Afton's Legacy

I painted this piece a couple weeks ago, its a 20x24 and is one of the only "overcast weather" pieces that I let live... Most see the round file.

Quote:"I know for sure that I have an instinct for color, and that it will come to me more and more, that painting is in the very marrow of my bones."(Letter to Theo van Gogh, 3 September 1882) Vincent van Gogh.

10 Days Til Hanging

This is photo is of 85% of a painting I did Thursday in Damariscotta. The reason its not 100% is a slightly slanted photo and no micro tilt adjustment in the Nikon program we have, so a little cropping was needed.(sorry).

With 10 days til the hanging of the show I am painting alot, fitting frames, setting up hanger wire and blah blah. I am tired and anxious, just the way it should be. (I think?) If any of you reading have had "first shows" or plan on it , let me know how it went, or what you might have done different. I would love to hear some experienced insight and or some stories of nightmare openings that could give me a benchmark to try to avoid.

Quote: "The craving for colour is a natural necessity just as for water and fire. Colour is a raw material indispensable to life. At every era of his existence and his history, the human being has associated colour with his joys, his actions and his pleasures."-- Frenand Leger, "On Monumentality and Color", 1943.

A Little Sunshine

This is a little 6x8 study from the yard, Buddha painted it in late day sun. I have always been inspired by impressionist color work especially mid late Monet and Henry Hensche. Their search for the actual color and dedication to representing the actual truth of light, leaves me in awe every time I review their work.

With the show just ????? 22 days away I am thinking my initial goals for 30 new works might be reachable but a few will definitely be wet on the wall! I have a full range of pcs ready from 5"x5" to 30"x40" and have gone thru more paint then I thought possible, 4 and 5 oz tubes feel like 37 ml tubes used to. I have to admit painting larger pieces has been a blast, they eat paint, but being able to move a large brush full of paint is a rewarding experience in itself (try it!).

I will be showing my new work on here when the show starts but for now its just sketches and small works.

Quote: "Colour and I are one. I am a painter."Paul Klee, 1914.

Sketch 2 Landscape Boogaloo

About a week or so ago I got out to paint inbetween cloudy days. I pulled over and set up to paint on the side of the main road that runs right through center of Waldoboro. Sorry I don't know the name of the road but if your familiar with Waldoboro, you know there is not alot of "main" roads, that's one of the reasons its so beautiful there. This day was pretty sweet as far as March in Maine goes, weather was slightly chilly and clear.
I got 2 sketches and a 16x20 done that day and as far as production goes I would say that's pretty good for me, anyone reading this please let me know what a productive day is for you? (painting outside of course) Anyway this is a 6x8 sketch for a larger painting I did right after this. I figured I would get to know the scene a bit and see if the composition works or if I could make it work. I know that alot of people suggest thumbnail sketches, or viewfinders to find the composition, but I think that if you are a painter, you paint and take every chance to paint that comes your way. Besides sometimes the best way to improve on a painting is to criticize the one you just did, this painting even though its very loose showed me where I could drastically improve the larger piece.
By the way I was taught a great way to crop a scene by using your hands or hat visor to make a box over your eyes, almost like holding invisible binoculars, letting your hands crop the top and sides. Quote: "There isn't a single person or landscape or subject which doesn't possess some interest, although it may not be immediately apparent. When a painter discovers this hidden treasure, other people are immediately struck by its beauty. "Pierre Auguste Renoir
Last Chance if any of you would like to receive the advertisement mailer for my first show (excited!) please e mail me your mailing address within a couple days and I will try to get you on the mailing list for it.

