Touching, Go Figure

Touching, Go Figure

a Minneola and Yellow Bartlett pear on fresh snow
by my home in Shapleigh, Maine on Feb 14, 2019,
painted on Feb 28, 2019
10" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb.
Arches cold press rough 100% cotton watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $155.00

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Hanging Fruit

My fruit on snow still life paintings, something a bit different from the usual still life, is set in a bright light background of snow, and are all watercolor paintings. Of the following four artists, they all not only chose to hang their fruits for the still life, something a bit different from the usual still life, but they also chose dark backgrounds, all oil paintings, quite the contrast to fruit on snow watercolors.

1
Low Hanging Fruit
Jacob A. Pfeiffer, (1974- ) American
Oil on panel, 12" x 9" (w x h)
Private Collection
Artist's web site HERE

 

2
Far from the Tree
Jacob A. Pfeiffer, (1974- ) American
Oil on panel, 12" x 12" (w x h)
Private collection

3
Still Life Lemon Suspended
Andrew Hemingway, (1955- ) British
Pastel on board, 11" x 19" (w x h), 2009
Artist's web site HERE
 

4
Suspended
David Jay Spyker
Acrylic on hardboard, 9" x 12" (w x h), 2001
Collection of the artist
Artist's web site HERE

 
5
Hanging Fruit Cherry 02
John Williams, (1965- ) British
14" X 16" (w x h)
$2,000 USD / £1,500
School of Fine and Applied Arts, Graphic Design, 2008
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, associate member, 2016
Artist's web site HERE
 

6
Hanging Fruit 02
John Williams, (1965- ) British
10" X 12" (w x h)
Sold
School of Fine and Applied Arts, Graphic Design, 2008
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, associate member, 2016
Artist's web site HERE
 

7
Hanging Fruit 03
John Williams, (1965- ) British
12" x 14" (w x h)
Oil paint on super-fine hand-stretched canvas
Sold
School of Fine and Applied Arts, Graphic Design, 2008
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, associate member, 2016
Artist's web site HERE
 

8
Still Life with Game, Vegetables and Fruit
Juan Sánchez Cotán, (1560-1627) Spanish
Oil on canvas, 35" x 27", 1602
Museo Nacional del Prado
His art at the Prado HERE

To the Lobstertraps

To the Lobstertraps

in Cape Porpoise Harbor, Kennebunkport, Maine
on Feb 22, 2019, painted on Feb 26, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink, on
140 lb. Arches cold press rough 100% cotton watercolor
paper, framed, including sales tax + shipping $155.00

A Gallery of
Lobsterboats in Maine Art
by Maine Artists

1

Lobsterman Hauling
Stephen Pace (1918-2010)
Watercolor on paper, 30" x 22", 1984, $10,000
Artist's work at Dowling Walsh's Rockland Gallery HERE

Stephen Pace made significant contributions to Abstract Expressionism during the 1950s. In Maine he created representational pieces depicting outdoor scenes, such as lobstermen. Pace donated a series of paintings to the University of Southern Indiana as part of a collection of 6,000 pieces of his work from as early as 1947, and Pace and his wife donated $1.5 million to found the Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center / Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace Galleries.

2
Lobstering in Christmas Cove
Bobbi Heath
Oil
"easy to observe from our mooring"
The artist's web site HERE

3
Boats in the Cove
Brad Betts
Oil, 10" x 8" (w x h), $950
BA, University of Maine
Signature Member, American Society of Marine Artists
Downeast Gallery page HERE

4
Harbor Light
Daniel Corey
Oil, 20" x 20" (w x h), $2,100.00
The artist's web site HERE
The artist's Facebook page HERE

5
Leaving Co-op Pier
Stephen Pace (1918-2010)
Oil on canvas, 72" x 60" (w x h), 1990, $70,000
Artist's work at Dowling Walsh's Rockland Gallery HERE

 

6
Lubec Lobster Boats
Francine Frank, Franklin, Maine
Watercolor on paper, 9" x 6", (w x h), 2012, $35
A retired child and family therapist,
she's been painting and sculpting the past 14 years
The artist's work HERE and HERE

7
Lowtide Lobsterboat
Brett X. Gamache, (1979- ) BFA, Mass Art, MFA UNH
Oil on linen, 20" x 17" (w x h), 2017
The artist's web site HERE
The George Marshall Store Gallery
in York, Maine artist's web page HERE

