South Portland Art in the Park

Thank you to all of you who stopped by my space... It is always lovely to see you. The South Portland Art in the Park is one of my favorite art shows to do. Mill Creek Park is beautiful, the food is great, and my artist friends are a wonderful source of inspiration. Click here to see more pics on Facebook. Mark your calendar for next year if you are looking for a fun outing. Saturday, August 14, 2012. Just across Casco Bay Bridge is downtown Portland, Maine. You cannot beat it!

Portsmouth Harbour near South Street

The view from New Castle is wonderful. At one point as you get closer to Portsmouth, you can see the colorful houses that dot the shore. Always a charming sight. The piece pictured here above the fireplace is of that area and a little more. Thank you to G and E... I loved working on this for you.

South Portland Art in the Park Saturday

South Portland Art in the Park is tomorrow at lovely Mill Creek Park from 9 to 5. I am at site #5. Join me and tons of other artists for a fabulous day! Watercolor, photography, acrylic, oil. And the weather is going to be PERFECT. While you are in the Portland area, you can check out the Portland Headlight, go to a charming shop or cafe, or take in the coast.... either way, it's all good.
Best in color.... Rose

Finishing touches

I just finished and delivered a commision this August for a lovely family in New Castle. It is of a view of Portsmouth from one of the areas across the water in New Castle. The original direction given to me was a run-on of descriptive possibilities... water, coastal, beach, marsh, blues, greens, (not pink... got it, Ed!), light in feeling, somewhat abstract, but still recognizable. We looked at the place the painting would finally be hung. They looked at pictures of my work and showed me other images they felt comfortable with. I showed them three "sketches". Then many days later, a viewing of progress on the canvas, then conversation. Making a painting for someone else always starts off as a big informational stew... and then somehow, one piece emerges. The process was a joint effort... the owners had visual boundaries and concepts they felt comfortable with in art and they were able to share them with me as I worked on the painting. The painting is now happily hanging above their fireplace... and it was just in time for a wedding party for their son and his wife. (No pressure there! :-). Thank you G and E, for having my work in your home. I hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

Painting Babies

I don't know... a little wierd, but I absolutely LOVE the painting of "Roulin's Baby" by Van Gogh. I rounded the corner in the National Gallery of Art last year and there it was... even more wonderful than it is on the postcard in this photo. (By the way, this postcard was sent to my husband in 1978 by a previous girlfriend at the time... evidently we share similar tastes :-) And I've hung on to the card and to him a lot longer than she did). I'm going soon to visit the painting again. In anticipation, I have been thinking of ways to incorporate the same color simplicity as in "the baby" painting... but not use actual human babies in the process. I don't think I could pull that off and still be considered sane. So I'm thinking of using another kind of baby. My neighbor, Lisa, has all kinds of animals running around in her yard... dogs, puppies, chickens. Her pug puppy, Cupcake, is SO cute. So I'm leaning in the direction of this little pug face. What do you think? Green, white, a touch of blue and a soft mention of redish mauve. Will it work?