Pumpkin and Friends

Pumpkin and Friends

5"x7" oil on linen panel

I'm getting behind on posting, due to forgetting to photograph the paintings. This one is from last Thursday and introduces my new favorite apple, the Autumn Gala. I hope they still have some when I get to the farm stand tomorrow, because I've eaten all of mine!

If anyone has any tips for photographing paintings with very dark backgrounds, I'd love to hear them. I'll try retaking the photo once the painting is dry.

Painting Out West

"Pusch Ridge", Tucson
8"x10" oil on linen panel

"Saguaro Near Picacho Peak"
10"x8" oil on linen panel

Last week I was in Arizona for the 5th annual Plein Air Convention. It was amazing to listen to and to watch fabulous painters show us how they work. Some that I particularly enjoyed were Jove Wang, Matt Smith, Paul Kratter, and Lori Putnam. Bryan Mark Taylor gave a wonderful presentation on how we learn, and how one can learn to paint better, faster. Fascinating.

When circling to land, I was dismayed to see what looked like mountains made of dirt, which isn't too far from reality. But the plant life is so interesting, I didn't wish for granite rocks. We all fell in love with Saguaro Cactus. It takes 50 - 100 years for one of these guys to grow their first arm. Wow.

Each day there were paint outs as well as presentations. Above are my two paintings. Karen Ann Hitt and Bill Anton gave me advice on the second, and the painting is better for it!

"Fall is in the Air"

 "Fall is in the Air"

6"x8" oil on linen panel
SOLD

Today I painted with the Plein Air Painters of Maine on the grounds of Hamilton House in South Berwick, ME. As the afternoon worse on it got colder and more overcast, but we could still see the rich fall colors.

Cozy Harbor Inlet in Process

Cozy Harbor inlet after the second plein air session

11"X14" oil on linen panel

I got back to Cozy Harbor on Wednesday. It was tough trying to decide exactly how much light to have on the fronts of the white buildings. I think I like the two on the right best. Still some work to do, but it will have to be from home. The place I was parking turns out to be someone's driveway.

"Fish Beach Monhegan"

"Fish Beach Monhegan"

8"x10" oil on linen panel

Fish Beach after the plein air session

I worked again today on this painting of Fish Beach on Monhegan. The bottom image shows the painting at the end of a couple of hours on site and some edits in charcoal. What do you think about the revised version (image at top)? Which version do you like better?

Cozy Harbor Inlet Vlaue Underpainting

Cozy Harbor Inlet Value Underpainting

11"x14" oil on linen panel

While the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast were visiting Maine a couple of weeks ago, I learned about a beautiful spot on Southport Island where I hadn't painted before. I went back today and did a value underpainting, which hopefully I can complete tomorrow.

"Red House Monhegan"

"Red House Monhegan"

8"x10" oil on linen panel

NFS

Red House Value underpainting

Red House photo in ValueViewer

Red Houses

Today, our last day on Monhegan, I tackled the famous Red House. I used ValueViewer on the levels setting to show me the scene in 3 values with a 4x4 grid. I don't measure the grid on the panel, but just estimate it by dividing each side of the panel in two, and then in two again. I used the grid to place the most important corners, then estimated the rest of the drawing from that. The value block in came next, and then the color on top of that. I can see posting this that I was chasing the light at the end. I might use the photo of the value painting and the Value View to fix things a bit, but I was happy with what I did. Especially after yesterday afternoon, when I had trouble on Fish Beach. But not as much trouble as the lobsterman who had beached his boat and was then worried about it tipping over as the tide came back in. You can learn a lot plein air painting!

Monhegan Dock

Monhegan Dock

8"x10" oil on linen panel

NFS

I'm on Monhegan with Mary Sheehan Winn, such fun! Yesterday was gray and sprinkling when we arrived and I didn't post my lackluster effort, but today was bright, sunny, and warm. I stood near the dock for three ferry arrivals and captured the trucks as they came and went.

"Red Sailboat Boothbay"

Red Sailboat Boothbay

5"x7" oil on linen panel

$150

 

Red Sailboat Boothbay value sketch

This is the red sailboat in Boothbay that I had so much fun drawing when we visited on our boat. I did the value sketch yesterday and added the color today.

I wanted to let you know that I have a show opening next Saturday, Sept. 20, at Gallery111, at 111 Thoreau St., in Concord, MA. I'd be very pleased if you can join us. Your invite is below.

