Colorado Red (Acrylic Watermedia) as of November 21, 2020

I worked on this again today. This is a small painting, only 6" by 8", on Aquabord.  I am hoping to submit this for an upcoming "small works" show.  Today I worked on the sky. I hope to finish this tomorrow.  To be continued. . .

Colorado Red (Acrylic Watermedia) as of November 20, 2020

Today I started this small painting, only 6 by 8 inches on Aquabord.  This is for an upcoming "small works" show in December.

Snow on Red Dogwood Leaves (with Prisma filter)

Yesterday's post was a photo of heavy snow on red dogwood trees, taken after our surprise snowstorm at the end of October. Today's version of the same photo uses a Prisma filter that gives the image the look of stained glass.

Snow on Red Dogwood Leaves

Here north of Boston, at the end of October we had a surprise snowfall. On the morning of October 30, we all awoke to find heavy snow on trees that were still full of colorful autumn leaves.  Some of our trees and bushes were bent over from the weight and there was a mad scramble to find boots, gloves, hats. But the snow created some surprising scenes, like this one, of snow on the red dogwood leaves.  The snow was gone in a few days, the weather got warmer, and I forgot about most of the photos I took.  But today the return of cold weather reminded me, and  I started editing some of them, like this one.  I also created a version with a Prisma filter, and I hope to post that here tomorrow.

Bright Tree at Lynch Park

One more image from a recent walk at Lynch Park, a beautiful tree with the bright red and orange leaves of October.  I cropped the original photo and added a Prisma filter.

Leaves on Walkway at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

Here's another image from a recent walk at Lynch Park, here in Beverly, MA. The fenced walkway near the ocean was covered with leaves.  I added a Prisma filter and cropped the original photo to get this composition.

November Late Afternoon (with Prisma filter)

Here north of Boston, the sun gets low in the sky pretty early, thanks to daylight savings time.  This image began with a picture that I took at Lynch Park at 3:44 PM, far too early to call this a sunset. I don't like the fact that the sun starts going down so early, but it made for an interesting effect in my photo. So tonight I added a Prisma filter, and cropped it to get this composition

Late Afternoon at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

This image started with a photo that I took last week during a late afternoon walk at Lynch Park. Today I added a Prisma filter and cropped the image to get this composition.

Kerry's House (Photo Collage)

Back in 2005, I did a house portrait for my sweet friend Kerry.  Working from an old black-and-white photo (top right), I tried to make her memories come to life in a painting of childhood home (top left).  I did this project long-distance:  I was in Boston and she was in Colorado. The two snapshots (bottom left and right) are the first time I was with Kerry and the house portrait, in her house in Colorado. Kerry recently sent me copies of these snapshots, a great reminder of a very happy day! As the saying goes, "The road to the house of a friend is never long." To learn more about this project, https://memoryimprints.net/2014/03/04/kerrys-house

Stone Bench at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

A few days ago, I posted a photo of this bench at Lynch Park, taken from a walk several days ago.  Today I added a Prisma filter.

"Raillard & Zagon Jan 45" (Posterized Photo)

On Veteran's Day, I often look through old photos for pictures of my dad during World War II. I usually look in my mother's old album. (My father was born in Brooklyn, but was stationed in Pueblo during WWII, and met and married my mother in the short time he was there, before heading overseas. While he was gone, my mother filled a photo album with photos from life at home in Pueblo as well as photos that he sent back from overseas). More recently, I have had an additional place to look: a collection of my father's old photos, sent to me a few years ago by my cousin Rori. That is where I found this photo today. This snapshot shows my dad with another soldier, standing in front of an apparently damaged building.  On the back of the photo, my father wrote: "Raillard & Zagon Jan 45".  From my Aunt Edy I have heard that Ray Raillard was a good friend of my father's when they were in the army. In the past I have not been able to to track down Ray Raillard or his family, but I will tag him here and see what happens. Looking though the other photos this morning, I saw another snapshot marked on the back with the logo of photo finishing company in Texas, which I believe is where Ray Raillard is from. That handwriting is different from my father's, very square and distinctive printing, and that handwriting also appears on a third photo that says "Leaving Cherbourg" date July 24, 1944. Is it possible that this photo was also taken in Cherbourg? I  wish I knew more about my dad's time in the army. But what I do know, what brings me to tears right now, is that I am grateful my father had a good friend when he was in the army. My father was a gentle, peaceful man who went overseas to do his bit against the Nazis, and he left his brand new wife to do it. He didn't say much about his experience when I was a kid, but I know he was afraid during the war because years later, when he was facing cancer surgery, he told me so. And so now when I am feeling afraid in these uncertain times, I remember that my father did his part to stand up to tyranny even though he was afraid.  And I will try to live up to his example.

