Boat portrait

Gouache on paper, 6" x 8"

No dogs today. This is a sketch for a commission I'm doing.

Happy holidays to all. I won't be posting again until after New Years.

New subscribers to this blog ( until January 15) will have a chance to win a small painting!

The dogwalker

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Even I wasn't sure until last night if I was going to continue the dog theme, but yes, THREE dogs in today's painting. (I'm sure I won't be doing one with four.)

RE my painting giveaway- today is my 395th post. But, since we'll be out of town between Christmas and New Years, my 400th won't happen until January. So if you want a chance to win one of my little paintings (I'll be giving the winner a choice), subscribe to my blog before January 15th.( Apologies to anyone who already subscribes- I'll try to come up with something for you later. I'll take suggestions.)

On the second day of Christmas...

Two dogs on leashes...

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

On another note- my 400th blog post is coming up! OMG, I can't believe it. So, I've decided to give away one of my little (6x6, 6x8) paintings to a new subscriber. So, if you've been thinking of subscribing to this blog but haven't yet, now is the time. Anyone who subscribes between now and January 15 will be eligible.

Let's go- sold

Oil on canvasboard, 6" x 8"

I saw this little guy outside the art supply store the other day. He wanted me to go for a ride, but I said he wasn't old enough to drive.

Sunflowers in a Mexican pitcher

Oil on canvas, 24" x 24"

I started this painting quite a while ago, and finally finished it this week. I love this pitcher- hand-painted and signed on the bottom, I paid $3. for it at a thrift shop.

Wine and water- sold

Oil on panel, 6" x 8"

We went to a restaurant in Tiverton called the Boathouse which has fabulous views of the water and the setting sun.

Guinness-sold

Oil on panel, 8" x 8"

A scene from one of my favorite local Irish pubs.

Photos on the riverwalk

Oil on canvas panel, 6" x 8"

Girls in the sand- part 2

Oil on canvas, 20" x 24"

I actually finished this painting a couple of months ago, but wasn't that happy with it- the bottom part of it seemed dead to me. Then I was looking at it yesterday and thought maybe if I cropped a couple of inches off the bottom it might be improved.
Not a big difference, I know, but if you have an opinion about which looks better, let me know.

Girls, sand, seagull- sold

Oil on canvas, 11" x 14"

I have several photos of these girls at the beach and I keep going back to them to paint.

On another note, check out what my friend Ed the computer graphic genius did with my painting of the three cups from yesterday.

Three cups

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

I've always liked the pale pastel colors of these cups and have wanted to paint them for a while. It was actually harder than I thought it would be, to get the right shapes of the cups and handles and the gradations of color.

Saucepan and sprouting garlic

Oil on panel, 6" x 8"

I do like alliteration when naming paintings...

Foundry Artists opening

Better late than never! Here's a photo of opening night (Thursday) at the Foundry Artists Holiday Sale. Lots of shoppers, great food and music.

To see a 360 degree shot of my booth (minus 3 paintings that sold) and surroundings, done by Ed Huff of Rhody 360, go here. You'll need Flash to view these.

Or to see the band, go here. Or another view of the show here.

The show is in the Pawtucket Armory, an old building gradually undergoing restoration (you'll notice the peeling paint on the walls). Every year that I've been in this show I've been fascinated at how, in the course of 3 days, this cavernous dark place sprouts booths filled with light and beautiful things, like magic mushrooms. Maybe next year we'll have a time-lapse video on YouTube...

Autumn garden-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

Tonight is the opening of the Foundry Artist show and sale at the Armory in Pawtucket, RI from 5PM-9PM. There'll be free refreshments and live music; stop by if you're in the area!

More coffee?-sold

Oil on panel, 6" x 8"

Breakfast at the diner the other day.

A little star power

John Ratzenberger was back in Providence and I got together with him to give him the painting he commissioned. He kindly consented to have his picture taken with me. Not everyday that I get to rub elbows with TV stars!

Mums and seckel pears

Oil on canvas, 16" x 16"

Well , the holidays really have a way of interfering with normal everyday life. Most of the time I'm pretty disciplined about working, but once in a while I just can't face going into the studio just to paint a few tedious details to finish a painting. I think this one is done, although the photo could be better.

Morning shadow-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

I see this house on the east side of Providence when I go to my teaching job on Tuesdays, and it always intrigues me. I guess because it faces east and I love the tree shadow, no matter the season, but autumn yellow looks especially good against the pale green.

Bandshell, Roger Williams Park

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

This bandshell is a Rhode Island icon, and I've seen so many paintings and photos of it that I really had no desire to paint it myself. This particular morning, though, the light was nice, I was with some friends, and, mostly, the parking lot was just a few steps away.

Cumberland mill

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

The Blackstone River valley in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is the birthplace of the industrial age in America. This mill is a remnant of that birth.

