Ernie

"Ernie" 

12"x12" oil on panel

SOLD

This commission had to be painted from a photo, of course, but there are many pitfalls in that and it takes some knowledge to find a way around them.

The original photo gives me enough information in the dog's face but the glare on his body erases his chocolate brown markings. What I ended up doing was to just fill in what I knew to be there. 

Don and I are packing for our annual trek to Naples, Florida on January 8th. 

I like to take this last day of the year to thank all of you for your visits and comments. They are much appreciated!
Happy New Year everyone!

Underway

"Underway"

12x12 oil on Panel

Commission

SOLD

I love painting boats and water! 

This is a commission for a friend who will be giving this to her husband for Christmas. It wasn't initially on that kind of timeline but it sure works!

December Marsh, Green Harbor

Green Harbor Sunset

5x5 oil on panel

I'm busily painting a couple of commissions and needed to prime the pump before working on larger paintings so, I painted this little sunset down by Green Harbor. 

It wasn't that cold today and it felt great to be outside!

By the way. Don't miss the North River Arts Holiday Sale going on all week at the GAR Hall at 157 Old Main Street in Marshfield. They have gone all out as always, beautifully arranging the art and artisan work. I have a bin with some serious bargains there! 

Celebration

"Celebration"

8x8 paper collage on birch panel

On my trip to Utrecht art supply last week, I accidentally ended up in the paper department and could not resist this beautiful sheet of handmade paper with all kinds of organic material embedded in it. I used it as the backdrop for my Girls Just Wanna Paint monthly challenge piece, "celebration". 

I  also chose the dragonfly paper in teal and black and ended up cutting them out and decoupaging them into the composition along with Christmas sheet music printed off the internet. I completed the piece using stamps in red, gold, silver and copper.

It was great fun and I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas Season in which ever way you celebrate. 

I am fortunate.

Open Studios Weekend

Come visit from 12-5 Saturday and Sunday, 
November 21 & 22. 

Over 70 artists and artisans in two buildings.

Stop into the Sandpaper Factory at 83 East Water Street in Rockland, MA. Enter through the left side door and you'll find me at the top of the stairs on the 4th floor!

my studio

2 Buildings

2 Days

We've had a facelift
I miss my windows :(

83 East Water Street 

Rockland MA 02370

My Studio Lights

Ship Model

"Ship Model"

8x8 

It's that time of year again and we are all scrambling to get ready for Open Studios which is next Saturday and Sunday from 12-5. 

There are many new artists in the Sandpaper Factory and our new owner and steward, Alan, has really spruced up our building with siding and new windows. 
Bring your family and friends and have a blast. Maybe pick up something wonderful for someone on your Christmas list!

This is a little painting I did a few weeks back while visiting my friend Bobbi Heath at her cool house in Maine. 

This weekend in New Hampshire to celebrate my nephew Ryan's 12th (gasp)birthday. 
Guess what he got from his Auntie?

Girls Just Wanna Paint

"Nerf"

6x6 oil on ray mar panel

Although we don't focus on tough topics, we don't shy away from them either. 

October's topic was "gun".

Some of us had trouble figuring out a way to portray this subject but, there are many possible interpretations of any given topic, and as usual, the Girls came through.

A last minute conversation with my young nephew in which he exuberantly shared the details of the "coolest" nerf gun he had picked up at a yard sale for $1, reminded me that I could work the lighter side of this "loaded" subject. Pun intended.

We all carry a psychological burden just from witnessing horrific acts of murder and increasing gun violence in our culture. 

I don't have any answers but I remember the victims.

Page Railsback Workshop

Zinnias

20x20 on gallery wrap

$300

Two things. 

The Painting from the Heart workshop with Page Railsback was awesome! I got to experiment with acrylics and loved the texture of the paint. So different from oils. Loved painting a large painting and being able to scumble over passages that dry so quickly that added layers of color can shine through.

The other thing is that I'm in Maine and it doesn't get better!