8
Three Boats
Dewitt Hardy (1940-2017)
Watercolor on paper, 14" x 7" (w x h), 2012
The artist's web site HERE

Winter Afternoon Harbor

Winter Afternoon Harbor

Cape Porpoise Harbor seen from the
Cape Porpoise Pier in Kennebunkport, Maine
painted plein air (in cool air) on Feb 22, 2019
14" x 11" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Prismacolor archival lightfast ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press fine grain 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $225.00

Model Study Olivia Left

Model Study Olivia Left
at our art group in Kennebunkport, Maine on Feb 22, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink
on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $115.00

Model Study Olivia Right

Model Study Olivia Right

at our art group in Kennebunkport, Maine on Feb 22, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press fine grain 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $115.00

Ocean Drive, Ocean Driving Study 3

Ocean Drive, Ocean Driving
Study 3

after a storm, along Ocean Drive at Blowing Cave
in Kennebunkport, Maine on Feb 8, 2019,
painted on February 19, 2019, 15" x 11",
Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for
light fastness and permanence, wax resist
paraffin, and Prismacolor archival lightfast ink
on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper framed
$600 USD framed including tax and shipping

Down to County Road

Down to County Road

late afternoon light on my right-of-way to the County
Road with fresh snow by my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on Feb 14, 2019, painted on Feb 18, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and #3 graphite on 140 lb. Arches
cold press fine grain 100% cotton watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $150

Art Gallery Crowd...and openings

Art Gallery Crowd 

at the opening reception
of the Boothbay Chamber of Commerce's
Third Annual "What's Nude in Boothbay Harbor?"
exhibition at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation Gallery
in Boothbay Harbor, Maine on Feb 16, 2019
painted on Feb 17, 2019
10" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press fine grain 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $150

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Art Shows
in Boothbay Harbor and Kennebunkport
 

At the Third Annual
What's Nude in Boothbay Harbor?
A Celebration of the Human Form
Paintings, Paper works, Photography and Sculpture
February 14 - 23, 2019
Sponsored by the Boothbay Harbor Region
Chamber of Commerce & Boothbay Region Art Foundation
Gallery location: Boothbay Region Art Foundation
1 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
Opening Reception was Saturday, February 16th from 4-7 pm
Looking out the Gallery's window...
 

1
It was an impressive show, fine art, with a big turn-out.
My two works are at the left, sand the two works at the right
are by Carol Douglas, a painter friend who told me about the show.

2
Back by the wine, the bronze sculpture on the right is by my artist
friend, Daphne Pulsifer, the second highest priced sculpture,
Natural Instinct, at $3,800.  The highest priced
sculpture, a work in stone, was $6,500.
Daphne's work and bio at the Lupine Gallery HERE.
Our Kennebunkport Art Gang drawing group had three of us
represented in this show, two works each Daphne Pulsifer,
two sculptures,

3
Annie Hidell, two drawings hung near
the front window, her web site HERE, 
and myself, two watercolors.

4
The two large paintings on the right by Carol Douglas, the
second one from the right, The Laborer Resting, had the
distinction of being the second highest priced painting
in the show at $4,300. The highest was $11,500.
Carroll Douglas' web site HERE and blog HERE.
The third one down, bottom, caught my eye.

5
La Reine (The Queen) by Carolyn Grabbe of Nobleboro, $2,400,
which she'd painted in Philadelphia over eight days,
was my pick for the best in show.
The artist's web site HERE.
 

6
The Boothbay Gallery
 

Meanwhile at the
11th Annual Undressed
opening at the f8 Gallery, February 16-19, 2019, 11 am - 5 pm
5 Spring Street, Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Artist's reception was Saturday, February 16th, 5-8 pm
at f8 Gallery's Facebook page HERE.
I was on my way to catch the last half of opening night when...sheesh...
one of my car's tires had a hisssssy-fit leak, maybe a nail in it,
so, I limped home instead, stopping at five air pumps
to fill the "low pressure" tire again, and again,
and again, and again, but I got home.
Fortunately, I'd previewed the
show the day before...
 

