Blue and White

Blue and White

12x16

$300

Acrylic on paper

In my 50 day project, I have been alternating between realistic and abstract paintings. This piece is an attempt to bring the two together; the defined subject matter along with the range of brushes, palette knife and freer techniques. I like the bold contrasts and the complimentary color scheme. I think we've got "essence of iris" and "essence of tulip leaves"  for example, even though you may not see all clearly. It's challenging to step back from spelling it all out.

I am participating in the Hurricane Sandy fundraiser through Daily Paintworks. Artists donate a painting for auction and all profits go to Hurricane relief. I am currently looking for the best place to send funds and am open to suggestions.
The piece I am entering is now on auction. The minimum bid of $150 is far below the regular price of $470 so you are likely to get a good deal! The location pictured is at Colton Pond in Vermont, along rte.100 just past the intersection of rte. 4 and rte.100. A nice quiet and beautiful place to stop for a picnic! Long range views of the mountains and a very private setting. I was the only car there the day I painted this. It is a good sized piece at 12"x25"

Colton Pond 12x25  oil on panel   opening bid $150

"Afire"

"Afire"

12x16

Oil on Arches Oil Paper

$180

This started as an abstract to music. I knew I wanted the golden center, but was surprised at how it progressed. As the painting developed darker edges, I started to sense of something burning so I went with that. I love the linear quality against the background colors, and the hot center against the cooler edges.

"The Lineup"

The Lineup

12x16

Oil on Arches Oil Paper

$180

Waiting for my "Young Artist" students, jars of liquid acrylics stand erect in the shadow-casting light. 

"Lotus Pod and Milkweed""

"Lotus Pod and Milkweed"

12x16

Acrylic on paper

$150

This piece is a favorite. I worked from a dry lotus pod and milkweed pod, drawing them freely in the paint over and over, overlapping. Then I applied paint by large and small brush, dry brush, and palette knife, absolutely enjoying the process. Some sections disappeared and some remained. I love the colors bouncing off of each other. I like how the acrylic allows heavy application of paint and many layers in quick succession. One of the segments of the lotus pod had just one seed in it and it felt special to me, so I gave it a great spot in the composition.

detail "Lotus Pod and Milkweed"

detail "Lotus Pod and Milkweed"

 detail "Lotus Pod and Milkweed"

"Light"

"Light"

acrylic on paper

12x16

$150

The first of the larger, more complicated abstracts. Completed the day the doctor told me he recommends surgery with a positive outcome highly likely for my cronic pain from spinal stenosis. To walk without pain seems like it would be heaven, like moving toward the light. I broke out the pearlescent paints. Scared but hopeful.

detail of "Light"

 Detail of "Light"

 detail of "Light"

Remembrance -The Pink Chair Project #16 - "Barrier Beach"

               

"Barrier Beach"

Oil on Panel

12x16

Framed; Available for delayed sale (see below)

$565

  

When My friend and I went to Cape Cod to paint, we both found it very difficult to get started. It was too sunny and hot; I couldn’t set up the easel with the umbrella because the wind would blow it away. I set up the chair and then realized that the tide was coming in too fast to do the painting that way. Then I moved the chair and tried again, but the rocks kept getting covered with too much water. And my feet hurt, and I felt all discombobulated. So I did the best I could and when we quit, was delighted to find a lunch place with air conditioning. Later in the studio, I reworked the painting and combined three different images. What made it work was more rocks, bigger rocks, and water coming right under the chair.

Each time I start a painting series, I have incredible barriers to overcome. This trip was no exception. There’s that lesson from Mom again – where there’s a will there’s a way……..and my own translations: just keep on keeping on, and put one foot in front of the other…….eventually you will make it. Thanks Mom, again, for this lesson.

See the pink chair? That's where I placed it first but it was about to get drowned.

I am now sharing my current show with my readers and daily paintworks viewers. This show is currently traveling and unreserved work will be available for purchase after the travel is completed, around mid-2014. Paintings may be held until then with a 10% down payment. E-mail me or see my pink chair project blog, for details. High quality giclee prints are available on paper or canvas in a range of sizes as well as blank cards with this image. E-mail me for further information.

