The Spring Photo Contest was arrange through Live, Work and Play in Connecticut Facebook Group and anyone could enter a smart phone photo of a springtime photo taken in Connecticut. The winning photo will be turned into a featured painting for Corks and Canvas. Our winner, Heather Shortier submitted this photo below of the Mill at Old Mystic Village, Mystic CT.
Here's what Heather had to say: "My daughter and I were visiting Mystic Village. She took me there for Mother's Day. It has some of my favorite shops and I also love to go to the area to take pictures. It's fun to sit there and watch the ducks and geese. It was a great day and perfect lighting." Congratulations Heather! Heather will receive TWO Painter's Tickets to our Corks and Canvas Painting Party on Sat. June 21 -featuring "The Mill at Old Mystic Village"

"Dairy Farm Along Rt. 44"
oil, 12 x 24", available at Maple and Main Gallery, Chester - Prelude to Summer Show

This is the road I travel frequently to visit my son at school. His school is up in the Northeast corner of Connecticut and it's about an hour and 45 minute drive for me. I can get there  a few different ways but there's something... well.. magical about CT Rt. 44. I don't know why, maybe it's all the twists and turns and just around the corner you'll find a quaint little town like New Hartford, Canaan or Norfolk. The further you north you travel the more farms you spot. One time coming how a BIG BLACK BEAR just ran across the road.. and another time I had to slow down and keep a cautious distance from a small blue pick up truck that was carrying 3x it's height in bushels of hey! Each bump the farmer hit I could see the top bushel edging it's way over to the outer perimeter... I thought for sure I was going to have my keen driving skill to maneuver around fall bushels of hey! Below are a few scenes I painted along my travels... 

Thank you for viewing my art... if you are interested in purchasing a painting please contact me by email linda@lindasmarinoart.com or phone 203-444-5705.
with much gratitude,
Linda

I'm happy to announce that 5 of my latest works will be on exhibit and for sale in the Prelude to Summer Show at Maple and Main Gallery of Fine Art in Chester CT.

The Prelude to Summer Exhibition at Maple and Main Gallery in Chester opens with paintings and sculptures by 37 Connecticut artists Wednesday, May 28 with an opening reception, Saturday, May 31 from 5 to 8 p.m.
The over 200 works are all new art, from traditional to cutting edge, by the artists represented by the gallery; many of those artists will be on hand during the opening party.
 The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends will often be open later into the night.
The gallery is located at One Maple Street in Chester; 860-526-6065; mapleandmain@att.net.

Hope to see you there!
Linda

Cucumber sandwiches, iced mint tea, chocolates and wine will be served on Mother’s Day, this coming Sunday at Maple and Main Gallery in Chester.

We hope you’ll bring your mother perhaps after brunch or lunch, but accompanied or not, all mothers are invited. And, so is everyone else.

Maple and Main has over 200 original works of art and one of them would make a special Mother’s Day present. To celebrate spring, if you choose a paintings that features flowers, the gallery will take 10 percent off the price.

Another great present: a gift certificate to a Corks and Canvas evening at the gallery. A gift certificate for one painter's ticket, valued at $40, will be given away in a drawing Sunday.

Plus, I will be painting a floral demo in the afternoon.
Hope you can join us!

I just love Wooster Street Square in New Haven during the springtime. With over 72 Japanese cherry trees lining the streets of the square.... it's truly a majestic sight. 

Although my original plans were to paint with a small group of artist friends last week, (April 27th) during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, sadly I had to back out at the last minute due to a family matter. 


Fortunately the blossoms lasted until this weekend and I was able to spend a few hours Sunday afternoon with my friend Stephanie. By 4pm the clouds rolled in and started to drizzle so we quickly packed up and headed to my favorite spot just down Chapel Street, The Green Tea House for a delicious cup of hot tea. 


Even though the time was brief painting at the Square it wasn't dull.. I met an adorable dog name Ava and her owners. The most graceful 10 year old Husky dog owned by a musician who played with the popular rock groups Blondie and The Ramones. A cute little curly haired boy who took a break from playing football with his dad and brother so he could check out my painting. And two lovely ladies, Maria and her mom from East Haven.


Besides the friendly neighborhood, this is the "Little Italy" of New Haven - anchored with the iconic , St. Michael's Church,  the first Italian-American Church in Connecticut founded 122 years ago.,and just around the corner are  Libby's Italian Bakery, Sally's and Pepe's Pizza.. It's a treat to drive around the block with the window down just to smell the aroma of Italian cooking from all the family owned restaurants.

Below is the plein air painting I painted last year when I meet my friend Patty, another local painter. She painted St. Michaels and I painted Hughes Place. It's fun to make the comparison between last year's painting and this year's, seeing how my style has evolved and what stays consistent. 

I do like the way the trees in last year's painting show more of a canopy effect. It was a nice sunny day last year so I was able to capture the sunlight and shadows better. What I love about this year's painting is the addition of the iron fencing and cherry tree in the foreground. It helps to define the location. In addition to the colorful pink trees the attention to architectural detail throughout the Square is evident everywhere -- from the fencing that borders the park to the highly unique and ornately designed homes.

The third picture is a quick watercolor sketch I created last friday around noon. This one is drawn from around the corner on St. John's Street. I couldn't park anywhere around the Square because of the parking ban for street sweeping so I circled the block a few times and found this spot... thinking it was quiet and out of the way... just as I put the last brush stroke in my sketchbook down this tiny side street rolls 3 big city trucks with 2 noisy street sweepers in tow... oh the joys of painting on location... it's never dull moment.

Like always, thank you for viewing my work.
Linda.