Redhead with Sunflowers, no.4

2012

10x8

oil

Here's one of the quick, little oils I did a couple weeks ago.

I have two more to show you.

Sound of the Ocean

Sound of the Ocean

2012

36x36

oil

I know, I thought I was done, too.

I promise, I'll stop.

Story of my life...

Square Peg, Round Hole

2012

11x14

acrylic

Detail

I got tired of looking at those figure paintings.

This is more like me!

If you click on the picture, I think you will be able to see that there is quite a bit of texture to this.

More Figure Painting

Redhead

with Sunflowers, no.1

2012

24x18

oil

Another fine Monday night painting class with Bob Collins at Post Road Art Center.

In a three hour session I whipped through four paintings (thanks for the extra canvas, Bob!).

This was the first and most belabored. I made some changes back at my studio when the paint had dried enough to get back into it. It looks a bit stiff to me, but I feel like I am starting to wrap my head around figure painting.

Soon I will post the others, which are smaller, more abstract, and really fun.

Thanks to Thea our fantastic model!

Finished piece

Man in the Yellow Chair

2012

24x18

oil

So, here this one is. Still representational, but with an expressionistic leaning.

I learned so much on this painting.

I am pleased with the end result.

Sound of the Ocean

2012

36x36

oil

I am ambivalent about this piece.

What do you think?

I don't know if the photo shows it, but the texture is pretty thick, which I like.

work in progress

figure painting in progress

24x18

oil

This makes me feel a little vulnerable, posting something I am still working on, but traffic here has been light,so now is the time!

I started this figure painting a few weeks back at the previously mentioned class at Post Road Art Center. It was much tighter. I am trying to take it somewhere more abstract, but still concerning the figure.

I love the figure painting of Nathan Oliviera from the 1960's (example below).

I want to study them more and try to absorb some of his boldness.

It takes enormous confidence in your knowledge of the figure and great conviction for your own painting language to do work like this. Someday......

Head of a Man

2012

14x10

oil

Last week I went to a terrific figure painting workshop led by Bob Collins at Post Road Art Center.

After working on a figure study, I started this portrait which I later finished at my studio.

I confess: I love faces, though I don't care a fig about likeness. Solve that one!

This painting is about the lusciousness of oil paint and the dignity of humanity.

I wish the photo had come out a little better. Maybe if you click on it, the texture will show.

Experimentation

With-Draw

2012

30.5 x 44

mixed media on paper

This is the result of an interactive process where I asked people to contribute descriptive words which I then withdrew from a box and drew/painted my response to each word.

It was a very challenging process for me, but I am pleased with the final piece.

If you are curious to see it as it evolved, visit http://stateofplayexhibit.blogspot.com/p/with-draw-interactive-piece-in-process.html

Happy Summer, Everyone!

Beach Day

2011

9x7

oil

Happy Solstice

7:09 p.m. EST

This is the last painting from last month's trip to Maine that I will post.

Reception to this little seascape abstraction has been cool, but I like it, so I'm posting it anyway.

I painted this at night in my room on the last night, hoping the sun would show its shy face the next day.

You know, like paint a bison on a cave wall the night before the big hunt.

Apparently, I am a lousy shaman. The sun did not appear until I reached Massachusetts the next afternoon.

Dangerous Art

Dangerous Art

2010

mixed media on paper

50x36

I am really pleased that this piece, which a did a couple years ago, has been accepted to the 77th Regional Exhibition of Art and Craft at the Fitchburg Art Museum.

I thought I might take a year off from this show, but when they posted that the jurors included Susan Stoops, head curator of the contemporary collection at the Worcester Art Museum and Dana Salvo of the Clark Gallery, Lincoln, Ma, I just had to submit some work.

This painting was built around a building demolition poster from the city of Fitchburg, so I thought it was a perfect fit. I'm glad they did, too.

Opening Reception Sunday June 24th, 1-3 p.m.

Show runs from June 24th-September 5th, 2012

More information at:

http://fitchburgartmuseum.org/

This show is in a museum, so there is an admission fee.

