Blue Bowl

Oil on canvas, 8" x 10"
I wiped the first version of this after spending a whole afternoon on it. The next morning I moved everything around, cut some more rhododendrons, and came up with a composition I like a lot more.

Summer shack

Oil on stretched canvas, 6" x 6"
After my portrait class yesterday we went painting. What a beautiful spring day it was! This little cabin is part of a summer community in Portsmouth RI. We were set up on the side of a road which was very quiet, but seemed to have a lot of police cruisers going by. I wondered if we looked suspicious (it wouldn't be the first time), or if there was some art appreciation going on (are they all talking about us on their radios?), but it turned out that road was the back entry to the police station.

$75.00 plus shipping.

On my easel

"Two Geraniums", 20" x 24"

Anne Hutchinson Park- sold

Oil on canvas paper, approx. 7" x 8"
After my portrait class on Wednesday, we went painting at Anne Hutchinson Park, a small and probably mostly unknown park in Portsmouth. It's got a stream and a nice little waterfall. I painted on a canvas pad, not something I usually do but I liked it because it gave me the option of extending the painting a little more on the bottom.

Gilbert

I start every portrait class with a short demo-- this took about 15 minutes. I've had such a great class this past month that we're continuing the class, at the Portsmouth Art Guild in Portsmouth, RI, for another two weeks. It's on Wednesday mornings from 9AM-noon, and if you've taken the class before and would like to get a couple more weeks of portrait painting in before the summer starts, let me know, or contact Suzanne at the Art Guild.

This morning at the diner...

There never seem to be any women at the diner at 6AM, just guys fueling up for a day's work.

And here was my blueberry muffin. Note the blueberry...

Saturday in the Park

Oil, 6" x 6"
Spring is finally here! At India Point Park in Providence.

$100.00 plus shipping

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.

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.

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.

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

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.