Day 98 "NIght in the Garden" mixed 6 x 12

It has been so beautiful and cold these last few days.  The Boston Public Garden looks icy blue as the sun is setting.  The quiet dusk is alluring.  
This is my ninety-eighth daily drawing.  I drew with ink, overlayed with gray markers in different values, added some colored pencil to deepen and vary the darks, then added some pastel over the top to enhance the lights. I like the effect though may go at it again with a little different approach, perhaps painting in all the darks with ink, then lifting their value with some pastel and pencil.  We shall see.  Thank you for looking.  

Day 93 "Last Light" and the bombogenesis 6 x 9 mixed

We are waiting for the bombogenesis  beginning early tomorrow.  Our local weatherman insists that bombogenesis is a typical winter pattern. With the television and radio hype, the panic at the grocery stores, and the dropping temperatures, it is difficult not to feel a little apprehensive.  We teachers headed back today after the winter break for a day of professional development.  Students were to return tomorrow, but now have a day off.  I'm ready for them if they show up on Friday with a solid plan for review to get their heads back in the game.  My ninety-third drawing is the winter woods across the street late in the afternoon. I like the calm, and the pattern of light between the branches close and farther away.  Thanks for looking. 

"Vacation Afternoon" pen&ink

It's the last day of my vacation... it has been long, productive, and restful. Today I sat at my computer and caught up on a "to do" list, taking a break here in the sunny spot to sketch our lovely Christmas tree.  It sets in the entry way, so gets a lot of light, and little heat... leaving it viable for the month of January, which is our norm.  
This is my 92nd daily drawing.  Thanks for taking a peek into my world.  

"Night Crane" pen & ink & watercolor 6 x 4 #Inktober 2

This is a study for nocturne painting I am considering.  During the record-setting snowpocalypse a couple of years ago, we lost power for a couple of days.  My husband and I spent an afternoon at the local coffee shop, having warm beverages, charging our phones and enjoying the warmth.  We  headed home to find this truck in front of our house, full of light and hope... and very hard working electrical employees. I remember offering to go on a coffee run for them, but they declined.  An hour later, the lights returned.  This is the second in my #Inktober challenge. 

"Coffee Shop" pen & ink 9 x 12

We got the first real snow of the season last night, blizzard conditions.  I learned from the local weatherman that "blizzard conditions" refers to visibility and duration, not to the depth of snow received.  If the visibility is under .25 of a mile for at least three hours, it is called a blizzard.  We had a blizzard last night, woke up today to about 14 inches of snow and 13 degrees.  The snow was light and easy to move. Happy that.

I spent an hour in the local coffee shop before church this morning, sipping fresh coffee, and sketching the variety of winter-clad people coming in for hot chocolate, coffee, and pastries after their morning shovel.  There was a big rush, during which I grabbed likenesses of all kinds of people.  A few minutes later (see my photo), all calm...  Nice way to begin the day.
As always, thanks for looking and I love your comments.

Snow and Pines - then and now

"Snow in the Pines" Joanne F. Regan

"Snow Shadows" Jody Regan

 

 Spent some time organizing my studio this weekend.  Tucked in one of my many "safe places" I found a small painting of my mother's that I have always cherished (above left).  It's a study that hung in her home, signed but never framed.  I have no idea if she painted it from a window in our home, or while standing out in the snow in her boots...  but it reminds me of my childhood home, the yard, and the hours and hours we spent outside in the snow.  I can almost hear the quiet "plop" the snow will make when the sun warms the branch just enough.  
I can smell the wet wool of my soaked mittens after making snowballs, forts, huts, and sledding down the front hills before coming in to hot chocolate, and rolled newspaper to put in our boots.  Mom's painting draws me into the snowy woods behind our home... it's very poignant for me, as all my senses and memories feel activated.

Next to Mom's painting, is one of mine from a few years ago, "Snow Shadows". I've been studying the variety of colors in our two paintings.. similarities and differences.  I painted a small hill across the street from our yard, again on a warm winter day.  Completely different palette from Mom's painting, but I can still hear the warmed snow falling from branches.  

Someone told me a number of years ago that snow paintings aren't appealing, too cold.  Neither of the above paintings feels cold to me.  I feel the warmth of the sun, and the allure of snow in the pines... some 40 years apart.

Thanks for looking.  I enjoy all 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.

"Winter Garden" in process 12 x 12 oil

It has been an oddly mild winter here in New England.  Last year, we were buried in snow repeatedly.  This winter has been mild, with only one snow of any substance (so far).  This week, school vacation, promised a couple of days in the 50's so I called my friend Nancy Sargent Howell and suggested painting in Boston.  We headed in to Boston's Public Garden after detouring to the Science Museum to drop a carload of teens at the Science Museum.   It was an interesting day, lovely purple grays, the promise of some sun peeking through.  However, we are living in New England and the adage "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a minute" certainly applied.  We set up, painted for about 1/2 hour.  It got darker.  Then darker.  Then a flake or two mixed with rain.  I stepped under the nearest tree, but realized, as the hail began, that there are no leaves!  It's winter!  The tree offered no cover, and the hail turned to torrents of rain.  Nancy had already scurried under the bridge; I scooped my rig and ran after her.  We stayed under the bridge 1/2 hour, hiding from the rain, meeting nice people, local and otherwise, and nibbling lunch.  Shortly, the sun peeked through momentarily.  We moved back into the light and began again.  The wind picked up, temperatures dropped... it was a great day!   

Here's the start of my painting, which I have finished in the studio and will post tomorrow. (Got caught up in the Oscars tonight and neglected to get a good photo).   I'm checking my calendar and scheduling any free weekdays for painting in the city.  We had a blast!