"Chatham Harbor," which is my most recent painting...

... will be on exhibition at Maple & Main Gallery, 1 Maple Street, Chester, Connecticut.  Today is the last day of the current show there; it comes down at the close of business today.  On Wednesday, when the doors of the gallery open, a whole new show will be waiting to be enjoyed. 

"Chatham Harbor," original 10x30" acrylic on three linen panels, copyright Joan Cole

“Chatham Harbor” is a triptych, an art form used in early Christian art.  Triptychs were a standard format for altar paintings from the Middle Ages onwards.  Although this is not a religious piece, I chose this format, in part, because of my  reverence for the natural world.   Everywhere I look in nature, I am inspired to paint.  Albert Schweitzer is one of my heroes.  His book Reverence for Life says it all.  If everyone lived by Schweitzer's standards, the world would be a better place.

Be that as it may, this triptych offers the viewer a 180-degree view of Chatham Harbor.  At the same time, 

Panel 1

each panel,

 when viewed individually, 

Panel 2

provides its own unique perspective.   

Panel 3

I believe that beauty is a matter of perspective.  It surrounds us.  Beauty is everywhere we look—if we look.   

What do you find in “Chatham Harbor”?

Incredible!

Photo by David Klotz

How is it possible that August and September have flashed by and October is moving swiftly along?!?  In all that time, I have been painting, painting, painting.  In August, we spent a week on Monhegan Island with other artists friends.  It was wonderful--as time on Monhegan always is.  That week seems so long ago now.  Well, here's proof--a picture of me deep in the painting experience.

Photo by David Klotz

As you may be able to tell, it was a day similar to today--damp, drizzly, and rainy--which, as you can imagine, is a challenge when painting en plein air with acrylics!

Rainy Sunrise at Whitehead, 11 x 14" acrylic on Irish linen on gatorboard, copyright Joan Cole

So you see what can happen!  :-)  But it was fun--and an incredible learning experience. 

The colors in "Day's End" must be seen to be appreciated....

"Day's End,"  24" x 12" acrylic on stretched canvas, $625, copyright by Joan Cole

....They are the result of my applying layer upon layer of transparent acrylic pigments to the canvas.  "Day's End" is another of my latest paintings which is on display in the summer show, opening at Maple & Main Gallery in Chester tomorrow.  Unlike "Clearing" which has already been sold (as I mentioned in yesterday's post), "Day's End" is still available for purchase.  I look forward to seeing you at the opening between 5 and 8 PM.

Hooray! My painting "Clearing" sold before our opening on Friday, June 10!

 "Clearing" is a 12" x 16" acrylic on linen, copyright by Joan Cole

You can see "Clearing"  at Maple and Main Gallery of Fine Art at 1 Maple Street in Chester, Connecticut, at the opening from 5 to 8 PM this Friday.  It sold before the show was even hung because I had used it on my postcard invitation to our summer show.  One of my long-time collectors from Atlanta called to purchase the painting before anyone else could.


Needless to say, it's a good thing I was wearing a tank top, or I'd have popped my buttons!   I am thrilled that "Clearing" will be going to a welcoming home.  And I'm very proud that it is the first sale of the new show.


You may remember my posting of Saturday, February 26, 2011, titled:  Jan Blencowe's Tonalist Class Today Was GREAT!


This is what "Clearing" looked like then. 

It was Jan who introduced me to acrylics and the Tonalist movement.  Her reading from Emerson's essay, "Nature,"  followed by her sharing of painting after painting by Tonalist masters, set to Claude DeBussy's "Reverie,"  was an eye-opening experience:  the beauty of those landscapes was overwhelming.  Simplified shapes in nature, emphasis on value and atmosphere, softened edges, an appeal to the spirit and emotions of the viewer--these are the characteristics that became evident in the work of the Tonalists. There was--and still is--so much for me to learn, not only about making optimal use of acrylics but also about distilling a landscape--or, in this case, a seascape--to its essence.  Thank you, Jan, once again for being such a knowledgeable and generous teacher. 

There are four other acrylics of mine in this show, so you still have a chance to become one of my collectors.  I look forward to seeing you Friday night if you live--or are vacationing--in the area.