VT WC Society workshop

This is a painting I did during a Mel Stabin workshop well over ten years ago. Speaking of Mel...he's coming to Vermont this fall and teaching a 5 day plein air workshop in Landgrove. I'm super excited! It is being sponsored by the VT Watercolor Society and anyone out there who might be interested...let me know. The location is the Landgrove Inn and they are offering a special on your stay..it is quite the complete package. Click their name to go to their website and scroll to the bottom to check out their Learning Vacations. They built a beautiful studio and host many other workshops.

Acrylic landscape

Some random early work that I did with acrylics. Fantasy landscapes painted with brushes and fingers...pushed around pigments, trying to come up with a horizon line and atmosphere. It's nice to paint something from your head. We spend all day looking at things, consciously or subconsciously, it's a real stretch to then put it down on paper without an actual visual in front of you!

Poster #2

And another poster in the series...I like this one in particular, because it features four different flowers. On the day of the Garden Tour I would be in one of the gardens painting. I would meet all the people that were touring around and some would even have me sign their posters. It was always a great event. As payment for doing the artwork I would get a stack of posters to give away to family and friends! Good deal. Plus another notch on the artistic resume...

Poster artwork

Here is another Garden Tour poster that I mentioned yesterday. I received alot of comments that indicated some of us are ready for spring (already!). When the snow is blowing and the wind chills are off the charts, aren't we all ready? Unless of course you live in a more manageable climate...but variety is the spice of life and seasons make a year interesting.

Birches and Blooms

This was a piece I did for a Garden Tour poster many years ago. That's a good way to get your art out and about in your community. Just connect with organizations that might publish posters or programs etc..that could benefit from colorful artwork. I have some other poster images I'll post this week.

Lilacs of spring past

AAAAHHHH, lilacs in the spring...right now all that's left in the house are a few lonely paperwhites that I cut from the bulbs and put in a vase and a half-gone amaryllis. The tree has been dismantled, so it's time to go out and find something bright and beautiful to spruce up the place. Tulips seem to find their way into the stores earlier and earlier each year, so maybe I'll go and find a mixed bouquet.

resolutions

Happy New Year! All resolutions should be in place by now...whether any get taken seriously or will peter out in time....we will have to wait and find out. If anything we all vow to do more of something, more dieting (!), more goodwill, more exercising, more, more, more...as an artist I want to do more sketching, more painting, more shows, more blogging(?), maybe just more observing, more looking, more connecting with other artists and more just enjoying what does get accomplished!

End of year challenge

This is my portrait for the Different Strokes blog end of year challenge. It measures 9"x6" and was really fun to do. I hope I captured this lady's likeness...I'll wait and see, since I have no idea who my mystery portrait person is....I'm going to wish everyone a Happy New Year, because I'll take the rest of the week off and get ready to start off with regular postings again in January. Thanks everyone for all your positive and encouraging comments throughout the year.

Merry Merry

Merry Christmas, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Joyeux Noel, Froehliche Weihnachten, Mele Kalikimaka, Gledileg Jol, Feliz Navidad and to all a Good Night!

new subjects

The weekly figure session is on hiatus until mid January, boo hoo. I've gotten quite used to going on a regular basis. I should be less bashful and drag the sketchbook around town and sketch people in cafes and restaurants etc... I've done some of that, but some how the person I've chosen to sketch realizes something is up and gives me the hairy eyeball. I should focus on people who are asleep or mostly turned away from me. Hmm a thought for the new year, find unsuspecting subjects.

Red, red flower

This image is reminding me of all the poinsettias that I'm seeing around the stores. I know they look different, but the close-up and colors are similar. We didn't get any poinsettias this year, so I don't have a reference to paint one...I did do one many years ago for a holiday card...I should go dig that one up and try to post it this week or next....only 9 shopping days left...what does that mean? Maybe try to make something for your loved ones this year! hmmm, there's an idea.

Dragonboats

Okay this is the last blatant self promotion post this week! The sketchbook images above were from this past summer's dragonboat races here on Lake Champlain. A portion of the proceeds of the painting I currently have up for auction will go to Dragonheart Vermont, a breast cancer charity. The dragonboat racing involves alot of yelling and very colorful boats and people. It's quite impressive. Enjoy your weekend...auction ends on Sunday! Click this link.

Feels abstract

"Reflective Surfaces" 11" x 15" private collection

The wind is howling and the snow has fallen...it's beginning to look and feel like Winter up here in the great white north. That's a good thing..This is again an older painting, slightly abstract. My studio is currently turned upside down, but I'm hoping for a renewed surge of inspiration and motivation to clean and organize come January! Just a reminder..the auction I'm participating in ends on December 13th...don't miss your chance to own a piece of Vermont art by yours truly, plus other Vermont artists...Click this link.

Composition

"Forgotten Barn" 15" x 22"

This painting is around 10 years old...A little front and center..wish I had set up to paint the barn at an angle..but with the fencing in the front left at a diagonal and the handles of the wheelbarrow going the opposite direction, I think the composition still works. I'll be a little sporadic in postings these next few weeks..the holidays are going to get in the way of any regularity....thought I'd give you an early head's up so you wouldn't wonder where I was hanging out...

Auction painting

"Champlain Summer Sails" 10"x14"

This is a painting I did in August this summer during a day in the shade with fellow members of the Vermont Watercolor Society to celebrate the Quadricentennial of Lake Champlain. Currently the pieces inspired by water and the lake are being auctioned off through our blog. If you have a chance to check it out, click this LINK. Tell all your friends that they too could own a piece of original Vermont art! Click the title to go directly to the ebay page for a chance to bid on my painting.

a whole lotta leg

After almost two years plus that I've been going to the figure sessions at my local art center...I think I'm getting a bit better. There's something to be said for consistency and practice, practice, practice. When I was younger I never took that saying too seriously, thinking it couldn't possibly be true....well...I've changed my tune over the years. Wish I could say otherwise, but time put in is always good to further the cause!

Palm shapes

Another sketchbook entry...seems I always have these grandiose ideas while on vacation that I'll just paint and sketch all day long...but then I start reading, looking in the People magazines, walking around, napping...everything else BUT sketching. Oh well, if I manage to squeeze a few in there I'm happy.

On another note...thank you all for your kind words in response to my post yesterday...

catnip forever!

....tough week behind me...our old lady kitty (she always looked like a young kitten according to many visitors) passed away on Sunday afternoon(19 years old)...while I was petting her and telling her it was okay...oh so tough...those four legged furries have us under their spell and it's so hard to see them go...what a void...a tulip tribute to her and we'll definitely miss her terribly.. already do... :(