Day 481 "Westward" and the beautiful North River

 We live by a beautiful river.  Its personality changes from day to day and season to season. I have painted it a number of times (you can see below), even once just using paper.  The marsh changes color over the months, bringing the promise of spring when the first green tips show on the grass.  Initially, the green is so subtle, you aren't quite sure you are seeing the evidence of spring.  Is it a shadow, a mirage, a shift in the sunlight through the clouds? Within a day, the new green fronds reveal themselves without any doubt.  Last week, we had sheets of ice on top of the marsh.  It is a daily wonder. Tonight we pulled in at sunset and saw the sun lighting up the river and the clouds above.  Stunning.  How blessed are we.  
This is my four hundred eighty-first daily drawing.  Thank you for looking.  

Day 250 "Fore River" ink and pencils 6 x 12

I spent a lovely afternoon with my teaching colleagues celebrating the last day of classes this year.  Next week is a field day followed by final exams.  On the way home, the Quincy Fore River bridge signaled it was opening.  A few cars bailed out, turned around, and headed for an alternate route. It was a beautiful afternoon, so I shut the car off and walked over to the side of the bridge to watch.  Two tugs pulled/pushed a large orange tanker up the Fore River into the harbor from the river.  It was beautiful in the sun.  We all hung out for about 25 minutes, then back in the cars and on with our evenings.  What a nice way to end the afternoon.
This is my two hundred fiftieth daily drawing.... a quarter of a millennium, (and a few other synonyms for 1000); millenary, chiliad, millenial.... excited to be 25% there.  Thank you for your continued interest in the world through my eyes.  

Day 240 "Juried Fine Art" ink and colored pencil 6 x 9

 The North River Arts Society Festival Juried Fine Art Show ended today. It was a strong show.  I usually work the pick up, always a pleasant time to connect with fellow artists.  We generally have a big crowd, because people show up a little early, and get a chance to look at the intact show for the last few minutes of its display.  Here is one view of the gallery.  The front wall facing the front door and street is red, looks great with a lot of the local art.  Here's a photo of the front wall.  One of my paintings is on the lower right.  The inside walls are a green/gold/neutral which shows work very well, too. It was interesting to observe how warm that green/gold/neutral is away from the windows and how cool it is when influenced by the windows.  Big shift in temperature.
This is my two hundred fortieth daily drawing; thank you again for taking a look at the world through my eyes.

"Pulling Traps" 4 x 5 ink and pencil

The fishing and lobster boats of Maine are fascinating angular shapes against the backdrop of water and sky.  I like zooming in on them where they create abstract shapes and rooms in the ocean.  The shadow shapes are strong and provide a respite from the sun.  It is hard, hard work.... and so beautiful from my point of view.
Pulling Traps is my 61st daily drawing.  As always, thank you for looking at the world from my vantage.

"Below the Parthenon" 9x12 mixed #dailydrawing

A number of years ago we visited Athens.  I had been there 25 years before, and was astounded at the growth in the city over those two + decades.  Flying in over the city, it seemed to sprawl out and up against the mountains like the housing had been poured into its space.   This is my 39th drawing for #dailydrawing.  I was drawn to the large columns in the foreground framing the distant space.  I drew the image in pen, added gray marker and some black colored pencil. As always, thank you for looking.   

"From Montmartre" 9 x 6 mixed #dailydrawing

A number of years ago, I was in Paris on a trip with school.  We had a free afternoon and headed up to Montmartre. I can remember the air, even the way it kissed my face on that beautiful afternoon.  There are certain memories that stay with you... we were traveling with a friend and her 12-year-old son who was reluctant to eat anything that seemed unusual. To her credit, Mom handled it beautifully, whisked him down an alley occasionally to ply him with pizza or a hotdog, and they were back within a few minutes.  We were sitting outside eating crepes above the city.  It was luscious. 
This is my thirty-eighth daily drawing.  As always, thank you for looking.

"Cat Nap" mixed 3 x 6 #Inktober

Our cat Maggie loves to sleep on the cable box. It is warm, centrally located and we cuddle her every hour or so when we have to move her tail, or leg, or paw so that the remote control will work... sort of a sweet retro kind of feel.  Remember the days you had to get up to change the channel? I started with some ink with a brush, then layered up with white conte pencil, some colored pencils, just for the cable box, and some fine point pen.  The drawing doesn't look much like Maggie, but I enjoyed layering ink, pencil, more ink, and white conte. 
This is my eighteenth drawing for #Inktober 2017.  As always, thank you for looking. 

"Blustery Day" colored pencil and ink 7 x 12

Yesterday we moved to a new house on the island, next door to last week's house.  The 50 yards and maybe 15 feet of altitude provide an entire different view over Manana, and of the houses layed out below.  Yesterday we were fogged in, and last night we were "treated" to a crashing thunderstorm with wind-driven rain.  As often is the case, the day after is sparkling and dry... true of today, but also with forceful, gusty wind.  I tried setting up my easel in a few places but it was

just too blustery for what I had in mind.  So, I hung out on the new house deck, studying this new view of Manana, so beautiful.  Feeling blessed.  

Again, thank you for looking.  I love your ideas and comments.  

Bullet Journal - mixed - 5.5 x 8

 I have been keeping a bullet journal for the last few months, sort of a visual diary.  It's interesting, and fun, and like doodling with a little information.  Here are some pages, and details from pages.  I use colored pencil and non-bleed fine tip marker, and watercolor pencils.
Thanks for looking.

                                       

Colored Pencils oil 5 x 7

$150 & $10 s&h

I have been playing with color in my studio; trying out some new ideas for the next session of my painting class beginning later this week at North River Arts Society in Marshfield.  I've been having a great time doing a series of small paintings; ideas I'll work on with my students.

I love color; juicy, bold, exciting, joyful color.

Whether high chroma; like "Colored Pencils", or more subtle, or a range of low to high chroma; I enjoy thinking about the color, its relationship to the other passages in the painting; the overall harmony - the entire process.

When I began to paint years ago in my mother's studio; I remember looking at a still life she had set up with lovely ironstone cups,  a sugar bowl and some other neutrals.  Where to begin?  I looked at my limited palette; most of which I still use today - a cool and warm yellow, cool and warm red, cool blue, perhaps a warmer blue, cad orange, cool green and white.  Much like a writer facing a blank page; you have to start somewhere.  You have to do something... so I began mixing and discovered the sheer joy of creating the desired color from the paints on my palette.  There's something about making color that activates the senses; it's obviously visual; but tactile as well.  Very satisfying.  Very.