Clean Up and Catch Up



Winter Morning, Key Bridge 12x24 oil on board (plein air)



Key Bridge, Winter Morning, 8x10 oil on panel



Well, the storm is over, the power is back on and it has been a busy day!  During Irene I managed to finish painting "Morning in Washington Square Park" but I haven't posted it because it needs a little tweak first.  I thought I would get to it today but by the time I finished cleaning up the yard, checking in with friends, family and my horse I wasn't in the right frame of mind.  Instead I used what was left of the afternoon to varnish some paintings from the winter.  The painting on the left was my second painting of Key Bridge that particular February morning and I got it well underway before finishing it later that day at home.  I used a satin varnish on it and it looks great. On the right is the first painting that day by the same name and I sold it in May.  I will contact the buyers, who do not live far away, and ask if they would like me to also varnish their painting.

      Also, I received a shipment of plein air frames today so I will be busy framing some of the pieces sitting around my studio.  It is good to have them ready to show but once they are framed they take up more space.  One of the nice things about small works on panels is that I can just stack them.

      We were lucky here in terms of the hurricane but I know so many other places were not.  To all of you affected by Irene I wish you better days ahead!

On the Easel: "Morning, Washington Square Park" (aka, the earthquake painting)

Morning, Washington Square Park, 20x16 oil on panel
(in progress)

Yesterday morning I started this painting that was inspired by my recent trip to New York.  Washington Square Park was a surprisingly quiet place that Saturday morning particularly given its history.  I loved the fact that the city buildings were shrouded in haze and the focus was on the lovely park setting.  The serenity was unexpected .
      I was well into the painting and just working in the lamp post in the foreground when the earthquake struck.  You will notice the post is somewhat leaning to the left.  Blame it on my hand smearing through it.  I will work on correcting it in the next session.  The painting has a short way to go.  The long bench following the curve of the walk is just roughed in and the foreground on the left is unfinished.  I need to put this aside for a couple of days since we are having family arriving for the weekend.  At least I think we are.  Hurricane Irene may change those plans since everyone is flying up from Atlanta.  I don't think they will have a problem getting here but getting home could be trouble.  We shall see. 
      I will always remember this painting as having been painted during both an earthquake and a hurricane. I hope it turns out well! http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/
                                                                                   

A Wonderful Time! NYC and the Salmagundi Club



Our Hotel, a short walk from the Club



Where Harry Met Sally

Outside the Salmagundi Club

The Club Entrance

The packed reception

Vicki Vidal Blum in front of her lovely "Parrot Tulips"

Me in front of my "Heading to the Falls"

Dick trying to snare a cab in the thunderstorm

 The first time I heard the word Salmagundi it was at Christina Campbell's Tavern in the historic district of Williamsburg Virginia.  It was the 18th century name for a salad that we now refer to as Chef's Salad.  A little of this and a little of that.  I would say that sums up this years juried non member show at the Salmagundi Club in NYC.  All styles and genres were represented and all were quality works. I am so proud to have been included!  Vicki Vidal Blum who lives not far from me (and is also a member of the Art League and paints plein air with me) had a beautiful still life in the show. It was fun to be there together and to meet the other artists.  After the reception Vicki, Dick and I went out into the pouring rain with everyone else (how I wish I had taken that umbrella!) and we tried to stay dry while Dick hailed a cab.  Back at the Washington Square Hotel where we were staying the three of us went into the bar for drinks, dessert and good conversation.  About art of course!

     Earlier in the day, after dropping our bags at the hotel, Dick and I decided we wanted to indulge in some good New York deli so we cabbed it over to Houston and Katz's Deli.  If you saw the movie "When Harry Met Sally" you will recognize the place as where the memorable "I'll have what she's having" scene was filmed.  Each of us tried to consume an impossibly huge sandwich of the best pastrami in New York but failed miserably.  There went our dinner plans!  Dessert and drinks were all we wanted later that evening.

