Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Portfolio Review


I spent some time recently revising and re-designing my Artist's Statement, Biography, and c.v. so that they all reflect my new brand. I needed to do this and the fact that I was going to be attending my first Portfolio Review last weekend hosted by the Cambridge Art Association at the Lesley University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts presented me with the necessary deadline.

I had never participated in a Portfolio Review and was a little nervous as I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. But it proved to be a great experience. I met with three reviewers, two individuals from local museums and one gallery owner. My reviews were a mixed bag with some overlap but all very helpful. I found that I "clicked" most with a gallery owner who's basic outlook on art seemed to match mine, which is probably a more pragmatic, business point of view. I mean, I have an appreciation for making art that feeds one's soul, but let's face it, I gotta eat. For me, painting what I love is paramount, and improving my skills as a painter and editor of subjects and how they are conveyed is important to me. Lucky for me I've been able to connect with my many collectors who share this appreciation for and my depictions of, the simplicities of life. They have purchased my painting, supporting me in this wacky endeavor to document my time in history, for which I am extremely grateful. Overall, I left the review feeling encouraged, inspired and ready to take the next steps necessary for gaining more exposure.

Cambridge Art Association did a wonderful job hosting this event and preparing artists through a Portfolio Review Preparation Workshop a couple weeks before. 

Below is a little slideshow that I put together of the work I showed at my reviews.  Thank you for following me on this journey!  Now I better get back to my drawing board!!




Friday, March 16, 2018

Big Tomatoes

"Big Tomatoes" - work-in-progress
24" x 24"
watercolor on clayboard

We're getting there! Hope to have this one finished up very soon. Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Making Some Progress

"New Braintree Sap" - work-in-progress
16" x 12"
watercolor on clayboard

Well we received some more snow here in the Northeast yesterday. Hard to imagine that spring is on its way. Good grief! But a snowday makes for a good painting day. Here are my works-in-progress.


work-in-progress
14" x 11"
watercolor on clayboard

"Big Tomatoes" - work-in-progress
24" x 24"
watercolor on clayboard

Have a great day!

Monday, March 12, 2018

New Ones


work-in-progress
24" x 24"
watercolor on clayboard
I was absent from the blog last week, but I was busy in the studio. In the midst of finishing up old paintings I began some new ones.

The first is a 24" x 24" painting of tomatoes. My first version of this composition was on some kind of illustration board many years ago and although I was close to finishing it, I just didn't like the way the board was taking the watercolor. So I scrapped it. Then I painted a smaller version on watercolor paper -- I think around 10" x 10" -- of the same colander with tomatoes, a few years later. However I knew I always wanted to do this painting bigger than life. So I decided to jump in last week on the clayboard. I'm looking forward to sharing my progress with you ... and I can't wait to see what it's like all done!

Last week I also decided to turn my sap bucket sketch into a larger painting on clayboard. I so love painting on this surface!

New Braintree Sap - wip
16" x 12"
watercolor on clayboard

Lastly, I drew out three white pitchers.  I'm much further along on this one, but you'll just have to wait to see . . .

work-in-progress
11" x 14"
watercolor on aquabord

Happy Monday -- have a great start to your week!

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Sketching Spring

sap bucket - sketch
watercolor on paper
Well, technically it's not spring yet here in the Northeast, but it's been brilliant like spring so I'm going with it. The sap buckets are out and the light was just right as I drove by the other day, so I snapped some photos. I want to practice more on my trees, so this seemed like the right subject.  I think I'll do a larger painting of this on clayboard.

Have a great day!

pasted into my sketchbook
Cutler Road - sketch
watercolor on paper