This exhibit tells the story about painting a pink plastic Adirondack chair. The chair represents my mother, Carolyn Elizabeth Pedersen Schulte, of Rochester, NY, who passed on June 5th, 2011. She was a wonderful woman, full of love for everyone around her, and she loved this bright color pink. She was proud of me as an artist and would love what I am doing. I take the chair to favorite places of hers and to places or situations I know she would have liked. It is a way for me to grieve and to celebrate her life. I talk to her as I paint and make sure that she would want to be where the chair has been placed.

Remembrance -The Pink Chair Project #4 - "Circle of Friends"

Circle of Friends

9x9

Watercolor and Gouache

$295

Delayed Sale

This Painting is Available, see below

I took one of my beloved trips to York, Maine. Besides the required trip to Stonewall Kitchens for tastes of all their goodies and lunch, I like to go to the John Hancock Wharf. It is a beautiful spot on the York River. It has a nice pier and it also shares the location with a great gallery, the George Marshall Store Gallery.

This is a great little gallery that has contemporary and traditional art. I'd like them to represent me some day. It was the store that sold the stuff that John Hancock's Wharf unloaded. Eventually it became a central trading spot for all kinds of merchandise. So the spot has history, and art, and lots of beauty.

It was a gorgeous day and I did not have the pink chair with me but I decided I would paint anyway, because conditions were so perfect. I set up my paints and easel on the wharf (found shade and a great view) and started laying out my composition and getting in a few base colors on a small piece of paper. I suddenly did a double take. There, in the upper left of what was going to be my composition, was a pink Adirondack chair just like mine, with other colors. It was in the perfect spot for my composition. I literally had not seen any of the chairs when I set up. Did you put it there, Mom? I swear I hadn't seen it at all. As my sister Georgie said, Cool…..what I thought of is that the chairs with "Mom" were her friends visiting.  She would so much more enjoy a beautiful day with others than alone, right?  Well, I gladly painted them in. 

I am now sharing my current show with my readers and daily paintworks viewers. This show is currently traveling and will be available for purchase after the travel is completed, around mid-2014. Art work may be held until then with a 10% down payment. E-mail me or see my pink chair project blog, for details

This exhibit tells the story about painting a pink plastic Adirondack chair. The chair represents my mother, Carolyn Elizabeth Pedersen Schulte, of Rochester, NY, who passed on June 5th, 2011. She was a wonderful woman, full of love for everyone around her, and she loved this bright color pink. She was proud of me as an artist and would love what I am doing. I take the chair to favorite places of hers and to places or situations I know she would have liked. It is a way for me to grieve and to celebrate her life. I talk to her as I paint and make sure that she would want to be where the chair has been placed. 

Remembrance -The Pink Chair Project #3 - "Camden View"

Camden View

10x14

Watercolor and Gouache

$375

Delayed Sale

This Painting is Available, see below

After doing the two pink chair paintings at the cabin, I realized that I was looking at my new series. The bottom line was that I just didn't want to do anything else and I felt that this process would help me in my grieving. I had sat for a long time with Mom's book, reading again all she wrote about her life. What a gift that was! But now I was ready to move ahead in public and I had a whole day ahead of me. I decided that because it was a rare good weather day, to go up the auto road at Mount Battie in Camden. 

It really caught some eyes as I put the pink chair out on the edge. Tourists enjoying the view were saying "Boy, you really want to be comfortable up here". But as I spread out my paints and sat a distance away, my purpose became clear. Throughout the afternoon, people stopped and talked. I used a combination of transparent watercolor under opaque gouache, a new thing for me this summer, which I like better than transparent watercolor alone. I told the story of my mother and the chair over and over, and gave out the business cards that seemed to please people. Telling it over and over seemed to help me. The afternoon wore on and the crowd thinned. I slowed down as I got near the end, very reluctant to go. But finally, with the sun setting and the chill coming in, I finally picked up my paints and headed home. I really love this piece. I am transported back there instantly when I look at it.

I am now sharing my current show with my readers and daily paintworks viewers. This show is currently traveling and will be available for purchase after the travel is completed, around mid-2014. Art work may be held until then with a 10% down payment. E-mail me or see my pink chair project blog, for details

This exhibit tells the story about painting a pink plastic Adirondack chair. The chair represents my mother, Carolyn Elizabeth Pedersen Schulte, of Rochester, NY, who passed on June 5th, 2011. She was a wonderful woman, full of love for everyone around her, and she loved this bright color pink. She was proud of me as an artist and would love what I am doing. I take the chair to favorite places of hers and to places or situations I know she would have liked. It is a way for me to grieve and to celebrate her life. I talk to her as I paint and make sure that she would want to be where the chair has been placed. 

