Looking Back, Wakefield Paint Out 2012

On this very rainy Tuesday, I decided to post my 2012 painting of another overcast day, Overcast Paint Out. (Still catching up!) I began my painting with a Transparent Oxide Red ground, which you can see peeking through the painting here. People who came by were intrigued by that. It adds some warmth to a rather chilly day.

Last year's Paint Out at Wakefield Farmers Market was a bit less wet than today, but threatening enough that our artist turnout was rather small. Rick Mercer, a member of the organizing group, invited Stapelton Kearns to paint with us and give a painting demonstration, too. (Artists DID turn out for that indoor activity!) You can see Stape here on the path, using his Gloucester easel. Stape's indoor demo was amazing. He conjured a seascape from memory.

I'm excited that painter Mary Taggart has offered to run this year's Paint Out, which will be held on Saturday, September 14; rain date Saturday, September 21, 2013. As always, artists paint from 9-noon and the Wet Paint Exhibit and Sale is from noon to 1 at the Farmers Market. I'll post an update as we near the date. It's always a nice time for painters or viewers, whether it's overcast or not! If you're interested to join in, please email Mary at mctpaint@yahoo.com

Melrose Arts Festival

Stop by the Melrose Arts Festival April 26-28!

Next weekend I'll be exhibiting paintings in the 8th annual Melrose Arts Festival.

I  hope you'll stop by and say hello if you're there Friday or Saturday. (Unfortunately, I won't be there on Sunday.) It's always a fun and comfortable event, (never affected by weather!), held indoors in Memorial Hall at 590 Main Street. Need Friday night plans? The Preview Party, from 7-10 pm, is a great time with wonderful food and music.

Below is a sneak preview of paintings that will be on display. Looking forward to seeing you!

Grateful

Stefan & Marc, brothers

Marc, our older son, ran in his first Marathon on Monday with other runners from his University. We first watched the race from mile 9. It was inspiring and joyous. After all of the runners from his school passed mile 9, we were bused into Boston to see them cross the finish line.

We had been trying to get close enough to see Marc and were a block down a side street when we heard and felt the explosions and saw the smoke. Frantic people were running away as we tried desperately to get to the finish line to learn if he was okay. Our awful "eternity" ended 15 or more minutes later when he was able to call us. Marc crossed the finish line 5-10 minutes before the first explosion. It took us a long time to finally meet and hours to get out of Boston. But we were safe and together.

We did not witness the most horrific part of this tragedy and realize how incredibly lucky we are that our family is intact.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families who have suffered loss and injury.

Spencer Pierce Little Farm, plein air

Why does the blog heading become gibberish when I post it? 

This has mystified me for awhile. I'll see if I can fix it. If you know the answer, I'd love to hear it!

I promised I'd catch you up with paintings I completed while absent from my blog:

Here's a plein air painting of Spencer Pierce Little Farm, a beautiful place in Newbury, MA. Built in 1690, more than one hundred years before Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was published, I couldn't help imagining a family life that was just as lively and engaging in this place. I plan to paint there again. You just need to turn your head and easel and there's another picture!

Meanwhile, I've tweaked some code and feel like I've just tinkered with the engine of a car. I also tried something a friend recommended. Let's see what happens. I'm going to post this now... Here's hoping the gibberish is gone!

Moving right along...

Here are two more plaster cast paintings, (around 16 x 20"), from Kelly Carmody's class. Raw Umber + Ivory Black were mixed together to create a relatively neutral dark and then Titanium White was added to create discreet piles of light to dark values. Once the paintings were blocked in using the 5 values, strings of light to dark paint were created and used to model form.

Learning to paint well involves learning to see and it really takes time and practice! These types of studies require constant comparisons of lights and darks. It's critical to keep the "lights with the lights" and the "darks with the darks" in order to achieve the effect of light falling across the form. It was challenging to judge the values. The darkest dark was not "black" and the lightest light was not white.

At many painting ateliers, students work on just one of these studies for months. Although I certainly understand how that approach can lead to great understanding and control, as an older, eager painter, I'm moving along very quickly, learning as much as I can from my imperfect studies.

February 20, 2013

Well, it's been a wee bit over a year since my last post. Imagine that!

Imagine also, all the the good, challenging and sad things that can happen to any family. Many have happened to mine over the past two years. We all experience ups and downs, so it's not unusual, but sometimes you have to shrink your world a bit and focus on family. So, I did.

