across the street

Across the Street, 9 x 12, oil

available

When we were looking for a home to buy we had a few priorities on our list. A few must haves included a yard big enough for playing in and for having a large garden, space inside to fit us and all our stuff (i.e.: my hobbies), and a great surrounding neighborhood. I feel like we really scored big in that we have all of those things, not to mention a big park and playground exactly across the street from our house. The boys are at an age now when they can venture a little farther from home without us. The park is the perfect testing ground to learn how to be responsible without being completely out of sight. This painting is a rendition of the sometimes marshy conditions of the park. After heavy rain we can slosh through with water just about up to our ankles in some places. It's a theme I visit again and again, water and fields.

I've been having a flurry of productivity of late. Little Lady has been sleeping quite a bit, taking excellent naps a few times each day! The boys fortunately have friends on our street who come to play. The boys are also best friends, so they keep each other happy most of the day. It's really a luxury to paint, and I feel grateful for every chance I get!

narragansett

The Bay at Colt State Park, 9 x 12, oil

available

I completed this painting today. A few months ago I scribbled loads of thumbnail sketches in my 7 year old's sketch book. The other day he pulled it out to draw and started flipping through all my sketches. He looked at me and said, "Heeey! Mom..." Oops! He went on to sketch all the angry birds he could think of, one per page, in pen. Later I snatched the sketch book and looked through some of the thumbnails I'd done. I was reminded of some inspiring ideas I'd had, and I set to work on one today. This is a painting of the Narragansett Bay as seen from Colt State Park. Some of my favorite weather is this foggy, choppy, uncertain haze. I'm closing my eyes and facing the water as the waves lop up onto the shoreline, the sea salt splashing a bit on my face. I can almost smell it...

honors

Sheep at Bodega Bay, 8 x 8, oil

Sold

Late last year I did a series of paintings from our trip to northern California to visit Peter's folks. One beautiful foggy northern California day we took our excursions to the coast and Bodega Bay. I took so many photos to hopefully use as reference photos later in my studio. I was able to produce several small paintings from those photos and from the memory of the backlit foggy atmosphere. I did the painting above of some sheep on a hillside. The painting sold and not two days later I had a request from another collector for a painting just like it. She had been watching the first one, debating on purchasing it, but hesitated too long it seems. So, I got to work on another. Here's the second one.

 Sheep at Bodega Bay II, 8 x 8, oil

Sold

This one differs from the first in color saturation, contrast, and texture. The first is a much rougher rendition, and this one is a bit more polished and bolder. I like both for their own unique qualities, but the collector who commissioned the second never seemed certain of the painting. The intangible and indescribable quality of the first eluded her and she chose not to purchase this piece. Initially that was tough. It was not a big painting, so I wasn't too put out, and I knew I could sell it in my shop. It is a challenge to repaint a certain quality that someone can sense, but can't describe or put their finger on. Sometimes it's just a matter of the brushstrokes being just so or the composition being slightly off. In the end I listed it for sale on my website and in my shop. Then, just last week I included it in my submission of three paintings to the Bristol Art Museum's Library exhibit. I received word today that it won first place in the show and it already sold! That was wonderful news to hear, and I'm so grateful to the Bristol Art Museum Association for presenting the opportunity to show in this library exhibit. It's been a while since I had a painting in a show that won first place. It is incredibly encouraging and makes me want to get back to the easel right away!

It may be a couple days before that can happen, however. I've got a summer track and field meet to take the boys to this evening, a sick baby to love and cuddle, a husband with a couple late night meetings, library summer reading club tomorrow, play dates to referee, and three meals a day to prepare.... Basically life gets in the way of creating regularly, but I'm happy to get the time when I can. It's a good thing I'm a night owl.

paintings hanging again

At the beginning of this year I set some serious art goals for myself. Some goals on the business side of this career, some on the creative side. Life throws different plans at us sometimes, and our family has been so grateful for the most recent change of scenery around here. Having a precious babe and her two brothers to love and take care of has been my current full time job. I apologize right now to Peter, since he makes it into the love equation, but probably doesn't feel like he does!

One of my goals was to do an art gallery show at least once per quarter. That really doesn't seem too ambitious, but after adopting Ruth it seemed it wasn't in the cards any more. However, this last week I did manage to get three paintings ready to present for a juried show at Rogers Free Library through the Bristol Art Museum. They hold an ongoing exhibit that changes quarterly at the library, which is a wonderful chance for others to see my work up close. I've often thought of placing my work in one of these exhibits, but have never done it before now. With three babes in tow to deliver my pieces we had ourselves a little adventure. When I arrived and began laying the paintings out on the table I thought to myself, "Oh no! I left my check book at home!" When I informed them, they took pity on me and said I could bring the submission fee the next day. I decided later to just take the kids all for a walk around downtown, stopping off at the bank for some cash. So, in the end I got it all taken care of that afternoon. So, one hot, muggy afternoon full of tromping around with strollers, bottles, kids, and artwork...nothing short of fun. We did get a nice lemonade and a couple doughnuts out of it all, so that made it all worthwhile I'd say!

My pieces were accepted into the exhibit (although I'm not certain it's a sign of any great accomplishment!). I did receive some encouraging feedback from some of the association members taking submissions. They commented that they really loved my work, which is always a boost! I have lots more paintings up in my head right now, so I need to find the time to get them out of my head and onto panels and canvases... With my multiple helpers around here I'd say there's a good chance I can get that done...in time!

So, if you are local to Rhode Island or will happen to be passing through one of the most picturesque towns in New England please stop in to the Rogers Free Library in Bristol to see my work along with many other artists' work hanging from July 6th to October 7th.

Rogers Free Library

525 Hope Street
Bristol, RI 02809

M-Th 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

F-Sat 9 a.m. -5 p.m.