Stitch--ed

Have been experimenting with thread lately. Top watercolor is from a childhood photograph from a Halloween in 94' while I was dressed up as a princess. Titled, "Missed Mommy".

Cut

watercolor, 8" x 11" 

I have been holding onto old family photos from years back and always felt there would be a time when I knew what to create from the images. The images of missed smiles of family shots or accidental flashes when not looking create a moment of truth. The image begins to truly speak for itself during this moment. Anyhow, I chose to paint an old family photo of myself and two cousins in Tennessee waiting for our family to take a picture near the overlook. Two pieces of paper were chosen as the ground to relate to the distant feeling of the children and the adults. 

Lindsay--AH!

Sorry, everyone for my lack of posts. See, I am trying to get myself (and art) ready for my solo show on August 4th...needless to say, there is a LOT of painting I need to do, a lot of press release business, and a LOT of schmoozing with people to try to entice them to come! YEESH. None of these things are easy to balance in a life with a full work-week. Boo!

Enough pouting. Here is a little sketch I did at work a few weeks ago after Lauren's suntanning woman picture. I did this lady MANY favors through artistic license. She looks 10 years younger and about 30 pounds thinner. Better than LIPO!

Long Beach Island, NJ

I spent two days in Long Beach Island, NJ this weekend and was inspired by many children playing with shovels, building sand castle while swarms of parents sit near the warm Atlantic ocean. Brightly striped umbrellas lingered across the soft sand. As many artists, I am often affected by a change of scenery such as this and will often use the new location's palette in my artwork during the plein air painting. Ocean colors such as peach orange, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and sea foam green, will seep into my pieces-- often soon after I am gone. Summer near the ocean or mountains of Montana will surely do that to an artist. 

7" x 7" watercolor

A collection of found sea shells in the ocean and scattered them about.

8" x 10" watercolor and pencil

A family couple was enjoying themselves at the beach. First was inspired by another brightly lit beach chair. Got to say, I am in love with those chairs. Quirky colors- Always! 

5" x 5" watercolor

Aunt's friend Allen sitting near personal sand moat on the beach. Cigar in hand. 

8" x 10" watercolor

Used a silhouette with color behind the bay to quickly capture the sunset in LBI, NJ. 

Experimenting, Growing, Developing

Here are some sketches that were done RIGHT after Lauren left. Of course, I have CONTINUED painting daily since--which means that I need to apprehend my mother's SUPERNICE camera to take some pictures of what I've been up to...I've also been doing some painting with my oils.

I am experimenting with different ways to use watercolor. Painting from a picture is ALWAYS easier than painting from life, and I suppose you can see that in this painting of a fisherman on Fabbiano paper (bought IN Italy when I lived there), 5''x7''.

A gentleman came into the park on a home-made motorbike (a Schwinn bike with his own makeshift motor) wanting to travel around Montana for the next few months. On the day that he left, he told us that he had to leave behind a bag and some clothing that were weighing him down. Inspecting what he discarded, we found a stack of family photographs (one that closely resembles this one, above) inside! Since we were going to throw the photos away, I felt that I needed to give it the afterlife that it deserves in the only way that I know how--through painting! 5x7 Fabbiano

Flew 2,345 miles to see a Minnich!

My oh my. ...Last Thursday, June 17th, I recently arrived back to the garden state with a bundle of new watercolors to show from glorious adventures in Montana. Lindsay Minnich and I plein air painted along side Glacier National Park and near many other incredible views. The landscapes all throughout the state never decreased any of my creativity whatsoever. Endless possibilities with compositions and color. 

(2) Plein air Glacier National Park. 5" x 5" watercolor and pencil 

Sinclar Gas Station in Babb, MT, 5" x 5" , watercolor 

Babb, MT, 5" x 5" , watercolor 

Old Church in Babb, MT, 5" x 5" , watercolor 

Kila, MT, 5" x 5" , watercolor. 

Used different paper than above. Cold press paper lighter pound. I noticed the quality of pigment on the surface immediately. More smooth and flat. 

Near Whitefish, MT, 5" x 5" , watercolor and pen

Used Lindsay's pen and drew inspiration from her continuous contour line sketches. Really enjoyed the free spirit of the line. 

St. Ignatius, MT, 4" x 4" , watercolor 

Well, after the bus from Kalispell to Big Timber, MT made the bus driver curse loudly to avoid a deadly crash, I had a great amount of time to sketch in St. Ignatius, MT. This navy topped farm house was located to the right of the bus and just was begging to be cared for or noticed. 

BACK!

I'm sure that Miss Lauren Whitney will one day soon post on this blog...but I'm sure glad I beat her to the punch!

HA!

She traveled the 2456 miles from NJ to MT to visit me a week ago. During that time, we had a chance to do a bit of plein air painting in this gorgeous land from which I hail.

Check-check-check 'em out below...

Lauren's shoes in the grass--I made them red instead of off-white to give them some sass.

We kayaked to an island on Flathead Lake, painting supplies in tow, and sketched out this area next to Somers, MT.

A church in Babb, MT --just outside of Glacier National Park.

...also in Babb, MT (across the street from the church).