Drydocked, 16x20

I posted this last night on FB.....

.....but forgot to do it here.  It was painted late afternoon and I hope I caught the raking light a bit.  So many paintings I like but would also like to do them over again because each one gives me new ideas   I'd like to do this one over.

I like the variations in color on the hull below the water line and, if you can't tell, I was caught up in that blue barrel.  This is actually a 'blue barrel' painting with the rest just setting the backdrop.......OK.  I'm lying.  But I really do like that barrel.  Gives this thing some depth.

So if I did it over what would be different?  I think this is a 24x30 painting done on a 16x20 canvas.  Bigger canvas is what I'd change so I could recompose it.  There was so much more there that was interesting that would have made this better with some more room.  Yes, if I had painted smaller I could have gotten it all in but I would have lost that brush swinging energy that's so much fun to do. 

I may have to go back to Maine.

Out For The Winter, 16x20

Starship Enterprise....

.....is what I think of every time I look at this painting.  I don't know why but all I see is the Enterprise moving across the television screen.  Beats me....I'm not in complete control here.

This is the last painting I did in Maine and, fittingly for someone from the Northwest, it was raining so I had to pack up during midpoint and head for shelter until it passed over.  The most difficult part was getting the dinghy convincingly drawn.  (It looked so simple.)  The colors in the blue of the boat were also a challenge but I think I like how it came out.  Makes it look like there was dancing light reflected off the puddle I was standing in.

I feel so lucky to stand around and play with paint.  The process continually amazes me.  Some hair tied to a stick, dip it in vegetable oil with some colored dirt thrown in....then put it on a piece of cloth stretched on some sticks.  Voila!  And you think you are looking at a boat.  How abstract is that??

I should begin to mention that I'll be teaching a marker workshop later this month at the Winslow Art Center....and, of course, the painting classes.

Rockport Red, 12x14

 

Rockport Harbor.

There must be at least two boats in Maine for everyone that lives there.  They are all over the place, in all kinds of shapes, colors and purposes....and with all sorts of personalities.  They would make a good Pixar movie.

It's hard to pass up painting a red one sitting against the intense blues of a Fall sky reflected in the water.....all those color possibilities....all those excuses to push and pull the hues and find color vibrancy and pattern.  Working boats are a pleasure just to watch bob around in the water.

My classes begin later this month at the Winslow Art Center.  While I frequently revamp what I teach, this year it is a total makeover and I'm going to try to move into areas of instruction I haven't tried before, but I think will help those in the course move more quickly into their own expression and style.  It will be pretty much all day on Tuesdays for seven weeks and will be four (yes, four) hours of instruction followed by open studio.  Come if you can.  We always have a good time.

Find out more about it HERE.  Scroll down until you find "Painting To Your Next Level" and read all about it.