Flowers of Kindness

This morning I did one more small drawing with my Sharpie pens. It's fun to draw these and hard to stop. But there's no such thing as too many flowers, and no such thing as too much kindness. 

Counting on Flowers

There are a couple of "small works" shows coming up in December, so this morning I was looking for work to submit.  I came across some of my small drawings of flowers made with Sharpie markers, and they made me smile, so I decided to do one more.  In this crazy time, things may seem uncertain even when they are not,  so I offer you some flowers you can count on.

Stone Bench at Lynch Park

It was nearly 70 degrees yesterday, and we went for a walk at Lynch Park.  We walked through the walled rose garden, which is something we don't usually do, and I saw this ornate stone bench.  Although I must have seen it before, I hadn't really looked at it before: there's a difference. Anyway, I took some pictures. No doubt it has been there for many years, exposed to the ocean storms and the sudden changes of weather. And it endures.

From Sea to Shining Sea

It was sunny today and unusually warm for November, like a warm spring day. Celebratory ice cream at home (three flavors) was followed by a walk at Lynch Park, where I took this picture.  I was born in Colorado and didn't see the ocean until I was in my twenties.  Now that I live in Massachusetts, I see the ocean quite often, and have come to really understand that it's not a metaphor; the ocean does in fact shine. And on a day like today, it shines "from sea to shining sea."  

"Colorado Memories" at Galatea Installation Day

Monday was installation day for my show at Galatea Fine Art.  After my paintings were on the wall, I took some video. Tonight I edited the video to provide this sneak peak of my show.

"Colorado Memories" at Galatea's First Friday

This is the announcement for First Friday at Galatea Fine Arts tomorrow, 6 to 8 pm, featuring four solo shows, including mine.  Two of the artists will attend in person, and two of us will attend remotely, via Zoom. Announcement created by Agusta Agustsson.

"Colorado Memories" Show Announcement

I used the Canva app on my phone to create this announcement of my solo show, opening this week at Galatea Fine Art.

Four on the Floor

Yesterday was "hanging day" at Galatea Fine Art, a happy occasion, despite the name -- especially since the gallery was closed for so long due to Covid and the flood in April. Here are four of my paintings on the floor, waiting to be hung for my solo show, opening this week.

Photo of My Mom (with Prisma filter)

My mother has been gone quite a while now, 36 years actually, which means I have lived half my life without her. Well, not entirely without her, because I hear her voice, and can predict what she would say. I see traces of her in my daughter's laugh and in my son's raised eyebrow, and in all these ways and more, she has been with me all along.  My mother was born on November 2, and I like to mark the occasion every year. Today's schedule was more than full, and I wasn't going to be able to do an elaborate project, but still I wanted to do something. I started with one of my favorite photos of her, with the 1940s hairdo and the dramatic 1940s collar, still in the 1940s cardboard mat that identifies the photographer as "J. Raoul Turner, Pueblo,". This photo hangs in my hall and I see it when I go upstairs. This morning, I took the photograph down from the wall and took a picture of it, the fastest way to get the image into my iPhone.  Then I opened my Prisma app and experimented with filters till I found one that I liked. It added some soft color to the black and white, and heightened the texture as well. 

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) ABSOLUTELY FINAL VERSION

It has been about a week since I last posted an image of this painting and declared it finished. But since then, I made a lot of small revisions, but focussed on getting the top line of the mountain the way I wanted it.  This is the ABSOLUTELY FINAL version of it, and it has to be. This painting is now wired, wrapped, and loaded in the car, along with some 16 other paintings for my show, heading for Galatea Fine Arts tomorrow. 

