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!

Pasted

I decided to paste this little sketch into my watercolor sketchbook for reference. I don't keep a regular sketchbook but am once again trying to get into the habit as I'm always impressed when I see others' books. They're so inspiring and sketching in general is just a good way to practice skills.

So I will once again, try to do more sketching. I can't promise I will, but I'm going to try. Do you keep a sketchbook? How often do you sketch? What kinds of things do you sketch . . . and how much time do you devote to sketching? I'd love to read your responses!

Cutler Road sketch
8" x 8"
(watercolor on paper)

Happy Friday, Happy Sketching, and Have a great weekend!

Work-In-Progress

work-in-progress
12" x 12"
(watercolor on clayboard)

I was recently reminded how important critique is. A dear friend and fellow artist came for a visit and as usual we got around to talking "art." We were in my studio and I was voicing my plans for future paintings and what I hope to accomplish and achieve with regards to my artistic growth. It was so enlightening to hear an objective perspective and she helped me clarify what things I need to work on to strengthen my work going forward, putting words to my feelings; giving me a concrete path to follow.

We spoke in generalities and then specifically about this painting, which has been vexing me for a few days now. I'm looking forward to applying the direction I received and excited to execute what we talked about and finally finish this painting!

I was reminded that my paintings aren't the only "works-in-progress" in the studio. 

detail

Have a great start to your week!

Church Street Progress

4 1/2 Church Street - wip

Just giving you a little update.  It's shaping up nicely I think. Still have plenty of work to do though.

Revisiting Old Paintings

wips

I don't know about you, but I have plenty of paintings laying around the studio that I need to finish. So I am slowly working my way through them, while of course still starting some new ones. (Ha! I just can't help myself.)

4 1/2 Church St. - wip
8" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)

This is my first night scene. I started it sometime ago but abandoned it because it looked so lousy. But I'm back at it . . . trying to get it to a place that satisfies me. So far so good, I feel like it may come together after all. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Throwback Thursday -- "Nantucket Christmas"

"Nantucket Christmas"
9.25" x 5.5"
(matted and framed watercolor on paper)
$185

Click here to purchase.

This painting served as one of my Christmas cards last year.  This year I'm hoping that the original painting will find a good home so I can make room in the studio for some new paintings.  As a little extra gift, I will throw in a box of 10 of "Deerfield Wreath," this year's cards, with the purchase of this painting.

"Deerfield Wreath"
2017

`Tis the season and thank you for all your kind comments and support throughout the year.

Mill No. 1 - A Throwback Thursday Production

"Mill No."
6" x 6"
(watercolor on 7/8" cradled aquabord)

Click here to bid.

Every so often I find myself longing for sepia tones. This little painting is of a mill in a nearby town. I just love the way light plays on the geometric structures of factory architecture. And New England mills are just a delightful subject in general don't you think?

I painted this last year as the beginning of a series of 6 sepia mill paintings.  Admittedly I'm still haven't moved on to No. 2 yet.  Doh!  Oh me and my "big" ideas. I have problems. Maybe 2018 will be the year to see this series through, eh?

"hashtag: startingthingsandnotfinishingthem"   :)

And in the spirit of the season . . . let's open an auction on this baby and start the bidding at the bargain-basement price of $85 -- Holy Smokes!  I need to make room for some 2018 paintings.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Flags, Flags and More Flags

So this painting has been spending quite a lot of time on my easel.  I've had to take a lot of breaks from it though. Painting stars has me going a little googly. On the bright side I finished at least 4 paintings and began a bunch more since I started this one. 

But alas, I must get this done as it is going to be my July painting for my 2018 calendar and I must get those ordered . . . so I'm off to paint and finally finish it.  Wish me luck!

Truro Light

"Truro Light"
10" x 8"
(watercolor on aquabord)
starting bid:  $200

Click here to bid.

Woohoo! Done with "Truro Light" and those crazy shingles. The auction on this painting does not include framing but I can frame this as shown below for an additional fee.

Have a great day!

(what this painting could look like framed)

The Drama Continues

"Princeton Barn" - work in progress
9" x 12"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Oh boy . . . so after hours of painstakingly working on branches and such I decided I was getting way to detailed and nitpicky and just washed the tops of the trees right off!

"Princeton Barn" - work in progress
9" x 12"
(watercolor on aquabord)

So this is where I'm at.  The second image scanned a little lighter than the first one, which I messed around with in Photoshop at night - Yikes.  So the real colors and contrast are somewhere in between these two images.  However I think I like the drama in the first image.  Maybe I'll try recreate that in my painting.  What a wild ride this is turning out to be!

