Announcement: One-Man Show - sort of...

I have been invited to put together a one-man show at the Jonesport-Beals Peabody Memorial Public Library during the month of July.  I will be hanging a selection of my work on Sunday, July 6th, and the show will open on Tuesday, July the 8th and go through July 31st, with the Opening Reception on Saturday, July the 12th from 2:30 until 5:00.  If you are in the area, I would love to see you there.  Let the fun begin!

These and others will be shown.

I have invited three other artists to join me:  Jolene Harmon, Nancy Kahler, and Robin Rier,  They will hang 2-4 works each.

Peer Critiques

Over the years, I have come to treasure opportunities to participate in group critiques, either after a plein air outing or, as in this case, just a group of artists getting together for an informal critique of each others' work, as a help to solve problems with a painting or just to get feedback from other artists whose opinions you respect.  I brought several paintings to this gathering, but one in particular stands out, because I was so impressed with the sharp eyes and great suggestions of the other artists - all members of the In Town Gallery co-op in Chattanooga, TN.  Here is the painting, Cape St. George Light, as presented to the group.

Critiques:
1 - the white trim on the shaded end of the house is too bright - it needs to be darkened
2 - the blue sky should be lighter at the horizon than at the top of the painting
3 - considering this is a bright, sunny day, there should be more sunlight on the grass lawn
4 - would like to see more obvious sunlight on the right side of the black top of the lighthouse, the palm fronds, and the palm tree trunks

I agreed with all of these suggestions and fixed them.  Here is the "after" photo.

The two photos were taken under very different light conditions, but even allowing for that, the revised version is so much better.

The moral of this story?  Seek out opportunities for getting input from others, particularly from other artists whose opinion you respect and value.  Thank you, Marie Miller and company!

Fouled Gear

Last summer, before the lobsters had really started moving in good, these two dedicated lobstermen decided to go fishing for halibut. They invited me along as the official photographer, and this scene was among those I captured - "Fouled Gear". Watch out for the sharp hooks!

Oil on canvasboard, 11x14.

Afternoon Light

Just finished putting final touches on this little ditty.  This is from a point of the Mooseneck peninsula in Maine, looking West towards the Narrows.

This is painted in oil on 5x7 canvasboard, using knife and brush.   $150 framed.

Karsten's Korner

My dear friends and greatest collectors recently sent me this photo of their collection of my paintings.  The paintings represent Maine winter, spring, summer and fall, and they have them arranged in a corner of their dining room.  I am currently working on a major (24x48) commission for them.  Thanks guys!

Cape St. George Light

As you come off the bridge onto St. George Island, Florida, this replica of the Cape St. George Light greets your weary eyes - and what a delightful sight it is!

If interested in this painting, contact artist at kittelsen@aol.com.

Thompson Island Plein Air Revisited (See earlier post)

Sometimes, after you have finished and signed a painting, another pair of eyes might see something you missed.  Like clouds that look like Mickey Mouse, or in this case, a straight line of purple beach flowers that look like rocks.  My wife looked at this painting and commented:  "That straight line of purple-grey rocks looks weird".  Well, when my wife speaks, I listen.  Looking at it I had to agree.  So, yesterday I followed her advice and made the straight line of flowers a little more uneven, added a few flowers to the left of the big rock, and put some brighter spots of purple and fuchsia on the flowers.  Voila, the offensive line of rocks is no more!  The lesson here?  Another pair of eyes can be an important tool in inproving a painting, and even after a painting is "finished" it's not to late to make corrections.