Mom in 1940 (Rescued Snapshot) reposting with Prisma filter

Today I revisited an old snapshot of my mom that I edited and posted here in 2014.  I had found the snapshot in a package of photos sent to me by my aunt two years before. So in 2014, I cleaned up the photo in IPhoto and added some color with Painter, and posted it in her memory on November 2, her birthday.  Well, today is also November 2 and I decided  to revisit the edited snapshot and give it another try,  I uploaded the  image to the Prisma app on my phone and tried out filters till I found one that worked. (The filter I chose is called Trendy.)  Then I adjusted the contrast, and used iPhoto to increase saturation and re-crop the image.  I still like this photo of her as a young woman, and am posting it again to remember her on her birthday.  For context, here is a bit of what I said about the snapshot back In 2014: "This morning I looked through some photos that my aunt sent me last year, taken from an album that my mother kept when she was a young woman. This is before she met my dad and it is fun to see pictures of her boyfriends and see what she wore (she loved hats, who knew?) and find out about all the trips she took (mostly by greyhound bus).  But the one I liked best was a black and white snapshot of her, wearing a hat, and looking pensive.  The photo is labeled "M & M Restaurant - 1940" but I have no idea where this restaurant was or who took this picture. But I do know that she was 25 or 26 at the time." I still don't know where the M & M restaurant is, but I can see my mother even more clearly in this image.  Edited in Prisma app with Trendy

Tree and Hillside (Appleton Farms) (reposting) goes to Boston

Yesterday, I delivered this painting to TAG (The Art Gallery) in the Sowa district in Boston where it will be on display in October. I painted this scene in 2015, based on a photo that I took at Appleton Farms in Ipswich, up the road from Beverly, MA. Back in 2015, I posted the daily progress of painting this. This painting has been on display in my studio for several years, and I have been pleased and surprised by the number of people who recognize the specific location. Anyway, it will be fun to have it on display in Boston. 

Autumn Woods at Long Hill (Painting), adjusted Sept. 22, 2026

In early September, I decided to submit this painting to another local art show This time the venue would be Beverly Bootstraps Thrift Show, which hosts a small art show. So I applied and the painting was accepted. Although the show was scheduled for October, I needed to deliver my painting in September.  As I was getting the painting ready, I decided to take a few minutes to fix something that was bothering me.  I had noticed that  the lines of one or two of the trees had become less defined and a bit irregular; this probably happened when I was adding contrast. So I quickly fixed the lines of a couple of trees.  Then I wrapped up the painting, headed downtown, and dropped it off. I am often teased because I find it hard to actually "stop" when a painting is finished.  In this case, though, I am glad I made the changes.  This painting is now on display in "The Frame: at 198" and the theme of the show is "Haunts" ("celebrating local spots and local spirits").  I chose this painting because it is based on a photo that I took in October at Long Hill, which is one of my local haunts.  The show is up through the end of the month, with a reception on October 23rd.

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.