computer crazy

I've been on the computer for hours today and haven't gotten very far.  I took 150 photos of George, loaded them up in Elements and tried to categorize them into heads, hands, etc. and when I got through, none of it was there.  This happens to me all too often these days.  I don't know whether to blame myself or my computer.  The thing that bothers me the most is loosing all this time.  Yesterday I tried to make magnets on, yup you guessed it, Word Imperfect.  I've done this many times before, but of course, yesterday the photos wouldn't move from one program to the other.  Sometimes I have to use an intermediate program, then they will copy to WP.  It's a good thing that I'm about the most patient person I know.  It still gets to me bigtime.
I'm going to stop now for today before I go crazy.

George the Bartender

I wanted to paint this portrait years ago and scaled it up and drew some lines on it to suggest where George would be.   Yesterday and today I prepared to work on this portrait that is 36x60".  I charcoaled an outline over the previous light pencil sketch and dug out the old photos for reference.  I decided that I didn't like the arrangement that I had previously planned.  I made a few other compositions from cutting up photos and you can see them here.  Next I'll do some sketches and some small versions of George to get familiar with the idea and to test out the design.  It might be hard for you to see what my plan might be, but I like the last one best so far.

I also repainted a lemon that is part of a previously completed painting.  I like the new one much better, then I cooked fish for supper and ate the lemon.  It was a little weird to be eating something that lives on in my painting.

Door closed for now

The next phase of finishing this painting will be the outside edges which are interior areas of the doorway.  Until I can find a similar situation as a reference, I won't be able to create believable shadows, values, etc.  The door, for example would not be this white even though I have not painted it white.  The original drawing was done from my previous home's entrance door area and the perspective for the entire piece is set at standing 4 feet away.  The relative shading for the interior of the doorway is probably OK even though I would not have the warm cast to it--the carpeting leading to that door is beige, just as this carpeting is beige which I would keep.  I almost like the idea of having the lighting reflect that there could be a center overhead light similar to what you see here.  Not sure yet about that.  So for now, I'll put this away until I can find a good reference.  I did quite a lot to it, the door, the area around the door, finishing touches to the rest of it.

Sandwich (sign) Board for receptions

Signboard I made

I made this sandwich board to put up in the town square for this Saturday's reception.  I bought the white board but decided not to use markers this time.  The rest of the lumber, etc. I had on hand (scrap wood).  I love to recycle or in other words, I'm a thrifty person.  I did buy the little hinges and a couple of bolts.

I have also been working more on the Doorway painting.  It will take some time I think.

The next new thing...

BIG--The Doorway

I've been working on this the past few days.  Still a ways to go. 

Made movie today on framing

Many hours later I can say that it's completed.  I uploaded it to Google and You Tube and will try to put it on my blogs.  It's 6:32 minutes long and is made up of still photos and text screens and was constructed on Picasa.  Like so many things, the first one takes a while since you make every possible mistake along the way.  I didn't load it up with lots of text; however, I think it states the necessary.  At the end I furnish my info in case someone would want to contact me for further details.  I guess you would search "How to Make a Floating Frame" to find it.  More on that later.

And the winner will get...

For the winner of the drawing of the 'Vote for your Favorite Painting' raffle at the Rhythm Cafe I selected a small painting called, "Bowl Stack".  Several people voted for this small painting as their favorite at the West Newbury Show and someone wrote a note about how they liked that they reminded them of cooking so I thought it would be appropriate for the restaurant show.  It's a stack of small different colored bowls.

more Cafe photos on www.pyche-art.blogspot.com

Spilled enamel paint, Opps.

So, I'm just about finished with framing the last couple of small ones.  I wasn't going to frame them, but I guess I'm getting more compulsive or neat, whatever.  At the last minute, while painting the sides of the deep gallery wrapped small ones, I spilled some(quite a bit actually) chrome silver enamel paint right on the front surface!  Since the oil paint probably wasn't completely dry, I had to blot and wipe as best as I could.  It landed on the sky portion of a light sky area, so I tried to make it work, as if it were intentional.  I'm not loving it, but I'll put it up anyway because I need a certain number of them to make the hanging arrangement work.  I'm waiting for the fat lady to sing on this one for sure.

Another show hung today! Rhythm Cafe

Well, they are not photos, but any news is good news.  The Newburyport News, today.

I headed out this morning in a minor hurricane with my paintings and hung my show at the Rhythm Cafe in Merrimac MA.  They look good there, their walls are a nice celery green, a good compliment for my work.  My art student, who would have had a lesson today, couldn't get off Plum Island because it's high tide and with the storm, they closed the only road that goes out there.

