Heading Out of the Harbor- A New Painting!

Heading Out of the Harbor by Gail Allen

 I have just gotten around to posting this (16" X 20") recent quintessential New England acrylic painting of a sailboat heading out for a lazy summer day's adventures. I have been working on some landscapes throughout the very busy summer  we have had that I am slowly finishing up and posting. There's something about watching boats sailing by that is just so relaxing!







At the same time, it has a double meaning for me. My second son has just moved out of the house, as he starts his first, full time employment and into his first apartment in Boston. He is in a sense - heading out of the harbor , embarking on a journey that is the beginning his own independent life. I am so very proud of all he has become!


After this past week of nesting and doing some intense cooking and canning of my own heirloom tomato marinara, spaghetti, pizza sauce and a few jars of papaya barbecue sauce, (to remind us of the summer in the midst of our upcoming long freezing winter), I am starting some fall paintings.

Below is a recent 6" X 6" pastel study, done down the road from our home in Hollis, for a larger, fall painting. I am working on a few variations of this....more to come.

Hollis Hayfields by Gail Allen

Back from Traveling

For the last six weeks I've put down my brushes and have been busy attending to family obligations, celebrating life's milestones and traveling ... I am finally back home and in my studio once again. 

The great thing about getting away is the renewed perspective and vision you come home with.

Hopefully, this will be reflected in my new works. The mountains and the ocean are always contemplative and inspirational places for me. I couldn't ask for a greater gift than sharing these moments with family. We toured a section of California, from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park and then through the San Fernando Valley, down to Carmel and Monterey. From the Bay to the Mountains and beyond we were awestruck by nature's beauteous sites.

YosemiteNational Park - Water Falls

Glacier Point - Yosemite National Park

After our  two eldest sons' college graduations, we took a trip to the West Coast to commemorate the occasion. Unbelievably awesome beauty abounds in nature, I always seem to find it redeeming. We were lucky enough to be able to do some hiking, exploring and beholding a few of her many wonders. Through my paintings I reveal the passion for the land I love,  by trying to share my feelings and touch the viewer, as I capture the energy of the moment. The beauty of this area is just completely astounding.

Muir Woods

San Francisco - Golden Gate Bridge

Yosemite National Park - Tunnel View

The silent serenity of the Yosemite National Park Mountains, with their aged groves of spectacular gigantic trees, the golden - light filled valleys and the incredible life, movement and power of the numerous majestic huge waterfalls, as well as the Coastal views of distant waters we were able to explore were absolutely breathtaking. Our National Parks are truly a treasure we all should take advantage of exploring. Stay tuned for posts of paintings reflecting my experiences.

A Memorial Day Tribute to Military Veterans and Their Families

Poppies have always remind me of my dad, honoring those who fought for our freedom, as well their families who have given so very much and especially, the Memorial Day holiday. Whether in my garden, or the crepe paper kind you may purchase outside of stores that are usually being sold by Veterans around Memorial Day, they will always hold an endearing place in my heart. They will forever symbolize a remembrance to pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price and sacrificed for our freedom.

At seventeen my dad had joined the army to go fight in World War II. He first worked in Bermuda on the railroad (which is no longer in existence) and then shipped out and fought in Europe; stationed there for years, when the announcement came that the war had ended. Although he told us a few things, he never really discussed the details of what he went through. Growing up, we would always watch old war movies with him, knowing it meant a lot to him that in some way, we had a small glimpse into understanding the hell that they experienced and the camaraderie of military life. He had terrible memories and nightmares that haunted him until his death in 2003. He had hurt himself a few times, during those nightmares of reliving diving into a bunker for safety, when incoming mortars were heading their way.  Throughout his life, he had a special place in his heart for his fellow countrymen who he would see at the VFW and at the many reunions he attended. Every Christmas, cards came from people my sisters and I had never met, but we knew how dear they were to my dad,  - these were from the families of these men who had served with him all those years ago. One by one, we were sent the news of their passing on.
Recently, my father - in -  law was given the gift of going to view the World War II Veterans' Memorial in Washington, D. C. through a new program for these war veterans. It meant so much to him, as well as all of these veterans to finally be recognized. I am sure my dad would have loved it.