Remembrance - The Pink Chair Project #2 "Between Sunlight and Shadow"

Between Sunlight and Shadow

12x16

Oil on Panel

$565 Delayed Sale

available 

I was taken at how the chair sat on the line between light and dark in the yard and decided to paint it there. I had been reading Alla Prima, a Richard Schmid book on painting, at the cottage, and I decided to follow some of his advice to create a strong painting. I took a lot of care with this painting, doing an under painting first, so I could check the composition and value areas. I was not prepared for what happened. As I carefully started to paint the pink chair into the work, all of a sudden I sensed the presence of my mother. She was there! in the chair! And she has stayed with me through this adventure.

The underpainting I did first

I completed the painting on site but later touched it up in the studio. When you first do a plein-air painting, there often are areas that are missed or need enhancing. It is a delicate dance to touch up without losing the original feeling. As I sat there ready to work on this piece in my studio, I felt again the sense of Mom being there.

I am now sharing my current show with my readers and daily paintworks viewers. This show is currently traveling and will be available for purchase after the travel is completed, around mid-2014. Art work may be held until then with a 10% down payment. E-mail me or see my pink chair project blog, for details

This exhibit tells the story about painting a pink plastic Adirondack chair. The chair represents my mother, Carolyn Elizabeth Pedersen Schulte, of Rochester, NY, who passed on June 5th, 2011. She was a wonderful woman, full of love for everyone around her, and she loved this bright color pink. She was proud of me as an artist and would love what I am doing. I take the chair to favorite places of hers and to places or situations I know she would have liked. It is a way for me to grieve and to celebrate her life. I talk to her as I paint and make sure that she would want to be where the chair has been placed. 

Here's the book!

A Murder in the Garden Club
Cover Illustration
12x16 oil on canvas

Here's what the book looks like with my cover on it! A Murder in the Garden Club by Neal Sanders is available on Amazon

A Murder in the Garden Club part 1

A Murder in the Garden Club

12x16

Oil on Canvas

Sold

OK, this was fun. I did this painting to be used as the cover for a book by a friend, Neal Sanders (available through Amazon, and a good read too). It was fun to see it published. In painting it, I wanted to show a normal suburban setting, but get a somewhat sinister sense, like something is not quite right. I did that through the mood of the light, with an approaching storm and a watering can tipped over with  - what??? - dribbling out of it. Soon I will start on his next book's cover - "Murder for a Worthy Cause". 

Salt Pond View

Salt Pond View

12x16

Oil on Panel

Sold

When you finally get to the Cape, and work your way down Rte 6 toward the outer area, you finally get to the main visitor center for the Cape Cod National Seashore, and you have checked the exhibits, and used the restroom, you step out the back and this is what you see. I cannot go to Eastham without stopping here. It is a spectacular view.

Spring Marsh

Spring Marsh
12x16
Oil on Panel
SOLD

This is one of my favorite pieces for this time of year and I wanted to share it with you, even though it was sold. The colors tell just what is happening right now in the coastal marshes.I painted it at the Cox Reservation in Essex, MA. This gorgeous place was the home of renowned muralist Allyn Cox, who gave the property to the conservation group, Essex Greenbelt.

From their website: "The studio barn, which served as Cox’s Studio, still contains many of the tools used by Allyn Cox to practice and create his murals. Some of the implements on display include old canvas stretchers, brushes, and palettes. One of his murals is permanently on display. For one weekend every June, Greenbelt hosts an art exhibit and sale. Two barns are converted into colorful galleries, and display and sell the artwork of over 130 local Essex County artists.

The view there that I painted is often referred to as "Motif #2". It is a place where artists are always welcome and can find lots to paint.

Framed "New Organ Today"

"New Organ Today"

12x16

Oil on Canvas

$465

Right next to the Scala Art Center, where I have my studio and teach classes, there is a historic building, formerly a school, that houses the Noack Organ Company. I've loved the building for a long time, and liked it even better after visiting the building for their new organ open house, which they hold each time an organ is completed. This organ was amazing. It was so big it could not fit in the open room of the two story building, so we viewed it in parts. I think it had over 4000 pipes. I painted this the day of the open house, before it started, and went over later.