7
On display were works by Brad Maushart.
He painted the one on the left with regular house paint.
 

8
Collage by Janet Ledoux, her web site HERE.
 

9
Woman with Bandana, oil by Richard Winslow.
 

10
Four of my watercolors, and many more from our group,
a truly fine show of our Kennebunkport Art Gang.

Two Art Shows - Six Works

Two Art Show Openings with my Art
Saturday February 16, 2019
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11th Annual Undressed
at the f8 Gallery
February 16-19, 2019, 11 am - 5 pm
5 Spring Street, Kennebunkport, ME 04046
(house on the right up the hill from Dock Square,
opposite the left turn to the post office)

Artist's reception Saturday,
February 16th, 5-8 pm
f8 Gallery's Facebook page HERE. 

I have these four works in this show.
 

Model Mary Study 4
10" x 7" (w x h), 2018, $190
 

Side View Sitting Study
5" x 7" (w x h), 2018, $115
 

Morning Sitting Study 1
5" x 7" (w x h), 2018, $115
 

Contemplative Pose Study
7" x 5" (w x h), 2018, $115
 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Third Annual
"What's Nude in
Boothbay Harbor?"
A Celebration of the Human Form
Paintings, Paper works, Photography and Sculpture
February 14 - 23, 2019
Sponsored by the Boothbay Harbor Region
Chamber of Commerce & Boothbay Region Art Foundation
Gallery location: Boothbay Region Art Foundation
1 Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
 

Opening Reception Saturday,
February 16th from 4-6 pm
 

I have these two works in this show.

Back Study 3

8" x 10" (w x h), framed 12" x 15", 2018, $195

Standing Rebekah Triptych

3 at 5" x 7" (w x h), framed, 17.5" x 9.5", 2018, $285

Winter Pair Comice Bosc

Winter Pair Comice Bosc

on fresh snow behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on Feb 14, 2019, painted on February 14 and 15, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, including sales tax + shipping $185

Ocean Drive, Ocean Driving 2

Ocean Drive,
Ocean Driving Study 2

after a storm, along Ocean Drive at Blowing Cave
in Kennebunkport, Maine on Feb 8, 2019,
painted on February 11, 2019, 12" x 9",
Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light
fastness and permanence, wax resist paraffin, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $240.00 USD

White Ships

John Singer Sargent, (1856 - 1925)
Watercolor with wax resist, 1908

I learned the wax resist splash technique from observing this John Singer Sargent watercolor, White Ships, in person at the MFA Boston show in 2014. He used it to get a reflection highlight on the side of the schooner's hull, seen in a detailed closer look. Museum visits are always learning time. I leaned in to the note on the wall and read:

"In this scintillating view of the harbor in Majorca, one of the latest works included in his 1909 exhibition, Sargent used a small amount of clear wax on the right side of the larger boat in order to repel the blue washes, creating sparking highlights. Sargent's use of this wax resist technique increased significantly over time; this is the only watercolor from the 1908 Brooklyn purchase in which wax resist is found, while most of Boston's watercolors acquired in 1940, contain wax."

Ocean Drive, Ocean Driving 1

Ocean Drive,
Ocean Driving Study 1

after a storm, along Ocean Drive at Blowing Cave
in Kennebunkport, Maine on Feb 8, 2019,
painted on February 11, 2019, 8" x 8",
Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light
fastness and permanence, wax resist paraffin, and
Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $180.00 USD

I was pleasantly stunned when this watercolor in twenty-four hours got more likes and comments on Facebook, mostly in the Watercolor Sketchers group, than any other painting I've ever posted, 169 likes/loves and counting; with 8 comments on my blog and Facebook.

Wow! Love all the layers! -Kara de Rooij

I love the style! -Sara Frame

Loving it!?? -Diana Ling

Splendid!!! -Michele GH

THIS is totally gorgeous. -Imogen Whyte

I love your style. Very nice. - Jillian Miew Chun Lim

Beautiful! -Sveinn Runar Sigurdsson

This is a beauty!!! -Martine Paquet

You never know. One thing that really worked for me was the movement in the composition; it takes you eye from the cloud in the top left on a journey down to the surfing splash in the bottom right. The next painting, Study 2, obviously is the second study I did of this scene, loose but not as loose, a bit more pictorial with less movement. I like loose and fresh.

 

Artists of New England Podcast Interview

Artists of New England Podcast Interview

On the evening of January 28, 2019, I was interviewed at the Ceres Gallery, 23 Ceres Street, Portsmouth, NH,  for the Artists of New England Podcast.

The interview was hosted by Laura Cassinari King about my watercolor art and my children's books. You can listen to it on the Artists of New England Podcasts web site HERE or on Soundcloud HERE, Episode 33.

The time flew by, didn't seem like almost an hour.