Lobster Feast

Making a trip to Maine this week and have to have a fresh-caught lobster. There are so many quiet coves and coastline scenes to paint.

Weather here has turned drastically from 50's to 80's and they expect 90's tomorrow. Not the best weather for painting outside as the bugs are rampant after the wet spring. Fortunately the mosquitos are big enough to eat all the black flies. Better painting on the coast where there is a breeze and no bugs.

Still working hard to prepare for the upcoming Cape Cod show. It will be interesting to see how the season is going to go with the economy in such a slump. I am optimistic and think the minis, which are affordable, will be a hit.

I am now using Golden's Open Acrylics. They are the closest I've found to painting with oils, without the fumes. Open Acrylics will stay wet for quite a long time which makes for better blending. The heavier your layer, the longer it takes to dry. It's a wonderful medium as it can look like oils or watercolor.

Looking for new places to paint en plein air. I belong to the NH Plein Air painters and we have a large membership that paints outside, on location throughout New England. It is free to join & everyone is friendly, knowledgeable and willing to share that knowledge.

#39 2.5"x3.5" $35

Weather has finally warmed up so got out with friends to paint en plein air. We went to Musterfield Farm in No. Sutton, NH...one of my most favorite places to paint. Flowers are not in bloom as yet but the historic buildings are great. This is a painting I did a couple of years ago to show you how beautiful this location is.

I'm really enjoying the miniature paintings. Thought they would be great for the upcoming art show season. I want to provide an affordable, original painting that anyone can afford. The minis are very detailed with lots of scenes from the coast, including a lighthouse series from Massachusetts and Maine.

I'll be participating in Art in the Park in Barnstable, MA on June 26-27. Drop by if you're in the area.

Race Point Light

Well, it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything. I've been very busy doing murals. My first commission was at a local nursing home where I completed two murals for their dimentia unit. It was a fun experience and the residents were enjoyable to interact with. They loved watching me each day and I tried to add their suggestions to the murals. One was a playground scene and the other was a beach scene.

After the nursing home, I moved on to painting murals, signs and furniture for The Mom's Place at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. This is a birthing center and I have done work there before and they have expanded the unit. In fact, they expect to expand further as the unit has been very successful. You can see some of the rooms at the hospital website.

I am now getting ready for the show season. My first show is in Barnstable, MA, June 26-27 at Art in the Village. You can check my website for my show schedule.

Race Point Light is one of my new miniature series of lighthouses in New England. They are 2.5"x3.5" and mounted in an 8x10 white mat with the outline of Cape Cod painted on the mat.

I have painted quite a few of the miniatures for the Barnstable show and will also be wholesaling prints to gift shops.

Hopefully, I will do much better in my posts as I will be doing a lot of painting. The weather is so much better and inspiration is starting to flow.

#38 2.5"x3.5" with mat $35

Fresh Snow

Sorry I've not been diligent in my paintings. Trying to get myself set for the upcoming art season plus I have two large murals jobs starting soon. I promise to do better.

We've been enjoying nice weather in NH...cold but not much snow. I feel bad for those in D.C. who aren't used to such accumulations as they are really not prepared.

I am still enjoying the miniature paintings and will be marketing them this year. I am exploring lots of subject matter and find I love doing the tiny detail work.

#37 2.5x3.5, 8x10 mat $30

On Our Way

I live near a ski area and saw these 3 friends on their way to a day of snowboarding. It is amazing to watch them fearlessly wind their way down the slopes & catching air off the ramps. Such fun!
I am currently involved in designing and painting furniture and murals for the birthing unit at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. All the furniture is made by a local company and we have done numerous rooms for them in the past. They are expanding and we have been asked to work with them again. They have a virtual tour of the existing rooms at their website: www.catholicmedicalcenter.org. Put "The Mom's Place" in the search box.
Otherwise, I am working on marketing my miniatures and planning a 2-day Arts Festival for our town in August.

#36 8x10 $85

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I had to send along this photo of my dog, Bailey. He's such a ham and, though he hates dressing up, he'll tolerate a few minutes long enough to snap a photo.
I'm taking this week off from doing a painting as I am flat out trying to get commissions done for customers.
The shop is open and doing better than I expected and will be open until the 24th. If you're in the area, please stop by.
Please have a very Merry Christmas, holiday season and Happy New Year. Be good to eachother and I look forward to posting new works in 2010. Thank you for following my blog.

Amherst, NH

Winter is upon us with a vengence. We had 10" yesterday and I just finished shoveling. It is truly beautiful when you don't have to drive in it. I am fortunate that my home/studio/shop are in one building so the commute is great.

This painting is of the historical church in Amherst, NH. I once had the pleasure of singing with a choral group at the church and we were accompanied by their pipe organ. It gave such depth to our concert.

#35 5x7 $65 sold