Welcome tothis web gallery of my original artwork. I paint in watercolor, oil, and soft pastel. Each medium has its own appeal. The surprises inherent in wet-in-wet watercolor painting are exciting. With oils, the process of mixing, layering and glazing hues of different values and temperature is engaging and rhythmic.
Soft pastel is a medium of particular vibrancy and immediacy. Almost pure pigment with minimal binder, pastel gives paintings a richness of color and stroke that is both characteristic and striking. By their shape and concentration of pigment, pastel sticks may be used in a linear or painterly manner, or some combination of the two. Preparing my own surfaces for pastel painting gives me the freedom to vary the texture and tone of the ground.
I enjoy combining media, such as using acrylic or watercolor as an underpainting for a soft pastel work. I have also been experimenting with gold metal leaf in combination with either oil or soft pastel.
My paintings reflect my love of the Maine coast, where sea, sky, and land meet in myriad and compelling ways. I am fascinated by shifts of weather, time of day and season which bring changes in light, shadow, and mood to each scene before me. I try to convey my response to and interpretation of the light play that enwraps the natural world and excites me.
Reflecting back, the last several years have been intense and stretching ones for me. I painted almost constantly and was fortunate to have the opportunity to exhibit much of my new work. My show Anticipations at Tidemark Gallery in April 2009 included work developed from anticipation of change, growth, surprise and even loss. From May 2008 well into 2009, I explored and painted the visual beauty of the Kennebec Estuary. My solo show, Along the Kennebec Estuary, presented this work at Mae's Cafe throughout summer 2009. I am grateful to the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust for their stewardship of this landscape and their encouragement of my painting journeys. The remaining paintings from the show were exhibited at the Maine Maritime Museum in fall 2009.
Monhegan Island has a special draw for me, as it has for well over a hundred years for other artists.Extended stays with five painting friends each September on the island are invigorating, challenging and satisfying. For the last four years we have shown our Monhegan work on the Mid Coast. Monhegan Perspectives III at Archipelago Fine Arts opened in fall 2010 featuring artwork inspired by our fall 2009 stay. This show was extended until May 20, 2011. Monhegan Perspectives IV ran from June 9 through September 25, 2011 at Mae's Cafe in Bath. This show presented the artwork inspired by our September 2010 stay, much of it created on island. We have just returned from a wonderful fall sojourn on Monhegan and look forward to showing our new work in 2012.
A slightly larger group of painting friends had its second show, Painting Maine II, at Damariscotta River Grill this summer.This group includes both traditional and more contemporary approaches to the landscape and interiors.The exhibit and sale featured soft pastel, oil and acrylic works. I continue to show my work regularly at Pemaquid Art Gallery and Archipelago in Rockland and from 2011 at Tidemark in Waldoboro. On October first of this year, 2011, my solo show, Field Work, opened at TIdemark. The paintings reflect a broad interpretation of fields, including domestic and wild, but also "fields" of color, fog, peat, snow and more.
As fall reaches into winter, I am anticipating many long quiet hours painting in the studio. I invite your comments on my paintings and this site. The Soft Pastel Gallery includes a selection of sold and currently available work created with soft pastels and at times, soft pastel with acrylic or gold metal leaf. The Oil Painting Gallery shows a similar mix of work done with oils. Please feel free to contact me about a specific painting. You may also order limited edition prints through the "Prints and Shows" page. Thank you for visiting!
Current and Upcoming
Ochre Sky, soft pastel on hand prepared panel. 21.5 x25.5" framed
SHOWS 2011
June 6 - September 25 Monhegan Perspectives IV six person show, Mae's Cafe, Bath, ME Opening Reception, Thursday June 9, 5 - 7 pm
June 27 - August 7 Painting Maine II small group show, Damariscotta River Grill
August A selection of my work will be shown at Archipelago, Rockland, ME
September 28 - October 29 Field Work solo show, Tidemark Gallery, Waldoboro, ME Opening Reception, Saturday October 1, 5 - 7
October 6 - November 26 On Monhegan six person show, Newcastle Square Realty Associates Main Street, Damariscotta, Maine
December 12 - January 24 Art of Giving small group show, Damariscotta River Grill Opening Reception Thursday December 15, 4 - 6
WRITING
The December 2010 issue of The Pastel Journal includes an article I wrote entitled "Get Art Smart" on nourishing your professional practice of painting. Links to the The Pastel Journal website and to online materials related to the article, click on the links below.
These paintings are now available as limited edition fine art prints through the "Prints and Shows" page.
Sea Gold on Lobster Cove Marsh Notes Sasanoa River Buoy Sail Play
TEACHING New teaching site: Gallery II studio (part of River Arts), 241 US Route One, Damariscotta
8 Week Class
The Practice of Soft Pastel Painting
January 17 – March 6Tuesdays9 am to 1 pm
This eight week class is for experienced, dedicated painters who are building a personal practice of committed painting and artistic challenge.Each four hour class will include exploration of artistic principles, soft pastel techniques and personal goals through discussion, instruction, demonstration and tailored exercises.During extensive painting in class, each person will be individually mentored at his or her level of development.Returning or new students with moderate to extensive experience using soft pastels are welcome.References from former or current students are available.
$360 for 8 week course (4 hour classes)
Maximum class size 7 students
One Day Workshop
Exploring Your Artistic Style
Tuesday, April 39 am to 3 pm
The major focus of this workshop is on helping each participant consider their artwork in relation to their unique nature and artistic approach.You will be led in a guided self analysis of your painting style and goals along key dimensions. A sampling of paintings by master and contemporary artists will be analyzed as well.
The second focus of the workshop is on helping participants develop strategies to more effectively critique their own artwork.The emotional intent and expression of each piece will be considered as well as objective elements of design and execution. Through demonstration, exercises and discussion, participants will learn ways to constructively evaluate composition, palette selection, mark making and harmony of individual paintings.
Each participant may bring three paintings (in any medium) to the workshop, with ideally at least one in process rather than completed. Participants will learn ways to evaluate their work while in process rather than just when a work is considered finished.Moderate to extensive experience appropriate. Please bring a bag lunch.
$75 for 6 hour workshop
Maximum class size 12 participants
To receive more information and a registration form, please use contact box below.
Several of many recent paintings. . .
Windrows and Crows
Sky Field, Green
Rise
To Contact Me
For more images, please click buttons on above left.
Please note that image resolution is set for web use and does not reflect the true resolution of the artwork. All rights reserved. Updated November 2011.
