Driftwood Reflections

Oil, 9″ x 9″

I’ve also been experimenting with a square format, and this painting is the first of two that I completed recently.  (I used a brush this time, though!)

Bayberry Dance (SOLD)

Oil, 11″ x 14″

I love working with palette knives, and this painting Bayberry Dance is about 90% palette knife work.

I’ve been absolutely swamped with art and art-related projects over the past few weeks. This is so typical of me – when I have free time, I don’t always feel like painting. When I have no time, that’s when I want to paint. Sort of like how I used to do my term papers in college.  Here are a few paintings that I’ve been working on over the past few weeks (below).
Anyway, I’ve been prolific and productive, and now have a weekend ahead that includes TWO gallery show openings, ONE juried show opening, and a day’s work at the Maple & Main Gallery of Fine Art in Chester, CT. Then off to Vermont next week for a 2-day figure workshop. Christmas shopping? Haven’t even thought about it yet….

Spring Creek (SOLD)

Pastel, 9″ x 12″

Bass Rocks

Pastel, 11″ x 15″

Gloucester Morning

Pastel, 8″ x 10″

I haven’t posted for a while. I was away most of June in Italy, and then spent July either catching up with everything I didn’t do in June, at the beach, or trying to stay cool in the summer heat WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING IN MY HOUSE! Not an easy feat, believe me.

I have been taking a once-weekly plein air painting class with David Dunlop this summer, and we paint on location in all different places around CT. I decided to do the class all in oils (vs pastels, which I’ve done a lot of plein air painting in) in order to improve my speed and also to figure out a good oil outdoor setup for myself.

I also was lucky enough to get an invitation up to Gloucester, MA to stay at a friend’s house on the water with a few other plein air artists and paint for a few days. And of course I’ve been doing paintings of Fire Island. So, here’s an update on what I’ve been putting together, oil painting-wise (and more to come, once I get them photographed!):

“To Bayberry Dunes” 9 x 12 (SOLD)

“Umbrian Grapevines” 11 x 14

“Ghost Dance” 5 x 7

“Erosion-Part I” 6 x 8

“Rockport Breakers” 6 x 8 (SOLD)

“Little Marsh Dance” 5 x 7 (SOLD)

“Nothing But The Boat” 6 x 8 (SOLD)

“Indian River Soliloquy” 11 x 14

I originally painted this scene in black pastel only, for the Salmagundi Club’s Black & White show this past winter.  The drawing was strong, so I decided to add some color.  The new version, “Indian River Soliloquy,” will be in the upcoming ‘Water Works’ show at the Gregory James Gallery which opens May 15th.