On this Memorial Day, please remember to pay tribute to those in our military services who have sacrificed so much for our freedom over the years, serving in many different wars. From now on, whenever you see a poppy may you be reminded of the young men and women who deserve our thanks and praise today, and everyday that we encounter them in our daily lives. Don't let an opportunity go by to honor, or personally thank them for the gift they have given us all - freedom.

The River Bend...a 24" X 48" landscape painting in progress

Last fall we took a foliage ride and came upon this train trestle which crossed a very rock laden river. I liked the effect of the portal it seemed to create. We were able to access a closer spot to the center, by jumping onto the larger rocks, where I was able to take photos and sketch my ideas. By changing the surroundings a bit, to create an atmosphere which you are not yet able to see, my hope is it will have interesting ambiance when finished. The pilasters of the bridge were interesting to me. The way the light fell on them, it gave the illusion of the one in the water being twisted at a different angle. This is in the early stage when I am trying to get values and placement as well as the base colors correct.

 My painting have exaggerated bright color to them for a reason, which is another post entirely, to come at a later date. Water and images of nature have a soothing and calming effect on many people, which is why I chose this point of view. My interest is is how color, light and subject matter affect mood and healing properties within a person's life. There is an abundance of research being done on how a person's perception affects his mood and health. I believe that the artwork we have in our homes has a direct effect on on lives. As doctor's offices, hospitals and even restaurants and hotels develop this understanding, there is a movement toward natural environmental looking paintings that give a sense of well being and aliveness.

Mountains in Winter Painting

Winter Mountain Landscape (Copyright Gail M. Allen 2011)

Working in a slightly different mode than usual this week, I just completed this painting of  the mountains in winter. My usual format is to give all aspects of the painting a finished realistic look. This was a study for a larger painting, and is 24" X 24", done in acrylic on gessoed board. On the larger piece, I think I will make the sky a bit larger and rework the jagged mountains closest to us. This is one of the best ways to work out the problems before I start  the larger painting. These jagged mountains were at quite a distance,  so I also think I may add a bit more of the underbrush I left out along the stream.

Night Waterfall

  Night Waterfall (9" X 12" Acrylic on Canvas)
My latest finished painting, of the three I am currently working on, is of a waterfall into a Koi pond, on a full moon night. There was a blue glow all around the the pool as it catches the moonlight.

Iris with Day Lily

Iris with Day Lily  copyright 2011, Gail M. Allen

Here's my newest work, as I look toward the brighter, more colorful days of Spring and Summer.  The snow is beginning to melt a bit and we seem to be having that late winter thaw that makes you feel Spring is on the way.

Framed or matted prints of various sizes, on a variety of papers are available at my custom print and giclee site: Gail Allen Custom Prints and Cards.

A Painting for Valentine's Day -

Love in Flight

copyright 2011. Gail M. Allen

View cards, prints or buy the original at Gail Allen Fine Art

The painting above was done on an overcast, cold winter day, when we received 15 inches of snow. The beauty of being a painter is that through your own imagination, your surroundings seem to change, just by the painting you choose to work on. Immersing myself in my work,  I become the viewer of the balloons in flight on a lovely spring day, listening to the sound of the birds singing, as they sit on the wires watching the tangled balloons bobbing with the wind blowing through the trees.

When the painting is finished reality hits,  it's time to spend the next hour or two out in the crisp cold air, cleaning up the beautiful sparkling snow coating everything in sight....but that creates another beautiful painting, for tomorrow.

Vivian Maier Photography video (below)

Regarding the "You Tube" post below  - take the time to view some unbelievably beautiful photographs... by a previously unknown photographer.   Just amazing.
If you're interest has been sparked: there is another you tube video describing how her work was unearthed at an auction of her private things....
Vivian Maier Street Photographer and Nanny

Vivian Maier photos - DVD slideshow GUI

Painting techniques in the Sun King painting

The techniques I used in this painting were different than my normal work in that the substrate was OSB board which has an immense amount of texture. I first sealed it with a gel medium. Then I began to layer basic acrylic colors. I sealed those by covering them with a gel medium and over painted that with interference colors. The raised effects are heavy bodied gel medium over painted with bronze, copper and gold metallic paints. The texture, in my mind, looked like a crystallized form underlying the sun's appearance. The appearance under lighting changes because of the interference colors giving a glowing radiance to the painting.