"Hendricks Head"

Hendricks Head

8"x10" oil on linen panel

$280

This last week the Plein Air Painters of Maine have been hosting the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast in Boothbay. Lots of paintings were created, and it was great fun. I painted three of the days, this painting is from Hendricks Head on Southport Island. Visit Pamela B Padgett Studio on Facebook to see PAPSE member, Pam Padgett's, version.

"Waiting For The Tide"

"Waiting For The Tide"

5"x7" oil on linen panel, plein air

This little pram is called Ariella, once the tender to a beautiful Herreshoff ketch called Ariel, owned by our Uncle Dave. She has a new life now as a children's rowboat.

"Little Blue Boat"

"Little Blue Boat"

5"x7" oil on linen panel
SOLD

This little blue rowboat belongs to a neighbor, but since I've given her a new paint job I won't say who. Maybe we'll see her again later.

FYI, to celebrate the 30 paintings in 30 days event, I'm pricing these little boat pictures at $100 for the month of September. At the end of the month they go back to $150 unframed/$200 framed.

"Grimes Cove"

"Grimes Cove"

11"x14" oil on linen panel
NFS

This was our second and final day in the workshop with Anne Blair Brown. If you get a chance, study with Anne. She had us all out of our comfort zones, and into expressive brushwork. I'm looking forward to spending some time practicing this.

"Ocean Point Rocks"

"Ocean Point Rocks"

8"x10" oil on linen panel
NFS

I'm off my boat theme today and tomorrow, since I'm in a workshop with Anne Blair Brown. I could watch her paint for hours! My day 1 painting is above. We started with four composition sketches, from which one was chosen for the painting. Then a value block-in, followed by a little tuning of each of the student paintings by Ann. Then we did it again and proceeded with color.

"Sailing in the Harbor"

"Sailing in the Harbor"

5"x7" oil on linen panel

I did a few sketches of this sweet little blue sailboat skimming around the harbor in Christmas Cove, and then put a couple of them together for this painting. It's so calm in the very protected harbor there, I was able to paint on the boat.

"Penobscot Bay"

"Penobscot Bay"

8"x10" oil on linen panel
$200

Minivan packed for Castine; 2 boxes of frames, paint box, tripod, backpack, panels, plastic box for racking wet paintings

 Rails with paintings

Rails without paintings

"Penobscot Bay" was painted during the Castine Plein Air Festival last month. As I was packing it up for a show, I realized that I hadn't posted it, so here you go. And along with it are a few photos of gear. The back of the minivan turned out to be very useful. Not only did everything fit easily (and there are two tripods and paintboxes in there, I like to have a backup), but when it rained the first morning, I set up the easel inside the back, and stood underneath the open lid. The painting and I were both dry. Another useful thing are these little rails from Artwork Essentials, who make the EasyL box that I used at the festival. For this trip I took a large plastic box to set the rails inside of. On trips by plane, I pick up a cardboard box at the grocery store after I get there. Using these, the paintings are safe and get a chance to dry.

Kodiak Pet Portrait

Kodiak

7"x5" oil on linen panel

SOLD

A portrait of my friend's Grace and Ryan's dog, Kodiak. Isn't he a sweetheart?

"Vase of Sunshine"

"Vase of Sunshine"

20"x16"

oil on linen panel

I'm so thrilled it's July. I've finished my latest technology consulting engagement and have four months to paint! There are lots of events coming up as well, the first is happening next week. You can learn all about those on my new website. And I've just sent out my first newsletter, and will be happy to forward it to you, if you'll email me or leave a comment on this post.

I worked on this painting over the last two days, and was fortunate to be able to have the vase outside in the sunshine, while I stood in the shade of the house. I'm really pleased with it, though it still needs highlights and maybe a little tweaking. I plan to include it the show opening August 2nd at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery.

"Sunset Stripes"

 "Sunset Stripes"

5"x7" oil on linen panel

a little movie of the scene after the painting was done

Yesterday I was back in Harvard, MA, at my favorite sunset painting spot. It's just so nice to be painting outside this time of year, and not freezing. I've been painting out for the last 4 days, and only Tuesday was really cold, in the marsh in the Rachel Carson preserve in southern Maine. I hope to get in a few more days before it's really cold.

"Sky Magic"

"Sky Magic"

5"x7" oil on Centurion linen panel

I was back in Harvard, MA this afternoon, painting into the sunset. Here's the first of the two paintings I managed before it got too dark to see. Next time I'll bring my two headed book light! A video of the scene is below. For those reading this in email, click here to go to my blog in a browser where you'll be able to see the video.