Billy's dog

My son's friend Billy has a very old dog who will be gone soon.  As a Christmas present Max asked me to do a portrait of him.  Pastel, 16 x 20

Amy

One of the wonderful actors in the current Shaker Bridge Theatre production of Taking Steps, Amy Huchins, modeled for me today.  She is great!

12 x 16 oil on canvas

Trio

My demo from oil painting class this morning.  Trio 9 x 12 oil on board

harbor

This is a 16 x 20 pastel. I previously did this smaller

Monday demo

This was my morning oil painting demo today.  My reference was from a photo Irina Smulovich gave me when I was teaching in Indiana.  Fun to do!

AVA Gallery Demo and Raffle

I did this 16 x 20 pastel as a demo for AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH at their annual holiday show.  It was then raffled off as a fundraiser.  AVA is a fabulous art center which serves the Upper Valley community.

Monday oil class treat

Monday morning we had a wonderful woman model for us.  This is my demo from that day.  11 x 14 oil on canvas.  Those that chose to paint her did a great job!

For Paige

This is an 12 x 16 painting I did from a professional photo of my daughter's friend Paige's wedding.  She is an amazing person and friend and I wanted to give this to her as a present.

Monday oil demo 11/25/19

Yesterday's oil demo 9 x 12

Maryland Pastel Society Workshop

My workshop in Rockville, Maryland was great!  I taught three days and juried the awards for their Shades of Pastel show that I had previously juried for entries.  I was asked to do a portrait too on my last day so two demos that day and then a demo at the show as well.  Exhausting but great fun!


I was disappointed not to have the color paper I wanted for my portrait demo...had to go on darker and cooler background

Oil Demo 11/11

Did this 8 x 10 demo for my oil class yesterday.  The idea was to create the horses both with the positive shapes you put in and carving back to clarify the shapes

Oil demo Tucson Desert Museum

 Today's oil demo.  8 x 10 Tucson Desert Museum

Carmel, Indiana Workshop

 Just back from teaching a great pastel workshop in Carmel, Indiana.  Thank you to Irina Smulovich for bringing me there and sharing her students with me.

Pastel Journal 100 Founders Award

Finish Line was selected for the top award in the Pastel Journal 100, The Founders Award in Honor of Maggie Price.  I am overwhelmed!

pastels on velour

 My pastel in the PSA Annual Juried Show received the Atlantic Paper award.  I chose to try their velour paper for pastels.  Here are two I've done..they are not out of focus...it is a soft look.

Cafe in Tuscany

12 x 16 oil on canvas

Joes pond marsh

24 x24 oil on canvas.  Joes Pond Marsh

Portrait demo

I decided to do a portrait demo for my oil painting class.  I think they enjoyed the demo but didn't feel up to painting portraits....yet!

Afternoon Light

Back to the struggle.  May at some hint at the second eye.

Jurying and Being Juried

 I have just finished jurying another pastel competition show. It is one among many I have juried over the past few years and I want to say a few things.  But first, here is a collection of my oils that have all been rejected from national shows this past year.  I show them because I know the momentary disappointment of rejection and though I don't like to be the cause of that to other artists, it is all part of putting your work out there.

Jurying is obviously very subjective but I try to look beyond just my personal taste.  So here are a few things to think about when entering a show:

1. Is my painting in any way original?  I see so many paths in the woods or mountains in the distance.  What makes a painting original isn't only the subject matter but how you deal with it.  Go beyond the basic image.  Play with color don't just accept that "blue sky"...play with your strokes don't just render.

2.  If you are putting in a figure make sure it all works.  A poorly drawn hand can eclipse an otherwise well painted figure.

3.  Most importantly, if you can enter 3 pieces make sure they are all good.  If you only have two you feel are good, only enter those two.  In shows where the juror selects only one of an artists' pieces, a poor showing on one can bring the others down.

I leave you with this...some years back I was honored to be one of three jurors for the Pastel Society of America's National Juried Show.  The following year, I didn't get in.  But, be true to yourself and always keep in mind that one judge's opinion can be totally different from another judge's opinion.

Heading In

Heading In  9x12 oil on canvas

more peacham plein air

 Two little 5 x 7 oils en plein air in Peacham

Monday oil demo

Monday morning oil painting classes started again.  First demo 6 x 8 oil on canvas

Plein Air Peacham

Had some fun plein air painting in Peacham, VT over the weekend.  A bit buggy but otherwise fun.  These are pretty small, oils on canvas

Italy Cafe

Struggling to create bigger paintings that keep a loose quality. This is 16 x 20.  Not too happy with it but I think I have to struggle through the process.

PSA Enduring Brilliance Annual Show

Thrilled that Sintra Square will be in the upcoming Pastel Society of America's annual juried show.  SHHHH...it won an award too!

Russia

COME PAINT RUSSIA!!

https://mailchi.mp/c0405a084aa4/8coijrh47w-1457613?e=d0acdb250b

last two landgrove

 My last two demos at Landgrove Inn.  The horses are oil and the street scene pastel.  Both were done with the concept of seeing things only as shapes...abstracting what you are looking at in order to create an illustrative painting

Landgrove Inn figure workshop 2019

20 minute pastel portrait

10 minute oil portrait

 Once again I had an amazing time teaching figure in oils and pastels at Landgrove Inn in Londonderry, VT.  A gorgeous inn with amazing food and hospitality.  We paint from a live model for two days then from photos of figures in an environment for two.  I'll post those tomorrow.  Here are some of my demos.

5 minute oil on paper

5 minute oil on paper

susan's garden

Had fun painting my friend's garden in Peacham
8 x 10 oil on canvas

Cafe Life 2

Cafe Life 2 oil on canvas 12 x 16

Distant

9 x 12 oil on canvas