Snapshot

This sketch is of our cat Oliver, we just recently adopted from the local Humane Society shelter http://www.coastalhumanesociety.org/ . He is a very sweet cat and seems to really appreciate his new diggs. But he is a nut and I am expecting him to be chewing on paint tubes and sharpening his claws on my paintings anyday now. Also for you superstitious people he is a black cat that we adopted on FRIDAY the 13th! (insert scary music here) Anyway he was sitting in front of the open door the otherday gathering the last of the afternoon sun and I was in the right place at the right time to see this. I was cleaning off my palette from a day of painting out and decided "Ehhh go for it" as soon as I started, maybe 3 or 4 minutes in the phone rang and yeah that makes him have to move to maybe smell the phone as it rings..??. . So I didn't really expect much out of this anyway and it isn't much, but my wife loved it (she loves all of em) so thought I would share it would you here for fun. Quote:"An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all ... feeling is the principle, the beginning and the end; craft, objective, technique – all these are in the middle." Paul Cezanne. !

Photo Upgrade

This week I'm trying to get a whole bunch of paint related things completed for a grant that I am applying for. The Grant is for a five week stay at a painters dream location and I cant say where because one of the stipulations of the grant is that I can't advertise it. With the deadline approaching fast I find myself in a sink or swim situation. Writing of artist statement. why I deserve this grant, quality photos of work on a CD in certain size and format. (I'm not even sure what a format is) also bother somebody for a recommendation letter. Luckily I have had some much needed help from a friend with writing critique and great advice in general on all points related. (Thank You CP) One of the things I have found myself sinking with since I started this blog has been my photo skills, but now (because I have to) I am really gonna try to focus on photographing my work properly or at least learning how..?. So please if you have been reading my blog for awhile or have looked back at older posts, let me hear you opinion on the photo work going forward from here. As for the Grant, I will let you know here if get it or not, Wish me luck! Quote: "Give your viewers something more than decoration. Give them something that will raise their level of vision. Let them see a new beauty through your eyes." Henry Hensche..

Modern Healthcare..?.

This past week my wife was a bit sick and this is a painting including the stuffy head, cough, sore throat, achy whatever, sleep medicine. It helped alot the first night but Raquele can't stand the taste so she decided the next night to tough it out and not take any. (shes OK now :) ) I have always enjoyed the color of this stuff when the light shines through it, and wish there was strong light to show off the color. They probably use the same pigments some of us use in our paints to color this stuff??? "NyQuinacridone " who knows..?. Quote: "Miracles surround us at every turn if we but sharpen our perceptions of them." Willa Cather

Little Panel Big Value (to me)

This is the little study for the larger painting I posted some weeks back. I used these small panels to kind of take notes of colors that might flash to me and give a composition in my head a chance to work or not. I personally love to see the small panel studies from my favorites, it gives me a glimpse into what they do when thinking fast with a brush in their hand. Just for the record I wasn't thinking; I was freezing. Quote:"They'll sell you thousands of Greens. Veronese green, emerald green, cadmium green and any sort of green you like; but that particular green, never." Pablo Picasso.

WIP Big Plein Air

This is 24"x36" I was working on en plein air yesterday (feb 18th)at Pemaquid Point and just in time, we got another storm last night, about half a foot of snow, and now as I write this its raining. I think I'm almost done with this one, and after the marathon session it took just to get this far, I hope so! two brushes have already died in this battle and am hoping to figure a way to not beat them up so bad, but I think its useless..?. I have started oil priming my canvas in an attempt to not have to scrub so hard to get the paint in there, and it is bit better. nuf rambling, QUOTE: "If you conduct your work in that way by carrying it each time as far as you know, each time you will go a little further." Charles Hawthorne

Nobleboro Historical Center

This is just a 5"x7" 10 minute color sketch, Raquele and I were out driving around and I had my little 6x8 pochade box /me and loved the colors here so we stopped. While I was working on this for few minutes and she did some reading. Quote: "Place a simple Building in the scene. Treat it as just a block study with landscape around it." Henry Hensche.

7-UP at Cape Cod

This a sketch from this past Thursday in Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod. I travelled down to meet up with some of the "Port Clyde 12,(13, ..?.) and hopefully get to paint some while there. I was so stoked to paint I did this one while waiting to meet up with them. This train bridge is one that I have loved as far back as I can remember, (I grew up going to Cape Cod) and didn't even mind that the painting didn't work out so good.

