model was an inexpensive but cool car for those of us who got our driver's licenses in the late '60's. Mine was a 1963, baby blue VW with a "sunroof" which was a folding vinyl thingy and opened the entire roof. 
My niece and 'soul sister' remembers us taking her to the Avon Drive In in it when she was about two years old, with the roof open and her little self happily camped in the back. Yes, the back seats could be folded down into a space the size of a playpen.

It was classic and remains my best selling painting and commission. 
One fan wanted it in yellow as a gift for his wife who had one. "back in the day". 
Meanwhile, here in Naples I am painting a bedroom. Washing with tsp, priming, spackling, sanding and of course the ceiling :(  
Very time consuming but the end result will be worth it.

New Years Day

Corita Kent's 'Rainbow Swash' 
Iconic Landmark Gas Tank on Boston Harbor 
8x8 oil on cradled panel 
SOLD

Happy 2012. I wish every one of you,  along with my dearest family and friends a fresh outlook on life, more kindness given and received, more moments lived in the 'now', more compassion for all living beings, more satisfaction with the 'little' things that happen daily and joy from inside. 

I am blessed with much yet, sometimes I see the glass as half empty when it's half full. Why? It's human nature. I don't believe that it's realistic to be happy, happy, happy every moment. Life's a tapestry of good stuff and not so good stuff. I have to remind myself to look at the gifts I've been given in the people I care about, the world I live in, and the gift of being able to translate light and form into my vision of what I see.

I so appreciate the journey that this blog has taken me on and I am delighted at all the comments and visits I received and the relationships that have come from being a part of a global art community. I wish for all of you to find your bliss, whatever it is and let it light you from within. That's the only happiness that's lasting and satisfying.

This iconic Gas Tank at the edge of Boston Harbor was painted in 1971 by Corita Kent and was eventually torn down and rebuilt. Each company, the latest being National Grid, has elected to repaint it as she did. The GJWP December Challenge which I chose, was Local Landmarks and I am impressed at what the girls came up with!! 

Also, My MacBook Pro is on order and I am still limping along with my Dell which runs for about 6-9 minutes and freezes or crashes. Slow going but I'm about to join the Mac Cult. Pass the kool-aid please :D