"Outcropping"

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

What appealed to me as I was snapping photos of this scene on Isle au Haut in Maine, was the way the rocks converge toward the base of the trees. This introduces a type of radial balance into the composition which is not a real common arrangement in art. Personally, I think I'm most comfortable with informal, asymmetrical balance in my compositions. I like to play around with larger vs. smaller shapes, bright vs. neutral colors, dark vs. light values, and simple vs. complex areas in the painting, all somewhat loosley arranged like nature itself.

"Country Road" - SOLD

Acrylic   6"x8"   Canvas Board 

Another path...this one nearly 2,000 miles inland from the one I posted a few days ago. This dirt road runs right past the little country school I went to from first through eighth grade. We used to play in these trees at recess. The school building is, remarkably, still there and so are the memories.

"Ocean Path" - SOLD

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

The subject of this painting was an inviting path along the shore at Acadia National Park. Part of what appealed to me was the way the sun lit the pink rocks near the shore and the “purplely” shadows across the path.

"Window Box"

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

This window box brightens the front of a weathered building on the edge of the harbor in Stonington, Maine. Walking along the main road through town, you can catch glimpses of the bright blue water and lobster boats between the distinctive shops and houses. Everywhere I looked, I found appealing subjects like this one to paint. The town is a painter’s dream, and I can’t wait to go back there someday.

"Low Tide"

Acrylic  6"x8"  Canvas Board 

Finally, a new painting posted on my blog. It’s been a long time, but the time hasn’t been wasted. For the past couple of months, I’ve been trying to paint a little bit every day. In spite of how difficult that is, I’m convinced it’s the single most important discipline I can pursue if I have any hope of growing as an artist. I won’t post every painting that results from this renewed effort. My focus is on learning and, if one out of every few paintings is worth posting, I’ll be excited to share my progress.

So, here’s one from my trip to Maine last summer. It’s an island near Stonington, photographed in the clear, morning light as we passed by on our way to spend the day on Isle au Haut. When I look at this painting, I can’t help daydreaming about spending a week or two camping and painting on this little island, watching the tides and lobster boats come and go. I’m including the value sketch I did to work out the lights and darks before starting the painting. Getting the values right in a painting is infinitely more important than getting the colors exactly right. Not sure I achieved that but, hey, that's something I'm working on, too.