Some of the books from Smith's Art Library, Not shown are the books at home which extend to include, Van Gogh, Thompson, Klimt, Edlefelt and Derain, and later additions to the pile of Signac, Maurice Prendergast Today I am starting a fifth forest painting with the hope that it will become a fourth pattern and sculpture. As I tinkered with my most recent painting (#4 of the series), I found myself torn about the balance of light and dark, and overall complexity within the fore

The Frame Matters. I used to think not, but I am now convinced this is indeed to be true. Looking back, it has been just over a year that I started experimenting with various framing systems and approaches, and three years since I started my first gridded landscape or Landscape Mosaic painting. The initial purpose of the gridded work has ironically yet to be fully realized. Originally, I wanted to be able work larger while traveling, and the gridded approach was seen as a

Let's talk layers. During one of the gallery talks, Lyndy mentioned her admiration of Tom Thompson, one of the Canadian Group of Seven. He was quite the prolific painter, painting mostly outside in all forms of extreme weather. His life came to an untimely early end; so we are lucky to have so many of his work from his brief period of time painting. In the gallery, we pored over a book of his collected works, each page its own revelation. A few weeks later, a friend gave

Prototype of 3 of the 36 tiles that will become the Abacus. Working towards the July 2026 Solo show at Gallery A3 in Amherst. My next Kinetic Landscape Mosaic sculpture, something I've been calling an Abacus or an Artacus, is progressing steadily. Learning much along the way. Still limited by the tools available (daydreaming of a table saw and a drill press), but enjoying the challenge for now, as the limitations in space, material and tools are helping define the solution

Progress update: I am rounding the corner on the second prototype of the adjustable columnar frames! Over the weekend I mapped out how many more steps were needed to complete the task and took a deep breath. My kitchen will not be fully usable for traditional cooking until Jan 2026. For now I will share the space with clamps and wood frames drying at different stages in preparation. I do have a workspace with a chop saw on my porch, but it is not climate controlled and w

Knot diagrams in sketchbook documenting patterns, questions and notes. Key aspects of working with the materials: Wooden button, braided fishing wire, mechanical pencil, and utility knife. The knife works better than scissors to cut the line. The mechanical pencil can be used to loosen line that is too tight, or grab small loops to pull them through larger loops. Circling back to the mobile this week to finalize the piece to be "gallery ready." I've made the frame more r

Imagined Fall Landscape, translated from a view in summer of Plum Brook Pond, near Kestrel Land Trust's headquarters in South Amherst. Study in Color uses tone to form the composition rather than "local" or true color seen in person. Small Horse > Big Horse > Small Horse Again Mesmerized by horses at a young age, I gravitated towards learning all things equine in my middle school years. I dreamt of horses, drew them, studied Veterinary books about their joints and muscles

Finished work- 48" x 24" Acrylic, Gesso on 4 mil Mylar Side view of work- note the difference in how the paint reflects the light while...

Textural underpainting for future tactile art - art to touch and see I've been thinking quite a bit about a world that blurs, colors and...

Completed Paint Kit by 9 members of the family. 4 tiles per person, each with their unique color selection of three colors....

Here's the package unboxed. 50 cards, 36 unique patterns When Gallery A3 recommended we make our own art business cards for an upcoming...

Early in May, I was invited to be the final guest critic for Abby Flanagan's art class at Amherst College, Drawing a Shifting Landscape ,...

Some notes to date of working with 10 mil Mylar (the same material often used for stencils) as a painting surface. Surface of 10 Mil...

Molly's three-tone paint-by-number study: Color 1= yellow, color 2= blue, color 3 = magenta I've been trying out the three-tone -...

Making Progress! Yesterday the Oak Frame came together nicely. The frame is stable, and square. The black angle brackets make the...

Two colors placed on tiles, granite and silver. The reflectivity of the paint picks up the light warmth and changes color ever so subtly...

Tonight, after dinner, I decided to see what happens if I fill in the back of the previously painted Mylar with sharpie, following the...

Thinking through the mobile, I had several questions to tackle: How to connect the line (fishing line) to the frame? How to connect the...

mockup paint by number of original painting In thinking through the potential paint-by-number exhibit, I am interested in one...

I recently completed a proposal for an interactive gallery exhibit in Northampton. For the exhibit, I envision a pairing of paintings in...