2 Selfies

I've joined a workshop for teachers with Cheryl Milligan, an accomplished Mentor teacher. The assignment we were given was to do 2 selfportraits. One a "smoothie" and one "Slash and Dash." In giving them names they exhibit to students the range they can achieve, the choices they can make. Most beginners opt for the highly detailed Smoothie when the Slash and Dash can convey much more emotion. Lighting the face is crucial. Strong shadows convey drama as well as bone structure.

Another afternoon at the Sayer farm

 

Sitting in the Evening Sun

 A little sketch I did of Mr Sayer. After working on a painting we sat on the hillside and enjoyed a glass of wine.

Painting out at Sayers Farm

Sunday was a cool sunny afternoon. I painted out at Sayers farm. It felt good to paint on site after a few weeks of not painting at all.  

Painting with Friends in the Adirondacks.

 Painting the Ausable Lakes from Indian Head.

 Kate painting at Cascade Brook

 My exhibit at the Corscaden Barn Gallery in Keene Valley.

 Marcy field and the Great Range . Keene Valley

 Painting St Brendan,s Church in Keene with Maggie.

 

 Bear Miller painting on Chapel Pond

 Tim Carrington painting at Marcy Field.

Here are some of the paintings in this years show at The Corscaden Gallery that I was particularly pleased with.

Keene Valley Raku

 

Here are some pictures of my latest batch of Raku vases based on birch bark from Keene Valley. I actually used a piece of downed birch log from the Trails End Inn to create the texture. I make them intentionally rough instead of trompe l'oeil (fool the eye) because I still want the nature of the clay to be apparent and when you see birch resting on the ground it really looks like this.  I also created a tile based on my ink drawing of a forest scene. It came out very calligraphic and abstract. I like it.   

Portrait of an Artist (as a Young Man)

 Last winter my friend Bear Miller painted my portrait. Here I'm getting him back.  11x14 pastel.  Working in pastel is the best. You can layer, erase, scrape, brush off,  wash. Much more forgiving than oil.

Morning Cloud

 At dawn in Keene Valley I grab a coffee and walk to a small pond where they used to harvest ice in the old days. It's right across from the local school. This particular morning a cloud hovered over the pond and dissipated as the sun rose and  revealed the mountains behind. I chose to focus on the cloud before it disappeared because it seemd such an ethereal presence. 11x17in pastel

Crooked Tree, Johns Brook

 Johns Brook is a boulder strewn, fast running river in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks. This tree is a survivor, twisting its own path to the sun. 11x14in pastel.

New paintings

 Moving Cloud -pastel 11x14in

this is the view from the field at Keene Valley Central School at dawn. I noticed this  pinkish cloud rise up in an arc and disappear in the sun.

 

 

HIDDEN 12x 24in oil

At Chapel Pond near Keene Valley, NY a fallen tree

lies hidden under the surface like a sleeping giant.  

 

White House, Blue Shadow  9x12in oil

MECA Week-Feed You Soul -at Maine College of Art

 Just got home from a week painting in Maine. My goal was a painting a day, playing in Irish sessions (2) and sampling the local brews. I must say I accomplished them all.

Marshes and Big Skies

 Okatie Rive SC.

Dundee Creek , MD   I think I detect a theme here.

Googan"s Island , wolf neck. Maine

 

I am spending a week in Maine at MECA. my goal is a plein air  painting a day. The trick is finding what I want to paint. I drove to Freeport(and turned right for a couple of miles)  to find this island view.  oil 10x10in.