     Earlier this week I received an email from my cousins Kathi and Helen who had attended the show when they were in NYC.  They said they found the Club to be very warm and welcoming.  That was also my impression.  It is a very comfortable place.  The night of the reception we were elbow to elbow in the rooms so it was hard to see all there was to see. Besides the painting and sculpture show there was the non member drawings and photography show as well as the Club's many paintings from their permanent collection.  I did manage to see a number of works from the early 20th century and some of the framed wooden palettes that belonged to early members.  I look foward to visiting during a quieter time in the future.  If you ever find yourself in NYC the Salmagundi Club is worth a visit!http://www.salmagundi.org/

http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/

    





August Morning at River Bend

August Morning at River Bend, 12x16 oil on panel

Here is the painting from yesterday.  I am trying to keep my hands off my plein air work once I get  back to the studio as there is always the temptation to try to make the paintings better.  A little tweak here and there is fine but I don't think I gain anything by reworking them.  It takes the freshness out of the work.The best ones I consider finished paintings ready to frame.  Others line up against the wall as studies or reminders of what not to do next time.  This one works.  At the very end I put a little yellow in the sky and water on the right where the sun was coming from and that was the touch I wanted.  This one I'll frame and sell.
     Tomorrow my husband Dick and I are heading to NYC  and the Salmagundi Club for the closing reception for the juried non member show that I am participating in.  We are looking forward to it!
http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/
http://www.salmagundi.org/

Morning at River Bend Park on the Potomac

Comfortable spot and a Great View!



Just About Finished

 Today was a beautiful day to be painting along the Potomac at River Bend Park.  Thank you Margaret Huddy for thinking of this and inviting me to join you and your friend!  I chose this lovely and comfortable spot where I enjoyed a constant, soft, cooling breeze.  We started at 9:00 and the only sounds we could hear were the cicadas, occasional splashes in the water and the ever present Canadian Geese and ducks. I think the bugs must have declared a holiday because I didn't encounter ANY!  I came prepared for an onslaught which is usual for this time of year and was pleasantly surprised.  Later in the morning some children from a summer camp came through on their nature walk with counselors and were really hoping to see some water snakes.  I was just as well pleased that none made an appearance!  I didn't get a decent photo of the finished piece because by the time I got home the skies had darkened and we had some rain.  I'll take it outside tomorrow and photograph it. 
      By the way, for those of you not familiar with this area of the Potomac that tall stick you see that looks like a ruler next to my set up is in fact a measuring stick.  It is fairly common in early spring for the Potomac to flood.  River Bend is just upriver from Great Falls Park and you can image the force of water over the falls if you can picture where I am painting as being completely under water.  The high water mark for last spring would have had the river over my head at this point.  If you go to my website you can see some early spring paintings of the Great Falls when the river is really churning!  http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/

Finished!

Erik's Pond 30x40 oil on linen

Here is the final version of Erik's Pond.  I am very happy with it!  You will have to click on it to see an enlargement that will show you the details added that are of personal significance for Erik.  I added the heron in flight with the waterlillies that you saw from an earlier post but now also have Erik's son with his fishing pole on the dock.  I got him on the fourth attempt.  I kept painting him out and letting the area dry before the next try.  I was finally successful after I purchased a very fine sable brush.  Minute as they are they do make the painting stronger for me.  I really got invested in this one!  After it is good and dry I will apply a thin spray of retouch varnish to even out the surface and give it some temporary protection.  Sometime after six or eight months I would like to go back and apply a final varnish.  Probably matte or satin.  The gloss would make light reflect too much off the dark areas and make the painting harder to see.

      Tomorrow it is back to plein air.  I will be joining some members of the Art League Plein Air Painters (ALPAPs) at River Bend Park in Great Falls to paint for the morning.  I am always happy to paint the Potomac!

Tweaked

"Breaking Through" (morning on the Torpedo Factory Dock)
14x11 oil on panel

     The only adjustment I made to yesterday's painting was to add a couple more splashes of sunlight hitting the deck.  It is interesting how many beautiful grays can be mixed from just a few colors.  I don't often work with a palette like this but each time I do I wonder why I don't more often.  It really appeals to me!  I think I will have to revisit Whistler, he was a master at it.
     Also interesting is the difference between today's image taken earlier in the day in natural light compared to yesterday's late in the day under studio lights. 

      Today all I did was put the final touches on Erik's Pond, add the splashes of sun to the plein air painting and then rearrange the studio.  It is time for some serious cleanup.  I think I will have quite a lot out on the curb for trash pick up.  I am talking about "stuff" not paintings although there are a couple I am tempted to add to the pile.
What's next?  I think more plein air:)http://www.jeanschwartzpaintings.com/