Monday, April 28, 2014

The Banister Award

I was really flattered yesterday to receive the First Place Edward Banister Award at the Providence Art Club for my painting "Teakettle and Geranium".

Edward Banister was a very talented black artist from Canada. When he arrived in the U.S. in 1850, opportunities were few. He plugged away, working at various jobs while he continued to paint. Because he was black, he wasn't even allowed to go into a museum- hard to imagine how his work could become so exceptional despite that handicap.

He became a very well known artist in this country, and ended up settling in Providence, RI, starting the Providence Art Club in 1880. It continues today in the same building where it started.

You can read more about him here.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Opening in Providence-sold

My painting "Teakettle and Geranium" was juried into the Providence Art Club show that opens this Sunday, April 27, from 2-4 PM. Drop by if you're in the area.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Wickford Village in spring- sold

I was very happy to get a beautiful handmade sketchbook with nice Arches watercolor paper from my friend Ed Huff. This is my first sketch in it, in lovely Wickford Village, RI, this morning. Watercolor is not my strong suit but it was fun nonetheless.

 Check out Ed's blog to see the very cool little book press he made
on the cheap- complete with instructions.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Landscape with iris

Oil on panel, approx. 8" x 8"
I found this painting yesterday while looking for another. For some reason, I didn't like it at the time that I did it, maybe two years ago, but now I do... I sat in my car and painted this, left out a lot of houses on the opposite shore.
$150.00 plus shipping

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Sommelier- sold


Oil on panel, 10"x8"

If you have questions about using oil paint, like should you wear gloves when you paint, or what does fat over lean really mean, you might want to listen to Leslie Saeta's interview with Robert Gamblin, founder of Gamblin Oil Paints. Lots of good info, and you can listen while you paint.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Youtube


Recently I wanted to know how to pull up wall-to-wall carpeting. Where did I go? Youtube. Want to learn about playing a musical instrument? Youtube.  Bake a spherical concentric layer cake that looks like Jupiter inside and out? You guessed it.

Personally, I spend (too much) time looking at painting videos. Zimou Tan has a number of time lapse videos of drawing/painting the portrait that are great. He's a master.

Of course, there's no substitute for doing the real thing. My 4 Color Portrait class is starting next week at the Portsmouth (RI) Arts Guild and there's still room if you want to sign up. It's geared for beginner and intermediate portrait painters, with live models.