First Thursday of each month admission is free from 4-8 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Pasture, Maine

Pasture

2012

14x11

oil

I was staying right on the beach.

Open the window and you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

So what do I do?

Paint farmland.

I never claimed I make any kind of sense.

Anyway, I'm cruising along Route 9 in Kennebunk(port? I don't know where I was) when suddenly, I look out the window, and I am in Ireland. Except for the fact that the sheep weren't spray painted, as they are there, you could swear you took one heck of a wrong turn and found yourself in County Kerry.

The grass was blooming this crazy orange color, and the whole scene was intoxicating. Too much for my landscape painting skills, really, but I had to give it a stab, anyway.

From Maine

Pine

2012

8x10

oil

The first of a few paintings I did on my trip to Maine.

We were a small group of painters and poets trying to find some "internal light" amidst a very gloomy few days.

This is clearly not a shore pine.

As it turns out, like this tree, I am more of an inland creature.

Gone Fishin'

With-Draw (detail)

an interactive, in-process piece

2012

mixed media on paper

I am heading off for a few days of painting in Maine.

Hopefully I will return with something interesting enough to post.

New Work

Wandering Mind

2012

18x80

acrylic on panel

This piece is in the current show at the Sprinkler Factory in Worcester, MA

We will be giving an artist talk this Sunday, May 20th from 2-3:30 p.m.

http://stateofplayexhibit.blogspot.com/

photo: Lynn Simmons

Discovering New England

I just got word that my painting, "The Fields at Utley Road" has been selected by juror Michael Giaquinto as one of just 32 landscape paintings for the show Discovering New England at Chabot Gallery, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Exhibition dates: May 15th - June 16th, 2012

Opening reception Thursday, May 17th 5-9 p.m.

for more information visit http://www.chabotgallery.com/

A Wonderful Evening

A few pictures from a really wonderful evening at the Sprinkler Factory.

Thank you to all our guests!

photos: Darrell Probst

Preparations Well Underway

Things are humming along at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery. Installation continues for our show, State of Play, opening Saturday night.

These are a few shots I took during today's very productive push to get the show up.

Last minute announcement, here, I will have four pieces on display (and for sale) at an event in Marlborough, MA tonight,  "Death by Wine & Chocolate" the Rotary Club's fundraiser.  Art generously arranged by Randi Isaacson of Post Road Art Center.  Here's the link in case you feel like overindulging tonight:  http://www.marlboroughrotary.org/

Then May 10-19 is Paint The Town, Concord Art Association's annual fund raiser.
I have donated this oil painting as part of the silent auction.  Preview runs May 10-18 at the gallery and online.  On May 19th they are holding their swanky live auction.

Here is their link:  http://concordart.org/exhibitions/2012/main_gallery/05_12_paint_the_town2012/open_ptt2012.php

State of Play

detail from new mixed media piece

Another exciting show at The Sprinkler Factory will open May 5th.

Here is a detail from one of the pieces I plan to show.

The exhibit, State of Play, will feature new works of painting, sculpture, and installation by our intrepid collective of Worcester area artists:  Christine Croteau, Ted Lilley, Philip Marshall, Lynn Simmons,

 & Mark Spencer.

I will post more information as the date draws closer.    Meantime, you can visit http://stateofplayexhibit.blogspot.com/

Detail

Here is a detail of an oil painting I have been working on.

The canvas is 36x36.

A couple years ago I bought a number of square canvases, thinking they would be a good change, but I must say, they are an uncomfortable format for me.

Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards

without title

2011

acrylic on paper

This is from last May when I took a painting trip to Maine.

I am looking forward to doing that again this year.

From This to That

Got the finishing touches done on this little landscape. I didn't want to change it drastically, I just wanted to accentuate the contrast. I hope I didn't get too fussy.

Post Road Open Show

Young Man, Seated, (detail)

2011

mixed drawing media

This piece has been selected, and given an honorable mention, by juror, Bob Collins of the Danforth Museum at the Open Category Show at the Post Road Art Center, Marlborough, MA.

