Video Demo Fun

Here is a video of a larger studio piece(36x48") that i have done from a smaller sketch. This snowman was from our early for the season snowstorm recently. The bright green grass, fall leaves and snow is a great color combo that i havent had many chances to see. the warmer weather only gave this snowman a a few days but i bet he will be back one day....  Turn up the volume!!

 Oh yeah, if the music starts getting to you, just turn it down. I couldnt edit the video short enough or to match the music perfectly. I could really use good video editor.



On a Roll

Well, since the last black and white post seemed to help a few be inspired to put in some B&W work. I thought I would share one of my favorite value studies (6"x8") of recent. This is my attempt to organize values and see what I can get out of a simple scene. I really like it when brushstrokes seem to be cruising at about 90mph and missed their exit. And while focusing on composition and values, what I think is OK brushwork has crept in.

With all the value studying I have been doing lately I have also developed an admiration for less intense color harmonies. I am guessing we all go through wandering influences but it is no easy task being influenced by Russian impressionists and the likes of Fairfield Porter.. They are always arm wresting in my head.

Fun surprise planned for the blog and coming very soon so stay tuned!! !

Last thing, I stumbled upon a pretty cool app on iTunes called "Right Brain Price" this app will quiz you in its own strange way and measure the amount of your thought that is (I guess) controlled by right brain. Now the cool thing about this is when you think your doing really well you will find out that you should get certain ones wrong and in a certain way. Don't ask me?? Check it out, it's free.

Black and White

This is a quick Umber and White demo I did for a family member the other day. I thought I would share it here and prove that I practice what I preach about doing value studies. They are worth so much to me and I enjoy the shift in focus. If you don't already practice these then get going. Get off the computer and go move some values around.


"Art is not a study of positive reality, it is the seeking for ideal truth." George Sand

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.