When I met up with the group at the Addison Art Gallery ( http://adisonart.com/paintapalooza.html ) I was pretty overwhelmed at first with all the great paintings and meeting the painters that made them. Everyone was welcoming, friendly, and genuinely a pleasure to be around. For those who were there reading this Thank you all, and there is a home in Maine you are always welcome in, and If Colin's not home you can come over here. (HA)

Quote: " Real Painters understand with a brush in there hand....What does anyone do with rules? Nothing worthwhile." Berthe Moriset .

PIF and the Broken Easel

Ok first things first, This week I am throwing my hat in the PIF ring, PIF means Pay IT Forward. Here is my take on the rules of PIF, I will send a hand made gift to the first three people to leave a comment promising to continue this on there blog or I will extend it also to people who promise to continue it there own way in the real world. I don't know what the gift will be yet, and I don't know when I will send it to you, but you will receive it within 365 days of commenting. OK? Also this will expire in 365 days from today so don't wait an entire year to participate. (1 added rule, I must limit this to people living in North America as I am not able to absorb large overseas shipping costs currently, sorry, but if you are travelling here in the future I will hold for you :) ) I got into this while I was searching thru the older entries of one my favorite blogs http://frankgardner.blogspot.com/ and when I saw that Frank was part of this and there was an opening, I jumped. Sure it was an older blog entry, but how could I turn down a handmade gift from one of my favorites..?. I was hoping for one of his masking tape sculptures but instead he sent me one of his beautiful 6x8 paintings that I am very thankful for.(Thanks Frank). As for the broken easel, I was at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse before our most recent storm (couple days ago) and set up to do a small coastal rock study, it was a beautiful scene and all the values were so close that i pictured the finished piece only being two mid values, anyway I forgot my brushes in my backpack so I turned around to get them I was maybe 6ft away when the wind came and blew my easel over into a snow/ice bank, well the back of my new EasyL that holds wet panels kinda shattered, and my brushwasher landed, bent, and spilled all over the ice, luckily I had just cleaned so the spill was just thinner . but it was so cold I think the thinner froze?.?. Then it started to snow, If any of you haven't you must see the ocean while its snowing, just beautiful. In the mood to paint I was, so I didn't let this stop me, I got a decent study done but nothing I wanna share. So instead you get to see my little sketch from the other day on my way back from figure/life painting. I stopped briefly to freeze.. I think its in Lincolnville..?. (the photo is angled a bit if your wondering), that thing in the painting is a ferry dock and I got this started about 10 mins after the ferry left. so I think this was about a 10-15 min sketch.. Quote: "Nobody has ever bet enough on the winning horse" Richard Sasuly. let me know if you like the new digi painter to your right??

Guess What!?

Great news, I have known for a bit but recently confirmed and received a bit more info on my first show. This will be at Tidemark Gallery ( www.tidemarkgallery.com ) and opening night will be on April 29th and run thru May 23rd. A beautiful space with ample lighting and good wall space. I am aiming for at least 30 pieces (and now that it is written it shall be?) ranging from 5"x5" to 30"x40" ..?. (will have to see about how the big ones go, painting outside??) If anyone would like to be on the mailing list for this please leave it in comments section and I will erase after I write it down or e-mail me at painter03@yahoo.com . I am very excited about this and will post pics from the show in the future and hopefully all the paintings from it in one big preview post. Quote:" Painting from nature is not copying the object, it is realizing one's sensations." Paul Cezanne.

How Many Piggy Banks Must Die ?

Ok so the title is a little dramatic, but so is the economic situation. I think the best way to stimulate the economy is to buy more Daniel Corey Paintings, OK I'm kidding (not), but about the only thing that holds its value anymore is, artwork..?. ehhh I don't feel like rambling today, so......Quote:" The economy of Houston is so bad right now that two prostitutes the police arrested turned out to be virgins" Bill Abeel