I just viewed the show on line and am excited to see the works in person.

Opening reception is this Thursday, April 5th from 5:30-8 p.m.

Post Road Art Center

1 Boston Post Road, East

Marborough, MA

508-485-2580

At Luis' Studio

2012

oil on panel

12x9

I had intended to keep this very loose & more abstract,

but on such a small panel, it is hard not to tighten up.

Nevertheless, I'm fairly pleased with it. I think I particularly like the composition of the yellow floor, blue blanket, red pillow and stripey drapes; it gives the whole piece a bit of animation, even with the restful pose.

Art in the Dark

Dominique's Gaze

2012

charcoal

14x11

First of all, don't worry, Domenique, your head is not shaped that way! That is just my distortion, call it poetic license, but that is a bit of your expression.

Well, tonight was pretty funny. Right at the stroke of our GALA Spring Show opening, we had a black out! Art in the Dark. Unfortunate, but we just had to laugh. I felt bad for the musicians, though.

The show will be viewable for two more days, anyway.

I received a couple of ribbons; one for an acrylic painting, and one for an oil.

GALA Spring Art Show

Akimbo in Limbo

2012

24x18

mixed media

Just messing around with a monoprint I never much liked.

But the important thing is: this weekend is the Spring art show for GALA- The Gardner Area League of Artists; three days of art and live music.

The show is a non-juried event, but pieces will be judged, and this time around we've managed to get some rather impressive judges:

Catherine Wilcox-Titus from the gallery at WSU

Eileen Byrne from the Brush Gallery, Lowell and

Jeff Beck from the Fitchburg Art Museum.

The event will be held at the

PACC at 117 Kendall Pond Rd. West, in Gardner, MA

Artists Reception

Friday the 23rd 6-9 p.m. light refreshments and cash bar

Saturday, March 24, 11a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday, March 25, Noon-4 p.m.

As always, the event is free & open to the public.

Fallen Column

2012

24x10x6

clay, sand

almost there.....

2012

7x10

oil

Not quite done, but almost there. I need to let this dry some before I get back into it.

I have been enjoying working small scale.

There is a certain freedom in it.

Asparagus Bunch

2012

10x7

oil

What vegetable or fruit should I try next?

Pair o' Pears

Pear studies

2012

7x10,10x7

oil

I have felt a little artistically adrift since the closing of our show. So rather than nothing, I have been doing these little still life studies. Sort of hackneyed, but better than twiddling my thumbs.

Final Weekend

Transmigration

2012

114 x 32 x 24

hardware cloth, vinyl, strapping tape, wire,

monofilament, mirror, acrylic sheet

This is the final weekend of our show, The Eye is not a Camera, at the Sprinkler Factory, 38 Harlow St., Worcester, MA

Nearly fifty people came for our artist talk last Sunday. This has been a very gratifying experience.

Thank you to everyone who has come to see our work.

Dominique

2012

24x18

graphite on paper

Sprinkler Factory Show Continues

Floating/Falling

2012

72x48

oil on canvas

This Sunday, February 19th from 2-3:30 p.m.

we will be hosting Artist Talks at the Sprinkler Factory Gallery located at 38 Harlow St., Worcester, MA

Hope to see you there!

Listing

2012

78x24

oil on panel

Have a Heart

Conversation Heart

2012

7x5

acrylic

It is almost Valentine's Day, and that means it is time to place your bid on any of a number of small works available at

Post Road Art Center.

This year I have donated three paintings and a photograph.

100% of the price goes to breast cancer research. What a great gift, on so many levels. You can bid online or in person at the gallery.

There will be a closing bid party this Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Light food, wine, good company, and a great cause.

Give (or keep) an original gift that will not wilt or leave funky water in the bottom of your favorite vase.

To view the art, make a bid, or get more information please visit:

http://www.postroadartcenter.com/Show_of_Hearts_2012_page_1.html

Hope to see you there!