Polo

Finding inspiration can sometimes be a challenge.  I often go through dry periods where I'm not motivated enough to paint.  That's usually when I write.  But thankfully a few weeks back, when the weather was still nice, a friend took me (finally!) to the polo in Portsmouth, where I got to see USA vs. Italy.  I say finally, because I've lived in Portsmouth for over nine years, and I've never been, which seems insane considering it's literally around the corner from me.

Anyway, it was quite an experience.  Wine flowed, copious amounts of cheese and deli meats were consumed (my friend is Italian), and the polo ponies rumbled past.  I understand it's a dangerous sport, which I witnessed first hand.  One of the Italians either got whacked in the chest with a mallet, or fell off his horse, I'm not entirely sure, but the poor guy writhed on the ground for a while until he recovered enough to carry on.  Ouch.  Obviously, I took my camera and snapped as many pics as I could (of the horses, not the injured Italian), and came up with a few promising compositions.  I completed my first painting last week, with hopefully more to come.

I've always been fascinated by horses.  I think they're beautiful creatures.  I used to draw and paint them as a teenager.  That's why my focus is the horse, and why I've partially decapitated the rider.  To me, he's not nearly as important.

Being very critical of my own work, I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with this piece.  I like the energy of the horse, but that huge expanse of grass to the left really bothers me.  I may take that into account in my next composition.  I might make it a tighter crop, so there's even more horse, and less grass.  My other gripe is that I wished I'd got a bit of blue sky in there somewhere.  It was a gorgeous day, but there's a huge wall of trees behind the polo grounds, and they became the backdrop instead of the sky, and I really don't like painting trees for some reason.  Perhaps next time I'll take a walk around the grounds and get a different perspective.  (That's the problem with drinking too much wine - I didn't think to change my position!)  That'll have to be next summer though.  The polo is over for the year.  I'm just glad I got to go the once.  It was fun.

Polo Pony - 18x18"

The Cape

Went to the Cape recently.  I'd happily move there if I had the opportunity.  Such great atmosphere.  Love the beaches, the towns, the scenery.  Unfortunately, the weather was pretty overcast when we were there, so it was near impossible to get great photos.  Then of course, on the day we left, the sun came out.  Typical.  I managed to snap a few shots of the Days Cottages in Truro before we departed.  Love these little cottages by the sea.  I painted "Early Morning on the Cape" this week, and I have a few other paintings to do from my trip.  I hope to enter this in the Portsmouth Arts Guild show Awakenings next week.  Cross fingers!

Early Morning on the Cape - 11x14"

New Work

So, 2012 has been an interesting year so far, and great for Honorable Mentions.  My first piece exhibited was "A Quiet Street", which was my first HM in the Imagine Blue show at Portsmouth Arts Guild.  I even entered a photograph into the Juried Photography show, "Wonder", which garnered me my second HM.  I was quite surprised by this award, as there were some truly great photos in this show.  Just as an aside, the little girl is my niece, Lola, and yes, the duck is real.

The "Ayrault St" painting is one of many intended for a show in Newport this August.  I chose this particular house because of its architectural details, like the archways, the columns, the balustrade.  There are so many interesting angles and shadows, and I am fascinated by light and shadow.  The biggest and final piece will be a night-time view, not unlike my "Night Lights" piece, where I'll get to paint interior light, another favorite of mine.

In general, I'm looking forward to summer.  There are many more opportunities for painting plein air and getting great shots of light and shadow when the sun's out, so I'm hoping for a productive painting season.

A Quiet Street - 11x14

Wonder - 8x10

Ayrault St - 11x14

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.