Down on the Rocks by John Oat  11×14  Oil

John Oat. An amazing person and a fabulous artist. I love this painting. It is so beautiful to me. I love the orange underpainting. LOVE the skillful way that he painted the water – WOW! It looks so clear. The rocks sit firmly in the water, sometimes those kinds of things can appear to be floating and not firmly placed. This is perfect. Wonderful light on the rocks, love the colors. This painting is in John’s NEW WORK collection.

September Morning by John Oat  12×16  Oil

Another fabulous painting, many of you who visit Monhegan will recognize this house! I like the view that John painted this house, so that you see the Red House in the distance, as well as Manana Island… So nice! This painting is in his Monhegan Views collection – be sure to check them all out. Just beautiful! John spends time on Monhegan Island each year, painting up a storm! You will see the many beautiful Monhegan (as well as other paintings).

This is the “Johnson House”, if you’re walking out of the Novelty with your ice cream cone, you would turn left and at the top of Horns Hill sits this house on your left hand side. You can see a remarkable distance from this vantage point. It’s also available to rent (Google “Johnson House Monhegan”) – check out the fabulous photos of the interior, a cool place indeed. While renting a cottage would be a ton of fun, we are hooked on our home away from home, The Island Inn… but it’s always fun to think about!

Read a bit about John, from his website, and be sure to check out his paintings! Great Bio/Artist Statement John! I love when artists take the time to make this special, and John did just that:

A graduate of the Design and Illustration program at School of Visual Arts in New York, with a B.F.A. from The University of North Carolina in Greensboro, NC, John Oat has enjoyed a 40 – plus year career as a Graphic Designer, Illustrator, Art Director and Fine Artist.

John was born and raised in the scenic southeastern corner of Connecticut. He grew up near Norwich, a small New England city with the benefit of a high school offering a unique fine arts program. He started painting plein air oils while attending the Norwich Art School when one of his art teachers encouraged him to paint something outside the classroom and he was immediately captivated by the challenge.

He was influenced early in his painting career by plein air painters Charles H. Davis, Willard Metcalf, and Childe Hassam, who had been drawn to coastal Connecticut because of the quality of its light and atmosphere. John painted and exhibited on Martha’s Vineyard early in his career and while living in Mystic, Connecticut became an active artist with The Mystic Arts Center.

While on a painting trip to Monhegan Island, Maine in the 1990’s Oat had the good fortune of finding a mentor in Don Stone N.A who opened his eyes to a fresh, vibrant, direct approach to painting. He is grateful for his friendship with Don, for generously sharing his time and expertise during workshops on Monhegan and his steadfast encouragement. As Don would say, “It’s never to late to do what you love, and the most important thing is to love what you do.”

John’s favorite painters vary from Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Joaquin Sorolla, Robert Henri, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Edward Hopper and Jove Wang.

At this period of his professional career John paints exclusively in oils. He has exhibited his work in both group and solo shows and his paintings hang in many private collections.

Artist Statement 
I like to paint outdoors now because I get so much enjoyment working directly from nature. I appreciate the challenge of creating a painting when the light and atmosphere can change, sometimes dramatically in seconds, and there may only be minutes available to capture it on canvas.

Painting from nature is the best way to learn how to paint. The subject matter, colors, and light observed while painting outdoors cannot be made up in a studio setting. Of course you can create wonderful paintings in the studio, but painting on location provides a more direct relationship with the subject, a unique relationship. I hope to share through my paintings, a brief glimpse of my experience in an outdoor setting by expressing the feeling I get from a particular place. The movement of light and color over the subject matter inspires me to tell the story of a unique moment in time. Hopefully my paintings speak to each viewer about the wonder of our natural environment.

What about the studio work? 
Sometimes it is nice to be indoors where you are out of the weather, with a cup of tea and stable lighting conditions. I use the studio to put the finishing touches on paintings started outdoors. The studio is also a great place to paint “remembered” impressions from unique experiences at an outdoor site. I use sketch book notes and digital photos that I’ve taken while painting outdoors as references for my studio work. Photo references remain secondary to what originally inspired me to paint the scene.

All images via JohnOat.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Plaster Master by Mike Bailey – Watercolor

Mike Bailey. One word… amazing! Truly. Mike’s website is out of this world. It’s visually appealing and contains so much wonderful information! A lot of time went into this and it shows. It’s fabulous, personal, and a treasure for those who take the time to read it. Also check out Mike’s Blog – more great info! I’m not kidding you, this is a treasure of a website that you can spend a great deal of time perusing!

