nearly dark

I have a small window with this one...............the light is only right from about 4:45 til 5:00 pm. I began and then took a picture so we shall see if I can do it justice. This view is from the road at the top of the hill near my house. There is an absolutely fantastic view of the harbor off towards Bristol and the Mt. Hope bridge.

morning snowstorm

I finished this one of the storm we had this past weekend........the sky was a very dark and angry color and you couldn't see the far shore at all. Funny, but while trying to work fast on a scene like this, in an unfamiliar color palette, I relied way too much on white. Beginning another picture allowed me to correct the color and get rid of the chalky quality of the initial study. I was hoping to get outside and paint this afternoon but it remains too cold so I'm going to grab the camera and explore instead.

late start

I had several cups of coffee at portrait group last night, wiped three starts off and then couldn't fall asleep when I got home from Providence.............even though, it was an awesome morning watching the inauguration. So.............I got a late start (after lunch) and decided to use the horrible study I posted yesterday and begin a new, more organized small picture from that. I haven't finished but the light was fading fast so I took a picture. I don't feel much like writing but I am so glad that we have a new president and will go to bed early tonight........relieved.

stormy weekend

I have decided to post a picture that I did yesterday morning while looking out my kitchen window...........the scene was really cool and I didn't come close to capturing it but I will use this study to do another picture so I decided to bite the bullet and post something that I would not normally show a single soul. I shoveled snow for hours yesterday and strained something in my leg so I am trying to sit as I paint today.........it's hard. Well, happy MLK day to all............I have been listening to some of King's speeches on"democracynow.org" which is a truly awesome resource if you wish to learn about what's behind all of the news. King really had it all figured out and it's amazing to listen to his indictment of corporatism as far back as 1967. I have sworn not to get all political on this site but today seemed as if it warranted at least a statement since I believe that Obama's inauguration tomorrow could begin a new direction for this country if people are just willing to suspend their fear and insecurity for long enough to see what is happening to their lives and their country. I am simply not willing to live in the way that I did for many years..............so many of the people that I worked with longed to get out but stayed (unhappily) for that last dollar in their deferred comp, that last percentage point in their retirement benefit only to see it all disappear in this economic crisis - that "security" was an illusion. I hope that we can move forward from the cynicism and materialism of the past several decades to a period where human values can again matter. Peace and prosperity to all.

too cold

I really wanted to get out this morning but changed my mind as soon as I brought the trash out. I feel so sorry for everyone in the upper mid west where the temperature is nearly thirty degrees colder. I worked on the finishing touches (really) to the buildings painting and then decided to do a still life since I am so out of practice doing them........I was going to wipe it off but then yelled at myself and actually had fun. Pomegranates are pretty hard and one has to give in to not being able to actually "draw" all of the details. I had bought this 9 pack of 8" square canvases on sale so I used one of them. Now I can go back to the bigger stuff for tonight. Since tomorrow will be even colder I may just try another little still life.

understanding hibernation

I can completely understand the benefits of hibernation today..............after working this morning I am now overcome with the need to take a nap (something I never do). There is no light outside for the most part either and I believe it will begin to snow soon by the looks of it. I am posting last night's 11x14 portrait and giving in to my strong desire to sleep for a bit.

bus stop 14x11

I started this picture this morning.............Fall River used to stop at every single child's home but this year began grouping the kids for fewer stops. My house is on this corner so I see them and their parents morning and afternoon. We had a storm this weekend so I worked on the design for this and other things. Already the days are noticeably longer which lifts my heart and helps with painting. Sometimes, with complicated pictures I start with a fairly detailed colored underpainting.................I wanted the shadows to be warm so I used a warmer brown. The season is fall and the time early morning.