Things That I Remind Myself When Painting

It often seems so simple when an instructor shows me how to improve my work. They make it look so easy. What's worse is that I tell myself, "I know that, why didn't I do that?" I think that some of these things are not yet intuitive, or maybe they just are not yet ingrained in my memory. Perhaps after a few years, they will just pop to the surface.


I am starting, very, very slowly to see things that need improvement in my and other artists' painting. Still, I know that I don't always see things the way the experts see them.

Some items that I need to remind myself when painting:

• When composing a painting, design a direction that will lead the eye into the painting and keep it there.
• Soften edges to allow items to fade into the distance or to become less important.
• Sharpen a few edges to pull the eye to the desired areas.
• Use highlights sparingly.
• Distribuite colors around the canvas rather than containing them to one area. This unifies the design.
• Bring in background color for shadows and to help to add dimension to items.
• Watch for curved items and remember to blend dark to light to establish three dimensions.
• When painting leaves, use a large brush and add the color in one big swipe. Later go back and add details but keep it simple.
• When painting reflections, especially in water, the reflected image is slightly lighter and less defined than the image being reflected.

Club Auction Painting

The Northford Women's Club held their annual Holiday Auction in November. I donated this painting of a china cup and saucer. My friend, Michelle, bid the highest and she now owns this little gem.

The auction raised more than ever before, and was a lot of fun.

"I'll Have Coffee" - Oil on canvas over panel, 6"x8"

Raffle Winner

This teapot painting was raffled at the 47th on the Green show in Glastonbury. It is a 6"x8" original oil painting, on canvas over panel. The winner is Nancy Cretaro of Manchester, CT. Congratulations, Nancy!

Maine Coastline

This is a painting that I did on a trip to Maine last year from high above Camden Harbor. It was so scenic, but very difficult to do a painting from above and from a long distance. I started it there, but put it away until recently. I now have more information on how to adjust color and tone for distances, so the resulting painting is much better.

I went up to Maine with a couple of other friends to visit a friend who was staying at her husband's sister's house there while they were away. It was so pretty there. I especially loved Camden for its charm.

Oil on Canvas over panel, 9"x11", $300.

Charles Island

Silver Sands Beach in Milford has a nice boardwalk with marshes filled with wildlife and a nice strip of beach from which you can see Charles Island. It was named after Charles Dern, a former owner of the island. There is a sandbar that extends out towards the island, making it nearly accessible by land during low tides. This was a crisp fall day and the winds were really kicking up. It was perfect weather for sailing.

"Charles Island" 9x12 $295 Available at Something of Bev's

Tilly Foster Farm

I took a workshop with Marc Hanson recently at Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster, NY. It was a great workshop. There were 13 of us, all very serious about our artwork. With Marc's direction, we all did a small black and white study, then did three different sizes of a view that we liked. Each time, I was able to work out the details and values of the painting. Marc is a good teacher. He was able to critique everyone as they worked and his advice really helped. His demos were inspiring. He really puts a lot of time and attention to his paintings, even the smallest of details. The scene that he painted seemed fairly plain, but he made it look so special and interesting.

Tilly Foster Farm is a public park that has animals like chickens, sheep, a large horse stable, turkeys, cows, and two very interesting pigs. There were so many scenes to paint, it was hard to choose one. In the end, I chose one in which I could stand in the shade, as it was pretty hot after a while of being in the sun, and I chose a really neat looking barn. It was early morning, so the shadows were long and interesting. We had mostly great weather that week, except Friday, but we worked inside the last two days, so it didn't matter.

Thursday evening, Marc did a nocturne demo at a nearby lake that was so cool. I have not yet tried it, but I hope to do one soon.

I was happy with my painting of this large barn. I feel like I learned quite a bit during that week, if only I can remember it all. It was so nice to do nothing but art all week, too. I know that I will do the black and white studies, and have already done one on a recent painting trip to a nearby farm. It is very helpful.

Painting: Morning, "Tilly Foster Farm," 16x20, $650.

Prepping for My First Big Art Festival

The first major art festival that I will show my work in is coming up soon. It's the 47th On the Green Fine Art & Craft Show in Glastonbury, CT. It is three weeks away, which doesn't give me much time. I managed to get most of my materials together for the display, including three new ProPanels and some joining hardware and some small tables.

I also ordered new business cards, updated my portfolio, bought a new receipt book, ordered a banner and a stamp, created and printed out new brochures, and bought a new cart. While that is good progress, I still need to varnish some paintings, finish some others, frame some recent work, and finalize my price list. I also want to make some weights for the tent.

To make things more complicated, I'm taking a workshop next week with Marc Hanson in Brewster, NY. I'm really hoping to get some good work out of that. I love Marc's work and it promises to be a good workshop. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate at least some of the time. After all, it's all about plein air.

I was hoping to get some postcards out, but it seems like the Glastonbury Art guild has not decided on a design for the cards yet. I would need to order them from VistaPrint and then mail them out. It's getting down to the wire, though.

I managed to get a booth that faces Hubbard street. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it will make setup easier, at least. If the crowds are good, I may get some business. I have a nice selection of landscapes, still lifes, and seascapes now. I also have a huge painting that I want to show. It will be a great focal point for the exhibit.

Hopefully, the weather will be cool and nice. Last year, I think that it rained. You just never know what it will do.