Ft Myers Beach

  

some photos of our little trip to Ft Myers beach yesterday. It was really fun!

Sanibel Causeway in the distance

 

Malachite Bowl Demo

Every once in a while I like to post a series of stages leading up to the finish of a painting. These are the demo steps for the Malachite Bowl posted on 2/22/2010.

 First a sketch to work out the composition

 I grid the canvas with four small marks at the midpoint of each side and mark the center of the canvas so I can compose through my viewfinder.
 

Adding some color and value to make comparisons.

the finish.

 

Detail

Proud to Be from Massachusetts

Wendell and the Paperwhites

I never get political on my blog but I have to make an exception here to say that Massachusetts 'Gets it'. The Independent Voters, of whom I am one, voted against the arrogance of Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats who have been trying to shove a deceptive 2000 page, "Trojan Horse", of a "Health Care" bill down our throats.

Forget all the sentimental drivel about 'Teddy's Seat' and 'Teddy's Legacy' and "making history". Teddy's gone and it's the "People's Seat", as it always was,  in a government supposed to be 'Of the People, By the People and FOR the People. 

I don't dislike Martha Coakley but she should know that Curt Shilling is not a Yankees fan and YES, she should have been standing outside Fenway Park, in the cold, shaking the hands of the "PEOPLE".

Is Scott Brown the answer? I don't know but it seems like he is listening and that's what I want from my elected representatives. It's about time.

Winter in New England

I say this every December, but it's true. I'm a New England girl, born and raised. We are leaving in a week for Naples, Florida and will not return home until May. I love Naples and I will be with my sister and my family who live there but, I will miss the snow, the cold, my Mama, my Painter girlfriends and my studio. Call me crazy. Here's a shot of the ice formed by the waves breaking over the seawall.

Provincetown Moon

Yesterday I took a trip to Provincetown to drop off a painting and visit my friend, Irene. We went for a walk in the dunes at Race Point on a gloriously sunny and calm day.  She swore me to secrecy regarding the exact location, so the whole world doesn't show up there all of a sudden ;)

As we left the dunes around 3pm we could already see the full moon, which is the first of two this month. The other will be the 'blue moon' at the end of December. After I left her house I had to keep stopping and jumping out of the car to shoot photos. What is it about the moon that is so mesmerizing? Each time I see a moon rise it's as though it's the first time and each time I visit Provincetown, I feel the same way. Mystical and magical. The edge of the world. I decided to post my photos, without PhotoShop enhancement.

Peas in Pods 6x6

Sneak peak of yesterday's daily painting. I did a bit more work on the greens to finish this but it's too sunny today to get a good photo of it so I'll post this one until it gets cloudy again. Shouldn't have to wait too long here in New England ;)

Holding Court 12x12 WIP

Let's see if anyone actually visits my neglected blog. This will be for the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge blog and will also be featured in my November Show.

Balloon Festival

I went to New Hampshire this weekend to attend a family birthday party for my nephew, Colin, who turned four last week. Sunday we spent the day at a hot air balloon festival in nearby, Hillsborough. It was a fantastically summer-y, sunny, breezy day, for a change, and there were rides for the kids, plenty of food of all sorts and booths with stuff to buy. This is my brother and sister in law, Tom and Anne and my little boys Ryan and Colin, watching the liftoff around 6PM. Spectacular! A great time!

Colin Page Workshop Photos

I think he's enjoying the class.

Margaret McWethy, in a class by herself . I did not put my work next to hers ;)

These are serious painters and the work tells the tale

Kelley gets a great painting

Indoor Still life demo

Some of the paintings

the 'homies' at Scituate Harbor

Colin Demonstrates

We had one beautiful sunny day of painting outside and one rainy day for indoor still life. It was a perfect balance as Colin is equally skilled in both genres.

Yellow Apple Study

This was Carol's brush stroke exercise. The initial block in shows that I'm sort of 'getting' it, but, once I got on it at home, you can see how I just worked it to death, not to mention that the lighting conditions were totally different. After much practice, I am learning to 'see' better and stop after every brush stroke. The new brushes I've been using are a world away from what has been my customary style of brushwork. I am really liking the crispness they give to the paint application.

Morey , Another Dog in Heaven

This wonderful dog just left for Heaven a week ago. It was my joy and pleasure to have his love and affection for the many years I did. He really belonged to my across the street' (barely a street) neighbor, Suzie. But he shared himself with Don and me. I'll miss bringing him out on beautiful days to lounge on the lawn. I took these photos last Fall, knowing that his days in the Sun were slipping away. I like to say, there's no love like dog love.

My Idol Prediction

Allison Iraheta

Adam Lambert

I missed the first several seasons of American Idol, but now it's one of my favorite shows. Also, it's TV that the hubby and I can enjoy together. The remaining contestants are the best overall singers/finalists I've seen. I predict that it comes down to Allison Iraketa a sixteen year old, who is channeling Janis Joplin, and Adam Lambert, (strong resemblance to Elvis) who makes every song he sings his own and has mega stage presence and star power. These will be the last two standing, in my opinion.

SouthWest Florida Sunday

Notice everyone in the family is holding a bird.

Yesterday, Don and I took a ride up to Flamingo Island Flea Market, one of our favorite places. It was a picture perfect day and we met some people who rescue Parrots of all types. They had a half dozen birds there for the day, out of somewhere near 30 birds. They visit hospitals and nursing homes with them. Such caring people. It warms my heart. Here's Don with a friend.

Sneak Peak of Nizzy

We'll see if this somewhat neglected blog gets any hits with a sneak peek of this work which I've not yet posted on Just Painting. Yesterday, I did this painting of my cat Nizzy who passed November 1st. She was such a beauty. Her white fur just glowed in sunlight. After this one, I did a very inspired version of the star fruit which I'm holding back until after I post this one. I'm being very disciplined because I have a show coming up in November. Very motivating. All new work. It will be in the lobby of Tishman Speyer Properties again. 125 High Street, Boston

Winter Wonderland

Birches

The Harbor

Wind whistling off the roof

Easy for me to rhapsodize about the beauty of the snow and the brisk winter air because I'm spending the rest of the winter in Naples, Florida. Here are some local scenes after a beautiful snowstorm. Yes, I did shovel snow, so I know where of I speak. The great thing about the internet is it doesn't matter where I really am because I'm always here :D