Fifty-Thousand

Announcing...

A Three-part Demonstration 

A number or artists have asked if I would do a demonstration, starting with a blank canvas and continuing to a finished one.

In response to this, I've tentatively scheduled a three-part demonstration for 8, 15 & 22 November---all Fridays. The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a fifteen minute break at 11:00 a.m.

Because my studio gets somewhat congested for The Dead Paintings Society, I've made arrangements for a larger space in my studio building for these sessions.

Part of the advantage to having a larger space is being able to also have those who may not paint but who'd like to know more about the process, how I make choices in color, composition and subject.

I've chosen a 36" x 42" canvas for this class. The large size will make it easier to demonstrate a number of techniques and to follow a more complex pictorial strategy.

 And, of course, the longer time will enable me to show much more of my process.

So please think about coming, and do share this with anyone you know who might find it interesting. It's also posted on Instagram and on Facebook (which you could share, please!)

If you're interested in coming, please write Sarajean Graham at sarajean.graham@comcast.net

Hope to see you!
D

p.s. Sometime this evening, the 50,000th visitor will visit this blog. Thank you!
 

Doorway Update

A Wee Bit of Press

Thanks to the eagle eye of WWB, I found out about this just-published bit of press, following the Armory show in New York.

It's from Antiques and The Arts Weekly, October 25, 2013, page 59.

Does this mean I was clever--- or merely that the passersby weren't paying attention?

Regardless, I'm blushing.

Licenses

Licenses Valid through March!!!

It became apparent to me, at the the time of The Dirty Eleven, that a number of artists are skirting the law. Don't be fooled into thinking that, as the weather gets cooler, the authorities will turn a blind eye.

Print yours, and carry it whenever you are painting outside. Set an example for your children.

Don't be a good painter gone bad.

 

Aboard the Appledore

Sailing! Sailing! Over the bounding main....

Many years ago, I sailed with friends in Gardiner's Bay aboard the schooner Appledore.

Today I found again this watercolor drawing which I made during our sail. I'm wondering if I could make it into a painting? The problem is that I'm not very nautical, and I haven't explained the various items in the watercolor very well. 

An ancestor of mine was the master of this schooner, the Robert McClintock.

It plied the Chesapeake Bay, and up and down the East Coast, carrying lumber and all sorts of things.

A website, fiddlersgreenmodelships.com, is offering a 1:64 double-planked model of the 86-foot long McClintock.

But, even had I the necessary scratch to buy the one-off model, it wouldn't be the Appledore.

 

All said, I figure I can't really do this. The learning curve is just too steep.

So I'm going back to this 16x20 that's been on and off the easel recently. 

I may call it "After the McClintock had Sailed".

I wish you fair winds and following seas.

The Dirty Eleven

Riparian Fellowship

Eleven painting friends convened at Deer Island today, in the middle of the Merrimack River between Newburyport and Amesbury, Massachusetts, for some fresh air, laughter and, yes, some painting.  Thanks to Todd Bonita there were plenteous muffins and, thanks to Tom Bailey, a vat of hot java.

There was river fog to begin, but soon it brightened up, becoming a sunny day at 72 degrees. Here's a photo of the view downstream, toward the ocean.

And a photo of the assembled group...

L-R, Back Row: Barrett McDevitt, Stan Moeller, Frank Hyer, DJ, Tom Bailey. L-R, front row: Brent Rosko, Alastair Dacey, Chris Volpe, Todd Bonita, Nick Corvinus, Mike Dorsey

 

Barrett, Stan, a sliver of Tom, DJ....all hard at work

Todd, Frank, Barrett, Chris, and a sliver of Stan...all equally hard at work.

Mike, Chris, Tom, DJ, Brent?, and Alastair, discussing the meaning of life.

 

 

 

Todd demonstrating that real men aren't bothered by high tide

Mike

Barrett

Stan

Chris and Alastair

 

Tom

Frank

What's His Name

Nick getting his feet wet

Brent

Apologies to Stan and Tom, to whom I didn't say goodbye as I slinked off.
Thanks to Nick for his great photos.

We shall do it again.

Miscellany

Italia,  Dead Paintings,  Armory Show, etc.

Casa Giorgio Bianchi, oil on panel,  ca. 10x12, 1980

Italia
 
Above is a plein air sketch done near Radda, in Chianti, on my first Italian painting trip in 1980. I've learned a few things since then, but it still has a charm for me.

I post it now because the Newburyport Art Association and I are seeing about hosting a plein air painting adventure in Italy for 2014.

  
 Elena Bachrach has been fielding interest. We already have a number of artists who don't want to miss this. If you're thinking a Tuscan holiday might be just what the doctor ordered, write to Elena, soon (it's filling), to tell her of your interest ebachrach@newburyportart.org . Nothing is yet set in stone, so your feedback will be very helpful.

This odyssey will include airfare, accomodations, some meals, and tuition. So get in touch with Elena, pronto!

Armory

Here are a couple of photos of paintings which you've seen before. But this time they're installed at Arcadia Contemporary's booth at the Avenue Art Antiques and Design Show at the Park Avenue Armory in New York (this weekend only).
I knew the Dutch doorway would be there, but Le Chemin de Pont Chevalier was a surprise (for BT). It's the one called "the vertical one" in old blog posts. At the time it seemed very tall and narrow, at 72" x 48". Now after the Door, at 89" x 44", it looks portly.

 

Peeking out on the farthest wall is a 24x36" painting, The Road to St. Pierre.



DPS

There are two DPS Sessions scheduled in October. The one on Friday, October 18th is full, but there are two places remaining in the session for October 25th. If you'd like to sign up, please write Sarajean Graham at sarajean.graham@comcast.net

Etc. 

I posted this photograph on Facebook the other day. It features this artist picking up some landscape ideas, about 1947. No wonder I'm tired, now that it's 2013.

   

Please Come!

Some Publicity

 

Visiting Hours

Hollanders in the Big City

Jannetje and the little girl have made their way to New York. Thanks to Maris's superb boat-handling skills, nobody got wet.

If you're in New York over the 10-13 October period, please go say hello to them. I'm not sure that I will get there, so please, if you do manage it, send me a photo or two of the setting, etc. If you can find anybody who likes the painting, take a photo of them too, please!