Chester Winter Carnivale, oil, 11 x 14" $225 unframed, email me if you are interested in purchasing
3" gold leaf frame available for additional $75

So happy to be back posting on my blog. I've been very busy these days with the Corks and Canvas Painting Parties. I love teaching and the parties are the perfect combination of sharing my knowledge with offering a night of fun and relaxation for those who want to paint but not sure where to begin.

However, It also feels good to balance out the teaching and parties with time in my studio working on my own pieces. This painting was started and almost (95%) completed back in February. 

 I joined a couple of my fellow artists at Maple and Main Gallery on an all day paint out during the town wide Chester Winter Carnivale. Although the sun was shining, it was still very cold outside. Cold enough for the ice sculptures not to melt. Lot's of people, great food and even a tractor pull right down Main Street!

I was able to put the finishing touches on this painting today and so happy to share it here on my blog. I thought today would be a great day to post this snowy winter scene since we actually had snow on the ground this morning when I woke up! Yes, snow on April 16th! How crazy is that! It didn't last long and I doubt we'll get any more... but those poor crocuses in my garden must be so confused!

Here's a few photos from the Winter Carnivale

Today is Day 24 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge that I signed on to be apart of with Leslie Saeta and over 260 other artists.

I've fallen a little behind again over the weekend because of a full schedule of kid's activities, driving, lots and lots of driving, an Art Opening on Friday night at 6 Summit Gallery in Ivoryton, CT. and just busy stuff. But I'm back and challenging myself to painting at least 3 paintings today... it's snowing outside so painting warm scenes is like a sweet treat!

My theme is: Connecticut Treasures. 
Here's a scene from a photo I took last summer while Dean and I were heading toward the Apple Store in New Haven, CT. Lot's of Yale students around even in the summer time and as you can see in the background these are just two of the many and I mean many, Yale University Buildings. Yale University isn't the only educational facility that's rich in the Collegiate Gothic architecture style here in Connecticut but what I find so fascinating with Yale is its ability to blend in so fluently into the city's environment ... as though a Grand Designer reached down and delicately arrange each structure to His liking... and then sat back and smiled.

Join in the Journey
 Hope you join me on this 30 day painting challenge... you can sign-up for these blog posts to be delivered right in your inbox... just look for the email sign-up box in the right column. Feel free to comment below and share either your  favorite places and/or things to do in CT or... do you like to walk along the city streets in New Haven, CT and admire the vast architectural styles? Or to my out-of-state friends who might be planning a trip to CT... I definitely recommend spending a day walking around the city of New Haven. You won't be disappointed!

Breaking out of my 6 x 6 mini's mold I decided to paint a little bit larger today. Here's a scene from a few years back when my brother Mickey, sister-in-law Gail, niece Ava,her friend Emma and I went to NYC to take photo references of Bryant Park for a commissioned piece. 
Bryant Park is such a lovely park there's so much to do there. It's like a little oasis in the middle of chaos.

Sometimes the vision doesn’t always match the execution but knowing that I can take away something as a learning lesson makes each painting a  gift in some way or another.

final painting