I'm still working on the movie of "making frames" and it's half done.  I'm also working on a program (booklet) for this show.  I'm using WordImperfect (still) and it's really a drag.  The draft is done.  I'm also finishing a few more paintings to bring to include in this show.  I should be finished today with the four little schoolhouses and I'll frame the 2 smallest ones as they are not deep gallery wrap.

I used my new air compressor and pin nailer yesterday, I like it a lot.

I realized today that I'm missing a bag of stuff, picture hangers, business cards and holder, plastic sign holders, who knows what else (from my last show, guess I left it behind).

Framing again and photo movie

I made three frames this week to frame two paintings for my upcoming Rhythm Cafe show which will be hung this coming Thursday.  Since I was invited to do a workshop on framing, and wanted to try to do a movie where you use still photos (probably similar to a slide show) I was careful to take photos while I was making these frames.  I think that part worked out pretty good; I haven't made the movie yet.
After the first one was all cut and ready to be assembled, I made the second one to those measurements, as the second painting was the same size as the first.  These two were made from my latest design, made by my lumber mill guy, which is lighter and slightly different than previous versions.  I thought, while I'm at it, I'll make another one using the black frame stock I used to like, thinking it could look good with the painting that is of brick buildings and has a dark foreground.  So without doing all the double checking that I usually do, I copied the other frame settings.  I glued them all up, and thought I was finished.

Natural Wood Floating Frame

Forgetting to measure the inside dimensions, opps!

To my surprise, the interior measurements of the black frame stock is different, and, yup, you guessed it, the paintings didn't fit!  It was about 1/2 inch smaller all around!  I can't believe I did this! 

Favorite Painting at West Newbury Library

Dick Shea won this painting!

Yesterday I went to my show at the West Newbury Library Show to do the drawing for the winner of the "Vote for your Favorite Painting" drawing.  Dick Shea had the winning raffle ticket among the 88 people who were kind enough to take the time to complete a voting slip.  He won the painting which I'll post when I have more time.  It was truly a revelation to me to see what people liked.  I can't stress enough how grateful I am that they participated in this and helped me to understand how people view my work.  It is certainly upside down from what I expected, so there is something here for me to learn.  For example, only 74 voted for large paintings whereas I never expected anyone to vote for the small ones as their favorite.  Two people voted for one I wasn't even going to put in.  Even from non-voters, I heard from people who liked another small painting that I never thought anyone would like.  The only thing that I'm sure of is that the artist never knows how a work will be received. 

The top paintings by vote were:

Most votes for "Vote for My Favorite Painting"

1st. Lowell's Boat Shop

2nd place

2nd. Campobello Trees

3rd place

3rd. Stevens Coolidge Place

4th place

4th 5 Generations of Boatbuilders (Burnam's)

Waiting for Work - tied for 5th

Sunrise on Back River - tied for 5th

and a tie for 5th place between
Sunrise on Back River and
Waiting for Work.

Letting Go

After the last couple of paintings that were careful and detailed, I needed to let go and loosen up.  I'll probably do more on these when they dry, but it was fun, and just like everything else, a way to see color differently. 

Oil on Stretched Canvas 8x8" Merrimac Schoolhouse #1

Oil on Stretched Canvas 6x6" Merrimac Schoolhouse #2

Oil on Stretched Canvas 6x6" Merrimac Schoolhouse #3

Oil on Stretched Canvas 8x8" Merrimac Schoolhouse #4

Downtown at 1:10 p.m.

Downtown Merrimac MA 2012 10x20" oil on linen

I finished this one yesterday working for a long time on the foreground even though it doesn't appear to look any different from the previous photo I posted.  I had that idea in mind all day that I was going to start the next painting on my mental list.  It's the one-room schoolhouse on the hill next to the police and fire station.  I got a good start on that one, actually it will be four paintings done in the New England Contemporary Style of artists like Peter Batchelder.  I was having so much fun that I hated to stop, but I had to go to my other job.

Downtown almost done

Downtown Merrimac 10x20" oil on linen

I can almost say that I've painted the town.  The foreground needs some adjusting but otherwise, it's about done.  The clock says 10 past 1:00.  The clock in the tower.  The Rhythm Cafe (where it will first be shown) is visible on the right (dark shape on the bottom and light shape above).  I don't know if I like the clouds.  One can second guess oneself all day long so I should put it to bed for now.  I tried not to be very detailed but it's hard when it's such an architectural painting, I tried.  I'm a little tired of little brushes and am looking forward to the next one that will be big shapes and big brushes--the little one-room schoolhouse.

