Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
April 14, 2008 2:54 PM

On Friday night I attended my first Pratt Draw-a-thon. This legendary event, held every year since 1988, consists if 12 straight hours of figure drawing in which 18 models circulate throughout 5 drawing studios posing for designated periods of time (20 second action poses, 5 and 10 minute poses, 1 hour poses, and two extended poses of 3 and 6 hours each.) Drawing and posing began at 7pm Friday night and continued through the night until 7am Saturday morning.

This years Draw-a-thon was more popular than even Pratt's planners expected. Myself and my drawing partner were there for a few hours and only able to squeeze into the hour long poses room. Despite the crowds the event was a very exciting and a very unique experience. These graphite drawings are the results of my evening. It was great night and I hope to attend for the whole 12 hours next next year.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 31, 2008 2:00 PM

A sketchbook experiment with casein and pencil. The image originated from a New York Times T Magazine article entitled "São Paulo’s Concrete Jungle." Click on it to view the sketch even larger than its original size of 6.5" x 8.5".

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 24, 2008 3:30 PM

Selected pages from an old sketchbook. Click on each to view an entire image.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 17, 2008 2:42 PM

This Celtic Cross was created some years back as a speculative Irish tourism poster. Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 10, 2008 1:11 PM

Poul Henningsen, PH Lamp, 1927

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 3, 2008 2:00 PM

Last fall I created experimental prints of my Manhattan Bridge drawing using both paper and photo lithography. The results are above. Both processes involve a fair balance of science and "magic" to create an image. I found paper lithograph, both print and process, to be much more successful and easier to comprehend. Photo lithography will require a lot more experimentation to get any sort of desirable outcome.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
February 25, 2008 3:12 PM

On our final afternoon in Mexico, Corrie and I were able to spend a few hours exploring the city of Playa del Carmen. You can explore yourself via our photos on Flickr, a sample of which can be seen above.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
February 18, 2008 2:44 PM

Corrie and I just attended a wedding in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Prior to the festivities we took a tour of the interior with Alltournative - Off Track Adventures. We had an amazing time! Our tour, "Maya Encounter", included the exploration of the ancient city of Cobá, the opportunity to climb Nohoch Mul (the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan), a rappel down into and then swim within a cenote, a canoe trip across and then zip-line over a lagoon, monkey sightings, a purification ritual, AND a lunch prepared by local Mayan women. It was an incredible day! Above is an image of the lagoon, Punta Laguna, we canoed across and "zipped" over. Photographs of our entire day can be seen on Flickr.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
February 11, 2008 3:23 PM

Just got back from Mexico! Full Flickr album including this photo of our day trip to the Coba ruins to come.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
January 26, 2008 4:25 PM

This is not a top ten. Nope. It’s not even a top 15. This is a list of the albums that for numerous and varied reasons got the most “spins” from me this past year. By no means should it be considered a comprehensive comparison or judgment on any other albums that were released in 2007. I find it impossible to keep up with all the music that is available nowadays. In fact I barely try. These albums came my way by various means and through various venues. I played them often. And I played them happily. Rogue Wave in particular. Enjoy.

In no particular order:

New Buffalo, “Somewhere, Anywhere”
The Shins, “Wincing the Night Away”
Rilo Kiley, “Under The Black Light”
Wilco, “Sky Blue Sky”
Miracle Fortress, “Five Roses”
Interpol, “Our Love To Admire”
Arcade Fire, “Neon Bible”
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”
Destroyer, “Destroyer's Rubies”
Jans Lekman, “Night Falls Over Kortedala”
Stars, “In Our Bedroom, After the War”
Fujiya & Miyagi, “Transparent Things”
Rogue Wave, “Asleep At Heavens Gate”
Lily Allen, “Alright Still”
Palomar, “All Things Forest”

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
January 16, 200812:00 AM

Last in my series of collages inspired by poetry. This one had something to do with jazz.
The other two can be seen here and here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
January 4, 200812:00 AM

Second in my series of poetry inspired collages. The first collage can be seen here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
December 24, 200712:00 AM

