Crow's Nest in Emerald

"Crow's Nest in Emerald"
5" x 7"

In this painting I'm just playing with colors and shapes. Still planning a large crow's nest painting.

A Bird's Eye View

"A Bird's Eye View"
5" x 7"

I have been painting owls and fish and I'm still in bird mode. I'm also in "if it snows one more time I'm going to scream" mode. I am so ready for spring. I have an idea for a large crow painting and so I am starting a series of studies of crows to get a feel for them. They make beautiful nests and put all sorts of interesting objects in them, including closet hangers which are really cool in a big bunch. So here is my first crow study.

Snowy Owl Strike

Snowy Owl Strike
20" x 26"

I did several studies of both snowy owls and fish before attempting this painting. I knew I wanted to include at least 2 of the owls and to have them somehow connected in an activity. I wanted drama but also a sense of intimacy. After much deliberation I settled on the three fish as a way of pulling the owls together and giving the viewer a pathway from the wingtip of the owl flying at you down the shoulder to the second owl and down his wing shoulder to the fish and out. The quiet background is a nice contrast to the frantic activity in the foreground.

Where the Heart Is

"Where the Heart Is"
(9" x 12)

I painted this image, which I had been coveting, at the home of one of my artist friends, Jeannie. I love this picture and just had to have it. I think it's perfect for Valentine's Day!!

Riley's Beach

Riley's  Beach
(5" x 7")

This painting was created for our weekly DPW challenge which is to paint snow. I rarely see a snow picture where the snow is actually white. It seems to pick up color from everything around it, especially the sky. This was at twilight a few weeks ago after a big snow. The tide had pushed large pieces of ice into Cotuit Bay and the snow on the beach had been sculpted by the water. The color was fantastic. Pink, blue and purple and the water was a dark bluegreen.

Above and Below

"Above and Below"
(16" x 20")

This is the second in a series of pieces I have been working on about motion and transparency and water. I did a series of studies for each of these paintings including a more finished study incorporating many fish and working out motion, flexibility and placement. I did several revisions before arriving at my finished work. I wanted to capture the drama of bluefish feeding on the smaller bait fish both above and below the surface. I hope I convey the sense of urgency and hunger to my viewer.

A Cape Cod Boil

"A Cape Cod Boil"
16" x 20"

My last few posts have been studies for this painting. I have been thinking about it for quite a while. When the striper bass are feeding they push the smaller bait fish into shallow water or up onto the surface if they are deep. The great number of fish moving through the water creates a "boiling" effect. I had a couple of pictures taken from a boat looking out onto such a scene, but no real clear fish images. So I did several studies of individual fish and also a larger illustration of several in a group before attempting my finished work. I was really happy to have captured the splashing and focused drama of what the fisherman here call a "Cape Cod Boil."