Finding my way around downtown

downtown 12-10-12

Spent another few hours finding my way around the downtown  (painting) of Merrimac MA today, triple checking drawing, values, colors, laying in the underpainting, getting familiar with it.  I have a long way to go yet.  Tomorrow should make a difference.

Joel Babb Moment

Joel Babb Boston

Joel was my teacher at the Museum of Fine Arts School for many years, an excellent teacher who covered EVERYTHING.  I've been struggling for many hours yesterday and today with the 3-point perspective for my downtown Merrimac Square painting.  After using string about 5 or 6 feet long to get the right angles, I'm finally ready to do some more painting.  In a way, I'm anxious to get it done, but I know if I don't get the math right and the values right I'll be sorry.  So now, on with the values.

pencil drawing

painting so far without today's changes

Farmhouse Bear Hill Road

Farmhouse Bear Hill Road 10x20" oil on linen

above painting for size reference

I am done for now at least on this painting for the upcoming Rhythm Cafe Exhibition, opening on December 27th, 2012 in Merrimac MA.  I wanted desperately to get started on the Merrimac Center painting but wanted to finish this one first.  It was like saving the best for last when you are eating your dinner--now I can get started on the next one.

155 Centurians

I finished inputting information to get the big picture of my project for the centurions.  I feel like I've been to a party and met all these people.  Imagine being a person with parents who lived into their 100s and having siblings who are also in their 100s???  At least one person in this group can say this. 

More Bear Hill Road .....

Almost done with this one....some adjustments are necessary, but I'm getting excited to do another painting of the center of Merrimac with the City Hall building, stores, and the Rhythm Cafe in the distance.  Working on advertising for the exhibition at Rhythm Cafe opening on December 27th!

Centurian Project

This box is a bottomless pit.  I'm still typing, three days now.  I also painted for 7 hours today, started on a painting of a farmhouse at sunset, 10x20". 

Our Towne...

How's that for the title for the upcoming show here in my town, Merrimac MA?  The paintings are all scenes from here and now I'm inspired to paint even more of them.

I met with the owners of the The Rhythm Cafe today to discuss my show in January.  First of all, I love this place, the food is excellent and the owners all work there and they are tops in their profession at everything they do.

I need to choose a day and date for my reception.  Usually they do Monday evenings, but they offered me Saturday afternoon around 2 or 2:30, and I like that better (what do you think?) because it will still be daylight and people might be out since it's the weekend.  I also don't want to be too close to New Year's so maybe the second weekend. 

Last night I input more info for my "Centurion Project". 

The Centurian Project

I've been saving newspaper clippings for years, probably about 8 years, of obituaries of anyone 100 and over.  I'm fascinated with the idea that people can live that long.  I am also amazed at what some of these people's lives were like.  So today I started going through the box of clippings and organizing my thoughts about how to make a work of art about them.  I've been thinking about this for years, and have had lots of ideas, none of which have passed muster.  After 10 hours today of typing and reading, there are still plenty left in the box.  I'm making a record of their names, ages, other pertinent information.  I really had no idea I had so many.  First you think it's a rare thing, then you realize it's happening more and more with each passing year.  My thoughts are changing quickly and I'm not even through the box yet. 

Getting ready...

Last year's goal was to write a curriculum for a class and teach a class.  It was a very long arduous procedure getting the curriculum together but working with it with a student worked like a charm.  I'm starting with another student tomorrow and look forward to seeing how it goes this time around.  It's rather nice to be "ready" and not to have to fret over the preparations.  I am, however, headed to the work space now to get it cleaned up, set up and ready.

Closing reception at Cutter Gallery

Sunday was the closing reception day and it was well attended and you can see details here:
Last day at Cutter and the winner is?

I have a new art student who will be starting the 10-week program his week. 

Show visitors at Cutter Gallery

Added the Summer Shack 12x12" painting to the show (top, green)

Mary Pyche, artist, with Mary and Jeff Lock, Mary's favorite in background

George, Michael and Don Denning

George Pyche and Don Denning

A dear friend from long ago, Don Denning, visited at the gallery and it was very nice to finally get in touch.  Jeff and Mary Lock dropped in to say hello and we went for Chinese after.

THIS SUNDAY, the 25th, is the last day reception at Cutter Gallery from 2 to 5 p.m.

I'll be drawing the winning ticket on the 25th from those who voted for their favorite painting and posting the results.