Toys

 

Crayons, 2023 Oil on Panel 6"x6"

At the suggestion of a Rogers' Gallery client, I have begun small still life paintings that depict vintage toys and other small everyday objects. I finished 4 for the holiday shoppers and sold 3. 

 

Crayons in Bowl, 2023 Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Baseball #2, 2023, Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Baseball #1, 2023, Oil on Panel 6"x6"

And Then There Were Three

Scallop 10"x10"

Nautilus Interior, Scallop, Whelk, 10"x10"

The Rogers Gallery has held the Nautilus and Whelk paintings for about a year.  Nautilua Exterior had been a part of the trio but was sold separately.  Now, a client wants a new painting added to create a series of three.  He is open to the shell and only asks that the colors be the same.  

The top image is a work in progress. The difficulty is in incorporating the colors from the other sheets without creating an artificial appearing shell.  This stage needs more blue. But, how?

Paintings have been moving slowly in all the galleries.  I don't know if it is my works have over saturated the interested market, or if sales are slow with everyone. This summer I worked on Orange Grove Chat, a commission.  It was great fun to do.  I love painting oranges and birds so...  The client was also very easy to work with.  She knew exactly what she wanted and was very clear about describing that.  This beauty now resides in California.   The other paintings pictured here were done in preparation for the various Holiday Small Works shows.  

Orange Grove Chat, 2023 Oil on Panel 30"x24"

 

Outer Cape #1, 2023 Oil on Panel 12"x15"

Outer Cape #2, 2023 Oil on Panel 12"x15"

Outer Cape #3, 2023 Oil on Panel 12"x15"

Male Blue Bird #11, 2023 Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Male Bluebird #9, 2023 Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Male Bluebird #10, 2023 Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Balancing Act #9, 2023 Oil on Panel 8"x8"

Balancing Act #8, 2023 Oil on Panel 8"x8"

Balancing Act #7, 2023 Oil on Panel 8"x8"

Morning Sun, 2023

Morning Sun, 2023, Oil on Panel, 20"x16"

This painting was created in response to The Copley Society of Art call for works Through Hopper's Lens.  The work is to be inspired by American born painter, Edward Hopper.  I know his works that strongly depict light and shadow and that leave an impression of isolation. I hope to have captured a little of both.  

 

Through Hopper's Lens

The Winsor, Oil on Panel, 24"x16"

Tiny, teensy bits of progress. I've had great difficulty with this piece. I've also learned some lessons. I should have simply painted the entire rooms sans the Winsor, then put in the chair.  The difficulty in working around the parts of the chair has proved exasperating.  I have reached the point in my life where I no longer have a steady and flexible hand.  Arthritis be damned.  I'm hoping once I can delve into the chair with boldness it will stand as the point of interest and overcome the books.   

 

Blue Jays #7 and #8

 

Blue Jays #7 & #8, 2023 Oil on panels, each 12'x12'

I think of these as a pair, although each would stand alone.  I'm still considering putting a branch under the feet of #8.  They are so much fun to paint with the several different blues, the gray to white breast and the black markings. 

Blue Jays #7 & #8

 

While Through Hopper's Lens is drying, I've returned to these two which probably only need one more session.  I consider them a pair. Jays are not sexually dimorphic. Males tend to be larger than females, but the difference is minuscule.   Every morning I walk down toward the cove and throw out peanuts.  The original intention was to attract crows for photographing.  But, hard to believe, the Jays won that battle.  They greet me with loud squawks.  They are probably alerting the gang, but I like to think they are screaming their hellos to me. 

Through Hopper's Lens

 

More books are in the shelves.  Next I will indicate some titles, etc on the spines.  My house critic thinks I should add a Hopper book.  I'll think about that. Then, I hope to be able to get to the Windsor.   I'm going to need to put this aside until everything is dry.  In my rush, I'm constantly putting my hand in wet paint and smearing a finished area.  Also, I've lost my steady hand to arthritis.  What I could once do with ease re sharp lines is now a thing of the past.  So, I need to use a triangle or t-square which also requires very dry painted areas.  

Through Hopper's Lens

 

The Winsor, 24"x16", Oil on Panel

Things are so wet that I only cleaned up the blue wall surrounding the window and played a bit with the view out the. window.  Then, I needed to build a frame for College Seminar, the painting to be delivered on Saturday to the Marblehead Art Association.  

