More imagery

I am still new to figuring out Blogger. I can't ever put text and imagery where I'd like them to go. Some people find some computer programs so easy. This has never been the case with me. It's like I have to try on a different brain or something.

Here are some more images.


Two Haybales (5x5) pastel on wood
Sorry, sold.








Autumn Marsh, Oil (16x20)



This one is a bit different for me. I worked on some differences in the colors I usually employ. The water in the wending stream I think were particularly successful. :)








Nearly Summer, (12x20) pastel

Greens are hard for me...which can be bad as I'm a landscape painter.

This one I think is particularly successful as there is some nice, deep pictorial space.


Haybale Strata, (9x12) oil

A tried and true subject for me. I continue to like the look of these sculptural shapes in fields.



Pear and Two Cherries, (8x10) oil

From an exercise I directed in class. A classic still life subject.

Pictures and such

Finally, as promised, here are some photos of my new paintings. I am pretty pleased with the new bunch. Of course, in person, they are much more vibrant. Email me if you'd like any placed on reserve for you! I'd be happy to oblige.

Golden Marsh Sold, thanks (6x6) and Dawn Sky (9x12)

Late Afternoon (8x10) and Loosestrife (5x5)















Pink Marsh (9x12) and Marsh Reeds (6x6)




Marsh Stream (6x6) and June Marsh (6x6)







The Point, November (8x10)

I've been working on Christmas presents for everyone. Such work! It's going to save us money since I'm making many gifts---but the time has been hard to negotiate, especially since I've been feeling so nauseous. It'll be worth it come June when baby is here!

Christmas is coming! It's very exciting. I'll post photos of our tree soon. It's a great tree! (We even have some gifts under it now! Big huge deal for us. This is the latest I've ever gone without having the shopping 100% complete.)

Open Studio event

Thank you to everyone who came to my Open Studio event this past weekend. It was a lot of fun and I had a great turnout. Later on today I'll post some remaining pieces. I'll be around this week working on some gifts, so anyone who may wish to get a last minute gift can still do that.

It's a nice Monday so far with the sun shining brightly. Tim's major project at work "goes live" today. I am keeping him in my thoughts. I have lessons this morning and am excited that it's the last week before Christmas. So many things to do but very exciting!

Keep posted to see some artwork. It takes a long time to post imagery so check back later this afternoon.

Have a great day!

Bretonbleu.com is up and running!

Yesterday afternoon it was Jenn who informed me that my site had returned. It is a joy to have back www.bretonbleu.com . Even though it needs to be updated, and I assure you this will happen after the show this coming weekend, I like knowing it is there for all to see.

I uploaded the photos from my camera and am posting them here. Most are of the student show at Barnes and Noble in Walpole going on through the end of December.

We had a similar show two years ago and I have to say that it is remarkable to see the improvement in the work. It's also a very diverse show and this is something that I am proud of.

Often student shows reflect too much of the instructor with the students' work having a certain continuity. I work diligently to make sure that my style doesn't flavor everyone's individual vision and style. This display of work shows a wide-range of styles and visions and, like I said, that makes me happy because it demonstrates my teaching philosophy.

We hung up the work early in the morning of December 1st. So many volunteered to help. It went smoothly (mostly because of Frank on the high up ladder.) Also, some students brought extra artwork to facilitate their pieces fitting easily on the walls. Little did they know all of the work would be displayed. What a show! I am truly impressed.

It was tough getting to Barnes and Noble for 8am. While it's great to be at the store before it opens and see goings on behind the scenes, I was pooped from our lesson the night before (we always go out for a bit afterwards.) Jenn drove me and that was a treat. Here you can see, though, that Jenn was drained from the hanging, too.

This little guy is Tucker, a grandson of my student, Haydi. Nancy, a student in class saw the photo at Haydi's home and asked if she could paint it. When completed, Nancy gave it to her! How great is that? What a treat! I loved watching the exchange. People can be so kind.

Haydi saw the pastel in progress and exclaimed that Nancy had "captured" him. This is the highest of compliments. Bravo to Nancy! Job very very well done!


Here is Cindy working on her commission. This cottage from the Cotswalds in England has been a process as most commissions are. Communication is rough for commissions. Worse yet is trying to make sure that you have captured what both you and the one who the piece is for want. Artists don't want to "sell out" but we also want to please the one who wants our work as well. It's tenuous at best. Add in an "easy-going" commissioner and the task gets harder. I'm pretty excited that Cindy seems to be over the hump, as this photo shows! Yay, Cindy!

Karen is working on her latest animal painting. This wolf is coming out well. The color selections of browns, oranges, and teals are rich and vibrant. We do have a busy and productive class time!

Ah well, I'm off to paint, and do laundry, and other tasks at hand. Tomorrow is the "sneak preview" of the open studio. It was Haydi who asked what that meant exactly. Could people buy at the preview day? Yes they can---but the painting they buy may be wet. At this point, that is nearly a definite. I have a lot done but I want to do so much more. I'll try to post some of the pieces for the show today or tomorrow. We'll see how far I get.

Website issues with bad timing

I am having an open studio art show this week---preview day on Wednesday and then open studio Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I sent out a pretty large email letting people know that I'll have some artwork available if people are looking for unique holiday gifts, etc. The response has been great but what hasn't been is that my website hosting is being a bit strange.

If you log on to www.bretonbleu.com you'll end up with a site that is not mine. Worse, there is a photo of a random man and some information on Rotarians. What? www.4waytest.org is now pointed to www.bretonbleu.com. How does the internet work? It's really beyond me---but know we are working on it!

Thanks, too, to everyone who has sent congratulations on our news. Baby coming in late June is very exciting. The third trimester has begun and I'm truly banking on the change that everyone says does come to many pregnant women. No longer waking every 2 hours to go to the bathroom, no longer being sick all day long (not just the morning), and a banishment of the chronic fatique. Will this be true?

Frankly, I'm scared to admit that it may be true. Tim said yesterday that I seem to be feeling better and I nearly kicked him at the knees. "Don't curse it!" He really doesn't believe in jinxes. But people who don't should respect the beliefs of those who do, wouldn't you think?

I painted for much of the day yesterday. Finished four things. One is teensy tiny. The other are assorted sizes. Two marsh scenes (imagine that), one of a very attractive vista from a golf course (but I'm not sure you'd know it was a golf course), and a snow scene from New Hampshire where my good bud Jen lives. This last one is the small one. It may be 2"x4" and that is tiny.

I began two more paintings, too, and prepped some canvases. Three small ones and two larger. The paintings I started had a touch of new and old. One is of haybales! Imagine that!? It's 85% done. The other is a scene that I imagine will take me some more time from my old reliable subjects. It's another snow shot from my travels. If I can pull it off, it will be hard to sell. We'll see what happens.

Tim and I were also at IKEA and had a great time poking around. I got a few frames and closer to the show days I'll be doing pastels when they don't have to consider drying times. I enjoy doing pastels immensely but we'll see how it works out when you're under the gun a little bit.

I'm off to teach the Monday morning lesson. I'll post photos (I have a lot of photos) as soon as I can.