"Tabletop - Mason Hudson" watercolor & ink 3 x 9

Because we visit Monhegan Island for the same weeks each summer, we often see the same people who are visiting on a matching schedule.  We have made friends over this dozen years, friends we see on the Island, and sometimes off the Island.  We have watched our friends' children grow up.  They have watched our daughter grow up.  I love seeing the inside of different cottages that our friends rent.  This is the tabletop inside one of those cottages.  Books, wildflowers, hurricane lamps, sun streaming across the table, shelves holding dog-eared books, and well-used board games. And, a beautiful painting of the harbor, with Manana as its backdrop.

Thanks for looking. I'm enjoying this exploration of summer from the gray and more gray of this winter.

"Fishing" watercolor and ink 5 x 5

Back to my sketchbook during this long, gray, snowy winter.  I have a lot of source material from Monhegan Island, and am working on a series of images from the dock.  Everyday, there are young (and older) people on the dock passing the time in ways that hearken back to another era.  They fish, they read, they swim, and toss things, and just hang out. 
When I was a child, my parents owned a house on Cape Cod. We spent a month there every summer and commuted every weekend during the school year as well, at least for the first few years before sports took over our free time.  On the weekends, I spent hours sitting on the dock at the public beach nearby.  I would watch, listen, and absorb the rhythm of the waves below me.  These children on the dock remind me of those times.  I'm going to build on the series, and use these as studies for some oil paintings. 
In the spirit of the Olympics, check out this very short video I shot on the Monhegan dock a couple of summers ago.  You'll see what I'm talking about:

Island Olympics - Monhegan 

Thanks for looking, as always, I love your comments. 

"Downtown Dusk" 8 x 6 oil on board New Year's intentions

The December challenge for Girls Just Wanna Paint was "intentions".  December is a tricky time to think about intentions. Busy. Busy.   I choose to think about being more intentional, choosing my path rather than reacting to what is on my plate.  One of my goals during this coming year is to spend more time in the city.  I love the streets, people, constantly shifting view as the juxstaposition of buildings and light is constantly rearranging itself.  The city is so stimulating.  I love it.  My husband, daughter and I spent New Year's Eve afternoon, and evening in Boston, walking across the city, dining, watching the wonderful and eclectic parade and then fireworks.  We positioned ourselves on Boylston Street across from the Trinity Church where we could see all the festivities.  I loved every minute despite the cold.  So, my intention is to treat myself to the stimulation of the city more frequently... sort of a gift to me!  "Downtown Dusk" is my intention on canvas. 
 I often look at my paintings in black and white to see if the light and shadow pattern holds.  It's a good way to pick up any value shifts that are breaking the pattern.  I'm pretty satisfied with the results here, but may make a change or two in the coming days.   
See the other interpretations of last month's challenge here. 

Thanks for looking, Happy New Year, and see you in the city.

"Chinese Chime" oil 16" x 12"

 

This is one of my favorite studies, and one of my paintings that I am keeping in my own collection.  Over the years, there have been a few paintings that I know I will keep.  Sometimes it is the time, place, event, a memory, perhaps, that motivate me to keep a painting.  I love this painting for its complex simplicity, and for its edges, and because every stroke has meaning, which is always my goal.  I try to get my idea across with as little detail as possible, but lots of information.

 You can see the combination of hard and soft edges, and the brushwork, thick and thin paint.  

Thanks for looking, and Joyful Christmas!

"Rupert" watercolor & ink 6 x 8

This month's theme for Girls Just Wanna Paint is "birds".  Several summers ago, we met a gull on Monhegan.  Of course, there are hundreds of gulls on Monhegan, but this one had a very distinctive square head, and markings, and showed up day after day on our deck. We named him Rupert (no idea why).  Rupert has good lines, and looked lovely in the late afternoon sun.  He spent one summer with some viridian green on his head, which I guess he found on an artist's palette on our deck.  One of the things I love about Monhegan is watching gulls fly from east to the west side of the island each morning, a distance of about a half mile, then back again in the evening.  I think they must nest in the nooks and crannies of the cliffs each night.  Their cries are synonymous with salt, sea, sand... 
See the rest of this month's challenge paintings here.   As always, thanks for looking, feel free to share.

Thayer Skyline and Current Exhibition

What a wonderful show opening tonight at Thayer Academy in Braintree.  Lots of friends (and new friends) came out to say hello. Lots of laughs and good conversation.  The show is hanging through December 18th; hope you'll come by to the Gallery in the first floor of the Southworth building.

And, here is my completed "Thayer Skyline"  11 x 14; hanging in the show.  

"Thayer Skyline" in process 11 x 14 oil

 Thayer Academy is a beautiful school in Braintree, MA.  Our Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge group is exhibiting in the lovely Thayer Gallery (1st floor of the Southworth Library) until Dec 18th.  Come see us at the opening, Nov 21 from 5-8pm.  

Here are the first three steps in my painting "Thayer Skyline", completed version on exhibit in the show.  I painted over an old floral study.  Sometimes I enjoy the puzzle of forming a new image over an old.  The underlying ground provides an interesting tone to the board.  The campus has a lovely shape, brick on brick and iconic tower.  I'll post the finished version later this week. 

Thanks for looking, hope to see you at the opening Thursday, Nov 21 5-8pm.  Come by to introduce yourself, say hi, have a bite to eat, and  take a look at our more than 100 paintings.

See you then.