What's On The Easel

We had a rainbow the other night. Although this is a single,
its not uncommon to see double ones up here.
They are always in the same location too.

Well - last day of break for me. Teacher workshops tomorrow. At least the weather is my cup of tea!

Completed a small pastel at Winslow park. The fog came and went all day and I managed to capture a brief moment of clarity. This is a 5 1/2 x 9 soft pastel on Sennelier La Carte pastel card. I am not really fond of this paper. It cannot take even the smallest dot of moisture! Its frustrating when the surface dissolves! My plan is to only work on Wallis after my stash is gone.

What's on the Easel

Progress. Have put a pretty good dent in my newest paintings. The Bridge is in pastel with a watercolor under painting and its geometric shapes are giving me a hard time. I will likely complete the water color and the pastel before I go back to school. The acrylics will be a long term affair.

2, 30 x 40 panels in Acrylics. "Bull Pine and Queen Anne's Lace" and "Snowy Sunset"



1/4 sheet watercolor "Water Lilly Shadows" and

1/4 sheet Wallis paper pastel " Bridge over the Marsh"

What's on the Easel

I have 8 new paintings started in anticipation of my solo exhibition in February. Two 30 x 40, a series of four 18 x 24, all acrylics. I also have a new quarter sheet watercolor and as well as a quarter sheet pastel started. My summer goal was to have a plan in place and the compositions on supports before I went back to school. With all of the planning and drawing done, I can just enjoy the painting process.

The exhibition is planned around a title that I think will work well for that time of year. I will share that when I get closer just in case I change my mind. The gallery at Harmon's and Barton's is really lovely with large windows that look right over Congress Street. These are some of the images I will be working with - all my own shots.

Paint Out

I spent yesterday on a paint out with Pastel Painters of Maine in the Scarboro Marsh. Although the weather was not the best - the sky was dramatic at times and I love dramatic skies. I met some very nice people and the work was beautiful! The best part was to see so many people out painting together!

I used some paper that I forgot I had purchased! One of my fellow artists asked me what it was and I did not even know! Shame on me! Came home and started to try and figure out what I had painted on! It is from UArt. I bought a sample pack because it claims to have the waterproof quality of Wallis paper but I have NOT tried it out with water color yet. I liked it ok - the true test will be it's ability to take water. I intend to try

that with a study for my next 30 x 40 acrylic painting. Wallis pastel paper is my favorite!

I am now an official member of the Union of Maine Visual Artists! I joined yesterday. I will have one free web site page on their site so be looking for that update as soon as I get the link set up.

Meeting tonight with the "Buxton Art Association" - that's the name for now at least. We doubled in size from the last meeting! Its all very exciting. This meeting will be held in the GAR hall in Standish. We are looking for a group home base.

New Website Design

After reading some of the book "I'd Rather be in the Studio" by Alyson Stanfield, I decided that I needed to clean up my web site. It is now cleaner and leaner. Please feel free to comment. You might also like to check out her blog - artbizblog.com

Started six new panels for my exhibition in February. Two are 30x40 and four are 18x24. I have my show title and a set direction. I will post that information when I get a bit closer to the date.

I did the cliff walk in Prouts Neck with a fellow artist last week. If you have never done this walk you really should. It's beautiful.

What's on the Easel

Ferry Beach in Scarborough yesterday. Stopped by the roadside to get a good view of the marsh. This is on Route 207, Black Point Road looking West across the marsh. Summer greens are beautiful! I'm pretty good with photo shop but no matter what I do the digital image of this pastel is not even close to the way the color looks in real life.

For one thing, the foreground has some accents that do not show well in digital form. The neutrals in the mid ground are much richer in the real artwork. One more reason that people need to go and see real artwork - photos do not do them justice.This painting is 9x12. The support is charcoal colored Sennelier La Carte Pastel Card.

This was a quick sketch on Ferry Beach looking towards the Old Eastern Railroad tracks.

One of the few nice summer days we have had of late.

New Supplies

Just received a new 72 color set of unison soft pastels. They are just so beautiful! Now to make color inventory sheets! Dakota Pastels had the best price.

I think my meeting with JM at Harmons and Bartons gallery went well. My work looked strong and I felt good about the space. I was not able to make a commitment for the month that was available. I was ready for October but only September was open! Right when I am starting back to school! I have asked for a later date - February of 2010 is the next available date.

This is a close up of my newest painting "Stranded At Sea." I am happy with the color. I achieved it with multiple layers of glazes. I still have a lot of work ahead on this one.