"Where's Your Other Flip Flop?" Oil 6x6

I'm trying to submit paintings to the many Juried Shows that crop up this time of year, and it's keeping me very busy.  But with beach season in mind, and an upcoming show (July, Marshfield... details to follow) with a theme of 'Beachscapes', I set up this little still life to paint yesterday.  In my mind I was reliving our trips to the sand and sea, with the problem upon arriving home, of the missing flip flop.  I really don't like the all-blue (and being literal, there was only ONE pail in the 3 stores I went to and it was the same color as the little flip flops), but hey, it is what is is.... don't you just hate that phrase?  Anyway, wish me luck with my submissions to the juried shows and the art association I'm trying for....

Orange You Good For Me, 6x6 Acrylic

This was the most luscious orange!  When I sliced it for breakfast I knew I had to paint it.  Things are hopping these days, getting ready for all the early Summer shows.  It doesn't help that it coincides with a Nor'easter-like urge to start new paintings - I should be simply wrapping up, framing, photographing and submitting this time of year.  Instead I'm stocking up on canvases, sketching out and making notes for new paintings, techniques I want to try... etc.  I'm hopeless.  

Keens on the Sand, 12x12 Acrylic

This is a Daily Painting even though it's larger because it's so simple and I did it in 1 1/2 hours last night.  I've been very busy painting and have posted a few new ones on my studio blog.  I think my friends have found me extremely anti social lately but I really have been working away on projects that keep me up at night thinking.  Now I'm getting ready for my show with Bonnie Hobbs at the Ventris Library in Marshfield (June 28 - more on this later) so I'll be doing a LOT of beach scenes, since 'Beachscapes' is our theme.

Featured Artist - Mary Sheehan Winn

I thought I'd feature friend and fellow painter Mary Sheehan Winn today.  She's the smiley one on the left - on the Right is Sally Dean - also a fellow blogger and wonderful artist who will be featured at a later date!  I'm sure all of you have seen Mary's signature on various comments throughout Blogland.  She is the one responsible for my beginning to blog, and I'm very grateful to her.  Her colorful, spirited paintings are a joy to see, and they look even better in person (I  think everyone's do).  She splits her time between Marshfield, MA in the warmer months and Naples, FL in the winter, with a bit of time in Mexico and Nova Scotia thrown into the mix.  Nobody I know has more enthusiasm for art or anything else, and she is fearless - going for her goals with determination and gusto!  Check out her blog, then her website.  I think you'll be glad you did.

Garlic Cloves, Acrylic 6x6

Sometimes I can only wonder at the things that occur at the easel.  If you compare this with my "Orphans' Day Out" on my studio blog you'll never believe they came out of the same studio.  I had every intention of proceeding in a loose, but controlled manner, when I started.  Then I just started slathering on the paint, layer after layer.  I started with a wet black canvas, and the black kept bleeding through and getting picked up by the brush, so I started gathering lots more paint and putting it on gingerly, then using the palette knife on the background.  Inspired by Carol Marine's garlic cloves of about a year ago, I guess I made a departure.  Oh well, this is what happened!

Also, as recommended by Katie May on the comments of yesterday's post, DO check out Ed Carson, a Massachusetts painter - very nice work!

Butler's Creme's, Oil 6x6

The end (for now) of donuts.  I'm thinking of doing larger pieces, but not (NOT) these Cream Donuts from Butler's.  #1 reason is that they're very difficult, being sliced almost all the way through like hamburger rolls then filled -I don't like the hard line on the soft pastry, and #2 reason is they are VERY difficult to resist.  Fabulous pastries.  Real sweetened cream and pastry that is just so fresh.  They fill them as you order them on weekdays. The long rectangular one on top, with the jelly, is called a Jolly Roger or something!   I think these were the least successful of the donut grouping because of the sculpted cream.  Either that or I should do 3 paintings of them - which would be deadly for my cholesterol levels ;).   I've posted a couple of new pieces on my studio blog - trying to get ready for the  Spring shows.  