Mysterious Cottage

This little house looks pretty mysterious, like a little cottage in the woods featured in scary fairy tales. 

 But actually, it is just the little house at Lynch Park which now houses Beverly's Parks and Recreation Office. The little house has been featured before (see post of October 10). Today I used the same image with a different Prisma filter, and then use iPhoto's editing tools to make it look spooky. I added a vignette to complete disguise, and now it is ready for October 31st.

Red Bench in Snowstorm

It is truly inconvenient that it snowed. Last night around 11 pm I went out to pick tomatoes and peppers, although I was expecting a very light coating of snow at most. So this morning’s snowfall was quite a surprise. After a hurried search for gloves and hat, I ran outside to shake snow off of the blueberry bushes because they were bending to the ground with the weight of the snow. And I then shook snow off tomato and pepper plants, and picked some  tomatoes that I missed last night in the dark. 

Snow, what an inconvenience! But still, I am running around like a delighted child, taking pictures from every window

Fog and Waves at Lynch Park Beach

Here's one more image from last week's trip to Lynch Park. It turned foggy and windy in a New York minute.  The tide was high and the water came all the way up to the beach entrance.  I liked watching the waves, and so I took this picture.  Today I edited it to get this composition.

Sudden Fog at Lynch Park Cove

Here's another photo from last week's walk at Lynch Park. It was warm sunny as I pulled out of the driveway for the five minute ride to Lynch Park. But as I arrived, the fog was rolling in, the wind was picking up, and the temperature was dropping.  The walk wasn't as warm and comfortable as I thought it would be, but I love to take pictures in fog.  Today I cropped the original photo to get this image.

Four Paintings in Porter Mill Studio (October 2020)

Finally a quick trip to our studio at Porter Mill! It's been too long! I went there to pick up two paintings for my upcoming show at Galatea, and to replace them on the wall, I brought two  paintings with me. Here is a photo of the new arrangement. Even though I was only at the studio for a short time, it felt great to be there.  

Sudden Fog Lynch Park (Video)

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) FINAL

I know that yesterday I said this painting was finished.  But this morning I decided that it needed a bit more contrast. So I used translucent washes to lighten the gray of the mountains and lighten the darkest of the foreground shapes and give it a bit of a blue cast.  I added some highlights to add contrast to the tops of the hills in the foregrand.  And now I really am done with this one. It is time to start getting this painting -- and 16 others -- ready for the big trip into Boston for my show in November. 

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia)

This painting began with a snapshot that I took in Breckenridge during a trip to Colorado in June, 2018.  I used Painter to turn that snapshot into a photo reference (posted here October 20.) Today I changed the color of the sky, revised some shapes on the gray mountain, and revised the colors of the green slopes in the foreground.  I made a lot of small changes, but now I think this is done. Of course, if I see stray marks or other problems, I will fix them.  But I am ready to say that this this painting is finished.  Not perfect, just finished. 

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 23, 2020.

Today I worked on this painting. This is based on a photo that I took during a visit to Breckenridge, Colorado, in June of 2018.  (My photo reference is posted here October 20.)  Today, using my photo reference, I worked on the shapes on the mountain: snow patches and shadows.  I plan finish this in next day or two because I am going to include this in my solo show, coming right up in November.

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 22, 2020

This is the painting I started yesterday.  This image started with a photo that I took during a trip to Colorado in July 2018.  I created a photo reference from the snapshot by cropping this mountain from the background and using Painter to modify the foreground. (My photo reference is posted here, October 20.) Today I modified the top line of the mountain and some of the other shapes. I also worked on the colors in the foreground.  Still some things to fix, but I plan to include this in my solo show, coming right up in November.

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 21, 2020

I started a new painting today.  This is based on a rescued snapshot taken in Breckenridge in the summer of 2018. (My photo reference is posted here for yesterday, October 20, 2020.) I intended to just rough in the composition today, but I went a bit further because I am hoping, against all reason, to finish this in time to include it in my November solo show.  To be continued. . . .

