Cape Cod Museum of Art

This week I was gonna drive 4 1/2 hours each way to deliver my "Mexico" work to Addison Art Gallery and The Cape Cod Museum of Art but the strong threat of a two day snow storm made me rethink.. So I shipped them. The two pictured here are the two that will be on display at the Museum, the top is an 8x10 view from the balcony of the house we all stayed in, the lower is a 16x20 from probably my favorite area to paint in San Miguel, I don't know the exact name but its right near the "Old San Miguel" church..

I will post the ones going to the gallery soon for now the paint is calling... Happy New year All!

Quote: "A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her." David Brinkley

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Natal

Merry Christmas all!

This piece "Dos Amigos" is a 6x8 that I painted while in Mexico recently. I was painting the very hard to make out arches and the people in them when these two guys sat down right in front of my view. So I said to myself " gimme a minute and Ill make you a star" (OK I didn't say that but it comes to mind now..?.) I switched out panels and they stayed just long enough to get this sketch in.. its random and I like it..

SOooo in the spirit of Christmas.. or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah... the first person to comment that they would like this painting ... Can have it for free, no charge, Gratis. The only rule is you must be in the U.S. or be coming to the U.S. sometime soon because shipping ain't cheap.

News: I will go into details more in the future but already lined up for next year is three shows in February. One more at Tidemark Gallery, the same gallery I had my first show at last year. (wow what a year..?.) The Tidemark show will be a two man show, Ralph Bush and I with our Monhegan Island work. Two shows that include the Mexico work, one at Addison Art Gallery and the other at the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Its gonna be crazy...

Quote: "The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh. The effect that they make in space is as bound up with them as might be their colour or smell ... Therefore the painter must be as concerned with the air surrounding his subject as with the subject itself. It is through observation and perception of atmosphere that he can register the feeling that he wishes his painting to give out." Lucien Freud, 1954.

Lately

These two are from some of the past weeks painting in the Boothbay area with the "Plien Air Painters of Maine" group. Top one is a 10x12, and the bottom is an 8x10.

Recently I had to turn on the comment moderation. I noticed a comment on a recent post that advertised a link to some money investment site. So I checked some other older entries and sure enough they were peppered with weird comments and ads, one had over 40 comments in Japanese...?. so that's why.. Its not to block or censor the overwhelming gushing wave of applause for my work....kidding.

Soon I will be hosting a figure painting/drawing group in my home/studio and also offering classes in basic Oil Painting, Figure Study, and if there is enough response to it, Plein Air. If you are in the area and are interested please contact me via email (painter03@yahoo.com) and let me know.

Quote: "If you want to be a historical painter, let your history be of your own time, of what you can get to know personally -- of manners and customs within your own experience." Robert Henri

Go Figure

These two are from some of the past Saturdays at Waterfall Arts in Belfast ME. They are both have about 2hrs invested. The top one is north light only and the second is artificial light on an overcast day. One of the things I came away from the recent trip to Mexico with is a greater desire to study and explore painting people. Thanks west coasters..esp Ignat. I can't decide on these.... are they figure studies or portraits...?.



Quote: "Since the model he so faithfully copies is not going to be hung up next to the picture ... it is of no interest whether it is an accurate copy of the model. Whether it will convince or not, depends entirely on what it is in itself, what is there to be seen. The model should only serve the very private function for the painter of providing the starting point for his excitement. The picture is all he feels about it, all he thinks worth preserving of it, all he invests it with. If all the qualities which a painter took from the model for his picture were really taken, no person could be painted twice."Lucien Freud, 1954.

Opening at Camden Falls Gallery Nov 22nd 5-7pm

Just a quick post and a real one to follow soon. This Sunday from 5-7pm at Camden Falls Gallery is the reception for my Monhegan Residency work.. This show is approx 20 pieces from various times during my stay on the Island. I placed a small numbering on the back of each of the 73 pieces, for example"3-4" means the 3rd day I was there and the fourth piece I painted that day.
I am very excited by the responses I have been hearing, great feedback and one even sold off the floor before hanging.
So if you can make it, please do.

Mexico...

I just recently returned from two great weeks in Mexico. Last year this "get together" was nicknamed "Paintapalooza" and was 12-13 of the countrys best (in my opinion) painters all meeting in Port Clyde, ME. This year the place to be was in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico right in Frank Gardners backyard and the name is "Creative Convergence". The final tally was 15 painters from all over the U.S. and this photo shows most of them so I will list them from left to right. Colin Page,Frank Gardner, Kevin McNamara, me, Ernesto Nemesio, Jeremy Lipking, Logan Hagege, Paul Shulenberg, Scott Burdick, Jerome Greene, Peter Kalill, Ignat Ignatov, and Marc Hanson. The man sitting in the center (name here when I remember) runs the ranch we were at. Not in the photo is Jeff Bonasia (he is taking the photo) and also Alexey Steele, he was on his way but not in Mexico at the time of photo.

We stayed for two weeks and painted the days away, slept very little, ate great food and in general had an amazing time with 14 other painters, all of whom I now call friends.. Thank you Frank and Julie ( Hi Erin! ) for putting up with us.. I'll be back..

This Photo is from a great day at Ranch (name of ranch here when I remember..?.) that included painting, horse riding (not for me), an authentic Enchiladas lunch that included black beans and an amazing Pico de Gallo that had cactus in it. The day started clear enough for the horse riding and some painting but eventually thunder and lightning moved all of us under a 15'x15 tin roof car port. Determined to make us comfortable the exceptionally nice ranch personnel started a small grill fire to cook corn in the husk to be served with a spicy salsa along with dragging out the beer cooler. We spent one and a half maybe two hours all chatting and eating and drinking. Good times!

Photos of paintings are in the works.. soon.

Quote: "Take solace in the example of Vincent van Gogh. Look at some of his early drawings -- they are dreadful, as if he were sketching with a potato. But how far he came, quite quickly, and what enormous heights he reaches."-- Danny Gregory

Monhegan Show.

OK.. This week a good chunk of the work I did while on residency will be on display at Camden Falls Gallery in Camden ME. This Weekend thruuuuu.....???? I think a month? Anyway As usual sorry about the photos...

As I write and construct this post I don't have any specific stories n my head...its pretty early in the am. But I do have people that made my time there extra memorable and I miss them all. (in no specific order) John P.H. Alison, Amy, Kevin, Alice, Dan, Sue, Bethany, Tara, Remak, Barnacle and Novelty crews, The Corina House. I could name most of the Island and say I miss them and I do, but these are the people that made me feel welcome. Thanks.

To see some more work check out the Camden Falls Gallery website.. www.camdenfallsgallery.com/

Quote:" I've not been cursed with talent, which could be a great inhibitor" Robert Rauschenberg"