Today: Sunny but windy... and...
39 degrees. 

Yikes... still just a little too cold for me to paint outdoors. 

So what does a fair weather painter like me do as option B when the temperature and the wind are not worth fighting? I'll grab my sketchbook and iphone and go for a walk around town. The Branford Town Green and Main Street are a great place to walk around and explore. 

Parking near the Towne Pharmacy, (2 hour free street parking - love that!) and found G's cafe just a few doors away. The little cafe chairs and tables outside along the sidewalk was a welcoming sign and a quick jot in my sketchbook that this will be a great place in the future to grab a cup of coffee and stay for a little while to sketch. 

As I entered the building that offered several first floor business there was one that caught eye. Myer's Flower Shop. Here's a quick shot I snapped from the inside window. Of course the light flooding in the big front windows washing over all the colorful pots, flowers and greenery is like candy to an artist. But as I scanned the room I spotted several creative displays that suggested... this is no ordinary florist. 

First, the green rain boots with the sunflower bouquet... now that's totally fun! The gigantic sunshine yellow, indigo blue and lime green flowers sunbathing in the window. Oh and the pink and purple pots stacked bottom to bottom is a clever way to add height and color. The white washed armoire with a sky blue cloth draping the inside of the panels to offer a soft feminine touch.

I will definitely make a trip back soon when I'm getting ready to paint a still life or just fill our new home with fresh cut flowers.

I guess you could say I'm a fool for colorful flowers! Happy April 1st!

Harbor Street View, Branford, CT , acrylics, 24 x 36", gallery-wrapped, available

We finally made the move! We are now officially Branford residents! Just a few short weeks ago we were packing and toting boxes, wrapping and donating lots and lots of stuff. We made the leap over the Hwy 91 headed just a slight southeast on the CT map and landed in Branford, CT. 

I really could have said "I told you so" back a few years ago because Branford has been one of my favorite places to paint and meet up with friends for hmmmmm.... 6 years! As the calendar year turned the corner from end of winter to early spring I could feel the itch to head down to Branford. Soon the town green will be cascading pink from the dozens of cherry blossom trees that run up and down Main Street. The boats will appear back in the harbor and their white plastic covers will cast aside. 

This painting is of  Harbor Street in Branford, CT. It went through a few stages and modifications but I have to say, I'm thrilled with the end results. The first time Dean drove down this road a few years ago, I knew someday I would paint this scene. It's been in my mind for a while. A few times Dean would park the car just off to the left side of the road and fish. I would stroll down Harbor Street snapping photos for reference. I loved the charming old New England homes with friendly porches or decorative architectural details from an era past.

I took a few artistic liberties in this piece, added the cars, changed the color of the houses and added a porch... that's the beauty of painting... as I continually remind my students... and myself. 

My vision was to capture Branford's charm and coastal feel with vibrant colors and an all around feeling of a welcoming shoreline neighborhood. Although Harbor Street appears to be a direct and fairly straight route from Maple Street when you look at a map, the drive is quite different. It has just enough curve in the road to offer a welcoming surprise as you round the bend. You could even miss the water if you had your head down looking at your phone ( that was me). So I had to catch it on the way back.. and that's the view that one would see as they make their way back to town from Branford Point.

For us, it's only a mile away from our new place.. so excited to be such close proximity to so many beautiful places to paint! 

So happy to share with you my vision of our new hometown - Branford!