The Shop Under Edwige

The Shop Under Edwige - 18x24

So here's a photo of my prize winning painting from the Interiors Exteriors show at the Portsmouth Arts Guild, and here's the comment the juror Lisa Goddard made:

P. Jane Renwick communicated the universal desire of human beings to adorn and embellish our outer selves in order to heighten, emphasize, disguise or mystify how we are seen by others. Her painting took an everyday experience (shopping) in an everyday place (a mall) and wove that image into a rich tapestry of color and form that transcends the obvious.

I'm pretty thrilled with that!

Fantastic weather today. Sunny, warm, and no humidity! Can't wait to get my teeth into another painting, and seeing as I haven't been able to get to the Cape this summer, I think I might start a painting of the Highland Lighthouse in Truro. I'm going through a Hopperesque phase again, I think.

Onwards and upwards!

Inspiration and Rejuvenation

Oh dear! It's been far too long since I last blogged. I'm kind of embarrassed. But it's not like I've been inactive. I took a break from painting and tried my hand at writing, which is an ongoing process that will probably never end, but I'm back into my painting again, thank goodness. I feel better for it. In fact, I just entered my first show of the year at the Portsmouth Arts Guild, and won 2nd Place for my painting "The Shop Below Edwige"! Score! Stupid me, though. I forgot to take a photograph of my winning piece, so I will do that soon, then post it. Promise!

Wanted to mention one of my favorite authors too, Maggie Stiefvater. She penned the "Shiver" trilogy, and has a new book out in October called "The Scorpio Races". I love her writing, and she's an artist too, in every sense of the world - painter, musician, writer. How can you beat that? Here's an animated trailer for her book, which she created herself: http://youtu.be/tojCn2Y41ig And if you're interested in the book, you can pre-order a signed, doodled copy here: http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie

Well, that's all from me for now. Promise not to be a stranger. Will post some of my more recent work soon. Onwards and upwards!

People's Choice Award

Well, this was certainly a nice surprise. I was awarded the Peoples Choice Award at the 5 Member Invitational exhibition for my painting "Summer Night at the Frosty Freeze". Quite an honor, considering the outstanding work at the show. Thanks very much to all who voted!

I took a break from painting for a few weeks (had only intended a respite of one week, but it stretched into several). Mind you, I still had a brush in my hand. I ended up moving my studio from the sun room to a spare bedroom, and I painted the walls a neutral gray.

It's been quite energizing working in a new space. I've almost finished a scene from Provincetown, Cape Cod, and will soon start work on a few commissions. I look forward to hunkering down in my cozy studio as the weather gets colder.

Great show

Had a very successful opening on Friday for the 5 Member Invitational at Portsmouth Arts Guild. Great turnout, not to mention some tasty nibbles. That always helps. Even I succumbed to the cheese and crackers.

More importantly, the art looked fabulous, and I'm not talking about mine. It was an honor to share the show with four very talented people - Anne Winthrop Cordin, Marc Jaffe, Priscilla Foley, and Lenny Rumpler. Their work made mine look good.

Below is a link to Portsmouth Patch, whose Editor, Sandy McGee, wrote a brief article about the opening and took photos.

http://portsmouth.patch.com/articles/five-artists-invitational-show-opens-to-large-audience

Now that the rush is over, will take a break for a week, then work on a few commissions. Would also like to start on some new pieces from my recent trip to Provincetown, MA. No rest for the artistically motivated.

5 Member Invitational

It's been some time since my last blog. This is becoming a bad habit! I have good reason though. The summer has been glorious, so needless to say I've been spending as much time outdoors, or painting, as I can. The computer sees far more action in the winter months. The show opening this Friday deserves a post, however. This is the big one. The big kahuna! I've been painting furiously for the past 6 months in preparation for the 5 Member Invitational at the Portsmouth Arts Guild, and it's finally here.

The paintings shown here are just two of the pieces I've entered - "Corn Dogs" and "Candy Apples", which are scenes from a carnival that I visited in May. My initial thoughts were to paint the ferris wheel and other carnival rides, but I was drawn to the carnival workers and the booths they worked in. I just loved the signs, and the abstract shapes and bright colors, and I wanted to paint them. I did eight pieces in total, all based around a "people and places" theme, two of my favorite subjects to paint.

Come to the show if you can. I will update my website shortly with new images of my paintings.

Corn Dogs - 18x24"


Candy Apples - 20x20"

Looking forward to summer

Edouard Vuillard - "The Garden at Vaucresson"

Boy, it's been a while since my last blog. We're mid June already, though it doesn't feel like it this week. It's been cool and overcast. Hoping for some sunshine soon.

Spending most of my painting time preparing for my upcoming show in August, the Portsmouth Arts Guild 5 Member Invitational. Racing against the clock now. Ugh. I don't like pressure, but it's certainly motivational. Have been working from photos I took at a local carnival, which is somewhere full of people, light, color... my favorite things to paint. Last weekend I went to New York City, which is only my second visit to this amazing city. Took almost 700 photos, so I think I can safely say I have plenty of pictures for future paintings. I do plan on entering a few New York inspired pieces in the August show.

Of all places I visited in NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art left the biggest impression, from a painting perspective that is. Discovered some new favorites, such as Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard. Their sense of color and light was incredible. For the time being, I have lost interest in painting landscapes, but if anyone could inspire me to take my easel outside and get busy en plein air, these artists could. Photos don't do these masterpieces justice, but I took some anyway, then went and bought the book from the MET gift store. (As an aside, the MET gift store is a major trap for the unwary. It's full of every conceivable art momento...books, mugs, t-shirts, posters...the list goes on. Avoid it if you don't want to blow your travel budget. I couldn't help myself!)

Right now, I feel like I'm bubbling over with artistic creativity. Hopefully it'll keep me going for many months to come.

2nd Prize!

Received some exciting news yesterday. I won 2nd prize at the Imagine Red juried show at the Portsmouth Arts Guild for my painting "The Red Duvet"! Yay! It was entirely unexpected, particularly as my only concern was just to be accepted into the show. I'm quite chuffed. Shall be attending the opening tomorrow night, for sure. Will post a pic of my painting shortly.

The good news was especially welcome considering the awful time we had last week with the record rainfall in Rhode Island. Never thought we'd have to worry about flooding, but the backyard became so waterlogged from the 9 inches of rain that fell in such a short time, that the septic couldn't handle it, and waste began to back into the house. Gross! Was on the bucket-brigade for at least an hour, non-stop, till the plumber arrived and at least relieved me of duty. Managed to prevent any major damage or flooding in our basement. Had to spend a couple of nights in a hotel while we let the septic get on top of things again, but everything seems okay now. Still, I'm a little nervous of the rain that's forecast for tomorrow. Hope the ground has dried up enough, with all this sunny weather, that a little rain will go unnoticed. Cross fingers.

Will have to start painting this afternoon. Haven't painted anything since last Monday, and I'm suffering from creative withdrawal.