The Morning After, drying panels, and Mango
The Morning After7 x 5", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
$100 unframed via PayPal, free shipping within US (email me for international rates)
Well, I confess.....This isn't leftover from last night; I set it up for the painting. Then hubby asked me where his aspirin went, and I had to tell him it was down in the studio, in my setup. That got some laughs. I still need to touch up the elipse on the top of the glass. I played lost and found edges and then it got.....lost! hehe
Meanwhile, a coat of gesso and modeling paste mix has been added to the two coats of sealer already on the new panels, and they are drying in the studio. Once they get dry to the touch, I put them in letter-holders (found at Staples for a couple of dollars each) to dry completely. This keeps them separated and prevents them from taking up every square inch of surface space in my studio! I'll apply the first coat of gesso/pumice this afternoon. They probably won't be ready for painting until the weekend.
My little birdie, Mango, came down to the studio for a visit. I have this open wire playset for him down here, like a cage without sides, so he can have something to climb around on while enjoying some millet and chattering. My daughter made that cute toy for him.
From Framing Madness to Panel-Making Madness
When my framing frenzy was over and the dust finally settled in my studio last night, there were 54 paintings ready to go to the show. I decided to leave two of the larger paintings here, and delivered 52 to Putnam Arts Council's Belle Levine Gallery this morning. It's going to look awesome! I'll try to get some pics to post after everything is hung and ready. I'll also be at the Gallery on Saturday, December 9 from 2-5, and on Tuesday, December 12 from 12-3 for anyone who wants a personal tour of the exhibit.
For those in Dutchess County, don't forget that I have 9 paintings left in the Buone Feste show at the River Winds Gallery! It's right on Main Street in Beacon. There is a wonderful selection of gift items in that show made by local artisans. I splurged and bought myself a pair of gorgeous handmade earrings there.
And let's not forget Westchester County.... You can see my paintings at The Paint Box in Bedford Hills. There are many small pieces, as well as a 24x36 plein air oil painting of Constitution Marsh in Fall.
Now that all those paintings have been framed, what's a Daily Painter to do? Why, start making panels to resume painting, of course! My studio has been transformed from Framing Central into The Painting Panel Factory. I'm really eager to paint more square formats. I've often used 12x12, but those are a little large for my daily paintings, and I can't find smaller ones that are reasonably priced. So, I'm making up a batch of 6x6"s, and while I'm at it, more 5x7s and 6x8s too---about 100 in all. The masonite boards are all cut (thanks to some help from my dear hubby), and after returning home from the gallery, I sanded about 30 of them and sealed them with two coats of GAC100 (acrylic polymer emulsion). I'll follow that up tomorrow with a mixture of acrylic primer (gesso) and modeling paste, then two coats of a gesso/pumice mix.
I hope to get back to churning out a painting every day (well...five days a week) in another day or so with my new panels!
Passing by Storm King and the PAC Show
Passing By Storm King24x36, Oils on stretched canvas
I'm getting ready for a big show at the Belle Levine Gallery, with over 30 of my paintings ranging in size from 2x3 inches to 2x3 feet. You're all invited to this fun event, which will also feature the work of many local artisans just in time for your holiday shopping. The show opens this Saturday, December 2, and runs through December 22 at 521 Kennicut Hill Road in Mahopac, NY. (More information will be posted on my Shows and Galleries blog. You can click the link in the sidebar on the right side of your screen.)
As you can imagine, I've been busy, busy, busy with Framing Madness in my studio. Last night and this morning I framed 8 pastels. Here are a few of them. They are all 16x20" framed size.
In case you've ever wondered what an artist's studio looks like while engaged in Framing Madness, have a peek. It's not a pretty sight....and don't trip over anything, pleeeeease!
Fall at Leonard Park en plein air and my new pochade box
Fall at Leonard Park en plein air6 x 8", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
$125 unframed via PayPal, free shipping within US (email me for international rates)I finally was able to snatch some plein air time today. Hooray! It was one of those spectacular fall days, with the warmth and sunshine you didn't think you'd find again until spring. I dropped my daughter at gymnastics and headed for a nearby park to take in some rays and test drive my new pochade box.
I hear those giggles among those who know me. "Another pochade box?", they're asking. I already have one for oils (which is a little bigger and supports larger panels) and one that I made for gouache. I plan to use this new one for "stealth painting". heeheehee... It's so small, and I've filled it with watersoluble oils so that I can just use whatever water I have on hand for painting in cafes, my car, or even the kitchen, with no worry about fumes or toxic substances, and no need to carry oil or turp.
Here's an image of the painting still in the box. You can see there's a hinged lip at the top of the part that holds the panel securely in place, so that you can slide the panel in and out. The box will hold one 6x8" panel horizontally, and keeps it separated from the paints so that I can travel with the wet, completed painting.
The palette itself is actually wood, but I covered it with white contact paper for easier cleanup, and because I prefer to mix colors on a white surface. I find it hard to judge the colors and values of my dark, transparent mixes on a dark wood palette. The white contact paper worked out great. It wipes clean easily with a palette knife and rag, and if it gets tattered down the road, I can just peel it off and recover. As shown below, the palette slides to the left, giving easy access to the box's storage compartments.
Here's another view of how I packed up my box. I had to cut the handles off some of the brushes so that they'd fit. Underneath that rag is a thumb hole for supporting the box while standing.
For those looking for a small box like this, I give this one pretty high marks. It is sold by Utrecht, and made by Jullian. It is very reasonably priced, and comes with an adjustable leather shoulder strap too.
