Meig's Point - December 2014

Greetings to All,

An unbelievable NINE painters showed up for what must be our last paint-out of 2014 -- Keiko, Pam, Tina, Patty, Jay, Liz, Cheryl, Betsey, and me. If we had seen outside our windows at home the sky we saw when we arrived -- heavy with cloud -- I'm not sure we would have had such a good turnout. And the wind was blowing pretty strong -- enough to drive Tina back down to the beach with the rest of us. Seven of us dug in against the hillside, where it was pretty warm and sheltered.

Eventually, the sun broke through to make that sun trap that I had promised. Pam worked from her car again but touched base with us before leaving early.  Keiko found a sunny spot on Larry's Beach. While most of us set up facing the sea, with our backs to the land, Tina balanced on the boulders and worked a full sheet of luscious drippy-drooly watercolor multi-media again, giving honor to the bluff that gave us such fine protection. I just love watching Tina work!

After our wrap-up, Jay, Betsey, Cheryl, and I went to Cohen's (bagel shop) for coffee-and. A nice little finale to a good year. We painted out 27 times -- a bit short of last year's numbers, with all the rainy Thursdays. But  those of us who also painted with Jay's MAS group had an opportunity to get in way more than 30 outings. That's a lot of practice, and that's the idea -- at least in part.

Here's to a great holiday, safe travel, good health, and inspiration for the year ahead. And a year filled with sunny Thursdays!

Meig's Point

 

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 18 December 2014 -- 10 AM

Looks like an excellent forecast for Thursday -- 40 degrees, sunny, northerly winds -- another perfect day for Meig's Point, I think.  Let's plan to meet in the parking lot near Larry's Beach or on the beach below the bluff to the east. Same place as last time. It's just so well protected for these conditions.

I'll hope to see you there.

/j

Special Critique Session -- John Massimino in Wallingford

Greetings to All,

Patricia Corbett is hosting a one-time critique session with John Massimino on Thursday at her studio in Wallingford.  Here's her invitation.  If you're interested, please contact her today to reserve your place. Since the weather forecast is not suitable to call a paint-out on Thursday morning, this could be a good backup plan. And if you've not visited Patricia's studio before, I know some of you will be putting all that space on your wish list from Santa.

Patricia's Invitation:

There is still availability for the special Master Critic Class to be given by well-known artist, John Massimino, Thursday, December 11th from 10:30am to 12:30pm.  You can bring 4 paintings and the total charge for the event is $10 for the 2 hours.

  

Perhaps you have some paintings that just don't quite give you the results you want. Bring them along. John is great at being able to look at a painting and pinpoint what it needs to "speak" to the viewer. Take advantage of this opportunity to make the paintings that you are not satisfied with "sing!" John said he would sing to get us in the "holiday mood" but he has laryngitis! He has always loved the music world as many of you know.
If you've never been to one of these workshops, give yourself the gift of a real treat.

  This session is by special request and who knows when it will happen again,

  
If you think you would like to take this onetime

event please let me know. Reservations are based on first come first serve.

The Event will take place at The Camelot Gallery of Fine Art, 310 North Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492.  

Tel: 201-803-3766.

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED!

        

Meig's Point -- December 2014

At wake[up time, my thermometer said about 26 degrees, but by 10, it was almost balmy. Six of us painted -- Betsey, Judy, Hans, Pam, Tina, and me. Pam was recovering from surgery on her foot, so she painted from her car. Tina hiked into the campground to find her stream. The rest of us tucked under the bluff on Meig's Point Beach and basked in the perfect sun trap.The first thing I did was to chuck my winter hat, jacket, and gloves and unzip my fleece. It may be December, but we sure had a beautiful painting day.

Pam left early. When Tina joined us on the beach, just after noon, we were blown away by her multi-media masterpiece. She started with watercolor -- the blues -- then added acrylics -- the browns -- then went at it with charcoal and I think pen, and for good measure she used her fingernails to scrape out some sunlit branches. Masterful! And in about one hour.

Before returning home, Hans, Betsey, Judy and I drove to the Madison Senior Center to view the splendid exhibit by Joan McP and Sandy Kensler.

Meig's Point

 

 

 

Call to Paint Thursday, 4 December 2014 -- 10 AM

It looks like it might be a beautiful day for Meig's Point, or Branford Supply Ponds, but I know some of you prefer more man-made vistas. So let's vote. They're saying moderate northwest breeze, but Meig's Point has good shelter down on the beach and plentiful sun. Guilford Green also has potential for making a sun trap, or possibly Clinton Landing or Clinton Town Beach.  Let me know by email where you would like to paint.

Wherever we go, I hope to see you there.

/j

Happy Thanksgiving

Here's wishing you all a great and safe holiday.

/j

NooooooooooooooWayyyyyyy

Well that was a nice thought that we might get in a paint-out this week. But the weather gods have done it again. Now they're saying 41 degrees/feels like 32. I could live with 45, which is what they were projecting yesterday, but with 41 and that strong northerly wind, it just doesn't make sense. If it's going to feel like 32, that's just over the edge.

Next week is Thanksgiving, so let's see what we get on December 4.

/j

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 20 November 2014 - 10 AM

Months ago, I booked us for Medad Tavern for this Thursday, thinking that it was a place where we could get out of the northwest wind and in the sun. I hope it turns out to be true.  Again, this time of year, it's better to start at 10 and not feel we have to stay a long time. Simple, fast, and focused.

Check the Blog Directions page for how to get there.

I'll hope to see you there for one of our last outings of 2014. But maybe not the last.

/j

Birbarie Marine -- November 2014

Seven painters found inspiration amid Birbarie's hauled out boats -- Jay, Jane, Sally, Judy, Julie, Joan McP, and me -- a run on "J" names. Things started out a bit cool, with an arctic bite in the north wind. So we started out pretty bundled up, but as the wind abated and the sun baked us, it got quite hot for those of us who were positioned in the sun. You wouldn't know it to look at the pictures, but while you're painting, you really can forget almost everything else.

I was thrilled to have the man on SV Lucky Girl setting up the framework for his winter cover while I painted. I'll do another studio painting with him perched in his red coat against that blue sky.

We did have a short morning, and some shorter than others, as they came later.We quit a bit before noon. Jane's feet were cold -- she was painting in a shaded area -- I was preparing lunch for company, and Judy also had to leave. Jay ended up with a complete painting, but the rest of us still were in various stages of blocking in.

Jane, you need to come whenever we paint so we will have a nice low car with fancy hubcap bookends to prop up our paintings!

Next week, I have Medad Tavern on my schedule. We'll see how the weather comes around...

Birbarie Marine