New England Fall

While walking my dog in the neighborhood, I stumbled across this house with a beautiful fall tree in font.
The scene seems very new england to me.
There was something about the red house that made me think how these colors coming together created a fall scene.

I started this painting and finished the painting with a brush. I established the big shapes with color and then added a few details.

I always establish the light key by creating a warm color for the sky. I use different colors for blue clear skies.
 If I want to establish a sunny clear sky I never just use light blue, I usually mix a warm color into my sky to give it the feeling of light.

Water Like Glass

Driving by Captain Jacks wharf, I noticed the color intensity and  how glass like the bay was. I grabbed my easel from the back of my car and dived in.
Captain Jack's is a nostalgic, colorful and historic fishing wharf, that so many of us local artist's paint.

My center of interest was the boat and it's refection, however. I like how clear the water is, and how it makes the reflection of both wharf and boat appear.

Atwood Lane Painting

finger like shadow

Shadow flowing and unifying shadows

For the last couple weeks I have been working on this lane painting, when the conditions are right.
I work on this scene on sunny mornings.
I like to take my paintings home and live with them before I bring them to the gallery.
It's a chance for me to enjoy them, and see how they actually are working.
How is the design, color, drawing?
When I took Atwood Lane home I noticed the design of the shadow was awful. It looked like a huge claw.
Rather than burning the painting, I simply worked on the unpleasing shadow and made it behave.
Often times the color is bad, the values are broken up or the drawing is off.
In Atwood Lane the case was that it just didn't flow.

Burning It Down

Purging  yourself of old paintings is a symbolic and spiritual experience that every artist should experience.
During the Ten Days the Shook the World festival I set my paintings on fire as a symbol. Not every painting works and if it's junk get rid of it.
Sometimes you can paint over old paintings especially if they are painted on canvas. When they are painted on wood or masonite it's more difficult to paint over and it's best to destroy.

I also am in control of my art,. I make the decision to destroy it and not share with the world something that is just not coming together.
I have learned living in a small art colony like Provincetown never through a painting in the trash or dump. Some Clown is going to find it and sell it. They are going to capitalize on your angst and frustration not to mention the money you invest in supplies.
I can't save every painting. I don't have the space in my head or home for it.
Burning an old painting is freeing and creates this sense of humble freedom.

Ten Days that Shook the World Demo

Provincetown 10 Days of Art festival is an amazing event that is currently taking place in Provincetown. Herring Cove Beach Bathhouse in the Cape Cod Nations Seashore, is a multi Media exhibition, before its demolition.
It was amazing to be a part of this event. To come together with many local creative artist's and create something.
I took on the more traditional approach painting a portrait demonstration. I was a amazed at how many people show up to see my demonstration. I basically painted a portrait of my buddy Troy, explaining my painting approach to the audience, while I painted.
Painting a portrait in front of that many people challenged me. I went outside my comfort zone. I feel comfortable painting a landscape or still but to paint the head in front of a group left me exposed and opened me up.
I have always had a love for this type of painting but haven't felt that I'm good enough. Having this experience made me realize that it's not about being good, it's about creating something and sharing your joy of creating.
For me, the Ten Days That Shook the World,  shook my world!
To read more about this event check out their website http://www.provincetowngalleryguild.org