Paintings Make Great Gifts! The 2014 Edition

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to Long Island paintings I have available for sale. This is actually Part 3, Parts 1 & 2 were posted last December. (You can see them here & here.)

My Lighthouse

Painted last July plein air.  Matted. Frame NOT included

Watercolor, 7.5" x 9.5"

$250

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Big Duck 2

One of my favorite unique Long Island places - The Big Duck

Watercolor, 13.5" x 10", Mat only. Frame NOT included.

$300

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In Memorium

Painted plein air.

Watercolor, 14" x 10.5", Matted

$350

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Blue Sky, Red Roof

Love that blue blue sky & the red roofs of so many buildings by the sea.

Watercolor, 13.5" x 10", Matted

$350

Day 10 - 30/30 Challenge - Dune Path, Sunken Meadow

Dune Path, Sunken Meadow, watercolor, 10.5" w x 7" h

Another busy day! Today we met at The Art Guild for some clean up and prep for our re-opening show on September 20 (reception & open house Sunday September 21, 3-6 pm). There were lots of things to put in order and so I had to really squeeze in a painting today!

This watercolor is painted from a bunch of photos I took on a very quick walk at Sunken Meadow State Park a couple of weeks ago. This dune over looks the Long Island Sound to the north and Stony Brook to the east. To the right of this area of dunes is a lovely tidal marsh and on the other side of the creek there are walking trails covering acres of wooded hills. I think it's interesting that sometimes blue in the sky is sky and sometimes it's how we represent clouds on an overcast day.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 5 - 30/30 Challenge - Orient Lighthouse Progress

Orient Lighthouse, Sunset, pastel, unfinished

Under the heading of "Yes, you've seen this before." The painting of Orient Point Lighthouse is coming along nicely. I would say this is about 60% done in this picture. The rocks and the lighthouse, need to be more clear - some more definition. I've already done more with the sky than is in this picture. I'll post the final tomorrow.

My goal in this 30/30 Challenge is not necessarily to paint 30 finished pieces in 30 days, but to paint every day for 30 days. With a solo show coming in November and some other life changes, this time around, just painting everyday will be enough to get a substantial bit of work done.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Fire Island Lighthouse Show - June 26 - July 20.

After School Activities, Monhegan Schoolhouse

watercolor, approx 10x14, $350

In Memorium

watercolor, approx 10x14", $350

I am proud to announce that for the sixth year my work has been accepted into the Fire Island Lighthouse's Annual Art Show. (The two paintings above.) 

This show means so much to me for so many reasons. In addition to being the first show I entered after  beginning to paint (as in "fine art" paint) it is one of my absolute favorite places.

Growing up on the south shore, the Fire Island Lighthouse was the first lighthouse I knew about - the only one I could see from out little town beach. There it was winking at me across the Great South Bay, every 7.5 seconds, "Hello....hello...hello..."

When I was about 10 or 12, the Junior Audubon Society took a trip over there and we stood under its (crumbling) magnificence. The guide explained how, once-upon-a-time, the end of Fire Island was less than 200 yards from where we were standing (it's now approx 5 miles away). How the mail and supply boat could pull right up to the base of the lighthouse (the bay is maybe 200 yards away now). I was fascinated – and hooked.

By 1973 it was decommissioned and the beacon moved to the Robert Moses Causeway water tower to the east. There was serious consideration to knocking it down. I was heartbroken – how could they? Luckily, local outcry got results and they stopped the plans. Long story short, in 1986 the Lighthouse was recommissioned.

Today it's part of the Fire Island National Seashore, but much of it's day-to-day funding and the maintenance of the beacon itself, comes from the work of the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, a non-profit that gives tours, puts on events and collects donations to keep the place running. It's still one of the prettiest places I know of – far from the hum of suburban life. Few cars are allowed here – the salty air is filled with only the call of red winged blackbirds, gulls, and other birds, the crash of waves and the occasional happy "ting!" of a bicycle bell. It is peaceful.

So – I would be delighted and honored for you all to join me (and about 100 other artists and their guests) for the Artist's Reception, Thursday June 26 from 6 - 9 pm. (Details HERE).

Day 30 - 30/30 Challenge - Spring Evening, Sod Farm

Spring Evening, Sod Farm

Pastel on colorfix paper, 6" x 6", $35

(Available in my Etsy shop.)

