Shells and Badges

Here's the Ocean City Painting. I really toned down the badges for a couple of reasons...not sure about copyrights on the badges themselves and I don't want to do a painting thats restricted to one geographical location...but still, there is enough showing that locals would recognize the badges. Really I'm just in love (still) with the orange clams and mussel shells. I have a few details and a bit of glazing left on the wood to do...but this is pretty much finished.
I was really happy with the timing on this...Began Tuesday night, finished Sunday morning...about 12 hours "brush to canvas". A couple of years ago this would have taken me three times that amount of time. Working everyday, wether painting or drawing, has given me an increased ability to work directly and efficiently that I just couldn't imagine when I used to paint only occasionaly. The only probelm is that the more I learn how to paint...the higher ( my self set )standardard raises and the more I realize I need to learn. I find myself having to make harder and harder choices in choosing what to paint...but that should be another post.

Young Lady's Sunglasses

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I saw these on sale at the craft store where I sometimes buy supplies...and just knew I had to paint em.
I've been working on the larger piece for the last few days...should be ready for a photo tomorrow afternoon...so stay tuned!!

The Wee Lassy glasses are 8x10 panel

even more sunglasses

Well this makes number five in the sunglass series. 8x10 oil on panel.
I've been working on a larger painting for the Ocean City show in two weeks...I'll post when finished...here is a pic of the set up tho.
I did quite well with the one day art sale in Ventnor last Saturday..sold two larger pieces..Yeeha! One was the 'Angelwings on Board' paintings posted here last month!

Little Black Eyed Susan

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Thought I was out of time to do any more painting before the weekend, but I just squeezed this one in....or out depending on your view
4x6 oil/canvas

Two more Cherry Paintings

5x7 oil on panels



..For those of you who may wonder, all these small paintings( and most of the large ones) that I post on this blog are for sale. I was pricing the works when I first started blogging, then I stopped...the main reason being that I haven't reached a definative pricing scale for my work...I will say this I do offer discounts on multiple purchases. If you are interested in any of these you can reach me at my email address CLAW4JC@aol.com or via the inquiry link on my website. Sometime in the coming year I plan on opening a paypal account and possibly branching over to ebay. Right now for the summer, I'm just too busy doing shows and fairs to devote the time here on the computer...there is so much to learn.
...Anyway I've done two additional cherry paintings as I sold the other two. My first Internet Sale!! ....besides I love painting Cherries, especially as my interest in beachy subjects is waning. I have two more small 4x6 panels and one 8x10 to complete by Wednesday evening for the show this Saturday in Ventnor. After that I'll be returning to some larger more involved work.

More moonshells

I'm starting to get just a wee bit tired of the small shells, but with the trays of them on my work table it's so easy to place a quick arrangement. I have one more planned larger "beach" painting...more beach badges...this time from Ocean City. I belong to the Art Center there ( a very nice place ) I really enjoy their boardwalk Artshow every August...The show is Huge I think last years' was close to a hundred artists! ...Anyway here is yet another 8x10 shell painting..oil on panel

More Glasses

It wasn't sunny, but I did this little 8x10 outside anyway. Painting a brightly colored towel was much more challenging then sand.

Rainy Day Hydrangea

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The cool hues of an overcast day were perfectly seen in this hydrangea on a windowsill. My kitchen windowsill is my favorite spot for a flower...something to look at while I do the dishes! I hadn't planned on painting this one but he's been working on me for almost a week now...the cloudy day giving the nice dark background made it just too perfect to resist.
8x10 oil/panel

Sunglasses

After painting and selling the other sunglass paintings I felt I needed to do one out in the actual sunlight. Real outddor light is vastly different then an indoor spotlight. I even have one of those full spectrum bulbs, but nothing beats the real sun!! Now of course i keep thinking about how interesting the reflections might be on the real beach!!...Anyway these are from yesterday, today it's quite cloudy rainy and dark. I just completed a nice painting of a hydrangea in a jar on my windowsill, but its too dark to photograph...perhaps tomorrow. Anyway here are the real SUNglasses 8x10 oil/panel

Summer Treats: Watermelon Study & Owen

Along with cherries I love to paint slices of watermelon...and then eat them.... so I dashed this one out rather quickly. I also had to share some with my cat Owen 'cause he just Loves watermelon! He kept trying to hop up onto the tabel where the stilllife was set so I made sure to let him have his own cat-sized slice. Such a strange beast! He also loves cantelope and honeydew.

Painting 9x12 oil/panel

Same Place Last Year

..I didn't get a picture of myself at the CapeMay show this year, but I can show you last year's. That was the first time I had shown my work publicly in almost ten years....I was so nervous. New paintings and a new Tent!!! I didn't sell a lot, but I sold a couple of more expensive paintings that made it a much better show financialy then this years'. I know these outdoor shows can be unpredictable and when I do them I always keep my expectations pretty open...that way I can have a good time.Interaction with the public and other artists is always an interesting experience, and just spending the day looking at the Ocean is a pleasure.
..My next show is in two weeks in the City Of Ventnor which is the town next to Atlantic City here at the Jersey Shore. I'm looking forward to this one, my Fathers Grandfather was City Clerk of Ventnor for 25 years back in the 30s & 40s so I have a real feeling of roots in that town. Plus I lived there myself for 13 years back in the 80s. A nice town with a great boardwalk and a beautiful view of the Atlantic City Sklyline!
..Check in tomorrow for a pic of the Watermelon painting I finished tonight.

Not at the Beach

It's the 4th of July and I did my favorite holiday activity...painting. I really do not spend time sitting on the beach anymore.. especially during holiday weekends. These glasses were done from the cool comfort of my airconditioning! Heck I don't even like to go out at all during the holiday if I can help it...SO many people here at the shore...all of Pennsylvania it seems. I do feel blessed to live by the sea...its really great in September...less crowds! Then there's the beauty of winter storms and crisp Ocotber days...gosh I could go on and on. Even though I may gripe about the shoobies (what we call summer tourists here in south jersey ) The rythm of living in seaside resort has been a part of my life since I can remember. I will be out there with the crowds in a few days and I'm really looking forward to it!

Two Little Cherry Paintings

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The photos of these are bit off...it was getting dark outside, but I was eager to keep up with the updates. I do little paintings of cherries like this almost every summer...Its not that I set out to, but as soon as they come in season they first inspire my stomach...then when I start washing them I just can't resist trying to capture that shiny dark alizarin surface and the little whip-like stems. Last year I did them as cards in sepia. These are 5x7 canvases.SOLD