A Birthday Card for Hubby
Today is my husband's birthday. Amidst the hustle and bustle, my daily painting involved making a card for him. He always takes an apple to work every day, so I had to get the apple in there. Some of the flowers that I bought several days ago are still kicking. I put the survivors into a mug and pulled out my watercolors, then added a little ink pen. I used a 7x10 sheet of Arches HP and folded it in half, so the card is 5x7.
It's been very hard to get serious paintings done with the holiday looming this week and all the framing I need to do for upcoming shows. I'm hoping to be able to get back to doing some oil paintings next week, if not sooner, and will be keeping my sketchbook, pens, watercolors, and colored pencils close at hand for the remainder of this week!
Waiting and Sketching
I spent much of today doodling in medical offices. Thank goodness I had my Moleskine sketchbook with me. I sketched in ink while waiting, then added a light watercolor wash later. Here you see my left hand holding the sketchbook as I was sketching with the right, and the basket affixed to the wall for patient forms. Chauffering my daughter later in the day prevented me from painting when I finally got home, but there's always hope for tomorrow!
Popcorn, Anyone?
Popcorn, Anyone?2.5 x 3.5", Prismacolor Pencils on 100% rag paper
$15 unframed via PayPal, free shipping within US (email me for international rates)I never expected it to be so difficult to draw a popcorn kernel! Maybe I'll have to do a series. This was quite a challenging subject! This ATC/ACEO-size piece will fit into a standard 2.5x3.5" frame. It would make a perfect holiday gift for your favorite popcorn lover.
Little Toy With a Big Heart
Little Toy With a Big HeartATC/ACEO size (2.5x3.5")
Gouache on Fabriano Artistico hot press
Not for Sale
Flowers and a Tangerine 8x10 oils
Flowers and a Tangerine10 x 8", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
$245 unframed via PayPal, free shipping within US (email me for international rates)I bought these flowers last night in anticipation of a rainy day today. I had an especially good time with all the reds and oranges on my palette! The painting is very wet, so please forgive the glare that shows on the image. Many of my daily paintings take a full day to paint, so I never can get far enough ahead to photograph a dry painting! It seems I'm always painting, painting, painting, and then trying to get the pic right after the final brushstroke.
Statue at Saint Basil on the Hudson
Statue at St Basil on the Hudson7 x 5", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
Email me if interested.
I haven't painted a statue en plein air for a long time, so this was great fun. There's quite a collection of wonderful objects, architectural treasures, and river overviews to paint at this favorite spot along the Hudson. I was drawn by the strong contrasts of light and shadow as the sun began it's shift to the west, and the rusty undertones of the statue.
Favorite Tree Along the Hudson en plein air
Favorite Tree Along the Hudson
7 x 5", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
Email me if interested
Today was a warm, sunny fall day. They are all too rare at this time in November! I took advantage of it by driving over to Garrison and painting my favorite tree along the Hudson River. Fortunately for me, it still had leaves!
Announcing My Newest Website!
I didn't have enough time to finish a painting today, but did finally start a site to list my current shows, galleries, and events! Please pay a visit to Jamie's Shows and Events when you get a chance! I have lots more things coming up to add---more shows and invitations to openings, so check in often!
I have another show opening on Saturday at the River Winds Gallery that I'll post tomorrow when I have more time. I've put a link on the sidebar on the right side of this page, so the site for my shows and events should be easy to find.
Fall Impressions
Fall Impressions7 x 5", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
My daughter was home sick again today, so instead of going to open studio, I went out in the back yard and painted along the stream. What a beautiful fall morning. 'Off to the gallery now to deliver paintings. I hope you all have a wonderful day!
A Day of Sketches
One day a month, I do a day of quick paintings or sketches as I go about the rest of my life. Today I had a blast with a sheet of 12x16" black MiTientes paper and Prismacolor pencils. I woke my daughter shortly before 11am by bribing her with an iced latte. That became my first sketch of the day. The green object on the right is my framing gun. I don't know how I ever lived without that!
I framed ten paintings today for the Buone Feste Show at the River Winds Gallery in Beacon, NY. The opening is Saturday, November 11 from 5-8pm, and you're all invited! It is a holiday gift show of fine arts combined with handmade crafts by local artisans. The show runs through January 8, so please stop by if you have a chance. Maybe you'll find something there for that special someone on your holiday gift list. They'll even gift wrap it for you!
Path Around the Lake
Path Around the Lake5 x 7", Oils on sealed, primed hardboard
I was totally enchanted with this backlit tree along the path around Swan Lake, in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Although I was unable to capture it the way I wanted to on location, reworking the painting in the studio gave me just what I was looking for!
Last Leaves of Fall
Last Leaves of Fall5 x 7", Oils on canvas covered hardboard
The weather was absolutely stunning today. It was an unexpected treat to find myself with a pocket of time this afternoon to scoot outside for some plein air work along the lakeshore. This is the third painting I've done of this tree. I've chosen it to paint throughout the seasons this year because of its interesting, multiple, twisted and curved branches, and the beautiful gold foliage it carries in fall. I've been wanting to paint it in fall for years, in fact! This is the first time I've ever done it with its fall coloring, and I have a feeling that the next time I go out there, the leaves will all be gone.
I'm including a photo of the scene below. It's always interesting to see how an artist simplifies a landscape when painting on location. The light changes so quickly, and of course we don't have time to get down everything that's there. Arranging a workable composition and ignoring distracting and unnecessary elements are all part of what goes into getting a successful painting done outside. In this case, I selected a close crop of the gold tree, and eliminated the trees between it and the distant shore.
