Small oils of 'Sconset, Nantucket

Here is a group shot of the recent paintings I've been working on:

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

12 paintings of 'Sconset, Nantucket

oil, 6x6" each

I've often spoken with my students about the benefits of working in a series in order to address issues you'd like to tackle, and, from experience, I can vouch that this is true. This is not the first series I've done, nor I'm sure it's not my last.

Check here for more to come, including close ups of each painting and discussion of what I learned/figured out with this particular series.

It feels amazing to see these 12 pieces lined up like this. Ahhhhh.

Thanks for reading!
kmw

More progress

Completed two additional paintings yesterday and taught a wonderful class last night. Today I'm off to work at the gallery, rounding off an art-intensive week!

Photos to come of the paintings. I am taking my time with them and making sure they are the best I can make them be.

Have a great day and thank you for reading!
kmw

Threshold paintings

Well, I've been painting a lot lately -and with oils. A strange feeling, those mushy, buttery blobs oil paints give me, especially when I've been working with clean, albeit dusty, sticks of pastel.

I'm excited about what I'm learning.

We've discussed this before when I'm critiquing the work of my students:
It seems that you plateau for a while and then there are advances. It's as though you crossed a threshold.

And so, I call these "threshold paintings" - not too original, yet terribly appropriate.

Lately, in working on my " 'Sconset Series" from Nantucket references and research, I'm feeling like I'm leaving a plateau. Will it be to another threshold? It will take some time to tell.

Let me take photos of them when I think they're officially done. Even this is a change for me. In the past I was all about production. Now I'm consciously trying to slow down and paint what I see the painting could become.

Quite the process, to say the least.

Thanks for reading!

kmw

Dusting off my oil paints

Painting for a show is a true motivator. Lately I'm working in oils for a show which opens September 2nd with a First Friday reception.

Here are the details:

SIX PACK

Six artists,

Six paintings each artist,

Each painting is 6x6"

I'd been interested in painting something in a series, but felt stymied by this idea. Then, in a flash, it hit me - the perfect 'non-theme theme' - "What I did on my Summer Vacation."

I have five paintings begun. Two are mostly completed and I'm pleased with them. More than pleased. The other three have some work yet to be done.

Going to oil painting after all this time working in pastel was quite interesting. Pastel painting for me is quicker and the colors and application can be much cleaner. Four months of pastel painting alone made it feel for me like I was starting oils at square one. Argh!

Here is a bad, dark photo of the two that I like. The others are coming and there are figures in them. What? Me and the figure? Perhaps that is why I struggle. I'm desperately out of practice!!

And yes! There are six artists in this SIX PACK show:

Ann Gorbett, Polo Barrera, Steve Zafarana, Sue Zafarana, Mark Logue and Me!

Thanks for reading!
kmw

More from Nantucket

Yesterday's I posted a bunch of photos of small works from the Neponset Valley Artists trip to Nantucket last month. Because it's such fun to reminisce, here are four photos of us enjoying the trip.

Ann Gorbett took this photo of me pasteling on the porch. What a view this was. Looking at this photo brings me right back here. Ahhhh.

Before we went to the Artists Association of Nantucket's small works opening to see Haydi's three pieces in the show, we all sat on the steps for this group shot. Love the light and how happy we all are.

Top to bottom and left to right

Nancy Bacevich, Cindy Kerr,

Polo Barrera, Haydi Hurley, Ann Gorbett,

Tony Donovan and me!

A photo of Haydi and Ann with Haydi's watercolors on display. Well done, Haydi!

After the show we enjoyed a spicy dinner, good company, and conversation.

The NVA at the Starlight on Nantucket

Left to right: Ann Gorbett, Polo Barrera, Nancy Bacevich, Cindy Kerr,

NVA Spouse Jeff Kerr, Haydi Hurley, yours truly, and Tony Donovan

I did promise to post more artwork on my blog, so here is a piece I recently completed. At least right now I think it's completed. And I do have to get better at making appropriate representations of my work on line. So tricky. The sky doesn't quite look like this and the greens are richer in person.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

CLOUDS OVER CEDARS

original pastel, 16x12"

Thanks for reading!
kmw

Pastels of Nantucket

Last month my art class, the Neponset Valley Artists, went on a painting trip to Nantucket. Even the memory of this trip makes me giddy. Imagine having three days away from the normal routine, three days without kids, and three days of art with art friends!

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

'SCONSET PATH

original pastel, 5x5"

What fun it was!

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

'SCONSET COTTAGE

original pastel, 5x5"

To gear up for painting on location, I did a series of pastel studies at home from references I had from previous time spent on the island.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

'SCONSET ARBOR

original pastel, 2.5 x5"

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

assorted original pastels on our fence gate, sizes vary

Working on location can be daunting. I find it less intimidating to do small works and studies which can later hopefully work into larger, more developed pieces in oil or pastel.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

NANTUCKET MARSH LANDSCAPE

original pastel, 5x3"

Our host, NVA member, Haydi Hurley, is a Nantucket native. Apart from acting as our first-class tour guide, she secured access for us to paint at some wonderful private locations.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

BRANT POINT ROSES

original pastel, 5x5"

While there I stopped in at Peach Trees of Nantucket, a gallery gift shop at 19 Main Street, with my artwork. The owner there bought a selection of my paintings for the gallery. Hurrah!

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

BRANT POINT VIEW

original pastel, 6x2"

It was a delight to have so many of the NVA together for a painting experience on the island.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

BRANT POINT

original pastel, 2x5"

Haydi mentioned having us to the island again next year(!) for part two of this painting extravaganza.

©2011 Kim Morin Weineck

BLUE ADIRONDACKS

original pastel, 4x5"

Looking forward to September 2012 already!