The Huangs meet Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik

The Huangs meet Richard and Nancy

I read today about Qiang knocking on the door of the master, Richard Schmid.  I am so excited for him and can't wait to see how his art is influenced by this new association.  The Huangs are such wonderful and kind people, and their son, Jonathan is a great kid who is touring colleges while they are here in the Northeast.

Qiang Huang workshop

I worked on two paintings during the wonderful workshop with Qiang Huang (Chong Wong).  They were really practice sketches of his method.  The first day I didn't quite get it, but I think that I did better on this one done the second and third day.  I started to show signs of promise as far as working with his method is concerned.

Day Three - Qiang Huang

The schedule for the third day was a smaller (a daily painting sized) painting demo--this time the subject was glass objects.  After the demo we all returned to our easels to either work further on the practice painting of the previous day's setup or work on a smaller sketch to practice the glass idea.  As I woke up in the morning feeling more clear-headed about this technique, I worked on the previous painting and felt quite a bit better with those results. 
After lunch I participated in a business of marketing workshop that was very well presented and explained and Q&A on that subject ensued.  I learned a lot even though I already have a good foundation in that regard.  I would very highly recommend Qiang's workshop to anyone.
During the painting of the demo, there was a little worm in the orange that was a hit with the crowd as he kept sticking his head up like a periscope and looking around.  It was noticeable as he was in the spotlight and silhouetted against the dark background!
At the end I purchased the demo of the flower painting and will post it here when I unpack the camera.  It will be a constant reminder of my wonderful workshop with Qiang and his instruction.  I say instruction because there are many demos where the painter doesn't explain much; with Qiang this is not the case.  He is patient and as generous as possible with his knowledge and technique, and I understood and will incorporate many of his methods.  Many of which I have heard before, but it just didn't stick in my head until now!

Day Two - Qiang Huang

Following another excellent Powerpoint instructional presentation, Chong (pronounciation for Qiang) demonstrated painting flowers.  It was mesmerizing to watch his decision-making process and careful placement of strokes of color that were only placed after mixing the perfect clean color with the correct size brush.  After lunch everyone's set-up included flowers to practice his method.  Since I haven't painted still-life for a while, it was probably easier for me to experiment with his style, but I felt that I failed in the end.  I noticed that most people, although they probably tried, didn't paint anything like the careful stroke put-it-down-and-leave-it-alone method either.

Day One - Qiang Huang workshop

I loved him before, but seeing his work in person is tooooo much!  He brought three paintings along to show his larger format work.  I asked if they were for sale and he said yes, and I asked him to put prices on them, next thing I knew, the one I liked was already sold!  Bummer.  What a way to start the day!
His Powerpoint presentation was excellent then he did a demo which was very informative.  My luck changed as I had the best seat in the house.
Afterwards we set up still-life's all around the room with probably two people per setup. His way of using lighting is great, the best yet, and he came around and helped everyone.  I was using his palette of colors and trying to "get" his technique.  It was a great day.
I did need a drink after and the place across from my hotel was having $5 martinis so I tried a coffee one:  vodka, expresso, coffee liquor.  It was like an iced coffee, but better!
Now I'll go over my notes and look forward to tomorrow.  All the people in the workshop are very good painters and I haven't done still life painting in a long time--it was a little frustrating but a lot of fun.

Upcoming Workshop--Qiang Huang

I'm getting excited because next weekend I'll be working with Qiang Huang  (pronounced Chong Wong) in Waterbury, CT next door to Newport RI.  He is an amazing painter.

I've been working in my garden all during the month of May and haven't been painting much.  I did participate in the auction for The Brain Aneurysm Foundation on Sunday, April 25, 2010 at the Omni Parker House in downtown Boston where two of my paintings sold.

Santa Fe Trip

Lynn Murray, pictured here, and I just returned from three glorious days of gallery hopping in Santa Fe.  It was an amazing trip--we must have seen 1,000 paintings and about 100 galleries.


We each have a list of probably 50 artists we want to research on the web.  Because it was slow season (it snowed two days and we didn't dress for cold weather) gallery owners spent time with us talking about their artists.  We left no stone unturned--saw all the art sections of the city.  It was in the 70s-80s here in the Boston area, and out there it was cold and snowed two days.  Lynn is the perfect traveling companion, we both had a great time and are now anxious to get back to the easel with renewed inspiration.  We have lots of magazines, articles and books to read as well.

Trouble on the Rocks

I've been working on this painting for the A Painting A Month Club blog, http://www.apaintingamonthclub.blogspot.com/, and have wiped out the center area of these rocks at least 10 times!  I had occasion to drive to Rockport yesterday and carefully observed those rocks and will give it another try.  Since I'm leaving soon for a trip to Santa Fe, I may not have it finished be the end of the month.  Two other members of the club have already submitted and have done a remarkable job of painting this painting, be sure to check out the April results early in May.