Paint Brushes Down! Hands Up!

DONE!

It was not always easy. It was not always on time. Did real work (and by that I mean the stuff that actually pays bills - I'm being realistic here) get in the way? Sometimes. Some paintings, I'm not wild about. But overall? It feels good to have started the year this way.

About this painting: I am always drawn to the flatness of the farms on the North Fork of Long Island. Spring evenings make all the colors glow and intensify. The green sod, the colors in the eastern sky against a bank of bluey-purpley-grey storm clouds combine and contrast to make something really beautiful.

On a technical note: The paper this pastel is done on is a good example of re-using and re-purposing. I had started a watercolor painting on Arches 140lb cold press watercolor paper. It didn't turn out well and I tried to scrub it down and start over again, but it was too stained. I could have just used the other side, but I received a jar of Colorfix Primer at Christmas that I've been dying to try out.

I just painted it on the paper and when it dried it had a great textured surface that pastel just clung to. Super stuff!  It comes in colors and white (which you can tint with watercolor or acrylic).

Tomorrow I'll post all the images from the month!

Day 8 - 30/30 Challenge - BIG Duck!

Big Duck

Watercolor, 6" x 6", $35

SOLD!

In the grip of a polar vortex(!), I needed to look forward to spring, so I found some pictures of the Big Duck in Flanders, NY, taken last March.

What is the Big Duck? The Big Duck is a very sweet (now) landmark building envisioned by duck farmer Martin Maurer, and built by Broadway set designers, the Collins Brothers, and crafted by locals George Reeve, John Smith, and Merlin Yeager in 1931. (Long Island was home to hundreds of duck farms - "Long Island duckling" was a big thing!) It is made of cement (its eyes are Model T tail lights!) and Mr. Maurer sold ducks and duck eggs from its tummy. The Duck has moved a couple of times, is taken care of by Friends of the Big Duck, and is now a tourism center for the East End.

So, here's a confession - whenever I drive out to the south fork of Long Island, I shout out, "Hi Duck!" as I pass him. Have I mentioned that I'm six years old? (Oh, and for the record? He has an air conditioner in his butt. Jus' sayin'.)

Paintings For Sale - Long Island Part 2

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to the Long Island paintings I have available for sale in my Etsy shop. The eleven paintings in this collage,  are approx 6"x6", in various media, starting at $35 each. Part 3 to come!
(If you've seen something that's not posted here, please contact me.)

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase any of these paintings

Autumn, Uplands Farm

Corn and Oysters, North Fork Farmstand

Early Evening, Orient Village

SOLD!

Rottcamp's Farm, Tractor

Moonrise at Sunset, Fire Island Lighthouse

SOLD!

Evening Thunderstorm, Sod Farm

Winter Walk, Jessup's Neck

Elderfields, Port Washington

Greenhouse, Bailey Arboretum

Kayaks, End of the Season SOLD!

Little Red Maple

Paintings For Sale - Long Island Part 1

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to Long Island paintings I have available for sale. Part 2 to come!
(If you've seen something that's not posted here, please contact me.)

Sunset, Centre Island Beach

Oil Pastels, 16.5"w x 12.5"h (mat included)

$350 (Free Shipping)

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Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset

Oil Pastels, 10w x 14.75h (mat included)

$300 (Free Shipping)

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Yellow Farmstand in Winter, Orient Harbor

Watercolor, 15.75x10.75 (mat included)
$300 (includes shipping)

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Red Barn, Cutchogue

Watercolor, 16"w x10.5"h (mat included)
$350 (includes shipping)

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Evening at the Boatyard, Greenport

Watercolor,  11.5"w x 14"h
$300 (includes shipping)

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Moonrise, Orient

Pastel,  16"h x 21"w (mat included)
$400 (includes shipping)
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After the Blizzard, Bayville

Watercolor,  14"w x 10"h (mat included)
$300 (includes shipping)

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Winter Vineyard

Pastel,  9"h x 12"w
SOLD

The Sundial

Watercolor,  8.75"w x 13"h (mat included)
SOLD
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Wild Daffodils

Watercolor and colored pencil,  13.5"w x 10.125"h 

$300 (includes shipping)