What a Difference a Day Makes

We made it through the big snow.  Snow depths were not was expected but it was enough. This is the view out my window this morning.

I took the opportunity to go to the studio and finish tweaking some previous work like the cupcake

and the agave from the Botanical Garden

and this was painted over the greenish abstract from the other day

I am still not too happy with this.  I was envisioning a more subtle effect so I may add more layers of gesso to knock back the images.

Snowed In

What does one do when the entire city is shut down?  Well, not much.  I was hoping to go to the movies but the mall was shutdown.  The restaurant downstairs never opened so that was out too.

We did not appear to get as much snow as previously predicted but it was enough.  It seems to be starting up again and it remains to be seen what happens tomorrow.

So here are some scenes from Beautiful Down Town Providence at the height of the storm:

And to answer the first question, here is what one does when stuck in the house.  I drew these bananas with pastel pencils which actually look better than the original.

Botanical Garden

Another trip to the Botanical Garden on Friday.  I didn't do much in the way of art but I did bring my camera.  Hereare some of my better shots:

I think I am obsessed with the agave as shown in the first two pics.  They remind me of Mexico and I like all the patterns on the stalks.  

Another Project

Here is another project I started  on a 16 x 20 canvas while waiting for paint to dry:

I just slopped some paint on the canvas without thinking too much.  I think it has a landscape quality but we will see how this ends up.

I did finish tweaking my cupcake but I want to add more white to the frosting to see if it can look more highlighted.

A Cupcake and Cabernet

I took a fun class at the Attleboro Arts Museum that was called Cupcakes and Cabernet.  We painted a cupcake in acrylic, had some wine and ate it.  My result was ok but I can't leave it alone. When I get to the studio I will further tweak it with oils.

I plan on fixing the backgrounds and straightening out the "horizon" line.  The paper cup also needs a little work and maybe I will touch up the frosting by making the lines look less like lines.

Wayne Thiebaud has nothing to worry about.

Switching Gears

I spent a rare Saturday off in a photography meet up group at the Roger Williams Botanical Garden.  It was a pleasant way to get out of the cold and get a taste of spring at the same time.  Their exhibits change with the seasons so there were still lots of poinsettias.

These are some of the resident koi and I hope to get a decent picture of them one of these days.

Here are some of my better shots.  I discovered I have a depth of field problem.

And finally, this is what I thought was the Shot of the Day.  Unfortunately, it is hopelessly out of focus.  Maybe it would make a nice abstract painting.  Another trip is in order to visit my favorite plant.  And I didn't get too lost finding my way out!

Finished

A fruitful day at the studio. I finished up the piece I worked on the other day:

I added the feathers and another face to the back so it can be viewed in the round.  I will be submitting this to the Attleboro Arts Museum 8 Visions where I am one of the twenty finalists.  I am also working on new pieces for this show.