New Notecards

"Pumpkin Shadows"

I just wanted to let you all know that I've added some new notecards to my "Notecard Gallery" page found on the navigation bar above. I'm also in the process of putting together the prices for Holiday Cards as I've decided to offer them up for sale and take orders this year.

"A Vintage Bulb"

Different from my notecards which are blank on the inside, each holiday card has a heartfelt sentiment. I have a few different designs to choose from so stay tuned for more information. In the meantime I hope you get the chance to browse my notecard gallery.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

"Hydrangea I"

Workshop

click on the image to enlarge it

I finally got my act together and have organized the small class I am offering in my studio beginning in a few weeks.  I'm limiting the class to 4 and already have two students signed up but there are two more available slots.  More information on what to expect and what supplies are needed can be found under the page "workshops" located on the navigation bar above.  I think this will be fun and I'll be sure to post how it all turns out.  Hopefully I'll have permission to show some student examples.

Unfortunately I have no painting updates to post.  I caught a cold and so I've been lying low.  It's actually working out because I have lots of computer stuff to work on and I can do that in bed with my laptop!

Thank you for stopping by.

Raspberries II

"Raspberries II"
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

(what this painting could look like framed)

Click here to purchase

Here's the finished "Raspberries II" painting.  It has been sealed with a matte, protective finish and needn't be placed under glass.  Thank you for visiting my blog -- hope you have a splendid day!

Finally . . .

. . . a new painting for sale!

"My Buddies"
4" x 4"
watercolor on aquabord

Click here to bid

I squeezed in this little painting before finishing "Raspberries II" which I finished this morning.  I'll post that tomorrow, so stay tuned!  (How's that for a teaser?)  Have a great day and thank you for stopping by.

(The image below is what this painting could look like with a frame.  This painting does not need to be matted under glass as it is treated with a protective matte finish.)

(what this painting could look like framed)

Almost There and New News

Still plugging along on the raspberries.  They're almost done . . . thank goodness!  :)  

I also want to share some exciting news.  I heard yesterday that my three paintings (pictured below) have been juried into the 19th Annual Small Matters of Great Importance National Juried Exhibition at the Edward Hopper House Art Center in Nyack, NY. The exhibit will be up between October 27 – December 23, 2012. I originally didn't want to jinx myself so when I interrupted my other paintings to start these, I didn't  mention my purpose.  I was inspired by Hopper's strong design, color and passion for his subjects when I planned out my paintings. I am very excited and grateful to be part of this show.

For more information about the show or the Edward Hopper House Art Center click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

At A Snail's Pace

It's a good thing this isn't a large painting or I'd never finish!  I'm having fun though . . . obsessing over all those little raspberry nobs (that's my own unscientific term in case you couldn't tell.)  :)  Ok, back to work.  Have a great day!

Making Strides

"Raspberries"  - wip
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

Just thought I'd show you my progress.  Have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Raspberries II

"Raspberries II" - wip
(detail)

"Raspberries II" - wip
6" x 6"

I had a very productive day today as I was able to make some headway on the raspberry painting.  I did some desk work in the morning, planning out a 5-week workshop I'm teaching here in my studio beginning in October.  I was tossing the idea around for a while, not sure if I could pull it off because I hadn't done any prep or advertising, but when I described my plan to a few friends they passed along my idea and now I have 3 people signed up!  Given I only have room for four max, I'm very excited!

In the afternoon I had a student, so I sat down to paint with her.  God bless my students!  They always seem to do more for me, than I could ever do for them.  Truth be told, I have been feeling kind of discouraged about some of my latest still lifes.  That's probably why I switched to those landscapes and haven't been working on some of my older paintings that need finishing; I haven't wanted to ruin them.  That's also why I kept starting these small paintings -- just trying to get the feeling again.  (oooh . . . that was one of my all time favorite Barry Manilow songs!)  Anyway . . . I was relaxed today . . . feeling all good and happy (my students always make me feel that way) . . . and I think I finally may have broken the jinx (for now - you artists know what I'm talking about).  :)  These photos aren't very good, but you get the picture.  Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend.

Studio Mayhem, Focus Kara Focus!

