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"

A few more from Monhegan

OK these are six pieces that I have OK (?) photos of and can post today.. I am trying to get out the door for some painting as the weather is not gray as forecasted.. I will write more on the stories that go with some of these when the weather is not so good... which should be soon..

Big News

I am sorry for not posting.. I have been trying to write about the great news of my wife Raquele having, then passing her citizenship test then being sworn in as an American Citizen.. Everytime I try to write about how happy I am for us and proud I am of her I sound jaded and really pissed off for the story that leads up to this moment.. So I will hopefully be able to write about it soon....til then, I'm proud of you Raquele.

Back in Bristol

OK ...where to begin..?. well I am back in Bristol and have many days, painting adventures, and paintings to sift through from my Monhegan residency... hopefully I will get a few of those stories on here and some more pics of the work to go with them.. I came back from just about 4 weeks there with 73 paintings, some are closer to sketches and some have more of a "finish" but all have a story... The top one of the Lighthouse and the bell was my last piece on the Island its a 22"x28" and the bottom one from Fish Beach is an 11x14" .

I feel that my main goal of growth during this residency was accomplished. No I don't mean from the food on the Island,,,which was delicious, I must say.. But as far as really developing "my" filter and what I want to see on the canvas... The growth/self belief that comes when a group of people like M.A.R.C. (Monhegan Artist Residency Corp) believes in the artistic direction you are heading and puts their funds and name with your name to prove it.. It really helps me see what I'm doing in a new light.. not compromising my painting for current trends or giving up.

I am not saying I'm there yet and that I am not influenced by other artists, because I am but I have discovered that I am mostly interested in and inspired by Color, Paint(the physical look), and the story that is told through an Image....(not in that order..?.) These may seem mundane or the norm to some but these simple (hard to find) absolute truths are like digits in a lottery drawing. Only by finding out what your numbers are and then playing them repeatedly will you have a chance to win. (figuratively speaking of course) To find out these digits or truths I find that really looking at and into works of mine and others and asking "why do I hate this one?" "Why am I compelled to stare at this one?" "why is this one making me happy?" " why am I rambling?" :) OK I slipped that in to see if you were awake still.. long story short I am (finally) learning to truly value what I see... Thank you to M.A.R.C.! , John Blamey, Colin Page, My lovely Wife Raquele (sorry your 4th honey), my parents and family, last but not least Arthur and Isabella Corwin. I know I have thanked you all before and it might seem redundant but now I know what I'm thanking you all for..

"Are you painting here for the Summer? or just the season?" ....................a random visitor talking to me while painting on Monhegan

" You can't win if you don't play" lottery commission.