March Painting of the Month

Country Road-Original Oil-8x10"

I finished this painting today to participate in the "A Painting of the Month Club" March challenge.  It was indeed a challenge because of all the various greens which in the photo were very close together and very much the same.  I decided to try a more impressionistic approach in order to push the color.  I like the way it came out.  I can't wait to see everyone else's approach.  Go to the 'A Painting A Month Club' blog to see everyone else's paintings for March 2010.

Rockport Show

Marsh at Cox, original oil, 18x24"

This painting is currently on view at the Contributors' Show at the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, Massachusetts from March 14th to April 25th.

Is it finished now?

Spring on the Marsh-16x20"-comments please.

I have worked on this painting for close to a year, painting many variations of the colors of the marsh itself.  After a critique from Donald Jurney, I repainted it one more time, and I'm happier with the foreground.  If you look down a few blog posts, you will see the version before his critique.  He commented that it was falling off the bottom.  I didn't see it immediately and when I put it up on my easel, the easel was not level at first and was tilted to the right.  This accentuated the angles and, viola, I saw what he meant.  I think if you compare the two versions, you will agree that this one is much better.  I was going to repaint it anyway to lighten up the colors of the marsh so I was able to kill two birds with one stone.

Expressionist Marsh

Oil on canvas, 12x12", send comments.

This painting was started and mostly completed on site as the tide water was coming in fast and flooding the nearby grassy area just below me.  Lots of paint and strong bright colors that vibrate signal the late day just before sunset.

More commission work

Millie's Ducks, Oil on canvas, 12x24"

A dear friend, Millie Lang, made these ceramic ducks and I made the stained glass.  This was a windowsill arrangement in the kitchen.  Millies kitchen colors are black (lamp, a gift from John Tirone) and red, (old bottles from an excavation) and she loves flowers as well.  I'll frame it in natural wood to match her cabinets.  I hope she likes it.  It's an unusual composition where I pushed a few rules.  You can see my changes in composition during the painting process at www.marypychefineart.com/newwork.html.

Bandit's ready to travel.

Oil on canvas, 12x12"

I've been painting a lot every day for the past few days and have finished 4 paintings that have been in the works for a while now.  It feels good to start to get caught up.  Mostly my frustration is with locating some photos on my computer that I really want to get to.  It was easier before I had two computers and lots of thumb drives.

Bark worse than Bite?

How's this for a change of pace?  Meet Bandit.  He's my sister's dog. He's still in progress. At this point, I'm working from the top down.  He should be ready in a few more sessions.  I have a few more commission-type paintings to complete in the near future, then I'll get back to my usual routine.  Bandit is 12x12" and I think the square worked out well for this composition.

I went Thursday night to the Rockport Reception to start this new season, and it was wonderful to see their collection of paintings by some of their famous painters from years gone by.  Tonight I'm going to a demo and critique at Newburyport Art Association by nationally well-known artist Donald Jurney.  I'm wondering what to bring to have critiqued.  I'm thinking of bringing a large landscape of the Great Marsh in Spring (last year, shown below) which needs some help with the color of the marsh.  I'll let you know what he says.

For those of you who are painting for the A Painting A Month Club Challenge, there's about 10 days left!  See information about joining or to see this month's photo!

Thank you for viewing my work and let me know your comments.

Happy Valentine's Day

On this Valentine's Day, I wish you lots of LOVE from all those people you love too.

 Circle of Friends 11x14" oil, Boquet for Mom 9x12" oil, contact Mary
I finished my January flower painting and also the next one for February!  I really like the rhythmic brush strokes or the rhythm of the arm that is more evident somehow when painting flowers.  These paintings were done for the A Painting A Month Club, a blog I started a few months ago for landscape painters in our area of New England.  I'd love to have more members join, so if you or anyone you know in northeastern Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire wants to join, just go to this site to join:  http://www.apaintingamonthclub.blogspot.com/.  Write me at mpyche@comcast.net if you have any other questions.

Why flowers?  Well, since I paint in the studio during the winter, winter feels better to me when flowers are in sight.  So I thought, why not paint flowers?

I had a great vacation.

This is my unfinished painting for the A Painting A Month Club January Challenge!  I'll work on it later today and I feel awful that I didn't get it done last month. 