Page Railsback checking out the contour paintings

Maine - the way life should be 

Edward Hopper Rooftops

"Edward Hopper Rooftops"

6x6 oil on Raymar panel
$125

This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was to paint like a famous artist. 
Having just visited Pittsfield, Massachusetts, an old mill town whose Main Street is pretty much lined with stately old brick buildings, I chose Edward Hopper because I was reminded of his wonderful paintings every time I drove through the city.

Birds in Flight Triptych

birds in flight 

This little sketch is a preliminary workup to an idea I've been incubating. It's micron pen and watercolor with touches of metallic marker throughout. I'll probably leave the bird in the top center white because it was more powerful that way. 
Meanwhile, we are vacationing in the Berkshires and loving it!
Yesterday we drove to the summit of Mount Greylock. 
Wow!

fabulous views from Mount Greylock

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. 

Last Tomatoes

"Tiny Tomatoes"

6x12 watercolor

Summer is officially over but you wouldn't know it on this 96 degree day. I'm off tomorrow for a "Jeep Trip" with my two Amigas. It will be a leisurely drive to Provincetown to paint. See you back here. Stay cool.

Nanny's Beach House

Nanny's Beach House

8x8 oil

SOLD

This is from my recent painting trip to Humarock and yes, I've been to this fabulous house! 

South River Summer

South River Summer

6x12 oil on panel

$250

I took my butt off of the deck and went out painting in our beautiful neighborhood. Big puffy cumulus clouds filled the sky and the breeze was strong enough to keep the bugs away.

This area between the South River and the Atlantic is called Humarock and offers the best of both worlds. Sunrise over the ocean and sunset over the river. 

Although I drove here, (of course with all my "stuff" I'd have to anyway) I could actually walk here through the dunes from my home beyond the distant tree line. 

Most of this painting was done on site but I tweaked it a bit in the studio today. There are still lots of fabulous old cottages along this beach just begging to be painted! I'm sure I will have to oblige.

Herring Run

Herring Run

8x8 oil on canvas board 
$100

I spent the day painting at the herring run in Pembroke on Saturday. There were many beautiful dragonflies which I've discovered to be ebony jewel wings. Very inspiring for some work I've been planning which will involve abstract collage. The subject, dragonflies. Stay tuned for that.

Painting Award!

Stonington Cove

12x16 oil on cradled panel

SOLD

My painting, "Stonington Cove",  received second place in oils in the Pembroke Arts Festival which is very exciting! The show takes place next weekend on the town green and in the Community Center. Lots of art and food and music. Go!

Fog

Cape Blomidon 

8x8 WC on Arches Cold Press

A little peek of a fair weather sky over Blomidon which is shrouded in fog. The mist actually rolls down the sides of its cliffs like whipped cream on an ice cream sundae.

This is our July Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge. Our 6th year anniversary!

Cheers to all of our GJWP artists past and present! 

Oh Canada

Patriotic in Parrsboro

8x8 oil on panel 
$150 
special shipping price to Canada

I only recently discovered that my Mama had a Canadian flag in her eclectic collection of this and that. I don't know where or when she acquired it but, it's mine now and I was delighted to be able to fly it off the railing at the cottage in Parrsboro. 

We do, after all, have MacDonald roots from Antigonish on my mama's, mama's side.

While racking my brain for something to paint besides water, boats and trees I suddenly hit on a novel idea. The flag!

I really enjoyed working the back and forth in the creases and I adore the RED in the Maple Leaf! 

Birds On a Wire

Birds On a Wire

9x12 oil on panel

This was started in the studio yesterday

 using a limited palette of burnt umber, alizarin crimson, ultramarine and white.

I honestly need some feedback on this one because I can't tell if I should go back on it or let it be.

I love when birds swarm around telephone wires and then land en masse!

"Bathing Beauties" Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge

"Selfie"

6x9 watercolor with pen and ink
$100

These two fabulous BFF's were strolling on Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester and I was taken by their beauty, the contrast in their skin tones and their girlish delight in taking 'selfies' with their phones.
This painting is a bit of a departure for me as in, I drew the figures with a micron pen and then did the watercolor. My camera does not capture the depth in the water or the iridescent sparkle I used on the figures and in the sand.
Check out the Girls Just Wanna Paint Bathing Beauties!