9 new paintings, or, How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I was in the Adirondacks last week, staying in a lovely little cabin on Lake George with my sister, brother-in-law and brother. We had a great time. And I got some painting done. 

To make it easier to transport my materials, I worked on paper instead of my usual wood cradle board panels. I love working on paper, really more than on wood, but I hate framing. So I paint mostly on wood panels which are self-framing and I sell my work on paper at shows matted and unframed. 

The nine paintings are acrylic and charcoal with some paper collage on gessoed 140lb watercolor paper. They range in size from 5" x 7" to 6" x 9". 

I tape off the watercolor paper, which has been soaked in water and stapled onto homasote board and allowed to dry, so that I have 9 small painting areas. Below is the paper with the paintings after the tape is removed. The top row is up-side-down because it's easier to work on them from the end of the board, so I turn the board when I've finished the ones I can reach.  

Four larger paintings, looser style

I recently went to the Glenstone Foundation Museum in Potomac, Maryland. It is a vast and beautiful estate with modern installations and breath-taking grounds.  One of my friends who went with me asked me afterward if I'd found anything that influenced me. I wasn't sure at the time and didn't realize how much had stuck with me until I started to paint. It wasn't the art collection as much as the environment and architecture. 

These four paintings are on the large size compared to my last post. And they are done in a looser style, more spontaneous, lots of layers. I can't explain the difference in approach in any other way except for my mood, and again, maybe the trip to Glenstone.

 Acrylic and charcoal with oil pastel and paper collage, 40" X 40" X 2" wood panel

 Acrylic and charcoal, 20" X 20" X 2" wood panel

  Acrylic and charcoal, 24" X 24" X 2" wood panel

                        Acrylic and charcoal with paper collage, 20" X 20" X 2" wood panel