"Make Way for Springtime", 18" x 24", oil on canvas, on display during the Beacon Hill Art Walk, June 5, 2011, 12-6

Remember that song? Dave Loggins, 1974, yes I’m dating myself, but if you don’t remember, here’s a YouTube version ( http://youtu.be/UDRLZFgEoGw). So now, to the point at hand, a year ago, after enjoying painting scenes of Italy from my pictures, I thought it would also be fun to do some paintings of Boston. I don’t even remember why we were going there, but since we were I thought it was a prime time to start taking some pictures in anticipation of doing some paintings. The fact that it was a rainy day made it all the better after the fun I had painting pictures of Rome in the rain. As I said, that was a year ago. Fast forward now to this past Monday. Finally all that was on my schedule was to paint, pictures that is, not woodwork. Lingering in the back of my thoughts was the upcoming Beacon Hill Art Walk in Boston, and with that, I looked up the pictures I’d taken of Boston last year. Perfect, time to do a painting of Boston for a show in Boston.

Now, part of the ritual in starting a new painting, especially from an older photograph is picking the right music to paint by. New photographs are inspiring enough all by themselves, but older ones sometimes need a little push. The only song I could think of was “Please Come to Boston”. I made up a playlist using it as the lead song. By day three I downloaded the Boston album “Boston”. That was hugely popular when I was in school there so it would be able to get me over the finish line. Day four, I set about listening to Boston with the Dave Loggins song at the end of that playlist.

By mid afternoon I was just about finished. I stood back from the painting to take a critical look and decide if it was indeed finished. As I did, “Please Come to Boston” started playing yet again. This time though the words caught my attention, “you can sell your paintings on the sidewalk at a cafe where I hope to be working soon”. Yup, that’s what I’ll be doing next Sunday, selling my paintings on the sidewalks. Now that has got to be a good omen.

So, if you are in the area, stop by the Beacon Hill Art Walk (http://www.beaconhillartwalk.org/), Sunday June 5th, 12 – 6.

It’s been a while since I’ve been painting as part of my daily routine. Getting my house ready to sell has pulled me away from my studio for months. I continued to take photos on pretty days and even print out a few in anticipation of painting, but still not finding the time to actually paint. Last week was when I declared that I was back in the studio for the duration. I have made my house as nice as I can for showing it to sell, but my studio is my workspace, and while it’s better than usual, I’m keeping it my workspace, not a show space.

But, I ran into a problem, besides the good problem of needing to leave for showings. I started a painting from a photo I’d taken back in December. It was a beautiful picture and I was anxious to get to it. Perhaps too anxious, I did a lot of erasing soon after I started drawing on my canvas. Thinking I probably should have started with my sketch pad instead of canvas, I plodded on. I soon moved onto paints. Somewhat ok with my first day’s work I left the studio for the day. The next day I left feeling even less ok, after a day of painting. I was getting to where I didn’t want to go back to my studio because of my lack of progress and success. But again, I added more paint to the canvas. Each day I started a sinking feeling was started to take over. Because I hadn’t painted regularly, I’d completely lost all ability. Yes, it’s crazy but feelings don’t always follow logic. That being said it is also true that once a painting goes bad, you need to know when it’s beyond fixing. I was there. I was discouraged. The next trip into the studio I took the painting off the easel and hid it out of site and walked out to go about other business.

This Monday I was to begin again in earnest, especially when I could walk into the studio and not have “that other painting” staring back at me. I looked through my pictures and was inspired anew. I started drawing, then painting. It was going alright, I left the studio that evening thinking, maybe I can paint. Tuesday I continued on with my painting feeling my confidence building. Well into it, I took a break, then looked at my progress at a distance. Hmmmmm, there were problems. However, this time I saw the problem and thought about how to correct it. So instead of moving forward I took a step backward. Also, instead of feeling discouraged I felt invigorated. I knew what to do, that was what was encouraging.

No one gets it right all the time on the first try. Knowing how to make things better is part of the process. Now I could get philosophical about this, but I’m sure you can make your own analogies. Self-correcting is an advancement no matter how you see things.

Even though I was never really away, away, I have spent the last 6-9 months readying our house for sale. De-personalizing, de-cluttering, painting, cleaning and throwing away old treasures, which on closer examination really weren’t treasures, has monopolizing my time. Now, the house has been listed for sale and I will wait out the rest of the adventure in my studio painting and staying out of my now perfectly clean and staged house.

"My Bad", 11" x 14", oil on canvas

But in spite of trying to completely focus on my house, there was another opportunity which came to me, one I could never pass up. It’s a silent art auction with 100% of the funds going to animal shelter and rescue groups. I just finished my piece for the auction, which will be held Satuday, May 14th, from 7-9 at the Monadnock Humane Society, Swanzey, N.H. I must say though that “Tigger” never chewed up any shoes.  Tigger, my dog, in the painting, was a rescue dog. He was found as a puppy in a dumpster in Puerto Rico. I’ve had him about 2 years now and he’s a delight. Funds for the sale of this painting will go to SATO, Second Chance SATO Rescue.

Additionally I managed to involve myself in a group show of plein air artists.

"Loving the Land"

“Loving the Land”,
May 3 –June 18,2011
at the
Massabesic Audubon Center
26 Audubon Way
Auburn, NH
Tuesday –Saturday,
9AM—5PM
603-668-2045
Admission Free

So, if you’re looking for something to do on Saturday evening and support a great cause, or have some time during the month on May to see “Loving the Land”, I invite you to do so.