Color Pencils and Blocks

Children's alphabet blocks and color pencils, a new direction.  And, a bit of a learning curve, which is good for an artist.  Always keep your eye sharp and your hand busy.  

Color Pencils in Cup, 2024, Oil on Cradled Panel, 6"x6".

Color Pencils in Cup, 2024, Oil on Cradled Panel, 6"x6".

Blocks of Joy, 2024,  Oil on Cradled Panel, 6"x6"

Blocks of Love, 2024,  Oil on Cradled Panel, 6"x6"

 

Color Pencils and Building Blocks: Works in Progress

Color Pencils, 2023, Oil on Panel, 6"x6"

Color Pencils in Vase, 2023 Oil on Panel 6x6

Continuing with subjects small and vintage, these 2 of color pencils take on 2 different points of view.  I've painted the little vase on the left in other still lifes.  It is just the perfect little Japanese shape.  The pencils on the right leave the impression with me of Pop Art. I also think they appear personified.  LOL

The surprising thing about the process of these small simple still lifes is how difficult they are to paint.  It's the very straight edges and the perspective that demand a steady hand.  

Blocks of Joy, 2023, Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Blocks of Love, 2023, Oil on Panel 6"x6"

Harvest Time

 

Harvest Time, 2023, Oil on Canvas, 20"x24"

I live in Southeastern Massachusetts where beaches abound and the Cranberry is king.  It's impossible to leave my house without passing a bog.  This bog, I believe is a Makepeace bog.  The Makepeace farms is the largest grower in North America.  They also are a great community partner.  The video is posted to demonstrate the iterations of color changes that occurred throughout the painting process.  I had in mind to have large blocks of flat color.  That, however, is not my style and proved impossible for me.  Also, I was painting on canvas as opposed to my regular panel surface which grabs the paint in a different way.  This painting is off to the Marion Art Center Member show from January 13-February 23.  

Harvest Time, 2023, Oil on Canvas, 20"x24"  

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.