Conomo Dreaming

 Tonight was my first time painting in over 2 months. My last paint session before tonight was a magical night on Cranes beach mid September. The evening that night was more spectacular than the painting I produced. 

This afternoon, I finally had a second pass at this sail boat resting in the mud. So much time has passed since I worked on this, I was afraid it had lost momentum and energy. Slow and steady, it feels revived. I will have one more session with it before it’s done. 

New Work

 

My work this summer has been all about being on location. These are a series from Coffin’s beach where there are dramatic tides and shifting tide pools. I’m into getting the colors and forms just right. 

Searching for Space.

 Creating some fun new small boat paintings. This one is from Rockport, where they have the most colorful skiffs. It will need another session. I love how crowded it is- you have to search for space. 

First Times

 

If you went to art school, you may have been taught to never use black. Today I went to the store and bought a huge tube of ivory black. I used it everywhere. In fact, if you need me,I’ll be in the studio adding BLACK to ALL of my paintings! It was a stupid rule that caught on. I got permission from an Instagram artist that I follow that it’s actually okay to use black. 

Untitled- for now

 

A new vertical composition I’m working on. This is my 3rd painting of this scene. I keep condensing the image.  I have to stop here for tonight. I will fine tune it and add grain to the wood in the dock next time. Nothing heals like the water and sun. Get some! 

Grinding it Out

 I finally got in the studio today after a couple of week hiatus. A trip out to NY, and the opening of Gallery 53 has somewhat derailed me. 

Today I repurposed boards and panels. That took time. It’s all in an effort to keep the overhead low. It’s safe to say I won’t be needing to purchase boards for a while. 

After this studio chore was completed, I worked to finish a small boat from Masconomo Point. It is almost resolved.

Begin Again Final session

 

A lot of work on the background tonight. Minor adjustments to the figure. 

Begin Again

 Today was the final session with this painting. It is my 4th painting in the journey into power series and the second warrior painting. I might continue work on the background. 

Begin Again Session II

 

In this pose you ground down to rise up. I have another session with this one- 

Begin Again

 Another tip from the yoga studio to the art studio. Begin Again. It took 5 or more tries to get this figure in the right place on this canvas. Seeing the hands was non negotiable, and feeling the weight in the right hip-

This is the first pass- laid in all the darks. I kept with a cool pallet as the under layer. We will see where this one goes.

Plein Air Sessions

 I took my time finding this scene and setting up. 90% of my Dock paintings are done in studio from reference photos. Sometimes when I set up in plein air I forget how to draw. I forget how to paint. Every thing erases from my mind and I can’t escape  my anxiety. Or perhaps my ego. What if people are watching? What if it’s not the right scene? I can’t believe I left my kids home alone? I hear kids playing. My kids should be here. I here couples talking. I repeat. I don’t know how to do this. I’m scared. In the studio there is nothing but certainty. I know I have to push through the downward spiral. I talk myself into staying. I pause, breathe, walk away for a moment. You can do it. Stay in it. Just stay. Okay- that’s not so bad- I think I hit a right note, one right note. Search for another. Boom. Okay- I can do this. I think. 

Searching

 Here’s a developed drawing of Alex wearing a fedora. The drawing took several hours. Her gesture appears to be searching while I myself am in a searching season. Something about applying layers and layers of graphite helps you to connect or perhaps escape. 

Working through Uncertainty

 Emotions of uncertainty surrounds this effort. When you get this far and you realize there are problems with the drawing. Not sure about this piece. Not sure at all. Maybe the right side can be saved.  

Me, You, Universal

 Tonight was the final session with this painting. It is probably the closest thing to a self portrait I’ve done in a while. Even though the painting was created from a photo of someone else. The project slowly became me. And I hope it’s you, I hope it’s universal. 

Entering Gloucester

 I can not say how many times I’ve driven over the bridge into Gloucester when this little house boat grabbed my attention. Sunrise, Sunset, low tide, high tide- the play of color always steals my attention.Tonight, I kept a promise to myself and finally painted it. This house is positioned neatly in the Annisquam River  to great visitors before they cross the bridge as they enter our great city. 🇮🇹

90% in Plein Air and then some studio tweaks. 

Wisdom and Intuition

 A few more things to do on this one.

Namaste

 “It’s what people think you’re doing the whole time you’re at yoga” one of my favorite one liners from one of the great yoga instructors at CAPY. 

I labored over these. One is done. One is only at the beginning stages. I was grateful to have the time to put into it today and tonight. 

A Drift

 Sometimes after a large painting that is mentally challenging- I go small again and try to be immediate and playful with my strokes. I also got a new easel and I took it for a test drive. Looking to get outside this weekend! 

A Drift 11 x 14 on repurposed canvas. 

Warrior I

 I forgot how much I enjoy using a palette knife. I’m calling this one resolved for now. Warrior I- Sun Salutation B.

Second Session- Warrior I

 

Warrior I

 I think about 7 hours went into the gouache study and I think it’s finally resolved. The grisaille is a new oil I started tonight on the same subject. 

Gouache on 140lb Arches

 I love these value studies

Studio Work

 Starting paintings is more fun for me than finishing them- I feel like I could tweak them forever. How do you know when you hit that last note?

I feel like I can put this one to rest for now.

Under The Footbridge Again

 I still need to work on the dock. This was my second session with this one (3hrs). Building color and adjusting values. I think they are a happy pair. How I would love to place my feet on that warm fiberglass surface! 

Second Session Under the Surface

2nd session with this large under water figure.  5hrs tonight- 2 hours on Wednesday. I might have another session. 
 

Under the Surface

 The rare opportunity to paint during the day- (home from school with a headache- waiting for covid results) I started a new under water painting. It’s 24 x 36

Swimmers, boats, and yoga poses- I’m slightly all over the place. I’m excited to dive more into this one. Right now it is in grisaille form. 

Cropped in Close

 First pass on a new composition from Annisquam footbridge