"A couple of recent field sketches"

"Emerson Point Sea Grapes", 11x14 oil on linen Panel



I was recently out looking for spots to take my upcoming April workshop, and came across these two places to set up and do small Field Studies.  The paintings are from different locations, and towns.....but both near the water.  I find it interesting that they look like they could have been painted the same day and at the same location, but they were painted on different days and are miles away from each other.  I think these two will be framed alike and hang as a couple.....for a while anyway!

"North Jetty Sea Grapes", 11x14 oil on linen panel





Thanks for listening to my Ramblings.

"Six Step Demo of a recent studio painting."

Step 1.

     

Step 2.

Step 3.

Step 4.

Step 5.

Step 6.

This is the finished stage.....for the time being.  I may tweak it here and there, but this is as far as this one is going to go..... for now.  I always like it when I do have time to put one aside and look at it with a fresh eye, as opposed to just slapping it in a frame and sending it off.  Of course, one does not always have that luxury.

This subject is one of my favorites of the eclectic subject that I paint.  The summer season in Maine is coming, and I must do more.  Thanks for listening to my ramblings.     

Recent 3 day workshop in Apalachicola Florida!

 

First Day morning demo. 

The group gathered as I did a quick demo of the Golden Ball being restored by the Apalachicola Maritime Museum.

 

This is my quick interpretation of the "Golden Ball". 

 

 

Second day, participants setting up to paint the old Florida house. 

 

 

Beginning my second day demo of the old house.  This old structure is all but falling down from neglect.  I started this demo differently than the first day, by painting directly on the white surface with local color, rather than toning and ridding myself of the stark white.  It is a bit more difficult, but it is another way of starting.  Keeps it interesting for me, and suggest another approach for students....rather than doing things the same way each time.  Helps avoid falling into a formula type of thinking.

 

 

 This is as far as I pursued this 16x20 demo.  I painted this very quickly during a break in the morning painting.  I really like painting this subject, and I just might try to translate this into a studio piece....we'll see!

 

 

On of my group, Chris, doing a great little painting of the old Florida house.  She is wonderful portrait artist who is going to be a great outdoor painter.

 

 

Third Day of the workshop was spent at Scipio Creek....a great location for painting work boats.  Here some of guys were set up on the upper deck in the shade with great views of the Marina.

 

 

Another painter from the group, Lynn, with a very nice effort.  I had lots of fun on this trip.  Met some great people and I look forward to the "Forgotten Coast" paint out this year.  Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

 

 

 

 







Four Paintings Headed to RS Hanna Gallery!

"The Watering Hole", 17x31 oil on linen

This painting is about the gathering place this small herd of horses use as a watering hole.  Several times a day, they seemed to congregate there.  Out of context, one could imagine this could very well be a wild horse situation instead of a farm pasture.

"Bella Donah", 24x18 oil on linen

This beautiful black Arabian filly had just been released to pasture after an night in the stable.  The energy and spirit of this young equine subject was really something to behold.....and impossible to completely convey.  It was an early fresh morning, and my reference shots were excellent, but the memory of seeing it with my own eyes helped with the attempt to convey this emotion.

"Moonlit Pony Huddle", 11x14 oil on linen

The close gathering of these young fillies, and their sense of security in numbers was the attraction for me in this small painting.....and of course the light.  It was late evening, and my reference was much darker than it appears here.  I had to open up the shadows a bit to make things read, while keeping the feeling of overall evening moonlight.   

 

"The Loner", 16x12 oil on linen

This filly seemed to have no pals in the pasture....whether by choice or some other reason!