STUDIO NOTES

Painting in Holland

JM — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:08:28 +0000

It’s always a debate of should I or shouldn’t I drag my paints with me on vacation. It is not such a big deal if it’s a car trip, but flying is another story altogether. There is the special care to packing supplies, the looking for an art supply store in another country to buy the solvents that I couldn’t bring on the plane. And then finally lugging all of this extra stuff around. And for what? Sometimes I don’t even paint.

I had a tough time in Holland. It’s a windy place. My first attempt was not successful with the result of a painting that looked like Long Island. But my next was really fun on a trip to a farm in Friesland. It made dragging all of that extra bag with me worth it.

Painting from Pieter's Farm in Holland

Another attempt down at the Erie Basin

JM — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:38:38 +0000

Erie Basin 2

I actually had a hard time with this one the first time, so went out a second time to work on it. It’s better, but it might go out for a third time.

Plein Air: First Time out

JM — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:26:56 +0000

First time out with the new rig…the EASyL Lite from Artwork Essentials. It was a pretty successful outing considering it took me two days to get out of the house.

Open Studios

JM — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:33:35 +0000

I have such a love/hate relationship with open studios. I love arranging my work on the wall and looking at what I’ve accomplished with fresh eyes, but I hate the cleaning and particularly hiding the distracting clutter that I don’t want people to see. I love having friends visit and meeting my studio neighbors, but I hate just sitting there when nobody is coming through. I love when strangers have a positive reaction to my work, and I don’t mind (much) when they just shrug and walk away. In the end the pros out weigh the cons and so I shall continue on with the open studios.

Portraits

This year I sold two pieces based on paint studies that I had done in Florence. It was exciting because I’ve only started making paintings from my plein air sketches. The challenge is finding a balance between the energy that comes from painting quickly and on the spot with the precision the the studio environment allows for.

Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures of the ones that I sold, but here are the original sketches.

Florence paint sketches

The Opening of the Art House Portrait Show

JM — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:07:27 +0000

It was a nice space with a diverse group of artists. I”m not sure if I’ll participate again, although it was good to have a deadline for my self portrait.

ARTHouse Self Portrait show 2009

Screwball Spaces Open Studios

JM — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:25:32 +0000

The Self Portrait Project

JM — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:22:59 +0000

SCOPE 2010

KM — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:51:10 +0000

A good show to view emerging artists. Never disapoints.

6×6 Project

JM — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:34:38 +0000

Hudson 30

I’m showing Hudson 30, a painting, in the 6 x 6 project show the month of March at the

Charmingwall Gallery
191 West 4th St, NY, NY
Opening will be on Friday at 6pm, March 5th, 2010

The Great Pop Up Art Sale

JM — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:23:03 +0000

I have two paintings in the Dumbo Arts Center pop up art sale February 26th – February 28th
Opening:
February 26th 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Dumbo Arts Center (DAC)
30 Washington Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201