across the pond

redFish gallery's (where I have my studio) new show is opening this week. It is called "across the pond: paintings inspired by travels Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy". It has inspired me to unearth some paintings of mine. Many moons ago, I spent a summer in France with Parsons School of Design. We studied painting and drawing...half the time in a wee town in the Dordogne region in southern France and the the other half in Paris. We painted on location every day, in tiny, ancient villages, country scenes, old castles, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Monet's gardens at Giverny... in other words a once in a lifetime experience. Anyway, the work I did there has been languishing in a portfolio for years, so I decided it was high time they saw the light of day. I've been matting and framing about 20 pieces that I will put on display in my studio. Here are a few:

"Paris scene"

gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

"cathedral interior"
gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

"La Tour Eiffel"
gouache on paper ~ 9 x 12 inches

black cat stare ~ daily painting

And here is my other venture into pet portraiture. This is Bear...I made him a little to intense I think. He really was a sweet natured cat. I'm thinking of trying another one of him with warm tones instead of the cool tones I used in this painting, maybe that'll lighten up the mood!

"black cat stare"
oil on canvas ~ 12 x 12 inches

daily painting ~ pets!

"sophie"

oil on canvas ~ 12 x 12 inches

I am a big animal lover. I grew up with lots of cats and dogs in the house and can't imagine a life without them. My hubby is a cat lover...so our house is a feline haven. This past Christmas we lost one, our beloved Bear...who was just the sweetest tempered cat. We had him for 14 wonderful years, here's a picture of him with my daughter when she was a baby.

Bear & Sage

After losing Bear, we adopted Milo from a local shelter. And, oh my gosh, he is just a sweetheart...one of those rare cats that will let you hold him on his back like a baby doll, and just drape himself in your lap, and gets along with all the other cats. He even turned around Minna, my cranky 11 year old siamese. So, I wanted to do something for this shelter and it turns out they're having an artshow fundraiser. Thing is, the work has to be of pets which is not my thing (so far)...but I've given it a go. This is Sophie, my Mum's soulful eyed cocker spaniel. I have another of Bear that I'll post tomorrow.

the boys: Milo & Punkin (Milo is the gray one)

ode to summer

On this last fine weekend of summer, my hubby and I, along with our 2 little charges had a mini celebration in our backyard. A campfire and a simple dinner of pasta with the last of the garden's tomatoes and basil, we sat outside and reminisced about the best of the summer and what we were looking forward to this autumn.

Some highlights: the treehouse my hubby built, the neighborhood ice cream truck finally finding our street (hurray!), many exursions to lakes and creeks in the area, picking berries, canning peaches for the first time, campfires and camp-outs in the backyard, swimming, and or course our trip to Maine. Looking ahead to apple picking, fall raspberries, one last trip to the beach, more campfires, pumpkin chocolate-chip muffins, and the crisp azure blue days of autumn. In the meantime, here is a medley of summer's beauty. I'll be back in my studio this week, painting away. Coming next: some new work...a small departure for a good cause.

Dufy's flowers~ daily painting

Raoul Dufy is an artist I've long admired. He has a wonderful palette and loose, gestural brushwork. I wasn't thinking of his work when I did this, but it really reminds me of his colors. So this one's for Dufy I guess.

"Dufy's flowers"
20 x 20 inches ~ oil on canvas
avaialable

purchase

moved back in

Now that I've wrapped up the summer show season, I've moved everything back into my studio at redFish. It feels great to be settled again and I'm ready to work! Both of my little charges are in school this year (1/2 day for one of them), so it is easier to have a regular schedule. I'm not quite ready to crank out daily paintings yet but I'm getting there.

I'll be in my studio every Tuesday and Thursday until 6pm and other days by chance. Stop by and visit if you find yourself in lovely East Aurora! Here are a few pics after I moved my work back in.

a still life set up I've been working on ~ I'll post the painting tomorrow

Sunday Drive ~ daily painting

Here's the last roadster painting I did in my series of Maine scenes and old cars. The background is a spot on Route 17 called the Height of the Land. An aptly named place, well worth going out of your way to check out. It being probably the most picturesque scene in all of New England. I sold this piece this summer and unfortunately this is the best photo I have of it.

"sunday drive"
oil on canvas ~ 9 x 12 inches

sold

In the Land of the Buzzy Bee

I made this piece for a fundraiser for the Toytown Museum here in East Aurora. The assignment was to create a piece of art inspired by one of the Fisher Price commemorative toys. I picked the Buzzy Bee. This was a good opportunity to get creative and try something different...an excuse to use my funky felted flowers! Fun stuff.

"In the Land of the Buzzy Bee"

18 x 24 ~ oil and mixed media on masonite

Canandaigua Lady

Here's a little painting I did this summer of the Canandaigua Lady. She's an old river boat that now takes tourists around lovely Canandaigua Lake in the finger lakes of NY.

"Canandaigua Lady"

10 x 10 inches ~ oil on canvas

available

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art show finale

In a few moments of madness I decided to participate in FOUR outdoor art shows this summer for my first year. Luckily, I am blessed with a very suppportive hubby (and kiddos) who help me every step of the way. I just finished the last show which was the Clothesline Festival in Rochester, NY. A lovely show on the grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery. I met some very nice folks (and fellow artists), heard some great live music, and got to soak up the sun (and a bit of rain) on a late summer weekend.

my booth, did I mention I was also next to the beer & wine tent? : )

my girl, helping me out