I love the shadows in Plaster Master. The orange vest… striking! I swear most paintings just need a little pop of color, even if it’s the tiniest little bit. The detail in the wrinkles of the man’s jeans, the knee pads, helmet… so well done! Every painting of Mike’s is equally as well done. He is very versatile, I urge you to take a peek!

Mike is teaching some amazing workshops this year all over the country – interested? Check out Mike’s workshop schedule! From reading about him on his art blog, I think he would be fabulous to take a workshop from. Someone REAL. It’s nice to take a workshop and not feel like every painting has to be a winner. We know that isn’t the case for anyone! It’s nice when you take a workshop to not feel that added pressure.

Self Portrait by Mike Bailey

I had to include Mike’s self portrait! This painting caught my eye right away. FABULOUS!

Read a bit about Mike, from his website:

Approximately 100 miles south of San Francisco, California, on the coast, is Santa Cruz . . .where Mike resides. A graduate from San Jose State University, he majored in Engineering and Business.

In mid-life, Mike answered a long-percolating desire to paint. A few lessons, lots of books and an occasional workshop got him started. His intense curiosity led him to learn and study design and composition, which led to his being called to teach that aspect of painting. What paid off most, he says, was the late night sessions at his easel.

He developed “Painting Beyond the Obvious” as a college level course and offered  it at the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC). Many painters now credit him and that class with their own breakthroughs to artistic understanding. Mike’s art career has put him on the “workshop circuit” all over the U.S. His work has received national and international recognition via awards, magazines and books and assorted international exhibitions. Click here to continue…

All images via mebaileyart.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Bakery Girls by Eric Bowman  20×24″  Oil

Normally I feature at least one of Eric’s landscapes just because those fabulous trees just get me every time, but I heard that he has a workshop coming up, so I didn’t want to miss the chance to share that info with you just in case you’ll be in the Eugene, OR area in May?

Eric has the uncanny ability to paint the figure with so much feeling. It’s as if you’re right there in the kitchen with these girls. There is movement, they aren’t just posed, they are working… the painting is fabulous and believable, from the folds in the shirts and bandanas, the creases in the pants, the way the fingers are pressed against the mixing bowl, the reality is there. On top of that there is wonderful light and INTEREST! Interest is so important. You may be able to paint a certain scene, but it has to hold interest and Eric’s always do. Every. Single. Time.

Under the Weather by Eric Bowman 20×20 Oil

Isn’t this the sweetest painting ever? Perfect title for this painting “Under the Weather”, you can (once again) feel that this sweet girl is feeling under the weather. She is passing time with a good book, fluffy pillow and fabulous blankets. The folds in those blankets are fabulous, I love the dark color underneath peeking through. The shadow and light on her arm and hand are fabulous. Eric doesn’t miss the details, but he also doesn’t paint in every little thing, which is refreshing. This is just plain sweet!

Check out the feature on Eric in the May 2016 Plein Air magazine, great article by Steve Doherty!

WORKSHOP ALERT! Looking to take a workshop? Well, this is going to be fabulous – two days with Eric – learning the detail of how to bring your painting from good to fabulous! Here are the details…

Figure in Oil

Read a bit about Eric, from his website:

Eric Bowman was born in Pasadena and grew up in Orange County, CA (back when it actually had orange groves). Essentially a self-taught artist, Eric had a knack for drawing as far back as he can remember, always the class artist throughout his elementary and high school years. Various art-related jobs such as silk screen T-shirt printer or surfboard airbrush technician led to a lengthy and successful career as a commercial artist, eventually transitioning to fine art painting. As a painter, Eric has garnered many awards in national & regional exhibitions in some of the country’s most prestigious galleries and museums.  His paintings are in collections around the world, including England, Australia, Canada and Mexico.

Eric Bowman is a Signature Member of both the American Impressionist Society and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and an Out-of-State Member of the California Art Club. When not traveling to various plein air shows or visiting his beloved home state of California, Eric resides in northwest Oregon with his wife and daughter, and their dog, Mucha.

All images via EricBowman.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Studio by Leslie Belloso

Leslie Belloso. Unique paintings. Interesting subject matter that catches your attention. Studio, above, is a fabulous, albeit, not typical, glance into a studio space. Fabulous green on the wall, love the floors with those subtle color changes depicting light. So nice!

Two Fish by Leslie Belloso

How fabulous is this?? Two Fish, with that fabulous orange and the wonderful foreground and background colors… DYNAMITE!