While in FL I went to three giant art shows, two great demos:  John Salminen at Ft. Myers Beach and Greg Biolchini. at No. Ft. Myers.  Greg has the most awesome studio ever--it's a whole house on a bay with a huge banyon tree in the back yard by the enormous deck.  I read at least a dozen books and mags on art and only painted outdoors once.  We were rained out or it was very windy the other plein air days.  I'm a member of the Visual Arts Center of Charlotte County where I took a web software course.  I also took another computer course at Port Charlotte Cultural Center--a fantastic place to see if you are ever nearby. 

I took some photos of the farmer's market to paint veggie paintings and bought some wonderful objects at the Goodwill Center to do still lifes.  George and I went to two shows, Liberace and A Chorus Line.  We drove 1500 miles while we were there. 

Almost Homeward Bound

Sadly, after almost 26 very happy days in Florida, I'm preparing to head back up north.  I've painted a little, most of the plein air events were too windy or cold, so I worked indoors.  I love this area (southwest Florida) for all the art events, festivals, demonstrations, art centers, galleries, etc. that are happening every day.  The art centers have libraries chock-full of books, videos, etc.  I read a lot and probably averaged a book a day.  I was lucky to see the Bonita Bay Promenade Art Festival, two great demos, and a few art walks while I was here.  I took two computer courses and have learned the web software, Web Plus, and can now convert or redo my web sites and the others I created using HTML. 

I haven't been in touch with skating and painting friends as much as usual because my home computer has all my addresses, but I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again and receiving the Paintings of the Month club paintings and posting them to that blog:  http://www.apaintingamonthclub.blogspot.com/

Sunny Florida isn't---

It isn't warm either.  I'm on vacation and it doesn't feel like a vacation.  That may change today as the weathermen are saying the bad weather is behind us. 

I'm working on my 'A Painting A Month Club' painting and finding that I rather like painting flowers.  I like the fluid movements I can make with the brush.  I'm also listening to beautiful piano music, and it's all-in-all a very meditative and pleasant experience.

People at the Museum

This is my submission to the A Painting A Month Club blog.  There are two paintings 6x9" oil.  I thought that having a companion piece to the original one (Two Guys) would be a good idea, but I'm not so sure now as the second one is perhaps a little too different.  What do you think?

Go to APaintingAMonthClub.blogspot.com to view various artists' takes on this photo for December's challenge.  Thanks for looking. 

Collection - Lois Griffel

New to my collection of art is this lovely impressionist garden painting by Lois Griffel.  I was able to watch her paint part of this work during a break in the Manchester-by-the-Sea workshop a few months ago.  It is a 9x12" oil on board.  I particularly like the design and the ala prima freshness.

Beachwalkers

Beachwalkers

Today, here in New England, it's even hard to think about these beachwalkers since it's supposed to be the first snow of the season this afternoon.  I completed this painting about a week ago and I especially like the contemporary look of these two young adults doing what people do on their winter vacation.  This oil painting is 11x14" on board.  The three people walking on the wharf between the heads of the couple are my friends Harold and Evelyn Harriman and Judy Rehill.  The composition is a compilation of various photos I took that day.

Oliver Balf

http://www.zhibit.org/oliverbalf/about
I have finally started to collect art and had an excellent opportunity at the current Rockport Art Association's small works show to purchase two watercolor paintings by Oliver Balf.  I am very excited and happy as I have been following his work for some time.

Airport Travelers - Different Strokes

Different Strokes From Different Folks Blog

This is my first foray into Karen Jurick's famous blog which has many versions of the same photo.  Check it out!  Lots of fun to do and lots of fun to see the results. 

Lust

Our 7 Sins Dinner was last night and the only thing that comes to mind is GLUTTONY.  What a feast!  Attendees were: Cindy Stern, Grace Daly, Betsy Lewis, Lynn Murray, Pam Perras, Carol Potvin, and myself, Mary Pyche.  I didn't take my camera, unfortunately, to show you all the wonderful takes on "The 7 Deadly Sins".  I loved them all, of course, and probably won't see them all together again in one place.  All of these artists are also fantastic cooks (except me) and it was truly sinful--eating too much of all that gourmet food from the three terriffic salads to the two supurb desserts!  Maybe the 7 sins cookbook will be available at the next show.  Actually I should have taken pictures of the food as well.

The guidelines of the artwork were to paint your "sin", 11x14", depict the sin with a reference to Maine (as this is where the idea was conceived during our outing to Port Clyde in August).

I sold my Gem!

Newburyport just called to tell me that my "A Gem of a Town" painting SOLD!  I can bring down another one to fill the space, so I'll have to take a look at my inventory and pick one out. 

Holiday Show at Newburyport

I have entered these two paintings into the Holiday Show at Newburyport Art Association which will run from November 13 to December 23 with a wine reception on Friday, December 4th from 7-9 p.m.  This show presents an excellent opportunity to find those wonderful original pieces/gifts for those special people in your life during this holiday season.