Safe Landing, Oil, 6x12

I just love these little birds.  I have so much work to do, finishing up larger pieces, starting new painting projects, and I just can't seem to make myself stop doing these little birds, donuts (look for the next post) and - yes, ackkkk - stones.  I raided my husband's stash of beach stones in the garden for the next little stone painting.  Anyway, thank you all so much for viewing, and I love to get your comments, too!

Powdered or Sugared? 2 6x8 Oil paintings

Also apologies for all the glare on this photo.

The alternate title for this one is "MEDIC!  Rocco's been bit!"  Based on how the two towers look like they're either fighting or playing polo, AND the fact that I saw a little baby named Rocco this weekend.  Yes, I live in Rhode Island - that's one of the ways you know!  It's kind of comforting to know that in the world full of Phin and Hazel babies, there are still Rocco babies, too, don't you think?

Anyway, this is the NEXT to the last of the donut paintings, so you can relax if you just hate them!  Hopefully tomorrow's will be a treat (Thursday's if not tomorrow's) I promise.  I'll be going to Butler's Donut Shoppe in Somerset, MA, and yes, there'll be leftovers if anyone wants to stop by the studio around 2 before I dispose of them!

Today's donuts are from Sip 'n Dip - much fresher, and more 'pillowy' than Dunkin's.  I was really getting to enjoy the texture of the two types, the ones on the left, coated with powdered sugar, the ones on the right tossed in regular granulated sugar.  Pretty soon I won't be able to even look at a donut - lookin' forward to that day....

Odd Man Out, 6x12 Oil

Still inspired by Emily Eveleth (imagine if her mother named her Evelyn instead?) I'm onto #2 in this little series.  This one's dedicated to Valerie Vitalli's granddaughter because she liked the Strawberry one.  Today I was less cheap and invested in a half dozen donuts.  It being Dunkin Donuts, though, they were a little hard (?) and I had to 'encourage' the jellies to relax and sit loosely on each other (notice not much jelly escaped during the 'encouragement'!  They could put more in!).  The frosted Cake donut is the odd man out.  Probably fresher, too!  I approached it like a plein air painting - not so much seeing the 'donuts' as the shapes and values... it's getting easier!

White Rose, 6x8 oil

I love the challenge of a rose, and this one is gorgeous - the inner folds are creamy pinky-orange (how's THAT for technical color names?).  I concentrated more on the rose than the glass, though maybe I should have spent more time on the reflections, etc.  Daily Paintings are wonderful exercises for the eye, as is plein air painting.   Now that the weather is good, I'll get more of THAT in!  Enjoy the day!

Strawberry Doughnut, Oil, 6x6

I swear I had no intention of doing this as a Daily Painting today - honest - I was on my way to CHURCH this morning, but when I pulled up to the building I could see that a funeral was going on, and I didn't want to intrude on that.  So - and I live in the LAND OF DUNKIN DONUTS - where there's a DD's at every 4th corner - I pulled in for a coffee to take to the studio, and they'd just put out a tray of fresh strawberry frosted's.  Had to.  Had to paint one.  With no nod to Wayne Thibeault - I heard of him after I started daily paintings.  But I was 'surfing' through the Blogland the other day and - darn if I can find it again! - I stumbled on an artist who painted a pile of jelly doughnuts (let's not even go there...) which looked like a landscape.  They were so soft and 'pillowy' it was amazing.  If I can find the artist through 'History' on my other computer, I'll edit this post to include it.  Anyway, I don't say it often enough, but thanks for looking!

Thanks to Valerie - who gave me the name of my 'inspiration' today : Emily Eveleth

Runnucula in a Glass Cup, 6x6 oil

Today I painted a single Runnucula(?) in a little coffee cup I got in Holland.  I wanted the black background and I wanted the challenge of the white petals in light and shadow, as well as the glass, AND the metal rim on the lower half.  PHEW!  Below is a shot of my new, big easel, set at a right angle to my old easel, which will now be reserved (yeah, right) for my Daily Paintings.  I apologize for the underlining here, sometimes it just happens and I don't know how to undo it.  