Laundry Day

Well it is actually laundry day and its sucks, alright its not that bad and since our new home has a great (high efficiency) washer and dryer makes its almost OK . Makes me think back to when we were living in Brasil, we washed All of our laundry by hand in a special extra sink that is installed in alot of homes there, usually in the kitchen and if your lucky near a window!. (now that sucked!) But you couldn't get more efficient. I would like to preface today's Quote by saying I have been reading this great collection of writings by R.M. Kulicke. Passed to me by someone dear to me and at one point she studied with Kulicke. (Thank you I.C.) my As far as I know this has never been published and it appears to be a photocopy of his original typing with some hand written side notes. I was lucky enough to make a photocopy of this collection and find it to be very inspiring, full of truths. Funny how we find things as simple as truth inspiring, maybe we all should question what we are used to getting..??. Quote: "There is a quality of Character much rarer than intelligence or talent. I call it "intellectual honesty." By that term I mean the ability to not lie to yourself too often or for too long."

Princess Leia and the Green Apples

These are Raqueles new headphones that she got for her birthday.(remember the cake-drop incident of 08?) because of the wonderful coloring when she wears them she looks like Princess Leia with green apples stuck to the side of her head instead of the hair buns. I would like to wish all a happy Martin Luther King Day, normally not a holiday that you wish a happy one to people but I think with inauguration day tomorrow we can be happy.!. I would like to send out a Happy Birthday to Paul Cezanne. He would be 170 years old today . Quote: "Fruits... Like having their portrait painted. They seem to ask your forgiveness for fading. Their thought is given off with their perfumes. They come with all their scents, they speak of the fields they have left, the rain that has nourished them, the daybreaks they have seen." Paul Cezanne.

Christmas,New Year, and the Rembrandt Fairy.

Happy New Year to all ! I hope you all had a great Christmas or Holiday of your choosing. I personally had a Great time and think my family did also, even though we lost power about 20 mins into cooking the turkey. That lasted for about 2hrs I think.?. I did get some cool stuff for Christmas, the highlights are a new digi camera and an EasyL pro. I'm pretty stoked about both of them they make This much easier and even more enjoyable. I haven't been keeping many paintings lately, (wiping off) or even been letting them be until the Rembrandt Fairy has a chance to come and make my painting better! If any of you fellow painters have left a questionable painting out over night only to find it way better than what you thought, then you have been visited by the Rembrandt Fairy! This painting is from this morning, waiting for the sun to come up, and it did about 5 mins into painting it. Quote: "Sometimes I paint really fast. You go"" Arghhhh, look at that bit..."" and that's when you get a real excitement about an area that you've done. It's kind of aggressive. But when you get something right there is no better feeling. It's just a great feeling, that its right." Jenny Saville.

Before the Next Storm

This pc is approx 30" x 30" which is bigger then what I normally do and was done yesterday morning, before the latest storm covered us with about 2 ft of snow. The sun came out for about 45 mins and it was nice to see warm colors again even if it was on snow. This morning I could not even get my Wife's Jeep out of its parking spot never mind the yard. I plan on doing more snow paintings with all the new feet of snow we received, but I'm afraid my plow guy is not coming and I have a few tons of snow to shovel. Quote:"In Art, the hardest skill to learn is to be simple" Sergei Bongart This is my last post before Christmas so Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Crazy Kwanzaa to all !!...(sorry if spelling wrong on holidays)

Big Thaw

This is another one from my window after all the Ice melted from our big freeze, the temps got up around 50 but its supposed to snow again tomorrow . I would have liked to get out and paint but I was busy readying my home studio for a very small home class that is starting soon. I am still teaching at River Arts and have a class scheduled to begin sometime mid late January. Quote:"Painting from nature is not copying the object, it is realizing one's sensations" Paul Cezanne

Still life, very still and extremely cold

This pc was painted while we were frozen solid here in Maine. We got quite a covering, almost like a big glazed donut landscape outside, when we were chiseling out the cars most areas were about 3/8" - 1/2" thick. When the Ice is that thick you kind of have to use your scraper like a hammer first then as a scraper. I have been really inspired lately by my fellow painters and my 30th reading of Hawthorne on Painting, I hope it shows. Quote:" You don't have to think of planes if you think of color; note a spot of color, and then the plane will take care of itself" Charles Hawthorne. I don't usually advertise this but you can click the painting and see a close up , might be interesting?