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.

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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!

 

I DRAW,

I PAINT,

I DO PRINTMAKING

BY Ann Saunderson

I was born and raised in Lexington Mass. and now live in NH with my husband of nearly 50 years.

Our two sons are well on their way with wives and children, and we are settled in a new house on our 110 acre farm that we’ve been banging away at for 45 years.

After 35 years of teaching art, to everyone and all ages, mostly high school students, I now make art pretty much full time.

I work in oils, charcoal, ink, mixed media and collage and I’m a printmaker too!

I have been really lucky to work with Sigmund Abeles, Dorothy Caldwell, Bill Flynn, Harry Callahan, Michael Mazur, and

Leonard Raguzeous.

These artists have influenced me in surprising ways.

I also love Richard Diebenkorn, Henri Matisse, George Bellows, John Constable’s clouds, Dorothy Caldwell’s stitches, Ai Weiwei’s courage and Eric Aho (OMG…for being Eric Aho!) I am influenced by them all and so many more.

I graduated from RISD with a BFA in Painting. It was a long time ago, but I learned so much that I carry with me.

Since the 1980’s I have exhibited in solo, and group shows, as well as juried exhibitions in galleries and museums in New England.

My work is full of contradictions.

I love color but often work in black and white…maybe with a hint of pink or lime green.

I live in rural NH but often my work references urban landscapes.

I love painting outside but most of my finished work comes out of my studio.

I think LARGE but often work small.

Images come out of the ether…or maybe it’s dreams.

I am very curious. About everything…really!

That’s my excuse for being all over the map.

 

SUSAN LEVENSON,

Artist Statement

After careers in several art disciplines, my retirement has enabled me to explore plein

air painting with watercolors. I love the

magical world I escape too when I am

painting.

I love the fluidity of the paint that allows me to manipulate the medium, requiring intuition, to control the  unpredictable.

This gives heart and feeling to my work.

Watercolor has an overwhelming array of techniques to explore and conquer which takes painting to higher levels. I never stop learning.

Painting close to nature has been most joyful. It has made me conscious of my love of life and the way I see the world.