STILE GALLERY OF ART & DESIGN - Blog

From Sketchbook to Finished Paintings - Along the Beach

4/29/2020

In this video, I share a little insight into how I might begin the painting process for a particular body of work such as in my acrylic shell compositions. I show how I spend time seeking objects of interest along the beach front for sketchbook material, watercolor and acrylic. Many of these studies are then used as reference material for larger scale paintings done in the studio.

April Showers Bring Cherry Blossom Petals

4/21/2020

Tulip Madness!

4/20/2020

Each day a new tulip would open up in the garden with striking colors that I couldn't help but to pick up my sketch book and pencils and head outdoors for a quick drawing study. Recently I have been exploring using colored pencils which has never been one of my favorite mediums as I prefer to use a painting medium.
One stormy afternoon, a stunning flower bouquet was placed on the dining room table along with a homemade banana bread. What an inspiration to sit down and enjoy a tasty slice of cake, hot tea and a beautiful subject matter to draw and paint on a rainy day!

Below a mix of garden photographs, photo enhancements, pencil studies, watercolor and acrylic paintings.

Springtime Tulip Garden Acrylic on canvas

A Time to Stay Busy in Springtime Color

4/6/2020

As a botanical illustrator, there is no better time to be outdoors capturing the many flowering plants in bloom during springtime. The weather can be pretty unpredictable making it difficult to work on site which is why taking so many reference photographs or by working quickly on a pencil sketch helps me to have reference material. Each day a new color appears on the many lawns and gardens of neighborhood properties as I head outdoors to take my afternoon walk. The crocuses, forsythia and daffodils were the first to appear from the long winter landscape, bobbing their bright yellow arms and heads against the chilly breeze. In the past few weeks that followed, soft pastel colors began to emerge on trees and shrubs in striking contrast to the bright blue sky. I put a selection of these photographs below.

While the country has shut down due to covid-19, it has given the air a chance to become clear again after being blanketed in haze from pollution for so long. This spring, these waving arms of blooming trees has now had the opportunity to display an array of stunning color against the backdrop of a brilliant bright blue sky.

Pre-Springtime Tulip Studies

3/1/2020

I love to watch how an upright bouquet of flowers begins to wilt and bend, dropping it's petals or curling in shape, all in creating new compositional challenges to enhance a sketch.

Watercolor Study by the River

2/19/2020

My first adventure down on a riverbank early in the spring of 2019.

Sketch Time!

1/30/2020

While walking along the beach, I like to keep an eye out for interesting objects to sketch for possible reference in larger paintings in the studio. On this day, I picked up two feathers on the sand that were from sea birds and a couple of shells to sketch in pencil and color pencil.

The Painted Lady

1/18/2020

January 14th, 2020

1/14/2020

These mini 4" x 4" acrylics on canvas were painted after taking a lovely walk over the new Hudson River skywalk in Catskill, NY. When I'd completed my first mini canvas, I couldn't help but to play around with other color combinations depicting different seasons and times of day. For the past three years my work has been on display at the Skywalk Arts Festival held at the entrance to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill, NY.
These paintings are now available for purchase on my gallery shop page located at:
https://www.stilegalleryshop.com/new-products

Holiday Cupcake Baking

12/29/2019

It is the season for putting down the paintbrush and picking up the palette knife and pastry bag in order to decorate holiday treats for gift giving. This year we decided to bake chocolate and yellow cupcakes rather then sugar cookies which wasn't quite as much work but still just as much fun!
Happy Holiday's!

Author

I feel as if my artwork gives the viewer an insight into my life's journey. This is most evident in a plein air painting, where I can reflect back to a time and location. My sketchbooks tell a different story of thoughts and ideas scribbled within my drawing and painting studies.

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