Click to read Leslie’s Bio and be sure to check out her website:

All images via LeslieBelloso.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

 

Light in the Woods by Paul Keysar  5×7″  Oil

Paul’s paintings go above and beyond. They have light that is incredible. I love his nocturnes, even in the dark his paintings have light! Paul’s sky shows those beautiful stars twinkling down upon us. THAT LIGHT in the distance… OH! Fabulous! A little touch of something unexpected!

In Hope of Spring by Paul Keysar  16×12″  Oil

Paul can paint absolutely anything. This painting In Hope of Spring has won a few awards. Here is some information (from Paul’s website) regarding this painting:

“I saw Carolyn, an employee at a local arts council, wearing
the fur hat, scarf, and coat, with the vibrant, complementary colors.
I felt compelled to paint her. The scarf required about 24 colors
of paint. This painting is the first one I painted as a smaller
study for pose and background. I wanted something different
for the larger painting Winter Solstice. I liked this painting too,
so I went back and finished it.”

This painting has won:
First Place, TRAC2015 Online Art Competition, Fifth Round
The Representational Art Conference

Second Place Overall, Dec 2015 / Jan 2016
Plein Air Salon competition

Read a bit about Paul, from his website:

Paul Keysar is known for his classic, representational oil paintings and drawings of landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. He has received numerous awards for his work, including, a 2014 Certificate of Excellence and 2015 Honorable Mention from the Portrait Society of America, Best in Show in the Richeson75 Figure/Portrait 2014 Competition, First Place in The Representational Art Conference 2015 competition, Honorable Mention in the Artistic Excellence 2015 Competition from Southwest Art Magazine, 2nd Place Overall in the Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Plein Air Salon, and finalist in the figure/portrait category of The Artist’s Magazine‘s 2014 Annual Competition. His painting, Jacob in Winter, was featured as the cover of Southwest Art Magazine‘s December 2015 issue.

He has a passion for the land and is intrigued with the interaction of man and nature.  “As an artist, I am continually observing life around me. I am fascinated by the effects of light, atmosphere, and weather. The figures I am currently working on reflect a moment of stillness and thought—a reflection on the subject’s place in time and their hope for a better future.”

Keysar started his formal art training at the age of fourteen with lessons at The Art League in Alexandria, Virginia. In 2000, he completed four years of fine arts education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. In addition, his training included a year of study from 1997–1998 under nationally-known portrait and landscape artist Carolyn Egeli of Valley Lee, Maryland. He has also studied the figure with Robert Liberace and Dan Thompson.

Keysar’s greatest artistic influences have been the art of Homer, Eakins, and the Barbizon School, along with the contemporary work of Randall Exon, David Graeme Baker, and many others. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows, and his work is owned by collectors throughout the country. He is available to give demonstrations and lectures and serve as judge/juror for art competitions. Keysar offers private art lessons, classes, and workshops for beginner through advanced students in drawing and painting. He accepts portrait, landscape, and still life drawing and painting commission requests. Keysar currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and children, and maintains a studio at ClearWater Artist Studios, in Concord, NC.

All images via PaulKeysar.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Where We Met by Christel Minotti 40×40 Mixed Media

Christel Minotti. Fresh, light and airy paintings. Does this painting scream SPRINGTIME to you? It does to me! The mixture of colors and textures is wonderful. I happened upon this painting on Facebook and it grabbed me. I think the airiness of it is so interesting. The abstract quality is wonderful and the colors are perfection!

Read a bit about Christel, from the Anne Irwin Fine Art website:

Christel Minotti’s paintings explore the themes of relationships of colors and shapes. The images are simple in order to clarify the shapes and render the colors more powerfully. Her childhood was spent in Finland where basic modern forms were admired and blended with the nature-centered mysticism of the past. These influences have become intuitively central to her work. Her work has been exhibited in the South at the Gwinnett Fine Arts Center, Georgia, the Huntsville Museum of Art, Alabama, the National Invitational at Brenau College at Gainsville, Georgia among others. Her awards include 2nd Place, National Invitational, Brenau College and 1st Place, Cobb Council of Art, Marietta, GA with Alan Avery, Judge.

Image via AnneIrwinFineArt.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Last Light by Lindsay Hopkins-Weld 30×40 Oil

Lindsay Hopkins-Weld. With all the fabulous artists in the world it’s not easy to have a style that stands out, yet Lindsay’s work does stand out. Last Light is a soothing landscape, nice and serene, but with a strong contrast that makes it that much more wonderful!