Through Hopper's Lens

 

The Winsor, Oil on Panel, 24"x16"

After working to straighten and paint in the window frame with the dark blue wall, I saw that the bookcase left edge was completely off and not aligned with the floor corner.  That's the sloppy blue area.  Worked a bit on the books and the floor.  

Through Hopper's Lens

The Winsor, Oil on Panel, 24"x16"

The chair spindles are and will forever be a monster to deal with.  Looking forward to it.  The whites have a long way to go for that right value balance.  Still haven't investigated plants in Hopper's work.  But, I had a great idea today.  Out the window will be a direct nod to Hopper's subject, trees and grass.  Can you see it?

 

Through Hopper's Lens

The Winsor, Oil on Panel, 24"x16"

Decisions about color and books.  I know that Hopper's works are pared down much more than this.  I don't believe he would have included the books. I'm also sure he would never have an anthurium.  

 

Hopper Light

The Winsor

The Copley Society has issued a call for entry into the juried national show, Through Hopper's Lens.  The artwork should be inspired by Edward Hopper. I'm very excited to try for this show.  Hopper has been an inspiration to and for me.  I love his big blocks of color and light.  Years and years ago I painted a block in Fairhaven, MA which reminded me of Hopper's Early Sunday Morning.  At the time I was living in a small apartment and the painting took almost the entire dining room.  

The day the call came out, I saw the spring light streaming in the window across the Winsor chair.  The shadows, the light, the colors all said, "this is your Hopper Lens".  

 

Wood Ducks, Not in a Row

 

Wood Ducks, 2023, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"

I need a bit of distance from this painting to get a better critical eye.  Currently, I feel it is somewhat dull, lacking in light.  I do know I will wash over the reflections once they are dry to make them less prominent.  I'm also uncertain about the background water and sky.  Should they blend one into the other?, should there be more activity in the water?.  The strongest water is between the 3 ducks on the left.  I may replicate that on the right.  Yes, I definitely will.  But for now, a reprieve and something new on the easel.  

Wood Ducks, Decisions with Modifications.

 

Wood Ducks, Oil on Panel, 12"x23"

I decided the composition would be more dynamic with some diagonal movement.  If the central duck (the boss) was just a bit larger with his head higher it could become the golden ratio. 

Get Your Ducks in a Row

Decisions, Decisions

I generally like my birds all in a row.  It might have to do with the format of the panel.  But, even in square panels I seem to move toward a horizontal format.  I also like the odd number, 5 or 3...not 2, 4, or 6.  There also is generally a 'leader'.  In this case it is not in the least subtle who that will be.  The question is do I want the other 4 to be conversing with the leader.  Or, do I want them just happy little ducks independently swimming along.  I chose the Wood Duck because the feathers are the most beautiful colors.  There is some iridescence which is difficult.  

All of February with an Anticipation of Spring

 

This piece of rhododendrons was done for the juried spring show at Copley Society of Art.  The theme is Refresh.  I'm really not thrilled or even good with thematic calls.  I'm far too literal and also observational in my approach.  Each slide varies in color that was affected by the time of day in the studio when the shot was taken.  The intense magenta is the true representation.  The verdict is yet to be announced.  

The College Seminar, 2023

 

College Seminar, 2023, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"

The Northern Cardinal has several nicknames for groups of them.  College is one such nomenclature.  I feel like the Cardinal sitting on the bowl is Professor.  It could even be the College Bowl.  Today in my yard I heard that familiar Cardinal song that indicates spring and mating.  Then, I witnessed a male gather a seed from the feeder, hop down to the deck railing and feed a female.  Touching.  

The College Seminar, In Progress

 

I've added a branch to the winterberry in order to account for the weight of the Cardinal.  Now I'm wondering if it would still topple and need something to weigh down the end of the branch.  A male Cardinal only weighs 1.5 to 1.7 ounces.  So.....  There are now feet in play, shadows to be refined and clean up to happen.  

The College Seminar, In Progress

The College Seminar, Oil on Panel, 12" x 24"

I've realized if the male was perched on the winterberry his weight would pull the branch down to the table.  Therefore, adjustments are to be made.  Stay tuned.  In other news, Three Part Harmony has been selected by the Copley Society for the Members juried Winter Harmony show.  (Yes, I am very literal). 

Three Part Harmony, Oil on Panel, 12"x24"