Art, friends and foliage in Pepperell, MA

 Saturday, a friend from the Nashua Artists' Breakfast Club had an opening reception at the Lawrence Library in Pepperell, MA.  It was kind of a dreary day, although the Fall color may well have been at its peak.

 Peter's love for drawing, painting and art apparently began in childhood and continued through his military assignments in Viet Nam, San Diego, Hawaii, and post-military work in Massachusetts.
 One section of his show was devoted to paintings inspired by his time in Hawaii.  I wish these photographs didn't look like the dragon boat was trying to devour him.

 He made several sales!  I think he's closing a deal here.

 His sister came for the festivities.  He posed in front of her favorite painting.

 I was happy to find myself in a REAL library atmosphere.  (The sign in the upper left hand corner says "Think for yourself and let others do so, too."

 I found a couple of nearby scenes that I might paint one of these days.

Sketching and painting progress (slowly)

9 x 12 This one is pretty much finished, although I'll probably take it to my artist friends to see if they have any (more) suggestions.  I think art is finished when you don't have any idea what else to do with it.

 I'm liking this, even though it is much more "graphic" in style than I expected.  I'm practicing with color variation while trying to keep the values similar.  And thanks to my friend Peter for telling me some tips about shadows.  Can you tell this building is based on the same one as above?  !!!!

When I bought art supplies last, they were having a sale on canvas flat panels. So I'm scraping my "left over paint" onto them in hopes that I'll learn more about color harmony and abstraction.  This one clearly is NOT ready for prime time.

Yesterday morning really was perfect.  Today was just as wonderful.  I did the pen/ink yesterday and watercolor today.  Just for fun.  And sanity.

Three weeks ago I had not been making enough art or taking the time to LOOK at things.  On my way home from my artists' meeting, I kept looking for someplace to pull off and sketch.  (Thanks Cathy Johnson for the art-in-the-car encouragement!).  Perspective and blocky little New England buildings are pretty fascinating.  I'm hoping the skill to do more representative trees will grow on me.