Have a lovely day.

Oh Boy

"Cape Cod Engine House"
12" x 12"
(watercolor on aquabord)
$400

Oh boy . . . I guess I completely dropped the ball last week.  It was a very busy week personally, and I didn't get much painting or blogging done.  Ouch.  I'm gearing up though for my Open House on October 1st and 2nd  as part of theannual Backroads Studio Tour here in central Massachusetts.  So I will be cleaning and re-organizing my studio and PAINTING lots this week.  

This painting will be on display and for sale during the tour.  It comes framed and ready to hang as shown below.  If you are in the area I hope you are able to take a ride out.  It's a really lovely event -- lots of art to see.  Not to mention, who doesn't love New England in the Fall?

framed and ready to hang

Have a great start to your week!

Happy Fourth of July!!

"July Geraniums"
15" x 18"
(watercolor on aquabord)
$550

Click here to purchase.

Wishing all my American friends a wonderful Fourth of July!  Happy Independence Day!

Backroads 2015

Beautiful Dahlias brought to me by one of my many visitors on Saturday.
I also have some pamphlets listing my upcoming classes at Workshop13 in Ware.

It's been a great weekend so far for the Backroads Studio Tour.  I had a great Saturday . . . a mingling of new and familiar faces, even though it was a rather chilly and raw day here in Central Mass.  Thank you to everyone who came out.  

The sun is shining this Sunday morning and it's looking like a beautiful day for a ride.  The foliage is lovely and there's lots to see at the many studios along the Tour.  Hope to see you out and about today.  

Some new square notecards.

In addition to original paintings, prints and notecards,
we have all sorts of neat little "gifty" items . . . and the wrapping too!

Thank you for stopping by the blog!

Little Yellow House

"Little Yellow House"
3" x 3"
watercolor on paper

Click here to bid.

I've been doing some little sketches and experimenting with architecture/landscapes.  I'm a very literal painter (it's all I can do not to paint every brick and leaf - gaaah!) and so I've been trying to do more editing while becoming a little more artistic (hopefully) in my choices.  (I've been greatly inspired by the amazing work of Joyce Hicks - she has a new book and it's fabulous!) 

Specifically for me, I've been working on value and color.  If you scroll down a little further you'll see my sketches and reference photo for this painting.  I'm still not wild and crazy, but hopefully you'll like what I've done.

Thanks for taking a peek.

what this painting could look like framed

reference photo

sketches - and final painting

Another Work In Progress

"Knight's Store" - wip
 6.75" x 9"

Well you know me . . . I got all jazzed about the photos I took at Old Sturbridge Village last week and had to try one out.  Also a friend of mine, and fellow watercolorist, gave me some different papers she thought I'd like to experiment with:  I thought Knight's Store would make a fine subject.   So in the midst of my Christmas Card painting, I started this yesterday and finished it up today.  This photo is from this morning, before I began working today.  I will be tweaking and photographing the final version tomorrow.  I'll also get back to my card -- must get that one done soon so I can order my cards.

Happy painting . . . and thank you for taking a peek at my blog.

Froloff's Barns

"Froloff's Barns"
11.5" x 10.25"
(watercolor on paper)

Click here to bid.

I finished this last night. So glad to finally have accomplished this one.  Thanks for viewing my work.  Cheers!

Getting There

wip-3

Still working on this one.  I've decided that I love painting stonewalls.  :)  Thanks for visiting!

Ahhhh . . . Progress

11.75" x 10.5"

I start getting a little anxious when I don't have a finished painting by midweek, or at the very least, a lot of good progress.  So I'm relieved that I can finally post some legitimate progress on this painting.  As you know, it's been hanging around the studio for a long time . . . but I pulled it out a week or so ago and was able to get a substantial amount of work done on it today.  It's actually even further along than when I snapped this photo.  So stay tuned!  Thank you for reading my blog.  :)

Progress On The Basket

(watercolor on cradled aquabord)
16" x 20"

detail

detail

I managed to do some more work on this one.  Thanks for taking a look!

Barn Window

"Barn Window"
5" x 7"
(watercolor on aquabord)

Click here to bid.

Last November while I was out and about snapping pictures in Petersham with my friend, I took this photo. I was taken by the weathered wood and simple yet strong design of the composition. Weathered barns have such personality and history and this one is no exception. In some way, this painting will always remind me of home.  I hope you like it.  Thank you for viewing my work.