On another note, the Foundry show opens in just a couple of weeks! I can't believe it's almost here. I've been busily framing lots of little pictures to sell, along with my floral notecards and my book. Put it on your calendar if you're in the area. It's open the first two weekends in December. Opening night is Thursday, Dec. 3.

Trees and pond

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Another painting done at Roger Williams Park. The park is a real jewel.

The red tree- sold

Oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Anne and I went painting at Roger Williams Park in Providence the other day, and I found this little red tree shedding its leaves in the Japanese Garden. It's actually on a little island in a lagoon, connected by a bridge to another island. I left the bridge out- it would have been in the background on the left- because it just would have pulled attention away from the tree. Someday, though, I would like to do a painting that includes one or more of the bridges, and the water lilies that are there in the summer.

Waiter-sold

Oil on canvas, 5" x 5"

From a trip to New York in the recent past. This will also be at the Copley Society for their Holiday show.

On another note- I was looking at Mike Rooney's blog a few weeks ago. He made a nifty little rack to hold wet painting panels from pegboard and dowels, which I figured was something I could use and maybe I'd make one. Then I was in my kitchen the other day and had a little brainstorm- a dish drainer does the same thing perfectly!

Still life with Linda's stuff

Oil on canvas, 20" x 24"

I borrowed a bunch of things from my friend Linda because I was bored with my stuff, then proceeded to spend way too much time painting them. I've been working on this, off and on, for about 2 weeks, and am SO glad I can finally dismantle the still life and paint something new.

Garden at Roger Williams Park

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

I'd been wanting to paint this statue and garden in front of the Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence and finally got to do it this past weekend.

Sunlit mums- sold

Oil on canvas,16" x 20"

This is actually a painting I did a while ago- I've got lots of paintings underway but nothing quite finished to post today. On another note, yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting John Ratzenberger, known to most people as Cliff the postman on the TV show Cheers. He was in Providence, stopped into JRS Fine Art, saw my work and liked it. Long story short, he's commissioned a (little) painting from me- yay!

Curve in the road

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

Candlelight conversation-sold

Oil on canvas, 5" x 5"

These little 5" x 5" paintings will be available at the Copley Society of Art in Boston early in December. Copley has a group of beginning collectors called "the circle"; they have a party for them where they are invited to jump in and get their feet wet as collectors by buying these little unframed paintings for $200.00. Last year it was a sellout!

Three guys

Oil on canvas, 5" x 5"

I wonder what they were talking about... politics? sports? women?...

Autumn morning

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

This was painted on the same day last week as yesterday's post. I did some more work on it the next day, when the paint had dried enough to allow putting in the grasses in front.

Autumn reflections- sold

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Cigarette break

Two women in a park in downtown Providence.

Rose with teapot

Oil on canvasboard, 6" x 6"

I really worked that last rose to death...

Rose in flask-sold

Oil on canvas panel, 6" x 8"

The last rose makes a second appearance.

The last rose

Oil on canvas panel, 6"x 8"

The garden is shutting down for the winter; I picked this last rose along with some autumn colored leaves this past weekend.

Dinner on the deck-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

At a restaurant in Newport this summer.

Shed, dinghy, canoe

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

We went painting in East Greenwich the other day and I was intrigued by this shed, its sagging roofline, the row of windows, and the boats. Not the most successful painting, but- try, try again.

Boats, East Greenwich

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

A somewhat hazy morning in East Greenwich, the woods on the far side of the cove reflecting in the water, making the shoreline all but disappear.

Three at the bar-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

Red light- sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

This is kind of an odd composition, split almost down the middle by a beam, but I felt that the brightness of the windows across the back, plus the light on the wall on the far left, gave it a strong enough horizontal to compensate, and to keep your eye moving around. Maybe it's too busy, though. I'd welcome any opinion you might have.

Dinner in the square

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Gondolas in Providence

Oil on panel, 8" x 8"

Some years ago, the mayor of Providence (I think after a trip to Italy) decided that it would be nice to have gondolas plying the river downtown. I caught this couple on a late afternoon ride.

Something blue- sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

I love painting that hydrangea blue- and since we're going to two wedding receptions this weekend, the title seemed appropriate. The opening at Harbor Fine Art last night went very well- a good crowd and tons of great food and wine. I brought my camera and meant to take pics to post, but got too busy talking and completely forgot. Two paintings sold before the opening- it's so nice to start off with a couple of red dots!

Private party on the wharf

Oil on panel, 6" x 8"

Under a striped big top on the wharf is a festive place to hold a party in Newport.

At the concert

Oil on panel, 8" x 10"

Just a reminder, if you're interested, tomorrow night (Thursday, 10/8) is the opening at Harbor Fine Art, 134 Spring St., in Newport, 5PM- 8PM.

Madeleine leaving port-sold

Oil on panel, 6" x 8"

The Madeleine takes people out on tours of Newport Harbor.

Table at H2O-sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"

Hostess at the Black Pearl- sold

Oil on canvas, 6" x 6"