Chinatown, Boston pen ink and watercolor

I have two things going here. I'm using the sketch book to hone my drawing skills. There are no short cuts there. This drawing is from a Google Earth street view of a Chinatown street in Boston which is this month's subject of Bill Guffey's Virtual Paintout. I also broke out my sweet little 6x6 pochade box and began a painting of clothes pins which is some what in need of a tweak before I post the final version. This little box is the proto-type and will be refined to include a slide out palette. Email jfinbar@comcast.net for info on it and others like it.

Wolfie and Abba-I couldn't resist ;)

Just Sketching

I bought some of those cool sketching pens you can use with paints and started doing some pen and ink sketches for my Gallery the Art Boutique at Tin City. The original watercolor of Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe was painted last Spring and I did this pen and ink w/c this afternoon. This is a fabulous little Road House out on Rte 41 in the Everglades. If you want to see some fantastic pen and ink watercolors check out Urban Sketchers and their links. Drawing is so important and we artists tend to want to get right to the paint. It's almost like the drawing part is the sit ups and the paint is the pool ;)

Connie Hayes Interior

I've finally settled in here in Naples and today I found a set of acrylics that I have never used. I must admit that sometimes I'm at a loss as to what I should paint. I worry that I look too much like the painters I admire and it holds me back. It shouldn't. I know it's all been done and that we all bring our own view to our subjects. I decided to use the acrylics and was pleasantly surprised at how well I was able to 'feel' them. They also seem different from when I used them in Art School which was forever ago and they don't seem to change value as much as I remembered. I chose to copy a beautiful interior scene painted by the incomparable Connie Hayes, author of "Borrowed Views". What fun! 

Although I try to eschew political comments on my blog, today is Martin Luther King day and I've watched some wonderful biographical and Historical programs about him. I lived through the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and  Medgar Evers. People who had the courage of their convictions. I was young and I felt the grief. The shootings in Tucson mirror those bewildering events. The lone gunman looking for notoriety, strikes again. Changing all of our lives.

Snowed In

Virginia Sunset

We awoke to snow Sunday morning and our plan to leave early ended up being 8 am. But can I just say that my hyper-hubby was really cool about it? After a beautiful sunny drive we pulled into our fabulous pet friendly Best Western in  Fredricksburg, Virgina and had our Gerard Farms turkey sandwiches for supper. Woke up early today ready to make Brunswick, Georgia. All went well until around mile 280 of the drive when the snow began to spit and suddenly the road was covered with three inches of snow with cars skidding and sliding. I was on the phone in a flash and got us a room at the BW in Lumberton. We checked in at 12:30. Thank Heaven because North Carolina is shut down. They have one snowplow and they don't use salt. The parking lot is rutted with frozen ice and we are hunkered down until this weather clears. Seriously, snowed in in North Carolina?
Since I don't have a painting for you let me share the work of Robin J. Mitchell a fellow member of Fresh Paint Daily Painters. 

View from our room

 

 

Beach Umbrella

6x6 oil on RayMar panel $100 plus $10 S&H

 

I tried to generate a PayPal Buy Now button but there was one hitch that I couldn't resolve so email me if you are interested in this sunny beach scene. We're supposed to leave for Naples this Saturday but the forecast calls for snow Friday and Saturday so there may be a delay. Southern Florida is trending towards cold winters last year and this. Already the growers there are in crisis. So, when I go over to the beach I'll be wearing my fleece. I know, I know it's doesn't snow but...whatever ;) I'll take the barbs.

Happy New Year

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I've never made a New Year's resolution that I didn't abandon soon after but I do view the beginning of the year as a blank canvas so to speak. Along these lines I plan to broaden my horizons by teaching classes in my studio starting in May when I return from Naples. Teaching is a mutually satisfying exchange in which the teacher learns from the students and I can't wait to get started!! I'll post more info on that later. I also plan to spice up my blog with links I've been collecting to the many artists I admire out there in cyberspace. Today's link, which is also on my sidebar, is to Artists Helping Artists a talk radio show by artists Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry. If you can't listen live on Thursdays all of the shows are archived and you can listen while you paint or browse the blogs. This blog has done much more than I could have have imagined when I started it. It keeps me focused and my work has improved consistently. I have to thank all of you who follow and comment and encouragement me. You make my day! Happy New Year!

Liz

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Merry Christmas to all my faithful readers, friends, and followers. I had a wonderful day with my family and of course my favorite little boys, Colin and Ryan. There was lots of food and desserts. 
Also, we've narrowly escaped 2 feet of snow from a 48 hour Blizzard which knocked out power and closed roads far and wide. Fortunately not our power. We are on the rain/snow line and got mostly a sleet mix and high seas. I'm going to post some photos over on my Not Really a Cleaning Lady blog for those who don't live near the water and haven't experienced it's 'winter mood'.

 Mama and I do the tree together every year

 Auntie Ag gives Ryan and Colin Hess Trucks each Christmas

Waiting

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 Another painting of my favorite subject, white mums. Waiting for Christmas, of course.

We've got a little bit of snow here and I'm inside painting with my little babies sleeping next to me.

