2 days...

 Today was cooking prep day for Linda and her helpers.  Cheese and meats are ready.  Toffee pretzels and Chex mix were made.  Linda woke with a red itchy eye and the girls were worried she had pink eye so we spent 2 hours at Urgent Care to find its only allergies!  Meanwhile,  I took our van to be looked at for a bit of work scheduled for next week, blew some leaves and washed off the front porch and sat with Linda at Urgent Care!  It is 6pm and planning on a quiet evening.

Two more originals waiting for Friday at 2PM!

4 Days to Go...

We had a "to do" list today and everything got done! The studio is set up with some older painting. Panels, covers and lights. We moved the check out desk from the studio into the area off the kitchen. I oiled the butcher block counters, polished the kitchen table. Ran to Home Goods for a pitcher for Sangria and to the farm for a few more pumpkins.

Here is a sneak peak...

Douro Valley Finished!

Here is the FINISHED painting! What a challenge it was and I loved it.



Backing up to where I left off...
You can see I am working my way to the top, row after row.

Moving up



Almost at the top...

After this I go back over the whole painting and soften it, add shadows from the overhead clouds.  Scroll back to the top and look at the finished painting one more time.  I am pretty proud of this one.

I worked till 10:30 last night and was back at it today.
Filling in the back row and adding trees to the foreground.

Concentrating on the foreground, going darker.



I am working a row at a time... stone terrace and green vines.

I had a client drive up from Solomons MD and had a nice visit.  Meanwhile Linda made ham & bean soup so friends are coming for soup and grilled cheese.  I am going to keep painting rows...

Last painting before Open House

For my last painting Linda said she needed to fill in with a landscape. I decided on the Douro Valley in Portugal. It was absolutely beautiful, it looked like a patchwork quilt. Terraces holding grape vines and olive trees. It is a UNESCO site and impressive.
This is our travel group at a pull over stop, look at that view behind us.  The photo does not do it justice.

So this is what I wanted to paint.  It is 11x15"  but packed with angles and texture.  I need to show vast distance.   I took a whole day and evening just on this drawing.  All by hand, using a photo on my cell phone for reference.

I woke this morning anxious to get started.  A slow build of  under washes, drying often.

Adding rows of vines and trees, terrace and small hills.   I want to get the flow, all the directions of the patches of fields, showing movement.   I went between excitement and frustration all day.  You are seeing about 8 hours of work today.  

I am expecting to work into the night...

9 Days till Open House...

9 Days to go! There is still 3 small piles of mats to cut and shrink wrap but framing is FINISHED! Linda finished the shopping today (except the fresh stuff). Labels are all printed and cut.
Meanwhile I finished and framed 2 paintings I had been steadily working on.

I have one more I started last night.  A landscape from the Douro Valley.  It is complicated and I want to take my time.

Creating a masterpiece!

I always start with a good drawing.  By hand! This is my first connection with the painting.   We had a 12x22 frame,  tall but narrow so selecting a painting that fits comfortably in that size takes some thinking.  This was perfect.
This gate is from Portugal, I took hundreds of photos and use them in my studio.  But I remember standing in front of this 16 century gate from an old convent turned boutique where we were privileged to spend the night. Convento do Seixo in Fundao Portugal.  


I do not have a set way to start a painting, each one is different.  With this,  I started with the pattern of cobblestones which are everywhere in Portugal. Notice the dip, like the cobblestones settled over time. Then painting up the walls.


Building slowly with washes to build the texture.  I want my viewer to feel the stones.



Ivy... just softens it a bit, against all the stone.



Add that beautiful soft blue on the gates.


I keep working, going deeper and darker.  Creating the feeling of an overcast foggy morning.
 And finally it is finished!  

I am painting, Linda is filling a few orders for pick up and started sending email reminders for Open House.  10 days...

Still Painting

Another painting for Open House. Check out the work on the wood! I had a blast painting this one.


Spent a little time cleaning the leaves out of the gutter at the cottage and using my muscles to help Linda trim some butterfly bushes with the loppers.  The rest of my day was spent on a landscape painting.

