December 2008

“Last Night”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

This is quite possibly my last Martha’s Vineyard painting as I will be packing and on the road for Texas from now until New Years. I may attempt a painting along the way, but sometimes the van has a mind of its own and just wants to get there quickly…

“Early October”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

This was painted before sunrise on an early, hazy day in October. I could never decide if it was finished or not. Last night I added a few flourishes and now it is complete… Sometimes it is good to let a painting sit for a contemplative period to better understand what was done and perhaps why…. Often times the question or problem I thought I was grappling with becomes resolved in working on the next few paintings. And the knowledge is now there to complete the earlier piece….

“Snow, Light”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

Another start in the car painting and finish in the studio…

“Light, Snow”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

This was a hard one to capture, as snow was still falling when I went out. I did some work in the car and finished up in the studio…

“No Chocolates”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

I over ate the chocolates last time I painted them. This time it was a pleasure not to have any chocolates to eat as I finished this piece…

“Lighthouse, Boat Ramp”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. $500.00 US

I didn’t know what I would find when I drove out to Eel Pond, view or wind wise. The sun was near setting and was illuminating and reflecting off of the Chappaquidick Lighthouse on the Eastern horizon. Light was reflected back to contrast against a low lying cloud bank such that the lighthouse was literally full of light…

“Tomahawk, Hi & Dry”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

The Tomahawk is one of the last of the fleet of charter fishing boats to be hauled out for the winter. Captain Buddy Vanderhoop works the waters as long and hard as he can while the game fish are still out of hibernation and catchable. His vessel must have just been hauled out. The rich black of the hull contrasted fiercely witht the subtle, soft, winter seaside colors all around it. The Tomahawk was a painting in my mind the instant my eyes came upon her. Work had to proceeed from inside my van as the wind and rain left me no quarter in which to hide…

“Tip of the Chop”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

With the wind from the SE gusting to 36 mph from my right and the temperature hovering near 60, it was a charm being out there. And it was pure luck that this painting came back with no sand on it. Gratefully, it had rained and the sand hugged the ground without lofting. Some days things look bad but they all work out just right…

“Last One”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

Sometimes the day just is not long enough to stand outside to paint…

To purchase, please click Go to my eBay auction, Bidding starts at $100.00 US.

“Bluebird Happiness”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

I have painted the left side of this field and the houses and ocean beyond at least 3 other times this fall. (You can discover them on my website.) There are 6 bluebird houses set out in the grass and I have not placed any of them in the other paintings as I didn’t feel I could do them justice. The stonewall shadows have also intrigued me in the late day light. This evening in my wanderings about looking for today’s piece to paint, I tresspassed to the other side of the wall and my lightbulb went off. This was it. I raced back into my studio, grabbed my gear and many layers of clothing and gloves and painted into the twilight…Oh, and did I mention cold again?!

“Chilmark’s Chocolate”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

Around this time each year, Chilmark Chocolates shares their odd lots with the community. They do this by giving the post office chocolates to put out on the counter for all who come in to leave or pick up mail. Needless to say, it is my only favorite season to go and get my mail! After nibbling some there, I realized the full pieces would be a great still life and I could write it off as a business expense. Giddyup, I went straight over to the store and got 2 boxes to contemplate. Today’s painting, hopefully, is one of a series I will do while this miserable weather keeps me in chocolate, er, indoors… Thank you, Chilmark Chocolates!

“Pomegranate In Two”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

A day indoors contemplating bad weather and the color red…

“Split Rock”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

This painting was a request from a few weeks ago. The wind and weather had conspired against me until today with wind coming from the South, but rain possible at any moment. I tried out my painter friend’s new Open Box M easel and tripod in a waterproof box in a waterproof backpack. It turned out to be a very enjoyable mile hike to and down the beach to get the view I liked. The borrowed gear was very comfortable. I could have hiked farther with ease and will again soon…

“A Fig for All”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

Today’s work is a still life. It was just too cold and windy to go outside today to do a land or seascape…

“Nomans from Allen Farm”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

This is a view I anticipated was actually there, but wouldn’t know for sure without walking out to the high point of the field. The clouds had been looking ominous for over an hour when I chose to go out. There appeared to be canyons between the cloud banks and setting sunlight was piercing through creating wondrous bands of color… The windchill was wicked and I had to stop in the middle and run back to the car for my gloves!

“Coasting to Sunset”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. $500.00 US

Another painting from the beach in the cold (gloves definitely on) evening light. It got even more spectacular after this. I posted a sunset photo of this scene on my page in Facebook for any of you who are on Facebook to look at…

“Winter Gold”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

After absently mindedly walking through a group of bright orange colored deer hunters, I decided to do this painting from the beach…

“Why We Are Here”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. This painting has SOLD.

The surf was the only thing which looked paintable to me today. It was another gray, overcast and windy day…

“I Was Right There”, this is a Small painting, 6″x 8″, oil on canvas panel. $500.00 US

The sun started to come out. It was 58 degrees. I was out of the wind, and it is December…