Above Breckenridge (Photo Reference for Painting)

I am going to paint one more mountain landscape for my upcoming show, "Colorado Memories", paintings inspired by family snapshots from trips to Rocky Mountains in my home state.  Yesterday I found a quick photo that I took during our most recent trip to Colorado, June of 2018. We were traveling with old friends; we were two couples, each celebrating 50 years of marriage. When we got to Breckenridge, I took a photo in the public parking lot, while rushing to catch up with the others. The resulting snapshot was crooked, and featured a row of cars and some buildings in the foreground, but still I had managed to capture those snow-capped mountains in the background. Although we did spend a lovely hour or so exploring the downtown, two of the four of us were not feeling great, so our time in Breckenridge was cut short and we headed back early to our Denver hotel.  I was sorry not to spend more time in Breckenridge, but as my friend Sandra says, "That's life, isn't it?"  Yesterday, when I found my disappointing Breckenridge photo, I decided to reclaim it.  I used iPhoto to do straighten and crop it,  and got rid of the parking lot.  Then I used Painter to crop it even more, and to create quiet hillsides over residential Breckenridge with digital pastel.  Now I have a photo reference for my next painting.

Path at Kelleher Pond

Today I took a walk on the path around Kelleher Pond, for the third time this week. But it is beautiful there right now. It's a quick get-away, just a few blocks from home. We can walk there in five minutes. Great leaf-peeping, without the travel or traffic.  Here is the path, inviting me to follow, and making me believe I am heading into the woods, having an adventure far from home. 

At Kelleher's Pond

Thursday and then again today, we followed the path around Kelleher's Pond, here in Beverly, MA.  I must have taken at least a hundred pictures! This is one of the best.  It's like having a nature trail just two blocks from the house, and the best way to go leaf-peeping, right here in the neighborhood.

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia)

Yesterday I thought this painting was finished, but realized after I put my paints away that there were still things I wanted to fix. This painting is inspired by a snapshot that I took during a 1980s family vacation to Glenwood Springs, Colorado (see posts for October 11 and 12). So today, working with my photo reference, I adjusted the top line of the mountains, and made many small changes.  I even turned the painting and my photo reference upside-down.  Now I am ready to say that this painting is finished. . . . and I plan to include it in solo show, "Colorado Memories", in November.

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 16, 2020

This is the painting I have been working on, based on a snapshot that I took during a family trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  (For original snapshot and photo reference, see posts for October 11 and 12.) Today I reworked the silhouette of the main mountain, and made a lot of other small changes.  I actuallly thought this painting was finished, but after I took this photograph, I saw a couple of things I want to fix.  But it's almost there. . . 

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 15, 2020

I started this painting yesterday, and this is how it looked after I worked on it again this morning. This is based on a photo that I took near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, during a family trip. (See posts for October 11 and 12.) Today I revised the top silhouette of the mountains, and then began adding that Colorado sage green.  Still a ways to go and things to fix,  but I am optimistic about this painting.  I am hoping to finish this in time to include it in my solo show "Colorado Memories" at Galatea, coming right up (in November).

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 14, 2020

I started this painting today. It is inspired by a family vacation photo that I took sometime during the 1980s, during a trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. (See posts for October 11 and 12.) I am hoping I can finish this in time to include it in my solo show next month ("Colorado Memories" at Galatea Fine Arts). But I am enjoying painting it anyway, even if the schedule doesn't work out. Today I roughed in the composition, and although I already see things I need to fix, it felt great to get started

Little House at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

Here's another picture from our recent walk at Lynch Park.  The little house now contains administrative offices for the park.  I added the Prisma filter.  I might try to paint this one. . .

Near Glenwood (Painting Reference)

I am going to try to paint one more landscape for my upcoming show ("Colorado Memories" at Galatea Fine Art in November).  This time, my inspiration is a 1980s era snapshot from a family vacation to Glenwood Springs. Yesterday I used Painter to do some digital editing to create a painting reference.  On the computer, I replaced the buildings in the foreground with some hills, just to see if my idea will work.  Even though I plan to use lighter colors in the foreground, the composition will work, so I will use this as my photo reference.

