Hiking in Lakes Region NH

Beautiful morning yesterday. We went hiking West and East Rattlesnake in Holderness (Lakes region of New Hampshire.) Did not see any rattlesnakes, just one little garter snake on the trail. Lots of mosquitoes out too. This was our first real hike of the summer and we enjoyed it. Took our time going up and down the trails. This took us about 3 hours with a lunch break, but could be done much faster by those who are younger and speedier.

That big rock in the top picture is called a glacial erratic. There are lots of these in northern New England. We saw many on Mount Pisgah in Vermont when we hiked there many years ago.

Spring at Grace Church/Acrylic

I am definitely having fun with acrylics. This is a 9" X 12" canvas panel. I did the painting from a photo I took in the spring with the trees in full bloom. I don't know what kind of tree that was. Grace Church is in downtown Manchester, NH. I think this is almost done, but I may touch up a few spots as I continue to look at it. I'll wait a while before I varnish it in case I decide to change anything.

I'm in a color mixing workshop now. I completed the first one last week and have two more to go. Hopefully I'll learn more about making the acrylic paint colors mix the way I want them to. In July, I'm taking 3 more acrylic classes. I can't do the full summer schedule since I'll be traveling, but Kim Roth is flexible as well as being a terrific teacher. I'm looking forward to the classes and hope to finalize some of the paintings you've seen on this blog.

Wedding

Attended beautiful Chassidic wedding in Manchester last night. The rabbi's oldest daughter was the bride. The groom was from Australia. Apparently they met in Israel and this was not an arranged match. Lots of food, music and a beautiful wedding ceremony outside. The rain held off for the ceremony. I think this is the first time Manchester has seen a wedding like this, although I've been to some in NYC area. Good time had by all.

Acrylic lessons

Just learning. I'm enjoying the art course on DVDs that I bought (mentioned in earlier post). I haven't started a new painting yet and I haven't finished my zentangles portrait yet. (To see larger image, just click on it.). This easel is on wheels and I just wheel it around  in my studio. I put it in front of the monitor to paint along with the instructor. The taboret is also on wheels.  My second easel can be used as a table easel or as a stand. I like using that one on a table. The table has north light (from window) and I also have a lamp with the special bulb for artists.

We hope to walk the Audubon trails tomorrow in Concord. I'll bring my camera and perhaps I'll have some nice photos to post.

Artist of the Month/June 2011

My oil pastel painting of the bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho won one of the certificates for the Artist of the Month at last night's Manchester Artists Association meeting. The painting will be posted at the Bedford (NH) Library this month. See May 6th posting for photo of the painting.

View from Noon Peak finished

I think this is finished now, I just have to varnish it. I will put it up on my website for sale or you can contact me directly if you are interested in buying it. I have Paypal on the website, but I'm not sure what the shipping would be if you are outside the USA. I would have to find out. This is an acrylic painting on canvas panel 9" X 12" (22.9 X 30.5 cm)

Self portrait in progress

I volunteered 3 hours yesterday at the Manchester Artists Association gallery, but no one came in.  I brought my sketchbook with me and spent some time fixing a sketch I had done last year of my daughter (not showing that one). I'm still not happy with it since there was too much shadow on her face (she was standing in bright sun and squinting too). I'll leave that one in my sketchbook.

Then I decided to have some fun. I started the portrait based on Zentangles, which are just repetitive designs in pen and ink. I hope to work on it some more this week and maybe finish up my Noon Peak painting this weekend. 

I also visited the student art exhibit at the New Hampshire Institute of Art and dragged Joe there too so he could see all the talented students we have in Manchester. I think they'll be taking that exhibit down soon since the semester is over, but it was very enjoyable.