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!

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.

After Degas—Portrait of a Young Woman

 

Every once in awhile I love to copy a master painting. From exercises like this I can learn so much: color mixing, painting techniques that are new to me, composition, and even drawing skills. Because I initially had such difficulty with the painting, I stopped and drew her first.

Prom Dresses at Rada's, Wakefield

I've mentioned Mary Taggart, a local artist I paint with now and then. We couldn't resist standing on Main Street one very chilly, windy Sunday, to paint Rada's window display. My easel blew over before we even got started and the sunlight lit up the shop window, as well as our canvases (bad glare!), so we turned our easels sideways to the subject and turned our heads back and forth to paint! Such are the challenges and fun, of plein air painting. We had a blast. My painting looked rather sketchy when we called it quits and I finished it up at home—as a sketch...study? What's the difference? Anyone know? Can't wait to go again. Ready, Mary?

Breakheart Reservation, 6 x 8"

This painting was done en plein air*, in the beginning of the summer. I'll be posting recently finished paintings in the next few days, but thought I'd revisit a warmer day today, since right now my feet are chilled in my studio! This was my first painting in Breakheart Reservation and I remember feeling eager to catch the light before it all changed. Although there are elements I could tweak, I think it's a successful field study. When I work on small paintings outside, I'm interested to capture as much as I can in those 2-3 hours, and learn as much as possible to fill up my "memory bank" and increase my collection of studies. Someday, when I'm more consistently good at plein air painting and I have that knowledge stored up, I'll be able to use all of that to create larger paintings from my studies. I've done a few already, and love how my memories of the day return while I'm painting.

*In case the term is new to you, plein air painting is done outdoors, directly from nature, often in one session. It's one of the more challenging ways to paint, since the artist contends with changing light, wind, weather, bugs...but those who do it love being in nature and find it's the best way to learn about painting it! SOLD

Autumn Apple, homage to Julian Merrow-Smith

Although I've been drawing most of my life, I returned to painting seriously about five years ago. Whenever I paint, my goals tantalizingly beckon and then shift just out of reach. And, that's the way it should be; there's always so much to learn! When I painted my set-up, I tried to notice how the plate and apple were affected as they turned away from the light; how the colors shifted from warm to cool. Painting a still life offers me an opportunity to experiment with how I paint, and to really look and learn…intensely!

If you haven't yet seen Julian Merrow-Smith's Postcard from Provence, I hope you'll visit his site by clicking on the name link. His still life paintings are powerful and strong…beautiful and inspiring to me. I sure don't mind learning from his work! SOLD

"Tic Tac Toe–Peaches"

I thought I'd offer you some peaches and post a freshly picked apple next. This oil painting, "Tic Tac Toe–Peaches"  is 6 x 8". If you are interested in purchasing a painting, please contact me. Thanks for taking a look and please leave a comment if you'd like; I love reading them!

And we're off—Pam Perras Posts Paintings!

Here's my first brush with a blog of my own, to feature my work, large and small. I hope you'll visit often to see what's new.