BUT, I have kept painting and will catch you up. A few months ago I started taking a class with the very talented artist, Kelly Carmody and have been working on some exercises to fill the holes in my art education and improve my work. Here's the first plaster cast painting I completed in Kelly's class. The value of this exercise, (artists, please excuse the pun), is to understand the planes of the face and how light travels across the forms.

Good news! My small portrait painting (in my previous post), Pensive, Portrait of Jenny won second place in oils at the fall Reading Art Association exhibit and was later juried into and then sold at Concord Art Association. I heard she's found a good home, so I'm very happy about that.

See you all soon!

Portrait of Jenny, 6" x 8"

I'm back!
Here's a recent portrait sketch I did of a delightful young girl, in a pensive pose. The lighting was natural, which means what we happened to have that day—overhead daylight flourescent and sunlight through windows. Despite the challenge, it was a pleasure to paint Jenny and I hope to paint her again in the near future.

Settling In and Open House

I hope to be at the Holiday Open House on Friday, December 9th, 6-8pm. 
If you can, pop in and see the art and say hello to the artists who will definitely be there!
 
I've been working on some larger paintings lately, while getting things moved into my new studio. What a challenging process it is, to get all set up, but I cannot complain! It's awesome and inspiring to have this space to paint in, with kind, talented, and hardworking artists as neighbors.

Happy Holidays, everyone. Wishing you a joyful season.

The Artists' Muse Reception

Hi All,

I'm excited to announce that very recently (like a week ago) I started sharing a studio with artist Brent Rotsko, in Amesbury, MA. So, of course we're working hard to be ready for this Friday's Reception. Amesbury's 15th Annual Open Studio Tour takes place this Saturday and Sunday.

The Artists' Muse

9 Water Street

Amesbury, MA

Reception

Friday, November 4

6-9 pm

Amesbury's 15th Annual Open Studio Tour

Saturday, November 5

10 am-4pm

Sunday, November 6

12 noon-4pm
www.amesburystudiotour.com

For awhile now, I've known that my blog title arrives garbled in emails. I'm testing this new, simplified template and hope this fixes the problem. I have a new website, too and would love to hear what you think: www.pamperras.com

If you're in Amesbury, please stop by and say hello!
Cheers!

Silent Pines of Grace

Tuesday was overcast, but beautiful in New Hampshire. Leaves are just beginning to change color. I could hear the pattering of raindrops, but didn't feel them; the trees sheltered me. Once the rain stopped, it was so quiet. Pine needles carpeted the path. I enjoyed a mini-vacation in Grace's neighborhood.

Paint Out Speed Painting!

Here is my painting from that gloriously beautiful day, at The Wakefield Paint Out by the Lake. Having organized the event, I spent more time working on it than at my easel for about a month, so it was such a treat to be out there painting, FINALLY!

Whether you're an artist or art lover, if you're in the area in 2012, please consider joining us! The Farmers Market, where it's held, is one of the best around, The Wakefield Paint Out is great fun, and it's a pleasure to meet other artists and art lovers. We're going to be working on The Paint Out way in advance next year, so you'll receive ample notice. 

Thanks again to: The Savings Bank, Sponsor; Wendy Dennis, Wakefield Farmers Market Manager and The Crew; Kendall Inglese, Executive Director, Wakefield Chamber of Commmerce, artist Robin Thornhill, Lynnfield Art Guild, Merchants of Wakefield who participated in the Art Walk; Lady with a Pen, Sanborn Day Adult Day Care, Greenwood Wine & Spirits, Ristorante Molise, Tootsie's Coffee Corner, ZuZu's Cafe & Catering, The UPS Store, Kelli Stromski, Maura Racamato, Cathy Wensley, The Center for Performing Arts, and All the Paint Out Artists!

Wakefield Plein Air Paint Out!

It was a gorgeous, perfect day for plein air painting in the Paint Out by the Lake at Wakefield Farmers Market this past Saturday. It looked festive as can be, with red balloons floating above artists' easels. As the organizer and greeter of artists, I got off to a late start, but had a great time anyway—speed painting! This photo, courtesy of Kendall Inglese, shows the artists exhibiting their finished paintings at the Wet Paint Exhibit and Sale.

