'Summer's Last Song"

Summer's Last Song 16x30" oil 

 Here we are, December and a new post.. I won't mention my intentions of increasing my post numbers here, but I just did. Welp I won't go on about it at least!

This painting Summer's Last Song 16x30" is available now. Contact me for details.
Lately I have taken to pairing my works with poetry, which seems to elevate both of them and is very satisfying to me.. Here is a small quote from Walt Whitman that stood out to me.

 "This is the touch of my lips to yours—this is the murmur of yearning;
This is the far-off depth and height reflecting my own face;
This is the thoughtful merge of myself, and the outlet again."
Walt Whitman
 This year has been a trying one, I have left two galleries that represented me and have had a couple of interesting stories (but no new representation) result from attempts at new places to show my work. It's tough out there kids! You can be waist deep in a career that you are proud of (painting what you like with integrity) and just sit in a storage room until you are told "that's old work, we want new".. You may have a better chance of success today by investing in front row tickets to a major sports event, holding up one of your paintings, hoping the camera catches you and that the right eye was watching said event. I'm kidding, kinda..

 Artists of New England Podcast recently invited me in for an interview. Here is a link to their page Artist's of New England
 You can also find the link in the "links" section on my website, Danielcorey.com or searching on Itunes and Soundcloud
Had a great time talking with Laura and am thankful for her help in getting a bit of my story out there.



One more thing to mention is my Open Studio Sale happening on my website. This is found on the link provided or on my website under "Works" then the specific sale gallery is clearly marked.
This is to help fund the studio renovations that are much needed, so I can stop commandeering half of the living room in the house.

 This old garage has been slowly been turning into a studio. So far we have torn down a full chimney, re-insulated the connecting wall between house and garage, added a full new roof, patched holes from years of mice, vacuumed up 83 lbs (estimated) of mice droppings (the floors looked like " Everything Bagels"), poured a new piece of the foundation that was missing.. Removed the rickety garage door out and replaced with the French doors shown in picture below.

Next on our agenda is installing a wood stove, having the electricity run properly to where it's needed,  install new windows, frame out some divisions, insulate, sheet rock and finally paint. So if you're reading this and would like one of these works, now is the time! Also, if you are a professional or well versed in any of these needs and would accept a painting as payment, please email me.

Summertime 2019

"Summertime" 36x36"

 This poor blog.. Neglected for years now, in favor of bite sized Instagram and Facebook posts. I have been looking for a place to ramble a bit, completely forgot about here. Well i didn't forget, I just remembered at the wrong times..

 This year started off with an April showing at Portland Art Gallery, I painted several beach scenes. One example is this one, "Summertime"36x36". Painted on a hardboard surface instead of my usual canvas, lets all the work show and the impasto stands up nicely. 

 SO far this summer I have been visiting beaches, painting/sketching unsuspecting beach goers that are NOT posing and move consistently. It can be frustrating when they move or you didn't get enough info and a cloud covered the sun, but also exciting when it works out. The challenge reminds me of quick pose at life drawing but the clock is completely random. 

What do you do that challenges you in a fun way? (in painting or life in general)

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” 
― Robert F. Kennedy

Third Show of the Summer and Workshop Dates

"Cherry Stovetop" 16x16"

 If you missed my June or July show and find yourself in Rockland ME during the month of August, you're in luck! The Rock City Coffee Roasters have welcomed me in for an August show. This show is all still life pieces. mix of new, never displayed and older favorites.
All the pieces are unframed and priced accordingly. If you buy one and want a frame you can write me and I'll help you find now or make/sell you one during the late fall when things slow down for me.

The two workshops I am offering are for the weekends of September 16+17 and October 14+15 and in the Rockland Maine, mid-coast area. These workshops will focus on what I find a valuable in painting, ways I approach color, drawing, composition and paint application.
 The cost will be $225. for the two days and limited to 10 students per class. This limit isn't so much for individual attention as it is to cover us if it rains and we have to go inside for class/demo. Write me through my website ( danielcorey.com )if you have any questions or would like to reserve your spot.
Also.. If you are in the middle of a financial hardship and feel this class can help you,  I will work with you to get you in the class.