Heaven.

 

Petunia Pig

 She's not the REAL Petunia Pig but she has pretty roses and vines all over her and she's about 43 years old!  In 1967 my father took me to a Red Sox game. We had dinner at the Prudential Center and when I admired this little piggy bank in a gift shop he bought it for me. A great memory of a night out with my dad. The Red Sox won the American League Pennant that year which became known as The Impossible Dream and was the most exciting year (in my lifetime) in Boston Baseball until 2004 when after losing the first 3 games to the Yankees the Sox won 4 in a row to take the AL Championship after which they went on to beat St Louis in 4 games to win the World Series under a stunning full moon!  It was very Hollywood!

Pick Me

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Which one should I open first is the dilemma. Ok, the box.

You all know that I suffered the loss of my dearest boy Wendell in October. Don and I couldn't bear the silence and we were lucky to be chosen as parents for these sweet little sisters. Abba (upside down) and Wolfie are amusing and affectionate and kitten crazy! Life is good. 

 

A Good Egg

Remember when people referred to someone as a "good egg"? What the heck was that all about?

Anyway I did this in my Carol Marine class. She really knows how to paint eggs. This one is sold but there will be more of this subject. I had to hide all my saved eggshells in the back of the refrigerator so Don wouldn't throw them away ;)

Duxbury Dunes

 

I love the Winter landscape and like to drive over the beach road through the dunes which connect Duxbury and Marshfield. In the late afternoon the sun is just right for painting. The beach road is also an adventurous shortcut to the Village where I dropped some paintings over at the Duxbury Gallery today. There are works by all my famous artist friends there like Roz Farbush, Nancy Colella, Margaret McWethy, Jeannie MacFarland and Christine Bodnar to name but a few. I also noticed some fabulous Christmas ornaments with a local flair while I was browsing today. They also feature beautiful stationary, cards, photographs and gifts. Be sure to check it out.

Duxbury Gallery at Nine Standish

Bennett's General Store 8x8 oil

I made a cold call on Duxbury Gallery to see if they might want to show some paintings I've done of the local scenes and was pleasantly surprised when they accepted. Check out their website at to see some work from some of my painter friends who are also represented there. 
This painting is of Bennett's General Store with their iconic Jeep which serves as the advertising for the store. In the summer the Jeep's convertible roof is off and in the winter the cap is on. More local scenes to come.

Miss Cape Neddick

Thank You, Jamey!!!

I had so many visitors who came from distances to see me including Miss Cape Neddick who didn't sign my book. You know who you are so email me please. We didn't get to chat long enough. Also, dear Katie McElwain and two of her three beautiful daughters including the newest addition, five month old Deidre came down from Ipswich. 

My special 'collectors' showed up early and I had great sales through out. The highlight of this was that my brother Jamey, who makes fabulous pochade boxes pictured below, installed a rail system to hold my small paintings so they could be viewed all together. Slam bangin' fabulous!!!! 
Thank you everyone who attended and thanks to my fellow artists for their superb presentation in cleaning, decorating and creating signage in our building. A big thanks to all the volunteers who acted as 'tour guides'. You were a big help.

9x12 Pochade boxes. Lightweight. $150 email me at WENDL15@verizon.net

Katie May holding Deidre and Claire (future author)

Open Studios

Saturday and Sunday 11-5 in two buildings one block apart in Rockland, Massachusetts.  
Look for the red balloons along the route connecting the two buildings. For directions and a list of participating artists go to our website 4th Floor Artists. 
I will have all my 6x6 paintings on sale for $75. Some larger framed works for STUDIO prices and some matted watercolors.

North River Arts Society Annual Holiday Sale

There is some fabulous and very diverse affordable art at this sale. Paintings, cards, prints, Christmas ornaments, felting and knitted items and even wood sculpture.

It takes place at the G.A.R. Hall at 157 Old Main Street in Marshfield Hills (MA) 

from 10-4 TODAY and TOMORROW.

Don't Miss it!!

My Wendell

I only have about a zillion photos of this guy. 

We are searching for a new four footed fluffball.

Tea Time

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I'm still not quite myself after losing my dear Wendell but this was done a few weeks back and I finally got a good photo of it. I'm okay but I'm taking it easy. No pressure. Check out Fresh Paint Daily Painters to see more fine work from some fabulous artists. 

Wendell

Wendell  April 5 1996-October 25 2010

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them

I just am....forever and ever and ever.

 Wendell and his baby picture

Our 14 year old Wendell recently become ill and there was no hope for recovery. 

We had to let him go. Our home was filled with joy, amusement, and affection by the huge personality of this wonderful being.

He was the love of our lives.

Value Studies

After my recent workshop with Carol Marine I'm aware that I need to study values to strengthen my paintings. When she had us mix a 'middle' gray, no one got it. All were too dark. So, I mixed and matched values right on my gray scale value chart. If I squint these grays blend into the backgrounds and that's how you know you're right on.  Values and composition are the most important elements of a painting. I also did a color wheel using Prussian Blue, Quinacridone Red and Cad Lemon.