The woodland scene is summer at the Cox Reservation, Essex, MA, canvas measures 11x14", is framed with a gold plein air frame, and is titled "Where the Woodbine Twineth".

The tiny downtown scene is fall at Market Square in Newburyport, MA, canvas measures 4x4", is framed with a handmade floating frame made of rock maple, with gold inside edge and gray margin, and is titled "A Gem of a Town".

David Curtis, end of season party '09

Hostess Joan Lockhart and her friend, Barbara Jones, held a fabulous dinner party last Saturday evening at her weekend home in Gloucester as an end of season celebration for famed artist, David Curtis.  Every detail was exceptional and every room in the house was filled with grateful students of the master painter.  Joan is a very talented person in every way including that she is a great artist and has many of her favorite paintings on display alongside her collection of many famous area artists.  Here Joan presented David with a gift from the group.

Newest Blog Adventure

http://www.apaintingamonthclub.blogspot.com/

I've just launched a new blog for artists in the area of Boston and north of Boston primarily.  Many artists paint from the same photograph and it's so much fun to see how various artists interpret the same subject.  I know you will enjoy taking a look.....  This painting above was my submission to the October challenge.

Happy Halloween

New oil painting of The Barn at Cox Reservation in Ipswich with Halloween on my mind!  I actually started this one early on a stormy day but I pushed it to celebrate the season. 

Sold another one!

The auction last night was very nice, lots of wonderful art, all but about five sold. I met some new people and saw some friends I hadn't seen in a while. I got some very nice compliments from fellow artists about my entry. The organizers of this event did a remarkable job of advertising and running it, but they probably won't do it again next year and they are looking for someone to take it over. The sponsor is the Nbpt 5 Cents Savings Bank.

Paint the Town - Newburyport

Oh no! The sun came out! Sounds strange? Well, rain and heavy winds were expected so I got all prepared to work in my studio instead of at the site. I got started last night with the underpainting and design, then, much to my surprise, when I opened my eyes this morning, the sun was out! Darn, I was all set to work at home, so I went to the studio thinking that I would just get a little start on it (since the thermometer said about 30 degrees and I could see by breath) then go downtown and finish it. So, it was going well, and I got so absorbed, that before I knew it, I was finished. I'm really feeling bad that I missed this opportunity to do the paint out, but on the other hand, at some point, I made the decision to keep going at home. I hope the event people aren't going to be disappointed with me, but with the nice day that it turned out to be, everyone else probably painted on location.

Cloud Painting at Cox

The first picture is a photo of my subject. The suggestion for the day was to paint clouds as there were lots of different types of clouds floating by every minute or so.
The second picture is a photo of my painting, 14x18", I may work on the clouds some more, what do you think?

Griffel Classmates

Dwelling on how nice everyone was, I want to post some photos I took of my fellow students. When Lois sends the class list, I'll list them here and hope that some of them will join my Facebook Landscape group page: Landscape Painters on Boston's North Shore. (anyone can join)

Griffel - day 5

I forgot my camera so no location pics today. We painted at a private property built by a sculptor on a quarry in Gloucester--a dream location for sure. Lois discussed and demo'd the beginning process of the early Gloucester painters: using rose madder to do the underpainting, still stressing masses, and keeping the values in those masses. It was a little sad as we had such a nice group of people and had to say "goodbye". I'm glad it's raining on Saturday as I just can't paint another day in a row--so much for the painting-a-day ethic.

Griffel - Days 3 and 4

I had to miss day 3 of the Griffel workshop but was able to attend the group dinner at the Inn of Magnolia. The Italian catered dinner was a big hit and everyone enjoyed this social aspect of the workshop.
Thursday started with a demo designed to help us with the finishing aspect of our paintings. It was helpful to me to see the complete work being done from start to finish. After lunch we convened at Stage Fort Park to apply the lesson. Lois reinforced the lesson and it was really surprising how well everyone is understanding the process. One more day. Less hours though--we are all tired to the bone. I hope the weatherman is wrong, it's supposed to be in the 30's in the morning.

Griffel Workshop - Day 2

We painted at a oceanfront cove in East Gloucester in high wind. This morning's lesson is about second notes and reinforcing the lesson of yesterday concerning beginning blocks of pure color and correct values. After lunch we went to Folly Cove in Annisquam, and the subject was further defined by working on a close-up of folliage and rocks to get the half notes and third notes. A dinner is planned for Wednesday evening at The White House, now known as Inn of Magnolia. I'll be absent on Wednesday because of prior commitments but will try to make the dinner.