And Archie Makes Three...

Archie (now Timmy)

Oil on canvas, 12x12

sold

This painting of my brother's dog, Archie, was truly the first of the minimal paintings I made since the end of June. And on Saturday, it, and "Neighbors" sold at the Amagansett Fine Arts Festival, here on Long Island.

Sometimes God, or the universe, or whatever you want to call the thing that's bigger than us, speaks in whispers, and sometimes it shouts.

This time, it's shouting.

***

Dog of the Day

Lori Rowe, a fantastic artist who specializes in delightful and often whimsical paintings of dogs (check out her stuff by clicking here!) sent me this photo of Maggie, who will be 20 - TWENTY! - come August.

Lori used to live near us when we lived in Ledyard, though she and her husband moved first to New Mexico and next to Chicagoland. She's a huge Red Sox fan, a rescuer and lover of dogs, and a great person, on top of everything else.

Want your dog to be the Dog of the Day? Send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

October Salt Marsh Revisited - and a Thrilling Sale!

October Salt Marsh

oil on canvas, 36x48

sold

Some of you will recognize this painting as one I've painted before - but I wanted another try at it, and took it on again last month.

The first version, "Light Beneath the Clouds,"  is in Center Framing and Art in West Hartford Center, CT. I really like the original version, but this one has a shine and a bounce that the first one didn't have. The first one, I think, has a darkness and depth that the new one doesn't have - but both paintings work - at least to my eye. 

What do you think? 

***

ON ANOTHER NOTE, the painting that sold first here at Amagansett was "Beach Houses," the first "minimal" painting I ever made. All day, it and its successor, "Neighbors," drew the largest share of attention in my tent. 

This is so exciting to me, because I am so excited about these paintings! It is just an incredible pleasure to see people responding with the interest and spirit that I feel - and to watch and hear them talk about these paintings, and fill in the spaces with their own ideas, their own emotions. It's great! 

The Amagansett Fine Arts Festival  continues through Sunday, on the lawn at the American Legion Hall at the corner of Abraham's Path and Route 27, just outside of East Hampton, here on Long Island.

***

Dog of the Day

OK, I know it's not a dog. But sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do. 

This cat belongs to Cam Chapman, a photographer who specializes in lighthouses. You can see some of his work by clicking here. 

I met Cam at the Mystic Outdoor Art Festival, soon after he had left his regular job, sold everything he owned, and bought a motor home. His plan was to tour the country, doing art shows - and lo and behold, he has. 

Along with the motor coach, he has a big trailer, that holds not only his tent and luscious photographs, but also a motorcycle that he uses to get around while he's doing shows. The cat has a great time, Cam says, even if he does sit in the window and bellow. 

Several of you responded to my plea and send DOD candidates, so, YAY! Want your pet to be the Dog of the Day? Send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

***

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU all so much for reading, for supporting me spiritually and financially, for cheering me on - for being there. I appreciate each and every one of you. 

East Hampton Cove - More AND Less!

East Hampton Cove, Minimal

Oil on canvas, 10x10
sold

East Hampton Cove, Maximum

Oil on canvas

sold

This morning, before set-up began for the show at Amagansett, I took a spin around East Hampton, NY, where I'm staying. I drove past the house where Jackson Pollock lived with Lee Krasner during Pollock's most productive, most amazing years. 

Down the street, I found a dead-end road with a beautiful view and room to park the big van. 

In light of my newest paintings, Beach Houses and Neighbors, I decided to try a minimal painting AND a maximum painting... one with almost no paint and one with a lot of paint. It was fun! 

Above, the minimal painting in the landscape. Below, the maximum painting in the landscape. 

 ***

HERE'S MY BOOTH in Amagansett. I think it looks pretty good!

The show, by the bye, is amazing. The quality of the work is beyond any show I've been in. I'm honored and just plain excited to be with these artists! If you're on Long Island, or know anyone who is, send them out to Amagansett. The show is on the grounds of the the American Legion Hall, at the intersection of Route 27 and Abraham's Path.

***

Dog of the Day

His name is Frank, and he's one of the friendliest dogs ever. He can also sniff out lunch about a mile away. He tried to get some of my lunch, tried to get in my van, licked me all over (sorry, JoJo!) and then went off to get lunch from another artist.

