The Hopper Exhibit at Bowdoin

Alex and I attended the opening of the Hopper exhibit at Bowdoin. We had tried to attend the lecture on Hopper and A. Wyeth just before the opening but were turned away from the lecture hall as it was filled to standing room only. So we grabbed dinner at the new Inn at Brunswick Station and found the service and food quite good. Anyway, then off to the Hopper Opening which was a bit crowded. But we still found good access to the paintings and drawings, as the food and wine at the Opening served as a diversion for a good number of folks. Hopper's works were well displayed and were just wonderful, particularly for me, his Monhegan oils. Major props to Curator Diana Tuite and Director Kevin Salatino for their work in putting this together. It will be an exhibit to visit and re-visit.

Two upcoming shows: Community Paints & the 10 by 10

"November Morning," Joe Godleski,
Oil on Canvas, 10" by 10"

Thornton Oaks here in Brunswick is hosting an exhibit running August 18 through September 22.  They are inviting all artists to submit a piece of art based on the theme "Summer in Maine."  The quality of the exhibits at Thornton Oaks is very solid and consistent.  Also, they have a roomful of Carroll Thayer Berry prints that is pretty cool.  For more info on the Thornton Oaks Community Paints show, click here.  Of course, the annual Arts are Elementary 10 by 10 show is coming up in late September.  I've started working on my 10 by 10s, and the first one "November Morning" is shown above.  The photo on which the painting is based was taken Thanksgiving day off Land's End.  For more info on the 10 by 10 show, click here.

Study, Study, Study



Feeder, Joe Godleski, Oil on Canvas



Carnations, Joe Godleski, Oil on Canvas





Reeds, Joe Godleski, Oil on Canvas



Plein air sessions and the Tuesday group at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell have allowed for working through a number of studies, both indoors and out.  The process of selecting a subject, composing a frame, sketching, preparing a palette and then actually painting within a 3 or so hour period has been challenging, and a little frenetic at times.  There always seems to be a need to finish up in the studio.  Some say the results are more "authentic."  I'm not sure about that, but it is a real change of pace.  On another note, we took in the latest set of shows at the Farnsworth.  The Four in Maine: Drawings show was outstanding.  It runs through Sept 11, so if you are up in Rockland, check it out.

Latest Print

"Mates", Joe Godleski, Soft Block Print, Artist Proof

Between outdoor painting sessions, I went to work on a soft block print of a pair of mallards I snapped in our community pond earlier this spring.  I've spotted the male several times since but the female was not by his side, probably nesting away from view.  The artist proof is shown above.  As usual, the print will be available in an edition of 25. 

Diane Dubreuil, Plein Air

Last Thursday evening, I took a trip up to the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell for the Monthly Art Talk to hear Diane Dubreuil, a master plein air artist, speak about her one-month artist residency in Brittany, France and to see a slide show of her time in France, her finished works, and her sketches and journals which stood quite well on their own.  It was a very engaging session.  Her web site - http://www.ddubreuil.com/ - does not do justice to her works.  They really need to be seen in person.  The evening reinforced the urge to get outside to paint, on my own or with the Deb Arter class through Merrymeeting Adult Ed (we are two session into a six session program) or through plein air sessions being set up by Diane D.  Now if the darn rain would stop!!

Art2011 at Harlow Gallery

"Early Spring", Joe Godleski, oil on canvas, 30" X 10"

"Early Spring" has been juried into the Art2011 exhibit at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell.  The exhibit kicks off with an opening reception Friday May 6th 5-8pm and runs through May 28th.  Véronique Plesch and Margaret Libby, both professors in the art department at Colby College, judged Art2011, the 16th annual juried art exhibition at the Harlow Gallery.  57 works were chosen out of total of 327 submitted works.  Needless to say, I am quite pleased and I am really looking forward to the show.

PMA Biennial and Beverly Rippel Workshop



Beverly Rippel, Pink Cap Gun I, 2010,
oil and encaustic on linen

 The 2011 Portland Museum of Art Biennial is a varied and strong show.  Alex and I attended the early opening and were able to find quite a few works that we enjoyed.  Although the Sunday paper review of the show made only a scant mention of "traditional landscape painting," the choice of paintings for the show tilted to a realist approach and I found this surprising and in a way reassuring.  I also attended a workshop ("Studio Revealed" PMA blog entry of April 5, 2011)  led by Biennial artist, Beverly Rippel.  We received a spirited, hands-on view into Ms. Rippel's studio approach to subject and technique, and spent some time looking at and discussing her Biennial work, "Pink Cap Gun I."  When you go to the Biennial, the work is best viewed from the 2nd floor balcony as opposed to craning one's neck viewing it from the exhibit floor.  It is quite striking, beautiful and disquieting at the same time.