Thursday, October 16, 2014

Provincetown, looking, painting




I took my son Matt to Provincetown last week. He likes off-season beaches
 and art, and P'town has an abundance of both.


I showed him my favorite galleries, gardens and houses, 
and he showed me things I'd never noticed,


like this gorgeous bit of sidewalk inlaid with iron and glass.
What's the story behind that?


There's a garden filled with sculptures I love to view through the wrought iron gate


but I never noticed the stunning stone wall
studded with geodes, minerals, marbles, glass orbs.





Provincetown has given me plenty of painting inspiration.
I'm feeling good about the switch from acrylics to oils
and these most recent pieces. Some clarity is emerging.

24 comments:

  1. Hi Jen, It's good to know that quality and creativity are still alive, if you seek them out. There is a wall near me that is similarly covered with minerals and stone samples, although some are starting to fall out. I should take some photos before it is too late!

    I like what you are doing with the new canvases. Each has its special features and emphasis, but I especially like the look of them together, seeing variation and development.
    --Jim

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    1. I've never seen a wall like that--it was truly inspiring. Thank you for your kind words about my paintings, Jim.

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  2. It's always enlightening to see something through someone else's eyes, always something to discover. Are those marbles in the sidewalk? which is really beautiful by the way, wonder how they decided on that intricate design.

    Provincetown is a good influence on your painting, those are beautiful. I thought they were watercolor, I guess because of the soft feathery edges of the flowers.

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    1. Yes, they are marbles. It's such a puzzle--just this one small gorgeous piece of sidewalk. I'm glad you like the paintings. I'm using a process that allow for a lot of blending and blurring, which I like.

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  3. How completely special that time must have been, the two of you discovering new beautiful things together.

    Is the stone wall around the garden with the sculptures? I would love to peek through that gate, praying that the owners would come out and invite me in! :)

    I don't know if you have ever considered selling your paintings....but I do know someone who would love to have one. xo


    p.s. I have a Matt as well.

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    1. Sarah, the house is on a bit of a hill, so the wall is to the front and one side with the wrought iron fence (a marvel itself) above it. The garden is filled with fantastic sculptures, but I haven't been able to capture them with my little camera or phone in a way that does them justice. I'll try again next time I go.

      I appreciate your kind words about my paintings. I think in the next six months or so I'll have some paintings to sell, though I feel anxious every time I think about it.

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  4. Beautiful post! This sidewalk with iron and glass is amazing!

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  5. Alicia I walked past and probably on it dozens of times and never noticed it!

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  6. Was Sarah talking about me? How does she know I want one of your paintings?

    Xo J

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  7. All your paintings are lovely. I'm especially attracted to the first and the last. And, oh, I want to build a rock wall and stick precious things in it. Plenty of rocks on our place. Movers stole my slab of a fossil fish when we moved from Laramie. I should hunt up more.

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    1. That wall was really inspiring, Karen. Now Matt is thinking about building one. It would be fun to go to stone yards and collect scraps. A fossil slab would look amazing.

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  8. sounds like you had a wonderful time. stories like this always make me a little sad, tho. I wish I had times like that with my mother...

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  9. Jen... Isn't it amazing and heartwarming that we can still see the world through our children's eyes ...and learn from them...no matter the age? I love those times and life-lessons! Hurray for Sarah for asking about the possibility of owning a Jen! Can't wait! Hope you have a pleasant week...Susan

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  10. Lovely painting! Blending and blurring produces beautiful depth of shade!
    I am also amazed with this sidewalk and the stone wall. Each stone or other material looks like a perfectly designed piece of jigsaw puzzle.

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    1. Thank you, Cosmos. That bit of sidewalk is such a mystery. I wonder if I should leave it so, or try to find out the story behind it.

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  11. It's love to be able to see a bigger image of your paintings Jen. I love the way you're using those slightly moody colours. They're lovely. I wonder what the story is behind that marble and wrought iron section of footpath. Quite fascinating.
    Amanda x

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    1. Thanks, Amanda. Those paintings are all really small, but I'm working on a bigger one now, that will show better in a photo. Last night I was thinking about painting all greys--talk about moody!

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  12. A beautiful, uplifting post. It is magic to see things through the eyes of others. I love your latest paintings and the way you have displayed them too. x

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    1. Thank you so much for saying that, Mrs. Black. I've been concerned that my posts are too self-centered.

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  13. Beautiful pictures! It all feels so magical!

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