There have been a lot of things going on here in ol' central Massachusetts. As you can see, I started a couple new small paintings on aquabord.  I've been feeling pressured to get something up on DPW and thought these would be fairly quick . . . why do I always think that - you think I'd know better by now?!  Anyway -- I had originally started the strawberry, then on Sunday I was painting at the Drover's Roast at Salem Cross Inn where I started the raspberries.  The Drover's Roast is a wonderful event -- you can click here for more information and/or visit the Inn's Facebook Page).  (And if you look closely enough at the FB page, you may even see me in costume leaving the gazebo - ha!  The photo was taken a couple years ago and before the meal because afterwards my costume's usually stretched to the max and busting at the seams.  Seriously -- you've never seen so much food!)  Anyway my goal is to finish both paintings by Friday.  

Oh and I haven't forgotten about my Fisher Price People!  Here are three started.  Well . . . you can't really see the middle one -- but I assure you it's drawn out.

The Backroads Studio Tour is coming up next month, so I've started framing some pieces and the studio is a complete disaster.  Matboard, a bunch of old frames I've been storing, piles of papers to file, print samples, ugh, it total chaos. However, I couldn't resist purchasing some new frames, even though I have a ton of old ones to use up . . . why you ask . . . because I'm insane. Anyway, I bought these beautiful plein air frames from kingofframe.com -- the frame division of the Randy Higbee Gallery.  The pictures don't exactly do them justice. And as you can see -- it was a bit of a challenge taking the pictures.  (Although it's my own fault because I'm always telling Teddy what a good helper he is.)

Teddy Helping!
(this photo makes me laugh because he looks so serious when he's
really just a big goof like his mother!)  :)

Finally, here are some pictures of the notecards I just had printed and am packaging up.  In case you're wondering, I use catprint.com.  They are very reasonable and always do a super job (and I really love the quality of their heavy card stock - matte, which is actually a little bit shiny and shows the color sooooo well.)  

Thank you for stopping in and reading my blog. I probably don't say it nearly enough, but I very much appreciate you all reading and commenting. While I try to reply to all your wonderful comments sometimes I may miss a couple or be very tardy and for that I apologize. But please know it truly warms my heart that so many of you have taken an interest in this crazy little blog.  So here's to a productive rest of the week for us all! Keep painting! Cheers!  :)

Exhibit

"Bittersweet Door"
12" x 9"
$375

I'm pleased to announce that my painting "Bittersweet Door" was juried into the Concord Art Association's Frances N. Roddy Open Competition. The exhibit will run from September 13th to October 14th.  As many of you know, when you enter a show you just never know what the outcome will be.  While I entered two pieces (the second entry is shown below) I felt that this one was definitely the stronger piece . . . but you still have no idea whether the jury will share your vision.  I'm grateful to be included at all.

So if you are in the area of Concord, MA or looking for a great historical day-trip with the kids, take a drive to Concord and while you're there check out the exhibit.  More information about the show can be found by visiting www.concordart.org and additional information on what to do in Concord can be found by clicking here.

"Redware Tea"
6" x 6"
(to see this painting and more click here)

Thank you for visiting my blog and have a great weekend!

Studio

photo by Tom Rettig

I thought you might like to see my studio.  This photo was taken last year during the Backroads Studio Tour.  (I got it off of the Worcester Living Magazine site.)  I wish it looked like that right now -- it's a total MESS!  But I'm hoping to get it all spruced up -- with even a new paint job before this year's Tour.  The walls have been marred quite a bit by all the nail holes from hanging paintings.  But Dan has built me some wall shelves so that I can place paintings on them.  They also serve as a border so that when I repaint the big wall, I won't have to go all the way to the peak.  How's that for clever?  Anyway . . . tomorrow I'll be back working on my Fisher Price series, picking away at older paintings that need finishing and I have some smaller works ready to start. I really need to post some new stuff over at Daily Paintworks, so I MUST get my act together.  Thanks for visiting -- have a great day!

Spring House

"Spring House"
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

I finished "Spring House" and I thought you might like to see all three together.  I'll let you know as to when I'll be selling these and how much, for now I'm just going to live with them for a little while and I have another one brewing.  Have a wonderful day and thank you for visiting.  :)

Stonewall - WIP

"Stonewall" - work in progress
6" x 6"
watercolor on aquabord

Here's another small landscape. I recently came across the three reference photos for these last three paintings and decided to give them a whirl using the aquabord. The photos were taken about a year ago during a little picture-taking jaunt with a former colleague of mine, who's also a dear friend and fantastic artist. I'm obviously still working on this one but hopefully will wrap it up tomorrow. But for now I'm off to bed. Thank you for checking in.  :)