JANICE WITTMER

A wonderful fifteen day cruise, which ended with a trans-Atlantic crossing from the Canary Islands to Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Painted from our wonderful balcony.

St. John, US Virgin Islands

And several recent trips to the beautiful islands of St. Thomas and St. John.

"Mt. Blackador on the Alsek River"

BETSY JANEWAY

"Shadow Mountain on the Alsek River"

A River Rafting trip on the Alsek River, which flows from the Yukon down to the sea in Alaska.

"This was an amazing trip, wild, remote, dangerous and wonderful!"

Painting from Life, in a New Light

By Janice Wittmer

My usual subject is the Contoocook River, a small meandering river that winds its way through fields and forests, featuring glass like reflections along the banks, intimate and protected.

Then, last August, the MRPs were invited to spend the day painting at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, ME.

Nothing like a totally new setting to break away from the comfort zone we tend to fall into when repeatedly painting a familiar subject.

A change of scenery can force an artist to discover a different color palette and interesting new shapes, a different quality of light perhaps.

What a wonderful opportunity to paint in the openness of the sky and ocean, with the challenge of craggy rocks and subtle reflected light.

It was a little overwhelming at first to take it all in and decide how to approach this new landscape. It was exciting to break out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a new light.

"Entropy"

CONGRATULATIONS

  DUSTAN KNIGHT
THIRD PRIZE WINNER
LASSONDE SHOW

"Miss Liberty at the Beach"

Their works have been accepted as part of the NH Art Association's 31st Juried Lassonde Show, with "Entropy", oil on canvas by Ann, and "Miss Liberty at the Beach", acrylic on canvas, by Dustan. The exhibit is being held at the Robert Levy Gallery, 136 State Street, Portsmouth, from April 5, through 29.

 CHECK OUT

OUR FACEBOOK

PAGE!

 WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
MERRIMACKRIVERPAINTERS

Animal Dreams

 DECIDING

WHAT

TO

PAINT

By Mary Ruedig

Sunapee Spring

I'm never sure what I'm going to paint or why I end up with a particular subject. It's hard to describe in words, but something seems to grab my attention or imagination.  The paintings of mine that I like the best are partly from what I see through my eyes and partly what I see in my mind.

A Lotta Bull

A Look Back and Looking Ahead

By Dustan Knight

I love writing the first of the New Year blog for the Fabulous Merrimack River Painters. It’s like a new notebook the first day of classes, full of potential for great things. Plus it is a chance for a quick recap.

We did a lot last year as a group. We had a couple of new art workshops, we exhibited as a group successfully at new venues, and we had some lovely ‘field trip painting outings’. Particularly memorable were the visits to Marilyn’s in Ogunquit.

"Sacred Spaces - Maine"

We did our first run through for a Facebook sale, and we had some press. That is pretty darn good work, especially considering we all have very busy non art lives.

I have enjoyed seeing the artistic progress we have all made: Jan is mastering various mediums. Claudette is painting with looseness and confidence. Ann is blowing me away with her range – improving in all her trajectories (I have been loving the small landscape I bought on Facebook). Betsy sweeps us to exotic places with her travel sketches. Bonnie continues to carry the banner of creative fearlessness ahead urging us ever forward. Mary has created two or three strong themes that we have been watching evolve for years. Kathy has hit her stride and her personal style has really solidified into a ‘look’. Annie has set up a Facebook page, and both of us are taking on the NHAA for this fall. Indomitable Terry pushes her artistic boundaries, and helps the rest of us keep focused on who we are as a remarkable group of artists. Marilyn is working on a book of her fabulous Ogunquit observations, and Susan’s work is becoming stronger and more singularly focused, (which is funny because we all feel MORE scattered, but her art is getting more centered, there is hope for us all).

"Two Sisters"

Our sense of who we are as a group is becoming clearer and the big thing we realized is that developing a family and friends ‘fan’ base is a way of marketing that we all feel comfortable about.

2016 has been a great year and 2017 is going to be just as productive. I have lots of big plans for the year ahead, more workshops, and more art play.

I am thinking we might want to add a couple of hours of art play to the end of our monthly meetings, since we are all together, I think we could have a lot of fun.

I also want to say, and forgive me for being – briefly – mushy, I really appreciate the artistic support and friendship I find with MRP. Thanks you guys!