Hat challenge 6"x6" oil

My Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge piece- a straw hat I wear in the summer when I paint. It was purchased in Onset during vacation- a pleasant memory!
This was really a value study- something i struggle with!

Haiti Fundraiser Donation

I was asked to donate to an event this friday night at the Plymouth Center for the Arts- they are building a road to some inaccessible parts of Haiti. There is a Facebook invite here. I loved doing this- it is a google image, and I don't usually use those- but the girl's yellow dress against all the blue with the pops of red compelled me to paint.
I feel so lucky- we were spared the wrath of Hurricane Sandy. Others are not so lucky. I hope that everyone is okay.

Another Creek View

Thanks eveyone for you wonderful comments on my last post.
I never thought I could paint the river- but am excited- getting a little closer.... the dark parts are the hardest for me to get...

Glorious Fall

Man oh man we are in a good stretch of weather- makes it hard to paint in the studio. I brought my little plein air set up down the the dock on Cove Creek yesterday, got all set up and discovered i had forgotten my white.

I had a black panel and decided to see how far i could go without the white- turned out to be a great thing actually- my colors stayed brighter. I caved after about an hour and had to get my white, and then painted a little more, then had to stop. I worked on it in my studio today from my ipad- the colors in the photo were not nearly as bright but I pretty much have it in my head. 

The last blooms of my garden

 I made a little light box for still life- out of a recylcled clear plastic cube shaped package I wrapped tissue around the outside and put reflective mylar on the bottom surface. The gooseneck light on the side makes a soft diffused light and the colors vibrate. i put an abstract art catalogue inside with the flower for background interest.Its fun to paint simple flowers again.

 Above is a Lantana bloom. The leaves of this plant have a lovely citrus-y smell.

This yellow flower below is from a vine (thunbergia) who delighted us all season as it engulfed my outdoor shower. It was a small plant from Lowe's in May...could not believe how big it got and it hangs way over inside the shower too.

We are still using the shower up until the frost. It is like showering in a garden and we love it!

Botched?

I am sure you heard about this one- an 80 year old woman in Spain took it upon herself to "fix" a century old fresco. I feel kind of bad for her- but really?

I bought this panel to paint on and was inspired by the Raphael portrait so decided to try my hand at copying....I used oil paint and glazes. Luckily it's not right on top of an original Raphael!

LOL

"Minerva"

My ornament design for Pembroke- celebrating shipbuilding on the North River.
I learned why my long haired skinny brush is called a "rigger"
All those lines! I didn't put them all in...and still tweaking the water. I wasn't sure I could even do this one- but actually really enjoyed it!

Jenny 13

This was another project with kids at the Bay Farm Montessori- they build a boat every year.

This one is 15 feet long and will hang in their classroom.
We finished the long skinny mural there too but I need to photograph it using my new panoramic setting on my iPhone. Will post later.

Brooks Kelly

We had to say goodbye to this great artist last Friday- a true original.
I loved his work and it always put a smile on my face.

He will be missed.

Fairy Houses

Last Saturday I visited the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme Connecticut where they were having a fairy house event- there were 20 or so artist made fairy houses all over the grounds. They were truly amazing- although I learned that real fairy houses ONLY use natural materials... no glue or anything artificial at all- but these were "inspired" by the authentic ones. I love the tea house the best!

                                            These fairy wings were available for photos-

                                         in the workshop people made them right on site-

Last night at my studio we created them- and also birdhouses embellished with all the natural stuff I brought out of the woods- the birds will love them!

                               Mine is the one on the left- made in an old bonsai dish. I love what they came up with!

One gal came straight from her job in Boston in the financial district.

She said it was hard to make the jump from work to this- but I told her just start- the rest will follow. And she did great! Hers is the one in the white bonsai dish (my fower fairy is posing with hers)

Okay- time to get back to painting...

last chair standing,8"x10" oil

Still summery in the back yard-but getting room inside ready to bring in the plants for winter.
I like putting the things to bed- to rest, and then I can explore the interior world through my art.
My chair is a little warped- but I can relate :)

Ornament time, Works in progress

I am designing the 2012 Marshfield Christmas ornament ( been doing one since 1996!)
I have always used watercolors to do them- but this year since I have no idea where I hid my watercolors I decided to try it in oils. I am having fun- especially with the winter nocturnal.
I am doing a two sided one this year- summer and winter, also a new concept.
 This is the Marcia Thomas house- the headquarters of the Marshfield Historical Society.
I will get these to the manufacturers soon so might actually have them ready for sale by the beginning of November this year.

Chic Painter

This month our GIRLS JUST WANNA PAINT challenge was "chic" and we all secretly decided to use our new member Pam Copeman as our theme- needless to say she was excited and pleased.
She is an awesome interior designer and the picture of chic. She is painting in the home or Page Railsback- Pages gorgeous watercolor is depicted on the left. I think thats Pams bag on the chair. CHIC!
She a warm and funny and generous girl and I did NOT do her justice here but I tried.
She smiles all the time and smiles are OH so hard to paint. Took me 5 wipe offs before I got this- and it's as good as it is gonna get!
click the girls link above to see all the Pam paintings.