The Light Before the Rain by Lindsay Hopkins-Weld 11×14 Oil

Light Before the Rain is the perfect name for this painting. You know how the colors change before a big rain? Everything has a stormy, cool color – Lindsay reflected it perfectly in the water and the wonderful light in that oh-so-cool tree!

Read a bit about Lindsay, from her website:

I strive to capture in my work the essence, beauty and vibrancy of a specific moment in time. My oil paintings are a direct result of this fleeting experience. They are filled with expressive brushstrokes, rich color, strong light and shadows. Through color harmonies, I am able to achieve a certain mood, and by using heavy brush-stokes, my work has a textural aspect to it. I am inspired by the reflective quality of water and the abstract shapes that result. I like to both exaggerate and simplify what I see, whether it be cloud formations, patterns in water or tree silhouettes. This creates a pleasing balance between abstraction and representation. I search for scenes that take my breath away, and paint through direct observation outdoors (Plein Air) and in my studio with the aid of my own photographs. The resulting work is an outpouring of my love for the coast and its environs. My goal is to convey this passion to the viewer.

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1960, Lindsay received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Museum School in Boston and has studied art in Florence, Italy and at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. Further influence and encouragement came from her father, a self taught painter and wood carver. Lindsay currently lives in Massachusetts by the water.

“I am inspired by a beautiful day, the sun shining on anything, the gradation of fog, Richard Diebenkorn, Fairfield Porter, John Marin, all the Wyeths, Vincent Van Gogh, white sails on blue water, cloud formations, old bottles….” Read more HERE…

All images via LindsayHopkins-Weld.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Lost in Translation by Heather Arenas 24×18″  Oil

Nice painting by Heather Arenas. She caught this guy lost in thought… You can see him thinking… wondering where he is or where he’s going. The little tree behind him is wonderful, but the shadow of it on the building… Love!!

31st and Lexington by Heather Arenas  18×24″  Oil

Wonderful light in the sky. Love all the light, from the signs, the reflections, the street sign, etc. A fabulous, wild sky and the streetlights which seem to anchor the painting.

Read a bit about Heather, from her website:

Artist’s Statement

One of my goals is to say more with a painting than can be said with a photograph. I want to help others see the beauty in everyday objects, places and people as I see them.

Medium and Subject Matter

I work in oils and prefer figurative work but enjoy painting many different subjects.

Influence

My grandmothers were both artists and my parents provided me with various art supplies growing up. I was taught to appreciate many forms of art. I have many favorite artists now and there are too many to name but living artists include Richard Schmidt, Tibor Nagy, Jeremy Mann, Kim English, and Dan McCaw. Deceased influences include John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn, and Joaqin Sorolla.

Art Education

My education includes a rigorous course of independent study reading many books on drawing and painting and taking workshops from respected artists such as Vadim Zanginian, Kim English and Clayton Beck III. While earning a degree in biology with emphasis on anatomy in the early 1990’s, I also studied art history and ceramics.

All images via HeatherArenas.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Old Farmhouse by David Finnell  9×12″ Watercolor

David Finnell. Fabulous watercolors! I think there is a resurgence in the watercolor medium. Watercolor paintings are so wonderful! The light and looseness of the painting above adds so much character. The windows not showing all details, etc., the lines of the house… This is wonderful!

Waterford Post Office by David Finnell 17×12″ Watercolor (Sold)

There are things in paintings that draw me in time after time. A good nocturne, especially one with a good moon and some stars – Whoa! A flag on a house, I love it! A mailbox. A simple mailbox adds so much. I am also drawn to orange. While this painting is not a nocturne with a moon and stars it does have a flag, mailbox and the color orange, ha ha… Just the perfect amount of detail was added to this painting. Really nice, and… sold…

Read a bit about David, from his website: (Had to include the Artist’s Statement – I love it!)

Artist’s Statement

All images via DavidFinnellWatercolors.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

I love a good bio and artist’s statement! Love it! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Capital Haze Study  16×12″  Oil

I featured Robin Cheers about a year ago, she’s an artist with a unique perspective and fabulous paintings, it’s no wonder she is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society! This piece is very different from what I featured last time.

The painting above is a study, and it’s fabulous. Full of life and power lines. Those power lines add so much character. Robin has packed just enough detail into this painting to make it really fabulous!

Read a bit about Robin, from her website:

Robin Cheers is an Austin artist working in the impressionist tradition with a contemporary style focused on representing the figure and every day life.

