"Morning Calling on Dock St.

"Morning Calling on Dock St.
18x24" oil on gallery wrap canvas

I painted this image in response to a photograph by Yann Meersseman and wife Moira Fitzgerald at Vineyard Colors. They graciously allow artists to paint from their work, provided you send them a copy of the final art. 

Although I haven't painted in quite awhile due to the demands of my graphic design business, the intriguing play of light and dark attracted my eye and inspired me to pick up a brush. 

There was a lot of detail in the photo, so I tried my best not get tight, but rather give loose impressions of found object. It felt so good to get back to my easel!

This piece is being donated to my church's annual fundraiser. 

Thanks for viewing. 

nancy

Just a Chair on a Porch

"Just a Chair on a Porch"
14x11" Oil on 1.5" gallery wrap canvas

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"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity." —Walt Whitman

Stripped down to the barest necessities for guaranteed joy and contentment, give me a front porch with a chair to sit in silence and greet a neighborly morning knocking at my door. 

Coffee cupped in hand...sliver of melting moon fading...first chirps of the winged, chanting praise...cool stir of wind caressing cheeks...last stand of shrinking shadow...sunburst on the horizon, duck the first warm hurls of orange and gold rays. Morning has broken!

Photographers: Moira Fitzgerald & Yann Meersseman

The reference shown for my painting was another amazing image found on Vintage Colors blog. I was totally swept into the quiet stillness captured by the simplicity of the morning scene. However, as you can see, I went to town taking huge liberties with pumped up colors and values pulled from my imagination to match the intensity of the light and serenity that infused me. 

In this latest piece, I decided to challenge myself by taking a different approach. I usually try to match the same colors and values to what I see, but this time my goal was to try punching up the warmth and coolness of the light and hues for added mood and mystery. I have been working on this one for some time and hit many dead ends along the way. I had to wipe my canvas off many times and start over until I began seeing on my canvas what I was feeling about the image, rather than what I was simply seeing. 

For me painting is a war, a battle of push and pull, trial and error to the very end. I now stand with white flag in hand...a truce declared. I am at peace...and just wish I could plop into that inviting chair. 

Thanks for the visit,
—nancy

To see more of my art click here, or one one of these additional links: Online Gallery • Email  • Website  •  Graphic Design Studio • Saatchi Gallery • Fine Art America

"Salutations to Sibs" SOLD

36x24" oil on gallery wrap canvas

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But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. 

—Khalil Gibran

I have been a lost ship over most of the past year, adrift from paints and canvas, but happy to be firmly back in port of studio with brushes as oars, anchored firmly in hand. 

Family took precedence last April as my 93-year-old mom came to live with us. Her stay turned out to be a short final voyage as she sailed off into the ether of sunset at the end of September. We were honored to care for her those last months of her life, as this is how families love each other. 

Toni Morrison said, “Your need a whole community to raise a child” but to care for a dying parent, I say, takes an entire family. This is what ultimately led me to this painting “Salutations to Sibs.”

I wasn't consciously aware of what was actually drawing me to paint this alluring sunrise from Martha’s Vineyard. It was only after I finished the piece, that I was struck by how much the harbor scene reminded me of my family each one dropping their anchor to tend to mom in many different ways. 

Boats moored at bay seemed the perfect metaphor for family. Our fleet is composed of a large variety of crafts, some strong and secure, some calm, soulful and gentle, others steadfast and reliable. Siblings may sail through life on different bodies of water scattered around distant shores, yet will always tether together when the day is over, or seas turn into rough stormy waters.

It seems appropriate to post this piece on Valentine’s Day to honor the eight loving vessels in my marina including Bob, Debby, Kitsy, Barb, Mary, Julie, Lolly and Dash. 

I love you all!  

nancy

To see more of my art click here, or one one of these additional links: Online Gallery • Email  • Website  •  Graphic Design Studio • Saatchi Gallery
• Fine Art America

Reflecting at Day's End

     "Reflecting at Day's End" 18"x24", oil on gallery stretched canvas

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"I never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude."  — Henry David Thoreau

Gosh, it has been three months since my last post. That's the longest gap in over five years. I feel like I've been serving time in solitary confinement. If you thought I died you are dead solid wrong. I am alive and kick'n, but had to spend the entire summer wearing my other hat, graphic design to make ends meet. Reality check!

Although I had very little time to pick up a brush this summer, I did receive a couple of awesome honors. In July, the Lone Star Art Guild Convention selected my painting, "Shuttered Repose" for 2nd Place in Professional Oil Painting Division out of 17 other art league's winning pieces. In the spring, this same piece took First Place in my local art league, and has since been juried into the Visual Arts Alliance Exhibition in Houston. This piece was one of 66 pieces of art selected out of 456 entries and will be on display until November in downtown Houston in the 1600 Smith Street Building Gallery. 

Over the summer I did do one new painting for a book cover  I was designing. Here is that piece. The author, Sandra Johnson, had taken a photo of a model holding a bouquet of flowers for her cover, but decided the photo was cropped too tightly. Hence I was commissioned to work on a painting that would incorporate more of the figure. This novel is being published by Texas Review Press.

Today's painting (show at the top of the page) is a larger piece that I am submitting to another show next weekend. I wanted to give you a sneak preview. This little dingy really snagged my oar. It was painted from a photo found online by Vineyard Colors. If you are unfamiliar with these photographers, check out their incredible daily on-location images direct from Martha's Vineyard. These folks are kind enough to allow artists to paint from their work. Here is the photo I was working from.

Okay, so that's about all the news I have for now. I have purchased lots of new art supplies and intend to be back afloat as long as my money holds out. 

Thanks for letting me come ashore. 

 nancy 

 To see more of my art or to contact me: Online Gallery  • E-mail  • Website  •  Graphic Design Studio •  Saatchi Gallery •  Fine Art America