Visit My New Small Painting Blog

Part of my studio practice is doing small, mostly 6" x 6" oil paintings on panel, almost every day. These have become so popular, often as gifts, that I've decided to start a blog to make it easy for interested buyers to see what is new and available.  All paintings are $100 unframed, and I do have a small inventory of contemporary float frames customized for these works.
Visit often as I try to upload new works several times per week. 
Click here for  Small Painting Blog

Alla Prima oil painting

On May 15 I held an all day workshop in alla prima oil painting. Alla prima is a style of painting where, instead of building colors up with layers or glazing over an underpainting, the painting is completed while the paint is still wet—wet on wet. Strictly defined, an alla prima painting would be started and finished in one painting session, but the term is also more loosely applied to any painting done in a direct, expressive style, with minimal preparation. This is the method I use in my daily paintings on masonite panels, so I had loads of these little panels on hand for people to try.


We had six participants, about half had never painted in oil before. We had a great time and all went home happy with successful paintings.  I'm posting two here by Terri Sanzenbacher. They are so alive with color and energy and I thank Terri for sharing them for this post. They are both 6" X 6".

The next workshop is Saturday, June 19. Email me for details:
lrpackard at yahoo dot com.

January 22, 2010 - Iris

Continuing on with my garden paintings, this is a larger piece, 8 X 10 of my purple iris. The first real showcase of color after the spring bulbs are finished blooming. Wish they lasted longer.

http://mainepainter.etsy.com

January 15, 2010 - Thinking spring

Those who know me know that I don't "winter over" very well. So, to battle the winter blues I've turned my daily painting focus to blooms from my cottage garden. This garden is an art project in itself, and I spend lots of time working in it from as early as April until November. These paintings are oil on panel, all 4 X 6" and are available on my Etsy site.

October 9, 2009 - Maine Farm

Another piece in my Maine Farm series. I came upon this view, driving along the tractor road to the lower fields. I just loved the grasses and cattails against the bright reds and oranges.

6 X 6"oil on panel.

October 7, 2009 - Leaf Peeping

The rains this week will surely finish off the brilliance of the foliage here in Maine. Fortunately, I've been out and about sketching and painting, and also taking lots of photos to reference for ongoing pieces. I spent a couple different days hanging around the farm of a friend which provided some wonderful colors and compositions. I am doing a series of small daily paintings - Maine Farm series - to post as they are completed. The Lower Field (bottom) is the first, accompanied by another that came from my general wonderings about. I just love the lusciousness of this season.




Foliage 1 (top): 6 X 6" oil on panel
The Lower Field (bottom): 6 X 6" oil on canvas
Both available at http://mainepainter.etsy.com

October 2 - Tidal Falls

This is a place that I used to frequent back when my son was a lobster cooker at the little shore-side restaurant there...a real Maine summer job. We used to enjoy our lobster at the picnic tables that sat near the shore and watch and listen to the tidal whitewater and marvel at the reversing falls. Lots of shore birds too. This is a 6 X 6" oil on panel.

September 25 - In the fog, sometimes

Months have passed since my foggy week residency at Great Spruce Head Island, and the experience still affects me in some way, every day. For my small daily paintings I try to plan out my subjects for the week. Some days either my planned painting doesn't feel right, or I just go into the studio without a plan. On those days I find myself going back to that week, and drawing on those images...the spruce, the fog, the subtle but powerful colors. This was one of those days. Fogged-in. 6 X 6 oil on panel. Sold.

September 18, 2009 - Thinking autumn

The crisp cool air brings thoughts of autumn, and that always makes me think of the wonderful coastal blueberry barrens in their brilliant crimsons and oranges. They aren't there yet, but will be soon. I used to paint them a lot, and then stopped because it seemed so many Maine painters were painting them...but now, with a commission for one in hand, I decided to make a few small studies in preparation for the large one. In doing so I remembered how much I loved the views. These are all 6 X 6" on masonite panel.

August 21, 2009

Another in a series of island views inspired by my experience on Great Spruce Head Island in June. I am finally catching up with these small paintings to get some ahead. People are finding that they make great wedding and housewarming gifts, so I've been very fortunate that they sell very quickly. A nice problem to have!

Sold.

August 12 - Starboard Watch

I spent the last week, August 11-17 at Starboard Watch in Sargentville, Maine, the home of my dear friends, Bob and Jane. It was a glorious week of spectacular weather and great outdoor painting, looking out over Eggemoggin Reach. Having lived for 13 years in that town, this visit was very special to me. I enjoyed meeting and visiting with fellow house guests Nancy and Deidre of Manhattan, who went home with this little painting, hot off the easel, inspired by my week on Great Spruce Head Island in June. Thanks, Nancy and Deidre...hope you enjoy this little reminder of Maine. I will have more paintings from this week to post soon.