MUD(season) at Artistree

I submitted my three pieces to the MUD(season) show at Artistree this afternoon.  Adrian was very accommodating even though I was two days LATE--thank you, Adrian.  :o)
Last weekend, not thinking of this show, I was at IKEA in New Haven, CT, looking at their frames and was motivated to (maybe) buy one or two or three and fill them with some of my--larger--Daily Artist 2016 pieces.   Mostly, everything I've done this year is square and I'm loving this constriction--it makes me look at life in a different way.  Here are the three pieces I put in the MUD(season) exhibit at Artistree this year....

"Frozen Puddles"

"Woodpile"

"Oak Leaf"

Please come by for the Opening Reception, April 1st, 5:30 to 7:30.  Hope to see you there!

Icy Puddle and...

There are such beautiful sights while I walk, even during mud season.  Like this puddle next to the sidewalk.  Some of the ice has frozen and broken, some of it remains solid and the colors are both soft and sharp...

"Icy Puddle"

photograph

The pattern of ice on the grass of the golf course creates simple abstract paintings...

"Winter Golf Course"

photograph

And the broken fence next to Middle Bridge speaks volumes to me about age, tenacity and the beauty of the worn...

"Broken Fence"

photograph

In the Studio...

Daily Artist 2016 is moving along.  March is my chosen month to complete a finished piece of work every day.  Tuesday's was a small mixed media piece based on a photograph taken on River Street...

"Stone Wall in the Snow"

watercolor, pencil and marker

I went for a very cold--14 degree--walk in the village and was struck by the shadow patterns in Middle Bridge....

"Middle Bridge"

photograph

And ice is more evident than snow since this winter has been almost snowless.  Its patterns around stones are interesting...

"Frozen Pebbles"

watercolor, colored pencil and marker

Since I am in the studio a lot these days, I stopped at the library and picked up three books on cd to listen to while I'm working.

Daily Artist 2016

On February first, Daily Artist 2016 began.  I promised to work in the studio every day this year and post once a week.  Here is my first post from last week.  It is the finished drawing of a barn we drove by in the German countryside during our trip to Europe last summer.

"German Barn"

6 1/4" x 9" - soft pencil on gessoed paper

I have a couple of larger concepts for the year, but I'm not ready to reveal them yet....

"Small Works" at Artistree

At this time of year, there are many area exhibits that feature less expensive works for holiday gifting.  At Artistree in South Pomfret, VT, the current show is just that.  Interestingly, in addition to the framed paintings, the sculptures and ceramics, there is a special wall titled "50 @ 50" the idea being that there are fifty 7" x 7" panels, each of them available for purchase for $50.  Here is the wall as it looked earlier today.

Hmmmmm--I count 55 panels.  Below is my pen and ink drawing entitled "Ancient Tree"...

There is an exciting diversity of media and styles and over half of the panels have already been purchased though the show goes on until December 19th.  There was quite a rush to buy last Friday at the opening reception.  If you're in the neighborhood, stop by to see the show.  The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 4 pm or by appointment.

Dewey's Pond

Yesterday was a fine, warm November day to gather with the Odanaksis artists at Dewey's Pond in Quechee.  The sun was shining and there was a little breeze and we all know that any day now it will be cold and snowy--making the day even more special.

I took up a seat looking over the pond toward the west and using my Sharpie, sketched what I saw in my traveling sketchbook.  My watercolor brush with the water in the handle, accessed by squeezing the barrel, works well for this kind of sketch.

"Dewey's Pond"

watercolor and marker - 5 1/2" x 9"

Although the foliage was actually a bit muted, I decided that being a bit fauvist would be fun.  So, my painting looks a bit more peak foliage than it was...

Painting with Sandy

Yesterday was too wet to paint outdoors and too dark to paint in the studio so Sandy and I set up in the kitchen with a fall flower bouquet and got out our watercolors.  Working back and forth on two paintings is a good way to go so on a damp day like yesterday.  One can dry a bit while I work on the other.  At the end of the session, I had two studies, this first, a light and breezy painting.  I may go back in and add a few details...

"Fall Flowers"

watercolor - 4" x 6"

The next one is my attempt to add a dark background to make the flowers stand out.  I also sprayed it with water to soften parts but maybe I got carried away a bit...

"Chrysanthemums"

watercolor - 4" x 6"

So, I decided to add some marker lines to clarify details and edges and pump it up a little and I'm pretty happy with it now...

"Chrysanthemums"

watercolor and marker - 4" x 6"

As I get back to painting after a very busy season of guests and travel, it's fun and very accessible to start by working small.