I have a wonderful client in NJ who every years says...I have NO more room.  And every year he gets another one.  Notice the new one in the bottom left corner.  He truly has the salon style perfected.  So no one can tell me they don't have room for more!

Open House Update...

Open House Update:  15 days to go...
The girls are still cutting mats and framing. Supplies are still coming in. Linda has the menu together.  Not easy, she has to think of things to serve cold, it needs to set out for 3 hours at a time (then get pitched and refreshed) and for an unknown number of people.  I am so glad its not my job or it would be cheese and crackers!  Today we went to Costco for the staples. This took over 2 hours, and a 2 page list of items, I simply follow behind and push the cart!  We picked up the wine and along with the usual hot wassail I think she is planning on Apple Pie Sangria.  I will say she seems overly excited about this!   After going to 3 stores hunting for the perfect napkins and none meeting up to some hidden idea that I could not fathom, Amazon came through.    We moved the sales check out from the back room of the studio to the small room off the kitchen.  Linda wanted something different.   I saw "hose off  the front porch" on the to-do list but I pointed out that every time the leaf guys go through there is a cloud of dirt and dust...I am not sure she heard me!  I am still painting and am very happy with how that is going, it is flowing off my brush.

For your wish list,  Featuring...

More new paintings…

I need to catch up..
Thursday was date night, starting with dinner at Hidden Still for great ribs and then a fantastic show at Hershey Theater.   We saw Ain’t Too Proud.  The story of the Temptations.  The voices were amazing. LOVED IT.



My paint brush has been flying. 

Featuring two of Linda's favorites.

Both 14x18. Not available till 11/21

New Paintings...

My newest original paintings are now on my website. You can look, put them on your wish list, but you must wait till 11/22/24 at 2pm to purchase!
Featuring... Left Behind    14x18     $875

Last night we had dinner at Ciro's in Lancaster with Joe and Mindy.  We have known these two since the late 70's!!  Lots of fun over the years.   Mindy owns a great woman's clothing store in Lititz, MinD's.  Check it out.  Good food and lots of laughs.

I lost a wonderful friend on Tuesday.  My long time buddy George Mobarak passed away suddenly and  unexpectedly.  I chatted with him that morning. 
He was one of my prayer buddies and the 1st person to walk with me last year when I was ill.  We have been friends since the 1990's. A wonderful husband, father and friend.  He has left a huge void...  a reminder to enjoy every day we are given.

featuring my NEW PRINTS!

 My new prints are ready.  Orders may be placed.  I am planning for pickup at Open House and shipping AFTER Open House.  You may order on line  (I think it automatically adds shipping)  OR send an email  OR call.  Available in walnut or black wood frame.

"Waiting for Fall"
print only: $35.
Framed Print: $95.  14x18"

"Sunny and Warm"
print only: $45.
Framed Print: $115.  21x17"



Holiday Mini Print
"Merry and Bright"
print only: $15.
Framed Print: $35.  8X10"

2024 Pumpkin #8

$145. (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/31 the price goes to $225.

I am about at the end of pumpkins! 

Picked up another load of 50 frames.  Linda is hanging the paintings in the living room.  Busy busy!
A friend dropped off some bittersweet so some decorating will be done.  The squirrels ate all my small pumpkins that I had on the fence posts.

2024 Pumpkin #7

$145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/30 the price goes to $225.

Open House invites are in the mail for Pennsylvania.  Make sure it is not stuck between all the political flyers!!  Get the date on your calendar.  I will post the new prints tomorrow but here is a sneak peak.

Story

 I am getting home at 5:30pm leaving no Blog painting time.  I will be working on my larger painting tonight.  But I wanted to share...