Cape Cod Bliss, 14x18 Acrylic

Yesterday I went to the Cape with Denise Zompa and Phyllis Adams to drop off entries for the Cape Cod Juried Show.  We figured it was so gorgeous we should paint while we were there. I amazed them with my organizational skills at the Art Association drop off (I had printed out the information on all my entries and had everything neatly wrapped in bubble wrap, labeled, with my business card taped to the back, and remembered everything I'd need - a first for me!  HowEVER when we got to the painting spot I'd forgotten my BRUSHES, and my PALETTE.  Kind of tough to paint like that.  Fortunately I'd found an old half hardened brush in the bottom of my bag, and I had a 6x8 canvas still in it's wrapper, so with the borrowed brushes from Phyllis, using the canvas as my palette, I was able to cobble together a painting.  Still felt discombobulated, though.  But the painting was about the sky and the water, the feeling of the day.  Hopefully that comes though!

An Apple A Day, 6x6 Oil

I tried looking down on this apple.  I was really into the varieties of reds in the shadow side.  Tried to keep it loose, and layered the background.  I was thinking I wanted to paint more food, but after this I think I'm going to look at flowers and birds again for a while.

The Monday Morning Painters, once again, were just Phyllis Adams and me - where are all you Fair Weather Artists who  - all winter - kept saying "TELL ME when and where you go out painting!"  Well, I'm telling, are you serious?

Strutting, oil, 6x6

SOLD

Obviously I love birds.  Animals of most kinds (millipedes are definitely left off the list!), actually.  But I seem to be able to paint what I feel for birds, as opposed to dogs or cats.  I like the neutral background - rather than it 'being nowhere', I find it focuses more on the character of the bird.  Or am I crazy?

Mexican Bell, 6x8 Oil

I SHOULD have titled this one "What Was I Thinking?"  The reflections nearly did me in.  Hopefully it looks like a golden bell.  In San Miguel they hung these from trees and they made lovely music in the wind.  Anyway, if anyone likes flowers, Mexican pottery or crazy orange cats, they should check out my Studio Blog (go ahead... leave a comment.. it's OK.. :))

GOOD ART QUOTE:

The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. and this, and not the external manner and detail, is the true reality. - Aristotle.  Smart guy, huh?

Plein Air Monday, Sakonnet Morning, oil, 9x12

The day dawned chilly but clear.  With ONLY four layers on, plus my Elmer Fudd hat (red plain wool, with ear flaps) I headed over to Grinnell's Beach across the street from me, thinking it would be a repeat of last week's plein air session.  But Phyllis Adams showed up this morning, and we found a spot out of the wind, where we only MILDly froze.  I used oils, she had her acrylics, and we happily painted for a couple of hours.  By the time we were ready to start wrapping up it got much warmer.  Once again I'll post it here, although technically it's not a Daily Painting per se, then after this I'll post on my Plein Air Blog.

When I got home I worked on a painting in acrylic from last summer that was a plein air piece - NOW I like it!

3rd Rocks, Oil 6x8

You know, contrary to what you might think, rocks are very difficult to paint!  The more you study them, the more their unique 'personality' becomes evident.  There are smooth and rough surfaces.  More shades of gray than you can imagine.  So I had to do one more, and I like to stack stones, like at the 'vortexes' in Sedona, etc.  I'm kind of klutzy at it, so my stacks are generally 4 or less.  On Block Island last Fall Tim & I came upon tons of these 'stacks' (if you know what they're called please clue me in!) at a beach.  I think it signifies a sacred places.  Or a place where there are a bunch of flat stones you can stack :}

Anyway, below I took a photo of how they're placed on the wall of my studio.  I HAD to go to the studio today because I dreamt of my bird painting I'm working on.  

Beach Stones II, Oil, 6x6

Here, again, the beach stones.  Rocks?  People are saying to me.  Yup.  I love the smoothness, the grayness, their personalities.  I love, love the stripes on them, too.  I THINK I'm done.  With these particular rocks, anyway.  Maybe :)

Beach Stones, Oil, 6x6

Today I was headed out to the studio, with no real idea of what to do for a Daily Painting (it's been a few days of just Plein Air, as you can see on my other Blog).  So I grabbed a few beach rocks - I swear my 'real' self is a 7 year old boy - I not only collect 'good' beach stones, people who know me well bring me interesting ones as well!  So I spent some time in the studio positioning them, and the rest was easy.  Yeah.  Gray and White - Sooooooo hard!  No, but really, it was a challenge to make the 'right' gray, and make the white lines in the stones look convincing, not like rubber bands!

