Still Life for a Good Year (Digital Drawing)

I recently posted a drawing video that I made on my iPad. This is just a little still life for Rosh Hashana. I used the "Procreate" program, which captures a  stroke-by-stroke video as you draw, and also makes the final frame of your video a jpeg of thw drawing. But the final frame is usually a little rough, and it was in this case. So to make the image you see here, I shared the jpeg to the iCloud, opened it in the Painter program on my computer. Then I cleaned up the image with digital pastel, and straightened out the lettering.  Now I can use the image to wish everyone a sweet year ahead.

Still Life For A Good Year (Drawing Video)

Still Life for a Good Year (Drawing Video):  

Watch this drawing video: 

I made this  little animation this morning using Procreate on my iPad.  It's a little early but I had so much trouble getting this to post that I am gonna leave it here now.*  I also realize that I have drawn something similar a few years ago.  But then, there's nothing new about Rosh Hashana. And this time, there are pomegranates. 

Sending this out to wish those celebrating L'Shana Tova, and to wish everyone a sweet year ahead.

*I couldn't get it to post directly to Blogger, but you can follow the link above to see it.

Face to Face (My Dad and Me): Rescued Photo

A few days ago, while I was looking through a bunch of family photos, I came across a picture of me and my Dad. This was one of many wedding pictures taken by my Uncle Ike Fitterman, a very talented photographer.  He always did a great job of capturing people's faces and he certainly did that in this case. It was great to see myself face to face with my father.  But I could see why the photo hadn't made the cut for reprinting or framing.   This was taken in the Rabbi's office before the wedding began.  Unfortunately in the original photo, the background included a framed abstract painting, part of a wooden door, baseboard, and an electric outlet and wire.  I decided to try to rescue the photo.  I scanned it into my computer and opened it in Painter and simplified the background by drawing into the image with digital pastel, and finished up with some posterizing effect.  It was great to remember this moment, and also to feel that I was collaborating with my Uncle Ike. I suppose I could have saved this image to post next June for my wedding anniversary or on Father's Day. But I am posting this today to remember my  father, who was born on August 28.  

Reposting "Spring at Kelleher Pond" on display at the Bower Gallery

This painting was on display in July at the Bower Gallery in Beverly, MA.  This is oil bar and acrylic, based on my photograph of a neighborhood pon. I took this picture at the Bower when I was downtown on July 21st.  

"Teacups and Saucers" Heading to New Home

This painting is going to its new home.  I painted this in 2024 for a special "Alice in Wonderland" show at Porter Mill Studios. This is inspired by the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and the text is from the book by Lewis Carroll. Most recently this painting was on display in Boston's TAG gallery, which also posted it on Artsy. From there, it sold to a far-away buyer and is now on its way to Oregon.  

Early Mother's Day Flowers (photo)

These beautiful flowers were delivered a few days early so I could enjoy them all Mother's Day weekend, and I certainly am!

Flora, the Flowering Cod

Here is Flora, the Flowering Cod, my decorated wooden codfish   This is the final photo that I took before I delivered her to back to Marblehead to be an entry in the annual Cod and Whale Auction. In this event, local artists decorate pre-made fish cutouts which are then displayed and auctioned off to benefit Marblehead Festival of Art. Since the day before, I of course had done a lot of cleanup and added additional coats of paint where needed.  But I also added some more leaves at the edges of the fish, to make the rows of flowers more symmetrical. Then of course I painted the sides (gold) and back (white), signed the back, and added hanging hardware.  Flora was ready to go to Marblehead.