My Old Western Oil Painting

This is the "International Artist" magazine I used for inspiration in my painting.  The subscription was a gift.  Despite the fact that I don't usually paint in this style I was hoping to learn from it.  The step by step interview with the artist was cool.

There is no comparison between my painting and the original painting but I was proud of my effort.  The process really made me appreciate his approach.

Step 1:  The underpainting

Step 2: I added the darks.  Concentrating on "glazing" which the is technique of using thin layers of oil paint. The more layers that are added the richer the color.  Otherwise it ends up being too muddy.

Step 3: The landscape is starting to take shape.

Step 4:  Working from left to right.

Step 5: Darker Sky 

Step 6: Finished.  Merry Christmas Gramps!

Christmas Card for Mom Mom (Grandma Vaughn)

Art Club Update: A Sample of Tuesdays After School

My First Art Club assignment was to create centerpieces for the North Providence Holiday Ball.  We cut cardboard into triangles, used masking tape to create a pyramid shape and then paper mached them.  The faded color from top to bottom was my favorite part.

My second art club assignment was to cut up a 8'x10" photo from the National Geographic website into one inch squares.  I then cut A 24"X30" piece of white paper  into three inch squares.  I numbered both sets and handed them out at random.  The students are using pencil to replicate the image they receive onto the paper.  And now they are slowly piecing together the image.

They are excited to see what emerges.

A new idea for a bulliten board.  Students get a "shout out" for good behavior, accomplishments etc.

My Dream Basement Transformation...

A Youth Art Studio
I would call it something like: The Art Room


Here are some images that have inspired me in my dream transformation...

Art Gallery

Acrylic resin collage on top of a large craft table

Mismatched colorful chairs

instant photo class

A huge tree mural that the kids sign a branch after a session of classes.

One Show Up and Another One Booked!

Front View of Coffee Shop

Left Side of Coffee Shop

Don't worry I talked to this guy.  He was very nice and seemed okay with being in a picture on my super popular blog.

After delivering some new postcards around town I seemed to have stumbled upon booking a show at Julian's!  Only one of the best restaurants in Providence.  With (not to mention) some saweeet artwork.  I am excited for THE BEERMUDA TRIANGLE!  The beer week is starting now celebrated at the E&O, The Avery and @ Julian's.  all cool spots. all good beer. all walking distance.

My Upcoming Show & a Dance Performance. Promotion Galore.

This show will feature all the new paintings I have been working on.  I am really pleased that all this new work seems to have a relationship to eachother.   It is a more cohesive show than in previous years.  I have been dropping these flyers all around town.  The show is at White Electric Coffee Shop.  They have great coffee and food if you want to check out some of my paintings they will be on display October 17-Nov 24.

Also, opening around the same time is my good friend Michelle Struckholtz's dance performance BLINKING! Here is a little descriptive blurb:

10/14/2010  to  10/16/2010   
Pell-Chafee Performance Center

Lostwax: "BLINKING"
A Visual Interplay of Dance and New Media

We blink 10 times a minute. But what is lost in these liminal moments? Inspired by author Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, choreographer Jamie Jewett explores the fascinating human process of understanding pattern, information and perception with a provocative new work by multi-media dance company Lostwax. In this groundbreaking premiere — another FirstWorks first — BLINKING traverses the visceral cusp between installation, performance and narrative through technology, music and movement.

Thursday, October 14, 7:30pm
Friday, October 15, 7:30 and 9:30pm
Saturday, October 16, 7:30pm


I am going Saturday Night.  This show is really cool integrating technology and some super dancing.  Check it out if you are in the area!

Paintings these days...

"Wears Makeup" by Shari Weschler Rubeck

Acrylic/Graphite/Board 24" x 18" 2010

by Shari Weschler Rubeck


Recently, I contacted Shari about her paintings (above) in an announcement for the Colo Colo Gallery in New Bedford, MA.  What beautiful surface?  I often find myself bored with paintings these days because they seem to fall so easily into a category of work I've seen before...which is not to say these artists are not talented or that they don't create aesthetically beautiful work.  It's just like, yeah, another MFA student painting...


people with delicate animal heads...

Brian Donnelly

or any combination of photo-realism and animals...

 Amy Guidly

or paintings on wood grain...

or super crazy urban abstract landscapes...

by Naomi Reis

I don't mean to sound like such a grump.  I am probably just jealous of getting an MFA.  And I have to admit when I want to paint for fun I end up doing some quirky flowers that make me happy.  See my old post for hypocritical proof!

But even now, since I became interested in encaustic painting the medium has become incredibly popular.  And all the paintings are starting to have that same lumpy, bumpy feeling...jeez louise nevelson

I'll end this on a positive note.  On an artist that uses encaustic and sculpture in a way that I think is really amazing.  Martin Kline...

soooo...my hope is to incorporate an element of sculpture to my pieces.  Which are more just beeswax and not real encaustic...you can check it out if you want.