Pirate's Cove Plein Air, 8x10 oil

This morning was the very first Monday Morning Painters session, and, it being overcast, 39 degrees, with 20+mph winds, I was the only idiot who showed up.  So I stuck it out in case anyone else came, and first I painted the little island in the cove, only to realize that it looked very, very much like my Gould Island paintings which I could do literally from inside my dining room, so.... I wiped it off.  I was wearing 5 layers, a fleece hat, a hood, thin gloves under my winter gardening gloves.... and it was still freezing.  The wind was rocking my CRV and threatening to drag my eassel into the water by catching the grocery bag tied to the side for paint rags...  NEVERTHELESS I soldiered on, and decided to paint the old quarry buildings across the cove.  Finished it with 2 warm-up breaks for thermos coffee (thank you, Tim) in the car... so here it is.  I don't know that I'll get an actual Daily Painting done, it's kind of  a crazy day, so this will possibly be the substitute!

Congratulations Calla, Oil, 6x12

My daughter, Molly, got a herself a new job on Friday - we were all very excited for her and had a special dinner, etc, and we got her some Calla Lilies, which are her favorite flower.  Before we got home with them, Tim & I stopped at the studio to drop off a bunch of canvases and I had to try to paint the Callas.  I set them up in the black box, and set the light on them and they positively glowed.  

Tomorrow I'm doing (hopefully, weather permitting) a plein air session followed by a figure class - so I'm not sure what will get posted late in the day.  I may just post in my Studio Blog.

Honey Bear, 4x6, Oil

What's that phrase?  "Necessity necessitates?"  Well, there I was at the studio with nothing, NOTHING to paint for a Daily Painting.  I couldn't make myself paint another mug, although I got a cool one for my birthday specifically for the studio.  So to go with a nice herb tea I have a little 'honey bear'.  Put it in the black box and, voila`!

I also mistakenly posted on my Studio Blog instead of here, a  Featured Artist, fellow blogger, Phyllis Adams.  She does cool paintings of dogs, so check her out!

Also you may notice a Monday Morning Painters link, over to the right.  If any of you would like to paint with us, it's a weekly plein air session - no 'leader', but I'll post directions to the site every week.  It's not a club, it's just a weekly site - please feel free to join us!

Periwinkle Cup, 6x6 Oil

I bought these little cups and saucers at the cafe (now defunct) downstairs from my previous studio.  I love the yellow, periwinkle and rose cups with turquoise accents.  What a challenge to paint though, because the colors are slightly muted but still saturated.  Why am I doing so many coffee themed Daily Paintings?  Certainly not because they're in demand :).  I am challenged by the shift in elipses as your eye hits the rim of the cup, the base of the cup, the saucer top - throw in a handle, and it's a morning's eye exercise!    There's that and I love good coffee!

Scottsdale Artists' School Mug, Oil, 6x6

Back to the studio and raring to go.  Finally over the sore throat caught on the plane, I could focus on doing my Painting A Day and not have it look like.... well, the 3 Coke bottles I've been trying to paint all week!  I am also fooling around in the studio with self portraits.  It's terrible when your model won't stay still - even more terrible when it's YOU who are the model!  I'll post those tomorrow on my studio blog for a laugh.  

This is the mug I got when I went to Peggi Kroll Roberts' workshop in Scottsdale.  Well worth the trip, and this was my souvenir.  Reds, as usual, a devil to work with.

Sketches From Mexico, Acrylic

I lost all my photos from Mexico :0 but I have a few acrylic sketches that were done there.  Yeah, yeah, I know about the perspective being off, and stuff like that, but I tried to capture the feel, the colors, the impression I had of San Miguel.  It's a wonderful place, but changing day by day, becoming more 'americanized' because so many Americans are there.  Here are some things that won't change...