10 Annual Joy of Art Opening Reception

Julie and I aattended a woderful opening reception at the Crooker Gallery, Thopsham Public Library in Topsham Maine this afternoon.  It's always enjoyable to meet other artists and supporters of the arts and to see the many different expressions from different artists.  This Gallery and event is where I took my first steps to show my work outside the family (four years ago) and the staff was as warm, encouraging, and as welcoming as ever.

I entered two pieces in this juried exhibition.  A watercolor (Moonlight, Ice Out, Androscoggin) and an acrylic (Midcoast Marsh).

My watercolor, "Moonlight, Ice Out, Androscoggin" won first prize in the watercolor division.

I was speaking with another artist about her landscape painting, which I particularly admired, when a couple stopped by to listen to the conversation.  We spoke of the joys and challenges of painting on location and how it informs our work.  

The couple asked me what paintings I had entered in the show.   They then asked me to talk to them about my Midcoast Marsh painting.  I was able to describe to them the location which was the inspiration for the painting and about  my process for choosing and executing a subject.

"Would you consider parting with it?" and with that the painting was sold!  I'll write more about that soon.  It was so rewarding to hear the couple share their memories that my painting had stirred up of growing up in and around marshes and that Midcoast Marsh would have a home in thier cottage.

Thanks again to the Friends of the Topsham Public Library for this wonderful opportunity.

Country Church - Work in Progress

Do you have a favorite painting or drawing?


Here is my latest work in progress.  It's a small country church based on the watercolor below, which was completed on location years ago in Bowdoinham, Maine.   It's at a stage where I'll set aside awhile to see if there is anything else I'd like to add when I look at it with "fresh eyes" so to speak.

I had the good fortune to strike up a friendship and correspondence with the illustrator Bob Harris for the last decade of his life.  He was so generous with his advice and so encouraging.  He'd often laugh and say how difficult it was and how important it was  to know when a painting was done - before it was finished!  It's so easy to overcomplicate subjects and to leave little to the imagination for the viewer.

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see."   Edgar Degas

I really do like this watercolor sketch below, not because of how it turned out or any technical learning from the painting.  It does have a special place for me because it was the first painting I'd done on location once we'd moved up to Lisbon Falls.  I have so many impressions and memories of trips up and down this road with so many more subjects to paint.

My favorite painting or drawing?  The next one!!

Below are a few quick compositional sketches for the charcoal drawing above.  I did these sketches within 5 minutes and then moved onto the charcoal.

I'll likely do some paintings based on the finished sketch as well.

Stroudwater Colonial - Opening night

Here is a picutre of my charcoal "Stroudwater Colonial" which was accepted for the River Arts Gallery Exhibition - Black and White - Currently on display in Damriscotta.

My wife, Julie, also had two works accepted for this show - Her first juried exhibition!!  Congratulations honey!  Julie is gifted at avoiding having her picture taken, but that is another story.  It was a wonderful evening with family and new friends!

I'm submitting two paintings for jurying at the Crooker gallery in Topsham later this week.

Adroscoggin River, Ice Breaking by moonlight (watercolor)

Midcoast Marsh - Acrylic on Canvas Board