Boots-sold

Oil on panel, 6" x 6"

I lost interest in painting for a good part of the last year, but have been getting back into it lately. When I heard about a master class that George Nick was offering, I decided to sign up for it, because so much of what I have been painting just felt so uninspired. 

The first assignment was a 16 x 20 still life in no more than 6 shades of black and white. So I decided to paint my husband's hiking boots.

The thing about using such a limited value scheme is that it forces you to simplify and, in the process, to eliminate edges and other unimportant details. I'd never painted such a big value study before, and I found it liberating. I would recommend it as an exercise to anyone. It forced me to simplify the shadow areas and let them blend into the background.

Boots, 16" x 20" oil on canvas

The photo heightened the contrast in the background of this painting, in reality it's a little flatter and less brushy looking.
After I painted the big black and white, I painted the 6x6 in color, letting any detail in the shadows remain indistinct, and detailing only the light areas.

Oscar and the Artist Co-op

"Oscar"

These portraits were actually done quite a while ago but they remain among my favorites. I just reframed them and they are now on display at the artist co-op that I joined about a year ago in Warren, RI. It's called Made in Warren and I'm really enjoying being a member. A great group of people and a lovely storefront on Main St. in Warren.

"Beer for Breakfast"- this was to be a 3 week pose. I did the pastel as a study for an oil painting. The next week he showed up with a shaved head! Just not the same. The painting didn't survive. And no one was having beer for breakfast; it was just the name that popped into my head.