I have been painting quietly for the past couple of years and I invite you to see my work at the US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Hadley, MA.  Framing and making labels occupies most of my time at the moment, but I will be ready at the beginning of November.  My work will be available to see through the months of November and December, 
i am especially excited about the work I have done most recently. They are little gems and I love the frames too !!

These are the first six paintings of my Sanctuary Project.  Last year I painted at an orchard everyday and I found it to be a pleasant experience.  I was considering where to repeat the process when Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA asked if I would like to show my work at the center.  Yes, of course!!  I love the sanctuary and now I get to spend lots of time there with special purpose.  There will be more paintings to come along!!!  My show will be in August, 2016.

This is a new process for me!  I am getting ready for a trip to Europe and I wanted to travel light with my painting gear.  

• I needed an easel that would pack up easily and stow away in a back pack
  
• I needed a light weight platform to which I could clip my canvas
  
• I replaced my panels with canvas sheet for the weight issue
• I switched my paint selection to a fast drying oil manufactured by Griffin

At first I wasn't totally happy with the results.  Some of the paintings felt lackluster.  Then I decided to gesso the canvas sheets with a gesso tinted a light yellow ochre.

I did like the results. The paintings were dry to the touch the very next day, and they were supple. 

More about my tripod setup in the next entry!!

I didn't know what this experience would be.  I painted the 30x40 canvas with yellow ochre first, thinking that dealing with white would be just that much more of a challenge.

On the ferry ride home last year from Martha's Vineyard, we crossed the water at the golden time of day.  The sun was doing it's spectacular thing and the world was glowing.
​We passed several sailboats making their way back to Vineyard Haven. We also passed a beautiful schooner. I snapped pictures in rapid succession and two of those photos found their way into two of my 18x20 paintings.

My next endeavor is to take these paintings or similar to a larger size.  The canvas is 20 by 40 and it will be my first really large painting.  I am not sure whether I shall proceed from my original photograph or use the paintings as a guide.  Perhaps I will try both!!

Another piece of exciting news ... I was contacted by a gallery in New York City, somewhere south of Houston St.   I am one of five artists they are presenting to a well known city hospital. The hospital will choose three artists to do a commission of 10 to 15 paintings, to be installed in April.  I am obsessively checking my email.  If I am chosen, I need to hop to it!!!

I had registered for the 30 paintings - 30 days challenge, and failed miserably.  On the brighter side, I spent a week in Boynton Beach, Florida, and discovered how lovely the coast is.  I managed three paintings, one of which I offered to my host, and the others came home with me.  I may edit them a bit, but here they are as it.

I was quite inventive, I think, about setting up my painting equipment so that I could easily take it on the plane. Flying from Hartford to West Palm Beach was pretty easy.  I played around with a small tripod so that I could clip my panel and palette to it.   I sent my paints ahead so that I didn't have any issues at the security check.  I also sent my panels ahead because they are annoyingly heavy.  Finally, I developed a way to send my wet paintings home by mail.  Perfect!!
I'll give the details in the next post!  Brilliant.

Starting January 1, 2016, I am committed to painting every day, and then posting it online along with hundreds of other artists from around the world.  If you want to see my work progress with just a simple photo of my painting and perhaps a title, join Barocas Daily Painting,  Or join my full out Barocas Art Newletter for complete information.

What I learned from this experience is

• getting out there to paint is easier in that the decision of "should I or shouldn't I" is already made
• the commitment to paint in the same place everyday also removed another huge decision,  where should I paint today??   Some days I would ride around in my car and come back empty handed because I couldn't settle on a scene. 
• painting consistently afforded me a chance to get to know my hosts, allowed me to chat with passersby and I got to see the workings of the orchard.

Sign up for my newsletter if my art makes you happy.  The happiness I feel when I paint, I will share with you!!  This offer ends on November 11, 2015.

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If you enjoy atmospheric, colorful landscapes, and impressionistic still lifes then you like the same kind of art that I do.  Sometimes I look out over the land and feel like I am looking at a painting.  I want to preserve that feeling of wonder.  Nature never disappoints.

If you know what I am talking about, then you should follow me and allow me to share my art with you.

In appreciation for subscribing to my newsletter,  anyone who signs up before November 11, 2015, will receive a pack of four notecards with an image of my painting.  In addition, your name will be entered in a raffle for a painting of your choice shown below.
The raffle will be held during the last week of November .

This will be the second painting outing of my project to Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton MA.  Some of the scenes will be painted at various times of day and weather.  I am also curious as to how the nature of my paintings will evolve.
I am getting ready to be out there by 10AM today and 9AM tomorrow.  
Look for an update to this post when I share what I have accomplished later today!! 
See you then.