It was a little hard to adjust to life back on the mainland after spending a weekend on Block Island for the BioBlitz show at Island Gallery, especially when we had Kira Stillwell from the Rhode Island Natural History Society (foreground),  Kim Gaffett of the Ocean View Foundation and Cindy Kelly of the Island Gallery  providing accommodations for ourselves and our artwork that were well beyond our expectations.

The show looked great, and as you can see, was well received, especially by Kira's daughter Brin. I've gotten compliments on my paintings at openings, but this was the first time someone felt moved to kiss one. (The lucky painting was not inspired by the BioBlitz, but a day trip to Mohegan Bluffs 17 years ago.)

The other painting I brought was of the trip I took with Captain Feather and his crew in the pouring rain off the north end of the island on the second day of BioBlitz.

The weekend got me psyched and now that we've practiced with the first exhibit, we're hatching plans for a longer and more publicized version for the next one. Stay tuned!

Photos from the weekend can be seen here and here.

More on bioblitz from my blog, and the website.

Discovered artist #1 - Jan Mankes (1889-1920) Netherlands

This is the first of what I hope will be a series of work by artists I have just discovered. I found Jan Mankes courtesy of a great blog called  WEIMAR - Art and Modernity in Central Europe which I suspect will contribute many artists to my series. I recommend you bookmark it! He suggests you visit this website if you want to see more of Jan Mankes work, and who wouldn't? After all, Mankes loves owls, birds, bats and goats and surrealistically beautiful landscape.

Sainted

Mass MOCA had a strange effect on me. But I think hiking in the Berkshires will stick with me longer.

Blue crab claws

 

In a perfect world I could walk the beach every morning and pick up treasures like these to paint.