Thursday, December 26, 2013

Church on Warren St Hudson, NY

I am not sure what kind of church this is...only that it is beautiful in the winter night with the stars twinkling...an interesting challenge with the black watercolor....22x30" on hot pressed 140lb arches paper

Friday, December 20, 2013

The God Child

 
My God daughter posed at the studio this morning...it was such a pleasure just to spend time with such a beautiful young woman...gorgeous eyes and wonderful young lips...she said she thought the first study resembled her mother and the second one, her father I really don't know , except that I had a  blissful 3 hours painting...black watercolor on Bristol paper 16x20"





 

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Apples From Our Trees.....Sold!

I had to pick these apples, each from a different tree...and take them to the studio to paint...thinking of Cezanne ...every apple an unusual  color and shape the white cloth all colors of the rainbow...I had  painted them, the apples, the day before just in black watercolor...so when I got to the color I was totally thrilled...this study sold at my open studio a few weeks ago...it found a good home...a bowl of pears went with it...if there is anyone who needs some fruit or flowers? Please ask and I will try to find you what you want! oil on canvas 16x20 "

Sunday, December 8, 2013

The Winter Garden

Amazing how different  a garden looks when it is covered in snow...after all those wonderful months of growing things and harvesting the precious fruits of one's labor...the world  does seem to get simpler visually in the winter...I get a nostalgic feeling painting this scene for what it once was...and will be again I hope! oil on canvas 16x20"

Sunday, December 1, 2013

The Sunflower Fields November

 

One morning I went out to paint a sunflower I had my eye on for several weeks and the farmer had cut it down the day before ..so then I went looking for more at which time I came across these rows of almost dry sunflower heads at the local Taft Farms field...so I spent many pleasant days painting there before the serious cold set in and the farmer eventually came out with his tractor and cut them all down to be plowed under for the winter...can you find the blue jay?oil on canvas 20x30"

Monday, November 25, 2013

Stockbridge Bowl Marshes

 
When I arrived at this sight to paint, the sky was really lovely...I had to paint very quickly as all the clouds disappeared and a clear blue sky took its place....not as inspiring to me...oil on canvas 30x30"

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Color.... and Black and White


 
Same flowering kale different day...a totally different way of describing what I see...every color change creates form and so it is simple, in a way, to paint what I am looking at and have it become a recognizable thing....with the black watercolor paint I am limited to line and value...light dark ...very simple in a different way...I like  them both, I love the kale...Any thoughts ?? oil on canvas 20x30" watercolor on paper 22x30"

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Portrait of Josh

A friend who was willing to pose one afternoon...his father was from Ecuador...I loved his dark curly hair and innocent expression...just 21 years old...I did a couple more studies before this ...I liked this one the best...still trying to stick with the black watercolor on paper  22x30"

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Romanesque?

 
 
A most amazing vegetable...a fractal....every time I look at it I see it as a more beautiful creation...black and white watercolor simplifies the design...there is one more in the series....then there are 2 oils.....16x20" each
 
 

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Final Nasturtiums

The hard frost has come and gone...and taken with it the fragile nasturtium blossoms...I adore these dancing flowers and their funny little round leaves...they also taste good...until another year ...oil on canvas 11x14"

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

The Last Sunset Block Island 2013

Our little house on the island is now all closed up for the winter to come...always sort of a sad moment...the end of another summer...however also a beautiful, fun season with family and friends and tenants that enjoyed this wonderful view...adieu... loved the dark clouds, and everything else...oil on canvas 24x36"

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Windy Day on Block Island

This clothes line full of newly washed sheets is blowing in the wind and sun at the Narragansett Inn...one of my most favorite places on the island to paint...however I had to put the canvas on the ground because the easel was going to blow away with it...beautiful Fall day...tricky painting, but worth the effort   30x40" oil on canvas

Monday, October 7, 2013

Evening Light in Alford Valley

Last week when the weather was divine I was inspired to paint the view from East Road looking south west as the heifers made their way along the fence line...sun is setting...shadows are falling...clouds are rising...a gorgeous moment in time...oil on canvas 36x48"

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Chesterwood Chair

Went to Daniel Chester French's(Lincoln memorial) house the other day to paint and found this chair sitting in the sun on the back porch...thought of all the important artists who had probably sat there at one time or another...Berkshire hills in the distance...last of the warm sunlight of the summer...made me want to paint it....oil on canvas 36x36"

Monday, September 23, 2013

Below The Bluffs Block Island

I had to walk down the 138(as I recall) steps to get to this vantage point...usually painted from the top it was good to try this view...the wind was blowing and my kind husband was willing to help me carry my gear down and back up....the canvas alone was like a sail in the wind...it was a beautiful sunny morning...no one around, the waves were crashing in, the air smelled of the sea and  the golden rod was blooming...oil on linen 32x45 "

Saturday, September 21, 2013

View From The Andrew's House Block Island

Out to the island last week to get some work done...a beautiful time spent in the front bedroom watching the sunrise and the light pour in from the windows facing the town... I was as happy as a clam painting to my heart's delight...I kept thinking about the great American artist and freind, Sperry Andrews, who had painted in this house for years and years...this is the first of eleven studies I did that week ...oil on canvas 30x40 "

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Potted Plant at Wheatleigh

This is an example of the glorious pots full of plants every where you look around this "cottage"...so amazing as is the architecture...oil on canvas 30x40"

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Berkshire Cottage View

Up in Lenox Ma. there is a beautiful old estate by the name of Wheatleigh...now used as an  exclusive hotel... fortunately I know the landscaper and he welcomed us there to paint...the grounds are quite wonderful, which were originally designed by Fredrick Law Olmstead ( Central Park fame ) and as you can see there is a very good view of the Berkshire hills ...a great summer sky... more to come...oil on canvas 30x40"

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Summer Bouquet

Picked this bouquet at home from the gardens and brought them to the studio... I adore the lilies...and this vase of my grandmother's (actually an Italian pitcher) is also really nice...sitting on the old stool was the perfect spot for a morning of painting bliss....30x30" oil on canvas....sorry so busy with all the summer work could not blog for ???