Want your pet to be the Dog of the Day? Send a jpeg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

Franklin - and the Land of the Free

Franklin

Oil on canvas, 12x12

Commission

Franklin! Can't you tell he's a devil of a dog? I have not met him in person, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that he is more than a handful. I really love this painting!

Want me to make a painting of your pet? Prices start at $350 for a 12-inch by 12-inch painting. I make bigger ones, too! All I need is a jpg of your pet, a deposit, and an idea of what colors you like. Click here to send me an email for more info.

***

THE AMAGANSETT FINE ARTS FESTIVAL starts on Friday and I am pretty excited about it. I have really great new work to show, the festival is in a pretty place, and this area is loaded with people. It makes driving a nightmare, but is great if you're in an art festival.

I don't know what my booth number will be, but the show is small, on the grounds of the American Legion Hall, and I think it will be easy to find me.

Want more info? Click here.

***

ON THIS FOURTH OF JULY, I find I am glad to be an American. While I do wish that as a country we were a little more free, and a little more brave, I celebrate the freedoms that I have, and the bravery that I can muster to address and use those freedoms.

***

Dog of the Day

Having no new Dog of the Day candidates, I offer up Jojo! 

Want your pet to be Dog of the Day? Send a jpg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com

Beach Houses - Finished? Unfinished?

Beach Houses

Oil on canvas, 24x24

sold

Those of you who've been following this blog for a while know that I've long had love affairs with "unfinished" paintings.  Click here to see a landscape that I left "unfinished," and here to see a cat I left "unfinished."

Interestingly, older female artist friends accosted me about both of these paintings, and I argued with them that the pieces were finished, and left them that way. 

This one, "Beach Houses," is the start of a series, I think. My idea is that where there IS paint, it will be heavy - but beyond what is absolutely necessary for the painting, there will be no paint, or just sketchy hints. My thought about this painting was that I would add a blast of swirly, heavy sky, at the horizon behind the houses - but then I got this far and thought that perhaps I should just leave it. 

So what do you think? Like it? Hate it? Think it screams for more paint, more finishing, more sky, more land? Or is it intriguing and inviting and minimal, just as it is? 

(That brings up something that's amused me for years. I was in a bookstore, when they still were plentiful, and saw a whole series of books about simplifying one's life. If the author knew what she was about, wouldn't there have been only one book?) 

Peter says he thinks this painting looks unfinished, and he really hates the blue sketchy lines. He says he'd like them better if they were tan. My friend, the remarkable painter Ronet Noe, says she likes this as it is and is sure someone will love it and buy it. 

Please click the comment box below to let me and other readers know what you think about this painting. I am truly interested. 

***

Dog of the Day

What a face! I met this dog at the show in Frederick, and knew he was destined to be the Dog of the Day. Want your pet to be the DOD? Click here to send me a jpg!

All-Day Sunflowers - and tremors about Amagansett

All-Day Sunflowers

Oil on canvas, 24x24

sold

This weekend, I am enjoying being home, and painting with delight and anticipation for the show next weekend in Amagansett, NY. 

It's a show I am honored to be in. The work by other artists looks fantastic - so fantastic that it gives me tremors of fear: Will my paintings measure up? Will they appeal? Will they sell?

After a bout of soul-wrenching terror this morning, I've decided that the answer is YES - and to top it off, I think my paintings have a sense of fun and delight that I don't see in most other paintings.

Does that communicate itself? I think it does. I know it's what I feel when I paint - and I have heard person after person remark about it as they stand in my booth and look around.

That's the very best thing for me. If someone looking at a painting can feel the joy I felt when I was painting, then I've done what I've set out to do - and I am happy, and grateful. And confident!

For more about the show in Amagansett, click here. And if you have friends on Long Island, please suggest that they go!

***

I lived in Boston for 10 years, and I know how crazy the drivers are there. Maybe it's because of signs like the one above, asserting that you're going both south and north at the same time. 

***

Dog of the Day

Ah, Eunice. She might not be a dog, but she is the DOD today, enjoying herself on Smokey's bench. She is an old girl, 15 or so, and slowing down - but she has learned to enjoy life. 

Want your pet to be the Dog of the Day? Send a jpeg to me at carrieBjacobson@gmail.com