Working directly from life and utilizing photos for those hard to hold poses, Robin is driven by a passionate desire to capture the essentials of light and life. Spontaneous brushwork,  abstracting shapes and working alla prima creates expressive art that speaks from the heart. Recent ventures into printmaking and sculpting continue to inform her body of work.

As an active member of her local art community, Robin hosts twice monthly figure painting sessions and teaches drawing and painting. Her work is in private and corporate collections worldwide.

All images via RobinCheers.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Early Spring by Carol Jenkins  20×24″  Oil

Carol Jenkins. Her work stands out. I love the lighting in this piece. That ground looks hard and cold, but with that wonderful gold glow… Fabulous barn!

Island Harbor by Carol Jenkins  16×20″  Oil

Just look at this water! It feels as if I am on the shore looking out at this boat, the water is smooth as glass in some areas which is just fabulous. This painting caught my attention right away. Fabulous!

Read a bit about Carol, from her website:

I was born to an artistic Massachusetts family. I started drawing and painting very early. My home was filled with beautiful paintings done by my great grandmother. She traveled to the White Mountains in New Hampshire in the 1890″s to paint”en plein air”. I was inspired by these paintings and encouraged by my family. I always knew I wanted to be an artist.

I recieved a National Scholastic Art Scholarship in high school to go to the art school of my choice.I dreamed of becoming an illustrator and choose Vesper George School of Art in Boston.

One of my teachers was Robert Douglas Hunter. He noticed my talent and encouraged me to
move from commercial art to fine art. I transferred to the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, Massachusetts and majored in painting.

In my early twenties I had an urge to travel and headed west. I was struck by the awesome beauty of the Rocky Mountains.I settled in the historic mining town of Ward, Colorado, surronded by National Forest and near the Indian Peaks Wilderness area .Hiking, backpacking, and living in a small town suited me . I am still here today.

After many years of working with pastels, I felt like holding a brush again.I decided to get serious about oils and signed up for workshops with the best teachers and painters I could find. I studied with Kim English, Skip Whitcomb, Kang Cho,Greg Kreutz, George Strickland, Carolyn Anderson and Kevin Weckbach.I can’t begin to describe how great it is to spend time with teachers so willing to share their knowledge and experience.

I enjoy painting just about anything – landscapes, interiors, buildings and figures, but my greatest love is plein air painting. The weather, the light, and the land all become part of me. Heading out into nature,looking around and being inspired by a beautiful composition and translating that to my canvas right then and there is always exciting to me.

I still love to travel to New England, Florida and the mountains and deserts of the Southwest. You can often find me happily painting on the side of a road, in some grubby alleyway, or off on some trail past the “no trespassing” sign.

All images via CarolJenkinsOils.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Pewter, Purple n’ Orange by Cody Delong  16×20″  Oil

Cody Delong. Some mesmerizing paintings. Lovely work! He paints such a wide variety of landscapes – each one is just beautiful. His colors, and the underpainting peeking through in the still life above is just glorius. Also love the orange reflection in the pitcher!

Read more about Cody’s Classes and Workshops, Also check out his River Trip in 2017 – what a painting adventure that would be – WOW… the scenery is breathtaking!

Land of Few Fences by Cody Delong  24×36″  Oil

I have never actually seen the dessert, or this type of landscape. So seeing it in paintings is so interesting to me. I love the color of the earth, the mountains and that stunning sky. It’s fabulous how the sun hits, so beautifully…

Read a bit about Cody, from his website:

Each painting I do begins with an idea, something that’s inspired me.  I try to distill this into my own underlying abstract design and interpretation of nature.  The balance I’m searching for lies in creating a work that is technically proficient as well as ‘painterly’, with great color and sense of light and drama.

A life long student of art, Cody has studied at the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the Scottsdale Artists School, where, in 2003, he was awarded a Merit-based Scholarship.  In 2004, the Oil Painters of America selected him as that year’s Shirl Smithson Scholarship winner.  In 2009 Cody was awarded a Teacher’s Scholarship by the Marilyn Sunderman Legacy Fund for his innovative workshop techniques.

In 2006, one of Cody’s paintings was selected for inclusion in a ‘coffee-table’ style book, titled Plein Air New Mexico, The Jack Richeson Series – Volume One.  Three other paintings were included in The Richeson 75 International – Landscape and Exteriors 2007. Read more HERE…

All images via CodyDelong.com, used with permission…

Images are not for reproduction, they are property of the artist.

Catch you back here tomorrow!