The above image is a paper lithograph. Paper lithographs are amazingly simple to execute but the results are tough to predict. Basically you gum up a xerox, ink it and then run the inked xerox through the press. The paper xerox is your plate! Optimistically you can get 3-5 prints per paper/plate. Each print is rather unique and thus paper lithos are something like monoprints. This image was created from a xerox of an old drawing of mine. Also I must disclose that my instructor inked up much of this print AND inking up the paper litho seems to be where the real magic happens. One needs to have a soft touch and a keen eye to what the ink is doing to the paper and to the toner (which is receiving the ink) on the paper. Again: amazing! I am very excited about this process and look forward to experimenting further.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
December 12, 200712:00 AM

While digging out the Christmas decorations this year, I came across a collage series I made in college that illustrated three varied collections of poetry. Some of you Syracuse alums may recognize the assignment. Although I can't recall the poem that was my inspiration, I still enjoy the images and am happy to share one of them with you now. Look for the remaining two in the series sometime in 2008!

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
November 30, 200712:00 AM

This holiday season I have been selected to take part in the New York Academy of Art
Alumni Association Holiday 2007 Exhibition. The small painting above, along with another, will be on display at Merge 360 through December 23rd.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
November 19, 200712:00 AM

This image, from our Kaaterskill High Peak hike, depicts another view from Hurricane Ledge. This time we're looking south west towards the range of mountains that create the Devil's Path hiking trail. Click on the image above to see a larger view and read the extended entry to see the graphite sketch prior to adding watercolor.

Continue reading "The Devil's Path"
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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
November 7, 200712:26 PM

Several weeks ago I began taking a lithography class at the Manhattan Graphics Center. This image is my first lithograph ever. I am pleased with it. I consider it an experiment in which I got to know the materials, the crayons, the pencils, the metal plates involved with the process. My next experiment? Liquid Tusche.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
October 25, 200712:00 AM

Recently Corrie and I climbed Kaaterskill High Peak. The day was gorgeous and the hike was exciting, with steep sections, several scrambles, and two plane wrecks! Although the actual summit is wooded, wonderful views can be seen from Hurricane Ledge on the south side. This watercolor sketch depicts the view looking southeast over Platte Clove and towards the Hudson River. More images from our hike can be seen here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
October 3, 200712:00 AM

Recently Corrie and I were able to visit my brother Danny in New Hampshire. We met his new dog, saw my painting from a previous post, and went for a hike. This watercolor sketch is of the view from Danny's home on Squam Lake. All of the photos from our brief but fun-filled trip can be seen here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
September 21, 200712:00 AM

This is a casein sketch of another potential painting based on a photograph taken by Jen Judge and torn from Outside magazine. My intention with this image along with the ones from a previous post is to eventually lose recognition of the source image, creating a final image that is more abstract and pattern oriented. Inspiration for this experiment can be found in the images of Shawn Dulaney or Kevin Kearns.

Currently I have three of these images down on oil primed wood panels. Once their under layers are dry I intend on going at them with sandpaper, glazes, scumbles, whatever seems interesting. Results may vary.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
September 11, 200712:00 AM

Sketch drawn on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade days after September 11th, 2001.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
August 20, 200712:00 AM

Two watercolor sketches done recently. The first is from Watch Hill and the second from Pimlico Pond in Sandwich, MA. Click on either image for larger versions of each.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
August 8, 200712:00 AM

Several recent photographs in the New York Times truly entranced me. For some time now I have been thinking about creating some paintings that are more pattern oriented than usual. Something similar to the White Mountain Blues painting but perhaps even more abstract. These small casein sketches are my first step in that direction. Thanks to Kevin Moloney for the inspirational photographs.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
July 27, 200712:00 AM

Graphite sketches of the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
July 17, 200712:00 AM

Just after July 4th, Corrie and I spent three days kayaking and camping in Casco Bay, Maine. The trip was truly amazing. Organized through L. L. Bean, our small group of ten was led by two enthusiastic and experienced guides to the Goslings, two small islands, where we created a base camp. From there we explored the surrounding area, practiced our kayaking skills and got very, very wet while waiting out a storm. All our meals were prepared by our guides and all of it was top notch. We even had lobster! In fact I had two!!

A Flickr set our trip can be found here. Most of the images have captions and all have been placed on a map.