The Sun King (CBS Sunday Morning Sun Art)

The Sun King painting is my 2011 submission to the CBS Sunday Morning Sun Art library and also the January theme submission to The Artist Challenge. It is a 30" X 40" acrylic painting on sealed particle board of a jewel colored smiling sun which also includes a variety of metallic paints. I chose the substrate specifically for the underlying texture. The interesting creative, playful process of this piece was a very enjoyable break away from my work with traditional realistic landscapes. 

The Sun, a heavenly body which was believed to give life to all things was represented by Apollo, who was known as the God of Peace and the Arts. The idea of the Sun King theme came from studying the history behind King Louis XIV, who, like the CBS Sunday Morning television show, had also adopted the sun as his personal emblem, which then led him to be known as the Sun King. A room in his palace at Chateau de Versailles was decorated with iconic representations of sun motifs, laurels and lyre and he also used sun representations in the layout of his gardens as well. His extravagant spending on culture and the arts during his reign led to a noted development of artistic expression, and other cultural accomplishments. It is said that he was interested in a great variety of subjects including music, dance, painting, sculpture, horseback riding, fencing, outings, parlor games, politics of the people, and peace.

CBS's Sunday Morning has been a staple in my life since my early college days. A peaceful weekend morning ritual, it covers a great variety of subjects, always with a focus on one of the arts and ending with a peaceful look into nature's beauty. The sun being the show's emblem is often used between the segments covering a wide variety of subjects.

Season's Greetings...Wishing you "All the Best" for the holidays!

 Every year I try to send out a special holiday card that I make as a memorable gift, especially for patrons, friends and family. Here are just a few years past Holiday Cards ... (the originals are usually tipped in onto cards for friends, to be able to save and frame if they so desire). I am wishing you all a safe, magical holiday season, filled with grace, blessings and joy. As always, I sincerely thank you for your support, comments and patronage! This project keeps me busy and away from posting and painting for most of the month of November, as is quite apparent on my blog. It is beginning to be a bit overwhelming, but is a part of the year I really enjoy, and this is my unique way of letting those special people know that they are in my thoughts throughout the year! Now, I am using this venue also, to wish all my followers the same, since I cannot contact you through snail mail.

Here's to wishing you "All the Best" during this season and the coming year - to you and yours!

If you are interested in getting newsletter mailings, please sign up by clicking on this site: Gail Allen's Fine Art Newsletter . (Please note:I do not sell, trade or give out any information on my mailing lists. )

Wishing You Holiday Magic!

(This is an etching that has been hand colored.)

Have an Old Fashioned Christmas!
(This was a sepia pen and ink version of an antique nutcracker.)

Season's Greetings!

Rise and Shine All Year Long with The Artist Challenge SUN ART 2011 CALENDAR

The featured artwork for the 2011 Sun Art Calendar month of March is my CBS SUN ART mandala painting above.
The artists at The Artist Challenge have put together an awesome compilation of their artwork, which was done for the CBS SUNDAY MORNING SHOW's SUN ART collection.  The suns are a beloved part of the television show, hosted by Charles Osgood and featured each week between the segments. The show is viewed nationally by over five million viewers.
The 2011 Sun Art Calendar features twelve months of beautiful, creative inspiration to enhance your days throughout the entire year. Don't miss out on the opportunity to give a truly special Xmas gift - you may see one featured again in upcoming segments! Artists such as two time Emmy award winning Vikki North,  Doug Feakes, Mary Sonya Conti, Paul Pinson, Kay Malouff,  Linda Apple and more...
Orders of this painting as  museum quality print on archival paper, either framed or unframed, in your choice of size, to be shipped directly from the fine art printer are available today for holiday delivery... or choose the  2011 calendar for only $24.95, using PayPal,  at my website: http://www.gailallenartist.com. May all your holidays and everyday of 2011, be bright and sunny!

The Sentinel

Some close ups of the details in the distance.

The Sentinel is a very large, acrylic landscape painting, 48" X 60", on canvas. It has been quite a work in progress, and was set aside for quite some time in the interim as I completed a few other pieces.

