Our dog is my new favorite life model!

Nick the dog.

Two paintings from two weekends ago at dawn in Chittenden, Vermont.  Could not resist.

Annemarie Siefert's Paintings

A few weeks ago I saw a great show of paintings by Annemarie Siefert at Westover School Gallery in Middlebury, CT. It's still running through April 14th if you get inspired to go!  Annemarie Seifert's paintings are vibrant with rich color and masterful in technique.  She also does incredible pastels but these pictures are all of paintings.

This one's called "The Studio."

I like the dark rusty colored area around the back of the roof and the way the grey door and it's left-side shadow contrast with the bright yellow wall. Here's a closer view of that part:

  Using layers of color to convey shadow and light, her subjects sometimes take on a metaphysical aspect.   Below, here's a roadie with ethereal color.   It's a big painting which helps convey the massive scale of the road and construction site.  It's called "Bridge 189 at Dawn, NYC."

I can't forget this cowface pictured below.  I've been thinking about painting our dog, Nick.  His face conveys a warmth and presence, like he's thinking with his heart.  Like this cow.  This is a little painting that to me conveys emotionally intelligent warmth.  No doubt I am anthropomorphizing, but no matter.  We resonate with images like this one because of how they trigger our emotions.

Thanks for looking! If you like these pictures, I have more photos from the show I'm planning to post on Facebook and Twitter so check that out too.

I hope you'll check in next week for more!

Sketch for the new strelitzia painting

I found this strelitzia bloom under a huge leaf while I was in Bermuda at the holidays. I've been dying to start a painting of it. I'm struck by the woody edge of the trunk of the plant, the wind-whipped dead edges of the leaf in the foreground, and the waxy, almost dead texture of the blue-purple pod of the bloom.  I'm interested in the way those dead parts contrast with the delicate, live white petals and the pinky throat of the bloom.

Here are some thumbnails I did while I'm thinking about the composition!

 

The upward thrust of the trunky stalk seems to be more important than the overhanging dark leaf.  That's sort of disappointing because i was drawn to the umbrella like overhang of it.  But when I draw for the painting it seems to stop all the energy if I include it.

We're both new here, so welcome!

I’m planning to use this space to share compelling imagery - from life, others' art, and my own work as it emerges.  I hope that this will be enriching and stimulating for you to read as I know it will be for me to write and show.    

Stay tuned for pictures!

New Site Launched

I have just released my new web site. Take a look and let me know what you think.

This site was directed by Applebaum with the creative genius of Design Hovie Studios!  And beautiful fast loading coding by Pixelday.   Thanks to all!  I am humbled and beaming.