This year the Paint Out is donating 20% of proceeds to The Wakefield Center for Performing Arts, a new and state-of-the-art theater that has already wowed local audiences with jazz concerts, theater performances and lectures. It's always a challenge asking people for money to support causes. This one's worthy. Soon enough their reputation will precede them and enthusiastic support will come from loyal customers and businesses who want to be a part of a great thing.

Now that this event is done, I'll be painting more! (Yay!) See you soon.

Plein Air Paint Out this Saturday

I've been super busy organizing the third annual Paint Out. This year we've gotten businesses to host an Art Walk. What an undertaking. Next year must be easier! I have ideas already on how to streamline the process, thank goodness.

Artists can still register the day of the Paint Out. If you live locally, enjoy a morning at the Farmers Market and watch artists paint! It's going to be SUNNY on our last chance rain date! : )

Potential

Here's the second painting I did at Amy's, while spending the morning with Band of Brushes friends.

It's can be exhilarating to paint with such intensity (and speed) as I did on that overcast day. The concentrated looking and the trusting of instinct that's required, feel like a good workout when I'm done! I learn a lot when I change my approach to painting now and then.

Amy's Garden

This is one of my favorite paintings from this summer. I experimented with my block-in, using transparent oxide red and viridian. I painted two small painting that day in Amy's garden. I was determined to paint like there was no tomorrow, since it was my first time painting with Band of Brushes in so long! It was great to see friends.

Amy, a generous acquaintance of one of our members, and a talented artist and quilter, http://duringquiettime.blogspot.com/, invited our group to paint on her property. I guess I was pretty excited to be painting. It wasn't until I returned home that I saw that I had forgotten to wear my glasses while painting! Thus, the lovely, painterly quality! I may paint sans glasses more often!

Backyard Coneflowers

This painting was done quickly during a much-needed break this summer. I wasn't able to venture far, so it was nice to find models who agreed to pose for me right at home.

Stefan at the Hatch Shell

My younger teen on a rainy day in Boston. A little less rainy than today. Stefan's older brother, Marc, played piano with the high school jazz ensemble. At the Hatch Shell! The dampness didn't dampen our spirits. All the performing high school jazz bands had our feet tapping. It was very cool.

Thankfulness

It was difficult for me to post to my blog after such an emotional time. My Dad passed away two months ago, on July 6th. I sketched this while chatting with him during a visit at Rehab. He was 94 years old, and leaves behind my Mom, who is 84. A World War II vet who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Dad received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. But that's not all, of course.

You know, from a distance, one can be philosophical and say, "How fortunate; he lived such a long life." And although that's true (and I've thought that of others in the past), I've come to realize it doesn't begin to touch on the personal, complex feelings, that include loss and also, for me, the positive way he touched so many lives in our family. He was a gentle man and a gentleman, of that notable generation, with strong values and a nice sense of humor. He led by example and was loving and good-humored until the end. All of my siblings felt he became the essence of Dad in the final days. We are grateful to have had him as long as we did!

Returning soon...

Dear Visitors,

It's been such a busy time, with Life Events occurring in this order:

• work done—and re-done correctly—on our house,
  (good for us and the environment, but ever-so-frustrating);
• scary, emergency-type illness of my Dad (now in rehab, which is good);
• an end-of-the-school-year tragedy that caused hearts to break;
• and finally, happy events of my sons and their cousins.

Treasure the people you love, use your time wisely, give a little to others! :)

I hope you're all well.
See you soon,
Pam

Son, 11 x 14"

Well, you've met the kitties. This is my son, Stefan, proud owner of Fred and Jacques. Working from a photo, which I haven't often done, I found it easier to focus on other aspects of painting. The drawing stage is easy since Stefan didn't move a bit! The fact that it's already two dimensional made it easier to see the colors and values of the photo, too, I suspect. I started this painting in Cameron's class and once again, was so excited, I couldn't wait to work on it at home. I stayed up late and nearly finished it and then tweaked it once or twice after that. I'm glad I captured Stefan in his teens. Now I need to do another painting of my older son, Marc, using what I've learned. Hopefully Marc will pose for me again...live. (I do prefer that!)

In between, I've experimented on my smaller paintings using Liquin and then no medium, thin, thick, fluid and not. Eventually I'd like to combine techniques. So much to learn and sometimes it feels like there's so little time! Having fun, though. Thanks for visiting!