"Poinsettia I"

"Poinsettia I"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

$150
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Poinsettia I Draft

Before I made the final edits

Poinsettia Drawing

I couldn't let my effort on the Many Minute Poinsettias go to waste, so I got to work on a larger version, with no time limit, at a suitable aspect ratio for a future Holiday card. I'm surprised how hard these are to paint. I don't think it's the red, because I don't have any trouble with the multiple reds in apples. And I thought because of all the pointy leaves, it would be great from the composition perspective, lots of angles, etc. Perhaps the problem is I'm not looking at the flowers enough, concentrating too much on the painting. With the 10 minute version there was no time to fuss!

Here's great quote on this problem: "Look three times, think twice, paint once." - Robert Genn

"Tug 66"

"Tug 66"

8"x6" oil on Raymar panel

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of painting in New Castle NH with Mary Byrom and Barbara Carr, fellow members of the Plein Air Painters of Maine. New Castle is a delightful island community in the Piscatagua River between Portsmouth and Kittery, ME. I found this little red tug and couldn't resist painting it. I planned to do a quick 30 minute oil sketch, and Mary and Barbara were wondering what had happened to me when I finally returned 2.5 hours later. It was such a nice afternoon.

"No Sprinkles"

"No Sprinkles"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

This is my entry to this week's Daily Paintworks challenge, set up by Kelley McDonald. I couldn't resist adding the paperbag. And I promised to take the painting to my local Dunkin Donuts to show them the result of their care in packaging it all up for me. Fun!

I've put this painting in an auction on the DPW site. Here's the challenge page if you are interested. Click on my painting for the details.

Beaver Brook Plein Air Sketch

"Beaver Brook" plein air sketch

6"x8" oil on linen on board

It was 70 degrees today and sunny. What a day to paint outside! Now that spring is around the corner I'm starting to get used to the bare trees, and I'd like to master them before the leaves come. So here's another one.

This is my first painting on a Raymar linen panel (not toned). I loved it.

Winter Marsh Plein Air Sketch

"Marsh in Winter" plein air painting

6"x8"

It was great to be out last Wednesday, just in time to catch some of the snow before it all melted. I love the way last year's cattails pop up through the snow. This was painted in the marsh alongside the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Chelmsford, MA, a really nice place for a walk.

My first thought was to leave the painting as it was painted (above), but my desire to improve the background trees got the best of me. And guess what? I don't like the newer version as well. Lesson learned.

"We're All Ears"

"We're All Ears"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

These guys are from a different farm than the previous pair, no brown spots, just black. Like our vanilla cows at the gite, they were marvelously curious, watching everything we did. And listenineg. They will go to the February show in Yarmouth as well.

"Curious Cows"

"Curious Cows"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

I was totally taken by the cows in Normandy. We had them right in our yard, though ours were solid cream color. These guys were really cute, I love the eye makeup. It's another for our upcoming show at the Yarmouth Frameshop and Gallery.

"Normandy Storm"

"Normandy Storm"
6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

I'm working on paintings for our February show inspired by last fall's visit to Normandy. Two of the plein air paintings I did on the trip will be included (see them here and here). I enthusiastically attempted the scene above the night we arrived at our gite, but wiped it off in frustration. So here's a more thought out version, after a couple of sky painting lessons from Carolyn, done from a photo. More on the show in upcoming posts.

"Eggplant and Paper Bag"

"Eggplant and Paper Bag"
6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

Another 5 value study. Who knew paper bags were so much fun to paint?

"Fall at the Pond"

"Fall at the Pond"

6"x8" oil on Raymar panel

The scene from my friend Kitty's porch last Friday. It's so great to still be able to paint outside.

"Deblois Woods"

"Deblois Woods"

8"x6" oil on Raymar panel

Just east of Route 193 in Washington County, Maine, are the blueberry barrens famous for their bright red fall color. I was a bit early this year, and painted the woods in Deblois.