Late Night Movie

"Late Night Movie", 16x16"

I finally finished it! The last thing I did was add the figure and the image on the movie screen. This painting is sort of a self-portrait, as that's me in the chair.

I'd planned to put a figure in the painting from the start, and I realized it would be easier to use myself as a model. That meant going back to the same movie theatre where I'd taken the original photo, which was at the Warwick Showcase cinemas, and getting my husband to take the photo. Unfortunately there are many different theatres there so even after seeing several movies I was unable to find the right seating arrangement.

In the end I waited for the next big release, which turned out to be "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with Keanu Reeves. I suffered for my art, literally, as it was a terrible movie, but I got my shot and, hey presto!

Before the Rush

"Before the Rush", 6x12"

I finished my latest creation "Before the Rush" on Friday. It's an inside view of one of my favorite restaurant's, Leo's, a little Italian place on Hope St in Bristol, RI. They do the best New England clam chowder. I wondered if it were wise to do a painting of an empty restaurant, but I couldn't resist the complimentary color palette. Besides, I thought the title hinted at the people to come.

Exhibiting

I've been steadily working on my "Late Night Movie" in preparation for Ticket Please, which begins in January. It's been slow going with such short days. Artificial light can really exaggerate colors so I'm constantly having to check my painting in the morning to make sure it's not too dark.

As for current shows that I'm taking part in, there's the Under $200 Holiday Show at the Portsmouth Arts Guild which runs until Dec 23rd, and 18th Annual Les Petites Oeuvres (The Little Picture Show) at Spring Bull in Newport which opens Saturday Dec 6th from 5-7pm. I'll be dropping by the gallery to check out the competition.