This painting began after coming upon a very old tree on our vacation that overlooked the large lake and the communities and countryside below. The thought occurred to me at the time, that this tree had stood here for decades as many changes occurred in the valley below. The beauty of the distant mountains and the bright glow of the sun on the farms below, as well as the tree was my inspiration. These old trees are dying rapidly throughout the area because of the recent storm damage and migrating insects from other countries. Choosing the name "The Sentinel" came to my mind as I referred to my reference photo while working in the studio. My thought was that it looked like a guard standing watch over the valley below.

Crossing Over

Recently I have taken a few weeks off from my regular painting routine, to attend to other commitments, while continuing sketching and taking literally hundreds of reference photos, as well as continuing my research on healing artwork. I have very eclectic styles of painting, as the result of my illustration training, which I vary depending on the subject matter.
The latest painting, just off the easel, called Crossing Over is of a woman standing in contemplation overlooking a seaside, secret garden. Across the inlet of water in front of her is a rose arbor or trellis, with a ghostly woman standing beneath it, beckoning her onward. This image was a sketch I had done while visiting with a hospitalized friend. Research on Healing Artwork, which is often displayed in hospitals and treatment centers, as well as doctors offices has been shown to help reduce stress and increase the rate of healing in patients. Nature, gardens and calming, serene paintings that offer meditation and are pleasing to look at are all subjects that people have responded positively to. These were my thoughts in developing this piece.

More thoughts on Teen Depression

This piece was recently posted on The Artist Challenge web site, which brought some comments that I would like to share. I believe this is such an important subject, and one of those ethical dilemmas people have to deal with. Should I get involved in a child's life who is not my own child - if they seem to be in trouble or severely upset? With the recent broadcast of ethical dilemma television shows like ABC news "What Would You Do?",  people are beginning to focus more on the loss of our values, character traits, and morals. This, I believe, could make a difference in the direction our society has been heading towards. A recent episode showed a young child crying on the street and  an unbelievable number of adults who looked and walked past. As a mother of three, I cringed, but wondered if it could happen to me. Could I be distracted and miss seeing the child, if I were having a busy day, running somewhere and failing to notice my surroundings? That is what I was pondering as I created this piece.

Regarding my painting, Cheryl, on the Artist Challenge web site, commented: "Kids grow up much too fast these days, they aren’t allowed to be “kids” like most of us were. Such sadness and you’ve captured the teen inside her well Gail, though I do see a wee glimmer of hope in her eyes."
 My answer was:Your right. The eyes are supposed to have a glimmer of hope…because I am a true believer that hope is just a quick pivoting turn away towards a positive thought – if you are able to get your mind to do it, ( some, understandably, just can not)."

MTV – (which I don’t often like) has a GREAT series called: “If You Really Knew Me…” for high school students, (although I think parents need to see it just as much). It could open a lot of dialogs. I saw a few episodes as the result of research for this piece. I think that this is a great step in the right direction.

Again, on The Artist Challenge site, Ray commented: "Your work is always so meaningful and intense. I understand and have experienced teenage depression from both sides of the fence, with myself and my own children. Luckily we all came out the other side. But it’s a terrible thing and usually created from our own minds. This tells the story very well. "
Most of us have been there, scarred in one way or another, teen years have always been tumultuous… we are all fortunate who have been there and come out the other side. Sometimes it just takes having one other person to talk to, I think everyone has that glimmer of hope waiting to be seen. The light is always there, it just needs to be noticed. Today, take the time to notice someone in your life who could use a hug, or even just a word of positive support. There is an unspoken rule: for every one negative comment you say, remember to also say at least 5 ( or more) positive ones

Please Note:  Leave a comment here today, your thoughts count! Also, We artists on The Artist Challenge web site would love for you to visit and add a comment on our work! What you see and don't see in our paintings, whether you like it, what you like or don't, agree or not, or even what you would like to see more of. This feedback is so important to an artists work. Essentially it helps us to know if our conception delivered the message we were trying to portray. Artists create because they need and love to, and have a view they would love to share. Your comments, suggestions and thoughts are an intricate part of our work, and we truly WELCOME your input. Also check out the subsidiary site of The Writer's Challenge: "The Inferno" . Here you'll find an entertaining writer's view of the challenge theme.