tripp's boatyard

This place in Westport is very cool...........another place I discovered through the Monday outdoor group. When you walk way beyond the buildings there is a sort of boat graveyard......lots of very old and decrepit boats of all types.........loved it! I did a couple of color studies to begin and then went to this 11x14. I will definitely go back soon; many of the boats had such great personalities. I am going to try to get a better photo of this tomorrow morning.

Tiverton farm

I did this 12x16 picture a couple of weeks ago..........the couple who own the farm drove by me several times and told me I could paint there anytime I wanted, even in the bull pen! Not the best photo since it is a really crummy day here as far as light & weather go. I am going to try to cram in a couple of hours of indoor work before trying to make myself presentable enough to go to a former colleague's retirement party tonight. It gets harder each year following "retirement" to come up with clothes that are actually decent........nearly everything I own is now covered with paint. I don't notice or care much but have to remind myself to look in the mirror and adjust.

small & fast

I set a goal for myself this morning............to do as many small paintings as quickly as I could before I ran out of something or fainted from hunger. I did three, one of which I wiped off. It is amazing how we channel ourselves into patterns and ways of working and I wanted to shake that up a bit. I did not tone the panels and didn't really compose or sketch anything......just let what I saw in front of me take charge. I was having so much fun that even running out of thinner and paper towels didn't make me leave. We seem to be getting tropical storm Danny a bit faster than predicted; the wind picked up and it began to rain (and I was very hungry) so I left. One of these pictures is 8x10 and the other is 8" square.

field trip

I have Kathy Weber's map to thank for today's new discovery.........I live 24 miles from here and didn't know about this place. Kathy posted a map of RI featuring Beavertail State Park and I decided to go see. Wonderful place and great views............the only drawback being that I have to go through Newport and the bridge is now $2 in each direction. This picture needs work. The composition required early morning light and the dark shadows on the grass were important..........since they were becoming illuminated so quickly I decided on getting as much information as I could about the buildings and leave the landscape for studio finish (I took some photos).

Sad

As a long time resident of Massachusetts, I was so sad when I learned of Ted Kennedy's death this morning......In this country where people wish to hold on to every little crumb of what they believe should be theirs, he stands in stark contrast. He was a man who never retreated into his wealth and privilege and worked tirelessly for the residents of this state and country. While I paint I often listen to the radio and recently have become disgusted by the angry and hateful polarization of this country: health care, torture, the ecomomy, the enviornment.........the list goes on and on. Goodbye, Ted Kennedy, you will be missed.

I went to figure group this morning and experimented; which means I wiped two pictures off.......so I am posting a small study I had done previously. I am working hard on the painting of the farmer's market I posted before. Amazing how one can work outdoors and finish an entire picture in a few hours and then spend days working on one small figure in a grouping.

foggy

This morning was quite foggy and the road was blocked off where I wanted to paint so I came home and worked inside. This painting is 16x20 and juried into the Little Compton summer show.........I completely forgot to take pictures but it didn't sell so here it is.

Head of Westport

The Monday group met at a place I have not discovered until today.......I swear I have driven on every single road surrounding this place but have managed to miss this spot. I chose a complicated view especially since the staff kept moving kayaks the entire time I was painting. I have to sharpen up and refine parts of this but I got most of what I wanted.........the profusion of color was quite difficult so I will have to go back and practice there again.

funny little picture

This picture is small.......8x10 and done on one of the few sunny days we had this spring: it is at Fogland (a local beach). I am not sure why I saved it because it is kind of strange but I like it for some unexplained reason. I worked on a picture in my garden this morning but am going to wipe it off. At about 11am I headed out to visit artists on the South Coast Studio Tour; the towns of Dartmouth and Westport in MA and Little Compton and Tiverton, RI. I really enjoyed seeing everyone's place and work. I could have set up at the Westport Art Group (since I do not live in one of those towns) but didn't find that out until after the deadline had passed. There were tons of people at every studio I visited and people were buying! Congratulations to the South Coast..........we should do it again before Christmas.

great barrington

I went to GB yesterday with my friend Bev to see her son perform (sing) outdoors...........we got out there and the skies opened so the show was cancelled and we went out to eat instead. I didn't get home until 10 pm so am posting a plein air study I did about a month ago. This 12" square picture is of the Little Compton town square.

getting there

This is the 11x14 painting I began on Tuesday. It's quite complicated and I am not done yet but am far enough along to post it........am learning alot about mixing dark whites. At least I watched where my feet were going and didn't trip this time...........that hole I stepped in is enormous.

