40s modern contemporary picture frame finished

or Frame Building, Part 2.

Remember when I started this frame?  Go to Frame Building, Part 1, scroll down to find it.

Anyway it started with gluing various strips of wood together, then painted silver, then painted white and scraped off some on the edges to let the silver show through.  Then assembled.  Then sanded, sealed, puttied the inside corners, painted some more, applied transparent silver on some high points, varnished, framed, and HERE IT IS.

Sandy took a favorite tree

The subject of some "Bear Hill Road" paintings, I love these two trees, now one is gone!  This picture taken only a few days ago was probably the last time someone took her picture. :(

Luckily I have power - Hurricane Sandy

I've been on the computer doing paperwork all day so far and I'm just about finished.  I created my guest books for the two shows I'm hanging this week, Thursday and Saturday.  I made signs for raffles that I'm having to get people to vote on their favorite painting, the vote is their chance to win a small painting. I've ordered engraved pencils to give out. I did the price list for the West Newbury Library show which is more like an inventory clearance event.  I made individual little tent signs for each painting.:10 small paintings and 19 regular sized paintings.  Made up the bio sheet.  Yesterday I shopped for the wine cups, napkins, table cloth, container for the raffle tickets for the Arlington show.  I'm almost there.

In the framing stage...

Floating frames 

A woman's work is never done.

I did it again, posted my daily art work chit chat to the "other" blog (about my adventures).  Please click here to see today's blog.....what I did yesterday.

Lost in the Details

I've been on the computer for three days straight.  I've updated my web site that is very old and added a page for the upcoming solo show Bear Hill Road in Arlington MA at the Cutter House Gallery.  What I really want to do is build a totally new web site with software I've had now for a while, but it takes so much time away from painting.  I've also thought of just going with FASO, an easy to work with on-line software, but I guess I love the challenge of doing it myself.  It's the challenge that compels me to paint too.  Of course, before the web site work, pictures were taken and uploaded and adjusted.  I didn't do a good job of resizing them because they are taking too long to load on the web page.  I had to make lists of the paintings, their sizes, try to figure out the prices.  I'm waiting right now to hear back from the gallery about what their percentage fee is before I can post the prices.  I heard from my lumber mill and I can pick up the molding on Monday, then start the framing work.  I hope I sell enough paintings to pay for the lumber.  Now today I'll update my inventory list and varnish some paintings.

A Painting Day Off

Wow, today I'm doing lots of administrative and logistical things to prepare for my upcoming shows, and I see that the swans are having flight training outside my back door (I live on the water where they live.).  The parents teach the babies to fly so when it freezes over, they all fly away until there is the smallest unfrozen spot, then they are back!
I was up last night until 1:45 a.m. taking photos of paintings for the Arlington solo show that I need to make up post cards, do my web update, inventory, etc.  So today I'll be on the computer most of the day, and tomorrow I suspect.  Maybe I'll paint a little tonight.  You have to do the photography at night so the room will be dark and only the special lights with the white umbrellas are lighting the subject.  Photos of the work are never perfect, but I try.

I also met yesterday with the West Newbury Library about that solo show for November and December.  I have painted several scenes of that town common and other area spots of interest between here and Cape Ann which I think everyone will enjoy. 

Hibbard Panel Discussion

A.T. Hibbard Show, Rockport Art Assoc.

On Thursday evening at Rockport Art Association, a panel with T.M.Nicholas, Tom Nicholas and Dan MacDougal met and was moderated by Walter Manninen.  Several questions were put to the panel members and all replied with informative answers.  Each spoke on their favorites from the many paintings being displayed currently at the unique and extensive show now at RAA.  Comments were made regarding what makes a great artist, competitive nature, advice to collectors, did modernism hurt traditional methods of learning art, what about future value of art, auctions, Hibbard's style changing over the years, self-expression, snow paintings, white paint and successful regions of the country doing business today.

Stapleton Kearns does Hibbard

Elaine Hibbard Clark, Stapleton Kearns

Tuesday I attended the gallery walk and talk by Stapleton Kearns at the Rockport Art Association.  About 50 of us were glued to his every word as he pointed out many important facts about Hibbard's painting career and his unparalleled technique.  Aldro's daughter, Elaine, attended and added interesting anecdotes.  Stapleton had many very informative things to say about these stupendous works, and there are many more paintings hung than anyone would expect to see.  The pieces were gathered from all over the country from museums, galleries and collectors--an unusual outpouring of genuine consideration on their part to honor Hibbard's life's work as well as acknowledge the RAA's 91st Anniversary year.

Frame building, part 1

After cleaning paint off

Silver Paint

I'm making this frame in the style of "1950s modern" for a painting I did in a modern style.  I'm trying or hoping that it will be white with silver showing through along the edges.  First I glued up various pieces of moldings then sanded and painted the silver undercoat.  I tried to do it indoors but the spray oversprayed the newspaper and got all over my floor tile!  Quickly I got out the turps and cleaned and washed it, so here is the after shot.  It's OK I hope.  Then moved outdoors to put on the next coats.  Next I'll sand, seal, and paint with white paint, maybe gesso first, and wipe it to allow the silver to show through.  We'll see how that goes.

Wet Paint Auction Friends for Peace

1822 Powder House, Newburyort MA
Wet Paint Auction SOLD

Photo of 1822 Powder House

The Paint the Town 2012, Wet Paint Auction for Friends for Peace, Newburyport, MA. event was held on Saturday, Sept. 19th.  It was a rainy day when I registered early in the morning.  I  was going to paint a view of the wind generator with a view of the highway that passes through the town of Newburyport because I like the feeling of an old town with a new power generator, then a few days before the auction, there was an article in the newspaper about the restoration of this old powderhouse.  I went over to see it before heading home to paint since it was raining.  I liked the old powderhouse with the view of the wind generator in the background and had the idea to paint "war" clouds and embed pieces of the actual newspaper article.  It came out darker than I would have liked, but I didn't have a lot of time to work on it.

Gearing up for shows

I'll soon be posting lots of photos of completed works both large and small.  In November I'm in two shows, one is my first one-man show and it's at the Jefferson Cutter House in Arlington MA, the other is at the West Newbury Public Library.  In January I have another one-man show at The Rhythm Cafe in Merrimac MA.

The paintings at Cutter House and Rhythm Cafe are from "The Bear Hill Road Series".  One of those paintings won best in show at the Newburyport Art Association early this year. 

If you are able to attend any of these shows I'd love to see you and talk with you.  I'll post openings, etc. as soon as I have that information.