Prussian Blue and his Amazing Friends

This photo is a palette of colors that would satisfy most painters from strict black and white tonalist to wild colorist. The best part of this palette is that it's only three pigments! I know there are plenty of three color palette out there with mostly three comparatively weak colors and they cause a supposed color harmony. I believe that a color harmony should be found and related from what's viewed in nature not be bound by what pigments are used. Just sayin.

To me this is the limited palette that is usable and you can breath with, Cadmium Yellow, Quinacridone Red/Rose and Prussian Blue. Incase your wondering these in the photo are all RGH oils. I don't use them as much as I used to cause there prices went up.

Incase your wondering why I'm posting this info. In my classes which I'm hoping to get going again (now that summer has ended and locals have a little time to themselves ) these are the colors I recommend if people are buying for the first time or just want to stop carrying twelve too thirty tubes. Now I don't use just these three colors alone but I do usually use them as the base for my palette which I add a couple pthalos, ,an orange for convenience and yellow ochre and burnt sienna for the same reason. I think if you try these three you will see what I'm talking about and if you just add a color or two of your liking you would be all set in most all cases.

Maine Magazine

So do you remember my piece "Morning in Friendship"(24x30") from a few posts back? It was featured by Maine Art Gallery in a full page ad in this months (October) Maine Magazine. I am really excited by this as it's my first full page ad and Maine Magazine is my favorite of all the magazines about Maine and life here.

Yes, if you noticed in the pic, I bought two copies.... One for my Mom.

Incase you are wondering this piece is still (as far as I know) available at Maine Art Gallery in Kennebunk ME.

Last topic today, I am enjoying the change to my blog color scheme. I was never able to frame my pieces with white before so something has changed..?. I mean in my work not the blog.
Also on the top right, above the gallery links is my Facebook page, if you join it by clicking "like" you will see a bunch of photos/paintings (soon) that I don't put on the blog.

In Line

This is a piece I didn't get to post over the summer and it was off to a collector in Switzerland right after delivery to Camden Falls Gallery. "In Line" 24x30" was an early morning light piece that I think conveys that light better then I have done in the past. I just thought I would share it here.

I will be trying to get my classes at Boothbay Regional Art Foundation going again now that fall is here and people have a little time for themselves. If you are interested please feel fee to email me (email can be found in my blog profile, I'm hiding it from the spam people) for info. Will also be doing a few posts related to the class so check back soon if that interests you. Thanks for stopping by, Dan

Knight's 49

Recently while scouting out a Painting location I spotted this 49 Chevy and had to paint it. The only problem was the best location to stand was either on someone's lawn or in the street. So I asked the owners of the lawn if they would mind if I set up my easel and they were great about the whole thing and to my surprise when I was close to done they inquired about purchasing this piece. So when they invited me in to discuss the particulars I was shocked to see paintings by some of my absolute favorite Maine artists on the walls. Besides the obvious positive of being able to sell my work I am still blown away with to be part of this collection and all by chance...

I won't say who the collectors are or the location but I will say that in there collection was Connie Hayes, Tollef Runquist and my main man Colin Page. I would say that's good Taste.

Cribstone at Lands End

This piece "Cribstone at Lands End" (24x30") has a bridge in the background with an interesting story. Well to me anyway.. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia.

"For many years, the residents of Bailey Island, Maine advocated that a bridge be built to connect their island with Orr's Island. The town of Harpswell, Maine, which encompasses both islands, turned down the request. However, when the Maine Legislature drafted a law allowing the state and counties to fund bridge construction, a plan emerged to build such a bridge. A contract was signed in 1926, with construction beginning on the Bailey Island Bridge in 1927 and finishing in 1928. The engineer for the project was Llewelyn N. Edwards, bridge engineer for the Maine State Highway Commission."

If you would like to see this painting in person it is in Camden Falls Gallery, Camden ME. Thanks for stopping by.

Proud Mary

So here is a 16x20" titled "Proud Mary" recently delivered to Camden Falls Gallery in Camden Maine. I am using this piece to paint a much larger studio piece and trying to refine the color harmony without abandoning what I found in front of the subject. Maybe if it works out I will share it here for comparison.



"Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart." Washington Irving

Barley Field Point

So yesterday I delivered a handful of late summer paintings to Camden Falls Gallery and this is one of three 24x30s that made the cut. While searching out my new neighborhood I came across Barley Field Point. This is out on what I believe is "Orrs Island". I will try to post some more from these excursions soon.

"The right use of color can make any composition work." (Fairfield Porter)