12x12

I did this study quite close to my house so I wouldn't have to drive too far.......sometimes having a standard shift car is a pain (especially when your clutch foot/ankle is so sore). I found a place by the side of the road that wasn't terribly dangerous and went to work. One of the passersby told me they might tear these buildings down soon and put up some sort of a bed and breakfast. Sad, all the character of this town (Tiverton) being sacrificed for development. I'll have to do more from different views before the buildings disappear.

the best life

As I was working today at Standish Boat Yard in Tiverton I was just overcome by the incredible beauty of the harbor and just how great it was to spend hours and hours lost in figuring how to make the right colors and how to modify what I was seeing for the best composition and I realized how incredibly luckly I am to have my life. Of course, on the way back to my car I stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle.........the painting went flying but was undamaged and my ankle is sore but not swollen so all is well. Serves me right for being so happy I wasn't paying attention to my feet or the ground. I am posting another painting (1x14) since my picture from today needs a lot more work.

bateman farm

Went out with the Westport Art Group Monday morning plein air group today. I really like this group.......not only because of the people but because we meet at places that I have either not discovered or not had permission to enter. Bateman Farm is one such place. I have longingly driven by it about a million times before but never been able to park anywhere near it much less drive into the grounds. There were breathtaking views of the orchards, barns (complete with horses, a llama and a donkey), rolling fields and buildings - with the Atlantic in the distance. I still have some work to do on this one but am learning a lot about architecture..............the fog rolled in at about 1:30pm and hunger drove me home.

Tiverton Harbor - 11x14

I wrote this yesterday but was unable to get on the internet.

I got up ridiculously early this morning (5:15) to go out painting.........I tend to stay away from the water on summer weekends because it is so crowded. Since I have the opportunity to go on weekdays and remember well what it was like to have only 2 days a week to cram the outdoors into my life, I prefer to leave the beaches to those that are still living that reality. It was a wonderful day and the two lobster boats that I painted didn't leave! I decided to show the actual scene I was painting in addition to the painting itself.

bristol study

I love this building in Bristol, RI, but used a recycled canvas to do this 11x14 study. I quickly learned that I should never do that when I am painting architecture because the paint under the covering truly impacts your ability to paint anything that requires even the minimum of being able to render straight lines or geometric shapes. I will definitely have to try again!

salt marsh - 12x16

Even though I was very into working on the picture I posted yesterday it was just way too wonderful to stay indoors. So I went to my favorite close place, Seapowet. I have reassessed my outdoor working methods and think of "collection" rather than "gallery" when I am outside. Collection meaning collecting material and knowledge............also fun (takes the pressure off for sure). It was wonderful even though I had to move my easel several times as the tide flooded my feet and the insects were fierce (I still have my deet repellant purchased for S. America -poisonous but quite effective). When I got home I did some garden stuff and then made ratatouille........also picked enough basil to make pesto tomorrow.

underpainting

I began this 16x20 yesterday with a brown underpainting and began to add color today......made quite a bit of progress and have not stopped for the day as of yet. We have actually had a week of summer-like weather here, alas, today wasn't one of them. The Fall River farmer's market is one of my favorite places to sketch. photograph and generally collect subject matter and that is where I discovered this wonderful family. You can see a lot of the underpainting that remains but I am trying to get an application of color that respects the connectedness of the shapes.

walker's study

Walker's Farm Stand is a very neat little place in Little Compton, RI..........I have painted it many times before but this time braved the weeds and traffic across the street so I could look directly into the place. This picture is 11x14 and took two sessions to finish due to rapidly changing shadows.

returning

I have decided to return to posting after a long absence..........I was beginning to feel pushed in a direction I did not wish to pursue and have now resolved my feeling on the matter. I will simply not post every day if I am working on something complex and don't feel like "sharing" - seems simple now. I am nearly done with this 18x24 picture. Since my departure in February, I have had to get a new computer and no longer have photoshop so I am adjusting to using the photo program that comes with windows.......I was spoiled!