Touching Water exhibit - opening

I'm so happy to announce  the opening of 

"Touching Water"

at the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in Old Lyme, CT 

this Friday, July 15th from 5-7pm
(click image below to enlarge)

 I've spent a good portion of the last year working on these.  My friend Judy Benson (journalist for The Day - our local newspaper) has collaborated with me on yet another series - this time, moving up the coast from Barn Island to the Connecticut River....my latest favorite paintings!  Seventeen new ones from various spots on the river, along with a few from Barn Island that I wanted to share again.  

I've also got several of my sketchbooks in the exhibit as well (though those are not for sale, only the oil paintings are). I'll be talking about some of my techniques during the "Gallery Talk" at 5:30 that evening! 

Looking forward to seeing you there! 

Using Sketches as the Basis of Your Oil Paintings - CT River Paintings

"Hey, but you're an oil painter; what are you doing spending so much time making watercolor sketches"? 

 Lately, I'm really enjoying my sketchbooks in a much more meaningful way.  I had kept several sketchbooks going at a time over the last many years. One was for the garden only, going season to season. A different one was for travel and some miscellaneous things, as well as stuffing travels bits & bobs in there (tickets, ephemera, etc). Yet another was to work up larger oil paintings, though only in pencil or marker.  Last of all, I had started a nature journal of sorts...though on larger, nicer paper....and something "clicked".  

It began last autumn as the weather got colder and winter winds kicked in.  We had a relatively "mild winter" last year in CT, meaning - we still had cold spells, but not much snow fall.  So rather than hauling out all my oil painting gear and dealing with cold hands and wind, I found it easier to bring along my sketchbook and small watercolor kit to record these places (as I'm working on a show of CT River paintings).  Set up time and painting time was quicker - after all - it was like I was out there gathering visual notes for a studio painting rather than completing a finished painting in the raw New England winter air. And when it was truly nor'easter type winds, I'd paint in my car. Working in a watercolor sketchbook in my car was so much simpler than the winter I tried oil painting in the front seat of my mini-Cooper! (never again!!). 

So, now you've got a good idea of what I've been up to lately! And you're getting a small preview of my upcoming show at the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library in July!

Swoop - Swish - Sail

6"x8" oil on Belgian  linen mounted on panel

For more information about this painting, click here, or contact me here.

Swoop, swish, swing, sail 

flying over water in a 

summer's dance.

Breeze blow, send me away

then return me across the waves.

Brilliant sun, beaming, 

warming my bones...

from my toes

to the smile on my face. 

Ah, summer is wonderful. I had the good fortune to take a sailboat ride with friends this past weekend. It has provided lots of material for some delightful summer paintings.  I'm not a sailor, but I do love watching the way these boats move. A masterful sailor seems to become one with the boat, and it is as graceful as a dance.