"Yellow" 15x12"

"Green" 12x16"

"Waiting of Red" 12x16

The Busiest Summer Ever

Preview collection of T Bonita Gallery Show

Portland Art Gallery Show

This has been and continues to be the busiest summer i have experienced. I have three shows
scheduled one in June, July and August. The June show (Image above) is at Todd Bonita Gallery  in Portsmouth NH.
The July showing is currently still available for viewing (thru end of July) at Portland Art Gallery.  (remainder of images) This show is the biggest collection of my work that has ever been put together with 35 pieces, see it if you can!
 The August show will be a smaller local show here in Rockland ME at Rock City Roasters (Great coffee!!)  and will have more local work and and some smaller favorites. SO if you come for the Lobster Festival stop in and check it out.
 I will also be relaunching my danielcorey.com website and announcing two workshops, a late September and mid October.

Preview Collection of Portland Art Gallery Show

Stormy Night 12x10" 

Bakers Dozen of A Year

It has been a while, huh? Recently realizing that I have not posted for over a year was a bit of a shock.. I have learned many lessons and painted miles of canvas over the year to ramble about. Where to begin? (or re-begin)

 First an update about the fire and fire sale. Having been in quite a pickle financially before the fire the sale helped me get some stability for a bit; which was refreshing.. Thank you to all that bought paintings and sent messages of encouragement! I did not lose everything in the fire like other tenants in the house but I did have to throw a lot away. Washing and wiping (and re wiping) soot off  all of the walls, off everything I didn't throw away became a full time job, for almost two months. Also finally people are not asking me if I smell a fire in close quarters. Most of my clothes smelled like fire  even after being professionally cleaned, Good times.. The house is still being rebuilt and is on its 200th year of existence. Happy Birthday to the Ranch! (used to be a bordello) 

 These days I am preparing for two major shows this summer on in June at Todd Bonita Gallery in Portsmouth New Hampshire and one in July right here in Maine at Portland Art Gallery.

I will share more info and a few sneak peak images closer to those dates. I have been focusing a lot on slight color shifts/colors found within a mass. I have always done this but am trying it a little differently, i am excited to share! 

Today's quote is a special one, to me.

Quote: "Stop searching forever, happiness is right next to you." Fortune cookie

Fire and Fire Sale

The smoke before it really go going

 On Saint Patrick's Day in the early afternoon the smoke alarms started weezing their familiar, non alarming alarm. Most of the time these go off with forgotten toast but not this day..
  I live and paint on the third floor of this 199 year old house in the photo.
Being a regular occurrence to have these alarms go off, I almost didn't go out to check on the neighbors as I would have to walk around the house due to some snow still on my back porch and ugly blue Crocs on my feet.  For some reason i did. When i knocked on one of the back doors then the next,  I saw smoke rising in-between the blinds and the glass on the second. So i knocked harder then broke the door in with my shoulder. The apartment was filled with black, plastic smelling smoke that i knew not to mess with.

Where Molly Stayed for hours. She was shaken but not stirred..
Photo red: Alison Hill

I ducked down while yelling in with no response. The first door i knocked on opened and i asked him to call 911. I ran upstairs to grab Molly (my cat), my jacket and some real shoes, (I'm not doing in Crocs) knocking on doors on my way up.
By the time i tied my second boot, the firetrucks could be heard in the distance. When i ran back down the front inside stairs with Molly stuffed in my jacket,  the smoke was rising thru the cracks in them, it was like a weird old rock video.

10x14"

Everything in the apartment, I found the fire in, was destroyed and it it didn't fair very well for most other tenants.. My apartment smelled terrible and looked like a bomb went off.. Everything was covered in black soot and smelled of smoke. I have been cleaning constantly since the day after it happened. I am very thankful nobody was hurt and I should be back to normal pretty soon. Thank you Rockland Fire Department!

So this event capped off me at my leanest time financially that I've experienced since starting to paint, full time. So this sale was going to be a regular sale as i needed to get traveling money and find a reliable car. So I lowered the prices for this occasion and you can find my Fire Sale here on my Facebook page Daniel Corey Paintings . Ive included a couple of the pieces available.  There are about 70 available.

12x16"

Plain Air Workshop Dates, All Aboard!!

"All Aboard" 16x12" 

After much deliberation and and date checking Ive settled on three plain air workshop dates this year. May 21-22, August 13-14 and October 1-2. The price is $230. for two days. 9am-3pm. I will be accepting 8 students per class. Your normal oil paints will serve you fine but if interested in a supply list look at " "My class blog" link on the sidebar of this blog.

 These Plein Air Workshops will be in the Rockland area. I will show off my favorite local painting spots while pushing my agenda of abstract shapes, pattern and most of all color.
 Please contact me thru my website danielcorey.com or thru my Facebook as email tends to sort spam without discretion.



Quote: "No color theory. Only love of color." Ken Kewley