January 6th, 2012
This small watercolor is from a series of en plein air pieces that I worked on this past summer in Maine.
I love that this piece is so fluid and yet gives one the feeling of dappled light on an old stone wall. In the end, the shade and the stone were of more interest than the distant water. I find that much of what I enjoy about the landscape in Maine involves the shades of green that work against all the stone and water.
I have others that are yet to be finished from the same trip, but this one was finished on site. It is on my web site under watercolors.
Tags: En plein air work, Maine, New England Landscape, Watercolors
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September 6th, 2011
This is the latest from my studio. Once again, it is done with palette knife, and is very heavily textured. Love the paint.
I find that where the the sky and landscape meet, one can explore the imagined idyllic rural scene.
This view is one of the rolling hiltop farms in Northwestern Connecticut, and yet it could be from Iowa. No matter where it is, the elements remain the same. ripening grain, and energetic skies. All contribute to the sense of burgeoning life and the harvest that is almost due to be brought in.
Tags: Abstracts, Connecticut Landscape, New England Landscape, Palette Knife, Water Soluble Oils
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July 4th, 2011
I just received notification that I was a finalist in the Artist Magazine Annual Competition. This piece was entered in the Abstract & Experimental category.
I was a finalist last year in the landscape category and am really psyched that I have, yet again, achieved recognition at such a high level. The winners will be featured in the December issue of the magazine, and my name will be listed.
Titled “The Later Years of Italian Putti II”, it is one of a series that I have been working on using palette knife and an underlying diagonal grid. I am really happy that this piece placed well in the competition, as it represents the direction that I am moving in my artistic development.
Tags: Abstracts, Art Work, Artist's Magazine, Artist's Magazine - Competition, Artwork, Connecticut Women Artists, Italian Putti, Water Soluble Oils
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June 4th, 2011
I just received notification that my piece, “Blessings on the Square” has been selected for the 82ndConnecticut Women Artists Open Juried Show.
The show will be held at the Jorgensen Gallery, University of Connecticut, from June 19 through July 16th.
There will be a reception at the gallery July 9th from 2 – 5.
I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting show, and hope that any of you that have a chance will take the time to visit the gallery.
For directions visit the Jorgensen /UCONN website.
Tags: Connecticut Women Artists, Florence, Italian Landscapes, Tuscany
Posted in Abstract, Italian Landscape, News, Oil Painting, Tuscany, Uncategorized | No Comments »
April 26th, 2011
The image of this garden denizen has been working its way through several manifestations. I first did a fairly loose drawing and worked out my design parameters. Next I rendered it in watercolor with moderate success. I found the watercolor was not aggressive enough for this bad boy. Having learned a lot from the watercolor experience, I moved on to oils.
Starting with an underpainting of Paynes Grey, vanDyke Brown and white, the painting began to take on a life of its own. As I began to add in the greens and ochers of the foliage and the lichens, I fell in love with his commanding presence.
He lives in a garden at the Monsanto Vineyards in Tuscany but I love having this image to remind me of his grand and majestic spirit. He is truly a benign force, and a lovely visitor to my studio. I do wonder, as I catch sight of him in passing, if he might be an amusing portrait of some regal ancestor. Perhaps the original vintner? For sure the gardens were a magical place, so anything is possible.
Tags: Artwork, Florence, Italian Landscapes, Tuscany, Water Soluble Oils
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March 12th, 2011
This small painting on board has a wonderful spontaneous quality that I achieved from doing a quick charcoal sketch and then painting directly over it so that the charcoal became fixed under the paint. As a result the charcoal became a pentimento. It has a lovely feeling of age, much as the walls and streets of Siena create a soft, blurry background to everyday life in this most human of cities.
I used a much more limited color palette to add to the sense of age that permeates the Tuscan region in general. The air itself seems to be imbued with a softening agent, much like time. Also, the lack of color and strong contrast makes it easier to see the patterns of architecture and statuary.
This time of year always brings back dreamy memories of travel in Tuscany. Who wouldn’t enjoy sitting at the base of this benign overseer to take a break from sightseeing.
Tags: Architecture, Artwork, Italian Landscapes, Tuscany, Water Soluble Oils
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March 3rd, 2011
I finally finished this painting. I have always wanted to explore this image, but found that it did not want to be taken lightly, and was difficult about being abstracted in any way. However, I at last realized that it needed to have a very detailed drawing developed and then fixed, with thin layers applied and built up. The final stages were applied very broadly, and served to loosen up the otherwise rather stilted quality that didn’t reflect the feeling of warmth and exuberance that I was after.
The view is from the top floor cafe of a department store in Florence. Aside from being visually compelling, it has a special charm because of its unexpectedness. There, amidst all of the hustle and gusto of the city streets, was this quiet little neighborhood with terrace gardens, balconies, staircases and turrets with weather-vane flags. All of them marching up the hillside and sharing the view with those of us having mid-morning coffee. What a perfect little vignette of life in this most wonderful of cities.
Tags: Artwork, Florence, Italian Landscapes, Tuscany, Water Soluble Oils
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March 2nd, 2011
This painting of rooftops in Siena, brings back wonderful memories of a perfect day in spring. It really was a bright and clear and the lack of motorized traffic made it all seem timeless.
I love the way light seems to hide around the corners and surprises you as you wander down the old stone streets. What a great way to spend an afternoon. It could only be improved upon by having a biscotti and coffee before deciding what to do with the rest of the day. H-mmmm, maybe another walk.
Tags: Art Work, Italian Landscapes, Tuscany, Water Soluble Oils
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February 3rd, 2011
Just finished this after a couple of years working with it. I love the limited color palette and the low contrast. Only the pilings stand out. And of course I love the watery reflections.
It helped that we are buried under a ton of snow here, so that I had only to look out the window to feel as if I was painting en plein air. The colors that underlie the scene were painted first and the grays overpainted, much like the blanket of snow that is left after a blizzard.
I know that most people don’t seem to like scenes of winter, and I have to admit that this winter has been a tough one, but I love the way that snow redefines what we see by eliminating almost all color and leaving a more sculptural world on view.
This piece has a lot of texture that gives it an unexpected depth, and allows the snow to overlay without becoming part of the scene, as if the nearest view is of the last flakes falling as the sun begins to burn through the haze.
Don’t forget to click on the image to see more detail.
Tags: Art Work, Maine, New England Landscape, Waterfront Images
Posted in Landscape, New Work, Oil Painting, Water Soluble Oil Paint, Waterfront Images | No Comments »
January 5th, 2011
Thought you all would like to know that “Simmon’s Farm II” shown on the right, is now on view at EBK Framing in West Hartford. Eric, the owner of EBK has a great eye for framing, and of course, a great eye for artwork.
The piece is one of the last of a series of landscapes that I did, picturing farms and fields in rural Connecticut. I hope to continue with more of the same this year, especially in this larger size that people really seem to enjoy.
Simmon’s farm is on the Farmington/Avon town line. It is an organic farm and is part of the open space that adds so much to the quality of our lives in central Connecticut. They also have great cows and a farm stand during the growing season. If you are in the area take a drive along Town Farm Road in Farmington or Tillotson Road in Avon, and enjoy the view.
Don’t forget to click on the image for an more detailed view of the picture.
Tags: Artwork, Avon CT Landscape, Connecticut Landscape, EBK Picture Framing - West Hartford - CT, New England Landscape
Posted in Gallery Representation, Landscape, News, Oil Painting, Uncategorized, Water Soluble Oil Paint | No Comments »
This small watercolor is from a series of en plein air pieces that I worked on this past summer in Maine.