Near Glenwood (Family Photo)

Last May, I was scheduled to have a solo show at Galatea (in Boston), but it was postponed by Covid shut-down and a flood in the gallery. Although the paintings were posted online, the show was never displayed IRL. But now that show, "Colorado Memories," is back on and will be shown in the gallery in November. So I was thinking I might have time to paint just one more. . .Today I found this snapshot from a family vacation near Glenwood Spring. I decided to edit it in Painter and turn it into a painting reference, which I plan to post here tomorrow.

Afternoon Shadows at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

This afternoon we went to Lynch Park and of course I took pictures.  Later, I added a Prisma filter to this one, and cropped it to get this composition. 

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor)

This watercolor began with a photo that I took during a visit to Portugal in July 2019.  On my last day in Porto, I walked over the Dom Luis Bridge with Mauro, and took this picture from the Vila Nova de Gaia side. The overcast sky seemed to make the colors pop. (My photo is posted here, August 24, 2020.) Today I softened colors in the distance and heightened colors in the foreground. I also made a lot of small changes. Although I will fix any mistakes that I notice,  I am now ready to call this painting finished. I have enjoyed working on this, and now I have a painting of a happy memory.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 8, 2020

I am close to finishing this painting, inspired by a photo that I took during my trip to Portugal in July of 2019. (Photo posted here August 24, 2020) On my last day in Porto, Mauro took me for a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge, and it was spectacular. Today I added more detail, and added more color, changing the shadows on the hillsides from gray to purple. Just a few more things to fix. .

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 7, 2020

Here is the latest progress on my watercolor of the Dom Luis Bridge. (My reference for this painting is a photo that I took in July 2019 during a walk over the bridge. You can see the original photo posted here August 24 2020.)  This painting is heading toward the finish line. I have added detail to the houses in the foreground and the boats.  I still need to adjust the color on the distant hillsides, and maybe fix a few details.  To be continued. . .

First Red Leaves (Posterized Photo)

On a recent neighborhood walk, I saw some early red leaves, so I took a picture.  Tonight I opened the image in Painter and added some posterizing effect.

Blueberry Leaves (with Prisma filter)

The leaves on our blueberry bushes are starting to turn red.  About a week ago, I took  a picture. Later I added a Prisma filter and cropped the image to get this composition.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 4, 2020

Today I continued working on this project, a watercolor based on a photo that I took during a visit to Portugal in July of 2019 (photo reference posted here August 24, 2020). On my last day in Porto, Mauro surprised me with a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge, and I took photos, from high above the scene, of the river and the cities on either side. Yesterday I added color to the sky, and am now readjusting the colors in response. Today I worked on the hillsides in the background, trying to suggest the buildings without putting in too much detail. This is taking longer than expected, but I don't mind lingering with the memories of this day.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 3, 2020

This afternoon, I worked on this painting, a watercolor based on a photo that I took in July of 2019, during a visit to Portugal. (The photo is posted here August 24 2020.) My last day in Porto included a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge with Mauro.  The sky was overcast, but that made the colors pop.  Today, in my painting, I tried to capture that overcast sky. Once I made the sky darker, I also began to intensify some of the colors in the background, to try to capture that effect.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 2, 2020

Today I only had a little time to paint, but I continued work on this project. I am painting this watercolor based on a photo that I took during my trip to Portugal in July of 2019.  On my last day in Porto, Mauro and I walked over the Dom Luis Bridge, and I took this picture on the Vila Nova de Gaia side.  (My photo reference is posted here August 22. Today I worked on hillsides in the background: lots of tiny little houses with tile roofs.  To be continued. . . .

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 1, 2020

Today I got back to this painting.  I am working from a photo that I took in July of 2019, during my most recent visit to Portugal. On my last day in Porto, Mauro took me for a walk across the Dom Luis Bridge. (My photo reference is posted here, August 22 of this year.) Today I worked on all those rooftops in the foreground.  Even though there is a lot of detail, this painting is not that far from finished.