The sketchbook image above was begun on the trip but completed at home thanks to some gorgeous photographs taken by one our guides, Gregg Bolton.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
July 5, 200712:00 AM

A two hour oil study on a tan ground with a burnt sienna imprimatura and limited palette consisting of burnt sienna, cold (blue) black, and lead white. This study is 8"x10" and was painted on February 7th, 2001 during Patrick Connor's portraiture class at the New York Academy of Art.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
June 23, 200712:00 AM

Another image of from our hike on the Escarpment Trail. This one is a sketchbook watercolor of the view looking south towards High Peak and Roundtop Mountain.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
June 22, 200712:00 AM

Bláfjallakvisal. Fjallabaksleið / South Iceland interior. N 63º 43' W 18º 48'

A small casein image painted from a postcard Corrie purchased while exploring Iceland with her family last spring.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
April 17, 2007 9:52 PM

Recently I completed this painting of the Old Mill on the island of Nantucket. I posted the initial sketch for this last summer.

Currently I am looking into framing possibilities. Continue reading to see some my considerations. I intend on using a linen liner for the first time.
Let me know what you think.

Continue reading "Ye Olde Winde Mill"
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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 8, 2007 6:08 PM

Recently I completed a 36 by 36 inch painting for above our mantle. This painting is based upon a study from a previous post. The large painting for my brother's home (mentioned in the previous post) has been completed and delivered to NH but I have yet to see it. Once I make my way north I will surely take some pics and post them here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
December 21, 2006 7:30 PM

My mother "commissioned" me to paint something for the O'Neill family Christmas card. Her suggestion was a painting of some ornaments. I suggested one of a nutcracker. This is the image that resulted. As the card states, "May the joy of Christmas be with you throughout the New Year."

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
September 1, 2006 2:05 AM

My most recent painting done out east: another image of rocks at lowtide on the Long Island Sound. The painting is 6x12 inches on panel and was completed over two afternoons, several weeks apart.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
August 22, 2006 9:26 PM

I recently had two paintings framed at the Pearl Paint Framing Shop on Lispenard Street in Manhattan. My girlfriend and I were very pleased with the experience. The manager, after politely showing us the frames we had selected, steered us towards several frame choices we had overlooked. His two favorites were the frames we eventually purchased. While not the most cheerful fellow, he was professional, polite, and most importantly, had a keen eye.

The painting above is one of my own and the subject of a previous post.
The piece below is an oil painting by Neil Plotkin, a good friend of mine and an excellent painter. I encourage you to view more of his work on his website: neilplotkin.com.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
July 18, 2006 9:16 PM

Several weeks ago I was fortunate to spend four uninterrupted days painting on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The results are posted here. Click on each thumbnail to see a larger image.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
May 5, 2006 6:19 PM

Recently I "discovered" this spot on the Long Island Sound up the road from my parent's home. The shifting tides expose rich green seaweed clinging to sunbleached rocks. The color effect this creates is amazing; material I could mine for many paintings.
All of which I will post here.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
April 27, 2006 6:36 PM

Yesterday I had the opportunity to sketch at the American Museum of Natural History. Here is the result. Click the link and explore the diorama this was sketched from online.

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Posted by: kerry (55 posts)
March 17, 2006 1:15 PM

This small painting is actually a study for a much larger painting that will be placed next to the front door of my brother's home in Holderness, NH. The final painting will be 31"x45". This study is 11"x15". Ordinarily I do all of my painting in oil: the initial drawing or rub out, the underpainting and then the final glazes. In this case I am doing the underpainting in acrylic and will finish with oil glazes on top. What we are looking at here is the acrylic underpainting of the study. My next step will be to grid out both panels and transfer everything to the larger panel. When that is done I will go into the study with oils and then repeat (sans mistakes) on the larger panel.

Once the oil has dried on the study I will make another post and show the results. I am hoping to have the large panel painted and in NH by early summer. Till then click on the study to see a larger image.

I needed the large panel to be a specific size and be as sturdy as possible so I special ordered it from Prospect Heights's own, Simon Liu Inc. Fine Painting Supports. The panel was not cheap but the expense was worth it. Simon Liu produces incredibly high quaility painting supports and my panel is no exception. Simon Liu also has a well stocked art supply store in the back of his workshop. If you are in the neighborhood stop by.