Archive for April, 2012

Spring Blooms by the Pond

Posted by Jamie on April 10th, 2012

120410-Spring-Blooms-by-the-Pond-wip-5x7-450

5×7″, Oils on archival linen panel
$130.00 plus $10 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

I went to Boscobel Restoration in Garrison, NY this morning to paint with a group of artist friends. I was thinking that I’d do a bunch of watercolor sketches, and then go back later in the week to do an oil painting. Just in case I changed my mind, I brought my little 5×7″ Guerrilla box along. I’m so glad I did, because when I saw this scene with the pond and huge masses of blooming daffodils, I had to paint it in oils!

It wasn’t long before the clouds moved in, the wind picked up, and raindrops started to fall. I had just finished up when that happened, so it’s a good thing I worked small. I’m grateful for being able to get outside to paint on a beautiful spring morning.

I was the first artist to arrive there today, and Boscobel is closed to the general public on Tuesdays. The Executive Director, David Krol, came out to greet me, and asked me if I’d like a tour of the newly renovated and stocked gift shop. It has been transformed into a beautiful, airy space with some really fun items, including high end picnic wares, beautiful pads of printed place mats (and really fun ones for kids!), books about the Hudson River and Hudson Valley, packages of potted herbs and lots more. Be sure you stop in there if you go to visit. The Hudson River overlook is always stunning, and Constitution Marsh is about to turn that beautiful reddish-gold color that it does for a couple of weeks in spring and fall. The cherry trees were heavily budded, and I expect they’ll be bursting with blooms any day now. In the meantime, you can check out the beautiful display of daffodils by the pond. Bonus: David told me that the Cold Spring Farmer’s Market will now be there on Saturdays, and grounds passes will be free during that time! So go stock up, and check out the famous view and the gift shop. You can do a house tour too. (The decor is to die for.)

8x10 and smaller, Available, Cold Spring and Garrison, Flowers, Gardens and Flowering Trees, Hudson River Valley, Landscape, Plein Air--painted on location, Spring | 1 Comment »

In Memory of Ted Beardsley

Posted by Jamie on April 10th, 2012

On Easter Sunday, New York Plein Air Painters (NYPAP) lost its founder and leader, Ted Beardsley. Ted was one of those rare individuals who always put the interests of others ahead of his own. He never let on about his own multitude of accomplishments, and instead put those talents to use painting and helping promote the artists of New York’s plein air community.

Ted recognized early on that a state the size of New York would have to break into smaller chapters in order to be able to serve the artists and grow. In doing so, Ted touched our lives in a very personal and direct way. He always made time for anybody who called. He directed without being pushy. He believed in an organization that would serve not only professionals, but anybody who wanted to enjoy the thrill of painting out on location, without regard to skill level. This made NYPAP an open and welcoming community.

On a personal note, I will miss Ted terribly. He left very big shoes to fill. His generosity and many selfless acts will stay with me forever. I can’t even count how many artists have become my personal friends over the years because of him. Our Lower Hudson Valley chapter is over 160 artists and growing. It never would have even gotten off the ground without Ted. I hope that wherever he is, he knows how much he has touched our lives, and how much we appreciate his kindness, talent, and compassion.

Shows and News | 3 Comments »

Figure Montage No 3

Posted by Jamie on April 4th, 2012

120403-Figure-Montage-No-3-12x16-gf-450

12×15.5″, Interference Acrylics on sealed Mi Tientes paper
SOLD! Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com to inquire about a similar painting.

Every once in awhile, an experiment takes place that makes me so happy I want to sing and dance. That’s what happened here. In preparation for a life drawing session, I decided to experiment last night with some of the Golden Interference Acrylics. I’ve been using them quite a bit for my surface preparation on dark supports, but I hadn’t actually tried painting with them. I am so happy with the way this turned out. The figures almost seem to move as the light dances across the shimmery, metallic paint.

I was initially sorry I didn’t have any sketchbook pages prepared with the Golden Black Gesso. However, given the way this turned out, that was actually a good thing. I had a 12×16″ spiral pad of black Mi Tientes paper. I’d even previously sized a page of it with Matte Medium, which I cut out of the pad (hence the reason why this montage is 12×15.5″ instead of 12×16″) It was ideal for this purpose.

I worked from some photo references. That sure did make it easier in terms of selecting poses that would work in the piece. Since I always do these in open studio with a model, I am used to taking whatever pose the model gives the group, and trying to make that work within the composition. I can certainly see the benefit to doing some of these from photos for that reason, though I do prefer doing them from life.

What I was trying to find out was whether or not I’d like painting with the interference paints on a dark ground. I have to say, I like it lots! I will definitely be doing some of these on my 16×20 boards too, now that I see the results on paper.

Below is an image that you can click on to see a larger view of the painting. I might try to make a video of it later, so that you can see how it shimmers in the changing light.

120403-Figure-Montage-No-3-12x16-gf-720

8x12 to 12x24, Acrylic paintings, Figures, Portraits and Figures, Sketches, Sold | No Comments »

Early Spring at Artist’s Nest Falls

Posted by Jamie on April 2nd, 2012

120322-Early-Spring-at-Artists-Nest-Falls-450

7×11, Watercolor and Gouache on Stonehenge rag paper
Painting is already matted with ivory archival mat, backing board, and archival polybag. It will fit any standard 12×16″ frame.

$290.00 plus $20 shipping and insurance within the Continental United States. For local sales, shipping charge will be allocated to NYS Sales Tax. Please email me at JamieWG@aol.com for International purchases or with any questions.

This was painted a week or so ago out on location, sitting with my feet in the water on a gorgeous, unseasonably warm, early spring afternoon. My little dog Rondo waded in the water while I painted. It’s hard to know which of us enjoyed it more!

Here’s a photo of the scene with the painting (click image to enlarge it):

120322-Early-Spring-at-Artists-Nest-Falls-scene-720

If you’d like to see a larger image of the painting, you can click the one below:

120322-Early-Spring-at-Artists-Nest-Falls-720

8x10 and smaller, 8x12 to 12x24, Available, Catskill Mountains, Gouache, Greene County, Hudson River Valley, Lakes and Streams, Landscape, Palenville and Catskill, Plein Air--painted on location, Spring, Watercolor, Waterfalls | No Comments »