"Purple Shadow, Lavender Sky"

"Purple Shadow, Lavender Sky"

6x6

Oil on Panel

starting bid $50

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The sun had finally come out on Islesford Maine, and we had one more day to paint in our Henry Isaac/Ashley Bryan Labor Day Weekend workshop. (What a joy THAT was) But seeing the sun after nothing but fog and rain brought our some colors in me I didn't know I had, and it brought out a looseness I can't usually get even if I try. Go ahead and bid, you might get this for a bargain price!

Lavender Delphinium

6x6 oil on panel

Available at Auction on Daily Paintworks

Starting bid $75

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Here's another ode to summer in the middle of winter. I think posting flowers is a good idea, don't you? Last summer, I was sad when a big storm knocked down all my delphinium just as they filled out. But the upside is I got to pick massive handfuls of them for the house. This one was lucky enough to go to the studio and get painted. I am getting excited about painting flowers with strong shadows from a strong close light!

Lantern

"Lantern"

12x12

Oil on Canvas

auction: starting bid $175

Buy it now $590

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When I was on Cape Cod, friends of my host invited me to come into their yard and paint. It was hidden, peaceful, set in the woods but open to the beautiful cove. Out beyond (in the upper right) was a small spit of land that divided the cove from a larger Seconsett harbor. These people had traveled extensively and had brought back beautiful artifacts from Japan. This lantern was one of them. I liked the way its presence punctuated the space. For a long time the lantern was fighting with the tree for dominance, but I think the lantern won.

Woman With Cello #1

6x6

oil on panel

I had an opportunity today to paint a chamber music ensemble, Music at Eden's Edge  at the North Shore Art Association in a "really open rehearsal" open for listening and for artists to paint and draw. 

It was an absolute delight and I did two paint sketches. I haven't had time to determine if they are finished so I will not price them at this time, but I wanted to share them. Now, it is a challenge to paint figures, and I haven't done it for some time, and it is even more of a challenge when they are moving, and playing their instruments! I was particularly taken with the cello player in her white dress. I kept remembering a May Sartom poem: 

"Girl With Cello" by May Sarton

There had been no such music here until

A girl came in from falling dark and snow

To bring into this house her glowing cello

As if some silent, magic animal.

She sat, head bent, her long hair all a-spill

Over the breathing wood, and drew the bow.

There had been no such music here until

A girl came in from falling dark and snow.

And she drew out that sound so like a wail,

A rich dark suffering joy, as if to show

All that a wrist holds and fingers know

When they caress a magic animal.

There had been no such music here until

A girl came in from falling dark and snow.