Perseverance

"Times Square Messenger"  24x24" Acrylic

The all-time worst piece of advice I ever got from a teacher was that at all stages of the painting it must look good. That crazy idea stuck with me for years and so many paintings were trashed before they ever had a chance to develop.  There are ugly stages - especially the start (see below). I'm glad I eventually learned to persevere thru "the uglies" or I'd have given up on art years ago. That being said there are those paintings that never quite graduate out of the ugly stage. But everytime I wrestle with one of those stubborn pieces I learn something new. And if theres one thing in life I'm completely sure of, theres always more to learn!

This morning I saw a facebook video by a writer who described the struggles of growing into the artist you aspire to be. I shared it on my facebook page, Patti MollicaArt.  It's for real.

Here's the video.   Every artist struggles, it's how we grow. 

Abstracting City Shapes

"Looking South on Tenth Ave."  12x12", Acrylic  Click for info

Sometimes I like to paint the same image more than once, and push it in different ways. This is the same intersection as "Gallery District NYC", posted a few days ago, but much more abstracted. Again, I had to create people to give interest to the focal point, but this time I left in the van and delivery truck.  I think they work in this version because they help lead your eye to the focal point. Plus I think they add some needed diagonal direction to balance out the strong vertical and horozontal shapes.

Chelsea Building, New York City

"Chelsea Fire Escapes"  Acrylic 14x14"  Click for Info

Lately I am working with old paintings that were started but never finished. In this case I barely got the painting going when apparently life got in the way and it got shuffled to some uncommon place, not to be seen for years. Who knows what reference I was using, a sketch? a photo? whatever, it's gone. It can be freeing to work out of my head when no reference is available, and give myself permission to make fresh decisions about how to make the piece work. I decided to work in a triad color scheme - tried and true red, yellow and blue.

Crossing First Ave.

"Crossing First Ave." NYC  Acrylic 16x22"  $350  Click to Buy

Here is another Tetrad color scheme (four colors), Purple, Red, Blue and Yellow. It started out as a complimentary color scheme but then I decided it needed more color pizazz! Love this guy crossing the street - I actually saw him walking in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and decided that one day I would stick him in a painting. Well here he is, crossing First ave. (even tho he was really walking down 5th ave.) Artistic license, love that too.

Lavendar Lane

"Lavendar Lane"  12x12" Acrylic  Click for info

This street is in Nyack, NY, looking east towards the Hudson River. I believe this street is First Ave., but I think it should be "Lavendar Lane". I love repainting homes in lively colors, changing street names, trimming trees ... Artistic license, it's the best!

Nyack Houses

"Nyack Houses"  Acrylic 12x12"  Click for info

Yesterday I was sitting in a doctor's office waiting, waiting and...waiting some more.  I was looking out the window and suddenly it hit me. My view was incredible. But more importantly, all I had to do was walk outside and I would be immersed in extreme beauty, like everywhere. Why am I not painting this gorgeous town? It offers everything I love to paint - urban setting, color, charm, structure, flowers, landscapes, etc. Here is the first of hopefully many paintings of Nyack, NY, Edward Hopper's hometown, and mine too.

The Guy Walk

"The Guy Walk"  16x20"  Acrylic on Canvas  SOLD

While I was painting this I totally assumed the dog was a male, and had this title in my head from the start. Why, I don't know, it just felt like a "guy moment" in the city.  

Three White Houses

"Three White Houses"  Oil   9x12 SOLD

Yes, they actually are white. I was in a fauvist mood and pumped up the color. Why not... its fun!

NYC Canal Street Pretzel Vendor

"Canal Street Pretzel Vendor"  Acrylic  12x12"  Buy it Now

The biggest challenge to this piece was cleaning it up - too many cars, signs, people, just too much clutter. I'd way rather clean up a painting than my studio!

There are a few spots left in my upcoming "Loosen Up" workshop in Cary, NC - we will be grooving out freely (with paint) ... here is the info  Loosen Up! March 14-17, 2014 Cary, NC

Soho Florist

 SOLD  "Soho Florist"  Acrylic  12x12"  Click to View  

A typical colorful scene in New York...vendors tending to their fruits, vegetables and flowers. Who can resist?

City Shapes

"City Shapes" 9x12   Acrylic Click to View

This painting is from a photo I took in Times Square. The challenge was to simplify!

How I spent my new years eve 2013

"Effervescent Intersection"  10x12" Acrylic  Click to View

I think the title of this painting may have something to do with the mood of the night. OK, a little bubbly was consumed. I spent it solo, as usual, (not complaining). Hubby had a jazz gig in Times Square and I was not up for the ordeal of the park-o-rama, wall to wall crowds, not to mention it is freezing!!! Staying home with snoring kitties and the fireplace humming away + my paints and brushes seemed like the perfect way to usher in the new year - it was!