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Black and White Studies

 
These lilies were so red I was challenged to paint them without color! I love to simplify with just the black watercolors...I have actually touched up some highlights with the white watercolor...more to come....22x30" ....22x22...watercolor on paper

Friday, August 16, 2013

Nature imitates Art or Art imitates Nature?

The little frog pond always entertains me... I love the frogs...and it is really funny when they sit like this next to the old stone frog fountain (which is not hooked up yet to the water, almost)...friends forever...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Block Island Ferry and Flowers

I painted this watercolor on the Island this past weekend  as a demonstration....in the rain....wet on wet...it was a real challenge...outside the Island Bound Bookstore on Saturday morning a small gathering of hearty souls...the wind blew the rain came down and I painted these beautiful flowers  fresh from the farmer's market...and of course...the Carol Jean...our most favorite ferry...it was a bit tricky when the rain started to wash away the paint(there was a small funny tent we huddled under) ...but it just made me have to paint with MORE conviction and love...a great time!  watercolor and gouache on 140lb hot pressed paper 22x30"

Thursday, July 25, 2013

The garden in August

Here is the beautiful garden of lettuce gone to seed...and lots of other amazing growing ripe luscious things...It hangs in my exhibit at the Front St Gallery in Housatonic at this time...behind the garden lurks our humble home, the green barn...oil on canvas 36 x 36"

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Show at Front St Gallery

Here is one of many paintings exhibited at the Front St Gallery of my recent work....the show will hang until September 8...if you have a chance please come in and see it...It is quite wonderful if I do say so myself....stay cool....as it was in my dining room last fall when I did this study of the table and chairs etc....dried flowers(grasses) means it was late in the season...oil on canvas 36x48"

Friday, July 5, 2013

Cool Water for a Hot Day on Block Island

I could spend days just painting the waves breaking over the rocks...it seems to change constantly and yet remain the same...to study a wave and how it moves is a wonderful prospect...on the left of the canvas there was a jetty going out to sea hence the straight line not common to water scapes...I loved the green moss on the rocks, wish I was in the water right now...looking at the painting will have to do....oil on canvas 15x30"

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Summer Day in Sheffield

I have been so busy getting ready for all the summer exhibits! Time flies....An incredible property in Sheffield Ma...gardens galore...Peonies on the table, clouds in the sky , laundry on the line....a great day for painting...36x48" oil on canvas

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Morning Dorry's Cove Looking South Sunset Dorry's Cove Looking North BI

 
I fell in love with the gulls flying over head ...the color of their bellies up against the blue sky...As the sun set the dunes took on the orange light...the end to a perfect day...

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Block Island Studies

 
 
First the house at the bend in the road...late afternoon light...irises blooming in the marsh...second, Great Salt Pond almost sunset looking over the water from  the Sullivan House...what a magnificent time I had painting...how wonderful, uninterrupted work....16x20" oil on canvas 12x24"


Sunday, June 2, 2013

White Double Amaryllis in a Blue Pot

 
 
 

This blossom broke off of the stem and I put it in a pot of water and placed it on the beautiful orange dragon fabric...I had wanted to paint it for a while but we had gone away... when we returned this was the only blossom left so I seized the opportunity and these are what came of it...plus one more....12x12" oil on canvas

Monday, May 27, 2013

Sunset 125th St Harlem

This is the view from the Metro North Station looking west down 125th st...It was summer and the sky was full of color and the trees were full of leaves....oil on canvas  30x40"

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Pansies in the Spring

There is nothing like a pansy to get rid of the winter blues....the fact that anything is growing is always so helpful to the spirit ...let alone blooming....Two different kinds....oil on canvas 11x14"  16x20"
 

 


Friday, May 10, 2013

Times Square Night and Day

 
I was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of painting Times Square...but it really painted itself...all those  wonderful abstract shapes and colors...all man made...all those people, more abstract shapes and colors....so there you have it....30x40"  36x24" oil on canvas  

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Massage Therapist

This lovely woman posed in the studio on a very cold winter morning...I learned about her life traveling around the country as I painted her...I look forward to getting a massage from her some day...oil on canvas24x30"

Monday, April 29, 2013

Portrait of Peggy

The inspiration for this portrait began when I found this piece of fabric in an antique store a friend of mine owns...I fell in love...then came Peggy to pose one morning for the class....she had a good story and she told it as she sat very still...oil on canvas 24x24"

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Is Three the Charm ?

I struggled very hard with this subject, and when I do struggle with a subject ,I try to get a different perspective on it in each study....this is the last one...a little simpler background....I have gotten to know the plant fairly well...I like each painting for a different reason but I think I like this one the best? Who knows? oil on canvas 24x24"

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

This Week's Studies of Heleobore(sp) in the Studio

 
This plant fascinates me...green flowers strange leaves...I am charmed by the subtleties of the blossoms...no matter how I paint , there I am...will continue the journey into the next study...oil on canvas 24x24"

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Little White Turnips

 
 
I like to eat these raw, like a radish...they are great...even better to paint...every time I look...I want to paint them...so here they are in all their glory...oil on canvas 16x20"