A STORY:  Back in 1998 I met a wonderful new client at an outdoor show.  She was from Freehold, NJ.  Over the next 13 years she purchased 29 original paintings and prints.  I have not heard from her since 2011 but I kept her on my mailing list.  In August I was contacted by her cousin that she had passed away  and there were paintings she kindly thought I would like back...free.   Friends took 13 various pieces leaving 16.  I was told I could have them back if I came to pick them up.  So, today was my quick trip to NJ, starting with a stop at the local grocery store to pick up a small goodie bag of Lititz/Lancaster County goodies as a thank you.  Then gas, then a quick stop at a Lititz yard sale where Linda snagged 3 White Mountain Puzzles for $9.  Then off to NJ, a 2hr drive.  On the way back we called our friend Joan to meet us for a late lunch at Limoncello in Chester Springs.  We had a nice meal and a great visit.  Home to a few mini paintings I needed to frame for pickup over the weekend.  Ride my rollers indoors because it is getting dark earlier and then painting.  All that to say it was beyond kind to have paintings returned to me...

2024 Pumpkin #6

SOLD!  $145. (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/25 the price goes to $225.


SAVE THE DATE!  Plan on spending some time in my great town of Lititz.  Good restaurants, shopping and B&Bs.  Plenty to do in a weekend, AFTER you visit my studio of course!

I will have new prints, which I will post next week,  plenty of other prints framed and unframed and a big selection of new larger originals.  A little wine and some excellent hors d`oeuvres.  Linda is working on the menu now, there are recipes everywhere.  FYI: no snacks the 2nd week!
 Get it on your calendar!

2024 Pumpkin #5

SOLD!  $145. (unframed) 6x4” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 10x8 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/24 the price goes to $225.

Painting like a crazy man today!  After finishing this Blog painting I am trying to finish a larger painting.  I'll be back at it tonight.

2024 Pumpkin #4

 
SOLD!
$145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/23 the price goes to $225.

30 days till Open House.  Sounds like a lot of time but there is a LOT to do.  I am cutting down cases of glass today to fit all the frames coming in.  Linda cut watercolor paper for me and I taped them to boards so I can continue painting masterpieces.  Mat cutting and framing continues, that`s almost daily.  50 walnut frames were picked up and 60 - 8x10 frames arrived UPS today.  Linda spent the morning moving our living room furniture around so the panels can go up.  Meanwhile Linda is also cutting down the garden for winter and she was working with our favorite carpenter to design the steps at the french doors going out to the garden.

We did take time out from working to have lunch with the Bocks, we did shows with them for years.  They made stenciled slates and retired several years ago.  It was great to catch up.  And on Friday we  had a birthday dinner, Happy 70 to our dear friend Bonnie, we had a great meal at Lazzaros in Palmyra, PA. 

2024 Pumpkin #3

 mini original watercolor   $225.
Bringing in the harvest!

Health: My internal exam was today and all good. I am free till January!

2024 Pumpkin #2

SOLD!
$145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/17 the price goes to $225.

I had a blast painting my cat Smudge hanging out with pumpkins!

Story... Back on 9/16 we were staying at Wapiti Woods in Weedsville, PA.  I spent one of the days finishing a painting.  When we got home I could not find my painting anywhere. I knew it was in a white kitchen trash bag. I thought I left it in the cabin so I contacted Wapiti Woods and the owner took the time to look around the cabin.  Then dumpster dived to see if the cleaning people thought it was trash.  Then checked a second time, then walked the property and found it leaning against a tree.  I think it fell off the wagon and someone set it along the path.  The owner took the time to "go into town" and find a UPS store and return it.  It arrived safely back to me!  SO, if you find yourself looking for a quiet cabin I highly recommend Wapiti Woods!  They went way out of their way to help me.

Here is the painting and it will be available at Open House.

2024 Pumpkin #1

SOLD!
$145. (unframed) 4x6” mini original watercolor
Available to the 1st person to email
(framing 8x10 $35 - shipping available at cost)
If unsold by 10/16 the price goes to $225.

I wanted to paint a few pumpkins...


News: I won a Peoples Choice Award at the Art Show this past Saturday. THANK YOU to everyone who voted for me. It was a nice surprise.

Health Update: I have a 15 month check up. I can't believe I have been clear 15 months! A clear Cat Scan last week, Today was bloodwork and Oncologist. He said everything looks good. Wednesday I have an internal. Then I am good till January.

Meanwhile over the weekend I finished these. Put these on your wish list for Open House!
Save the Date, Plan to stop at my Open House and visit Lititz!  Nov. 22-24