Barnstable Harbor, Brays Farm

I just got back from dropping a painting off at the Cape Cod Art Association (member's show) and I took the scenic way home. First I stopped at the Barnstable Harbor but went on the backside of it (which is really beautiful) and saw an Osprey in it's nest.
This is the close up. Then it was on to Wharf Road in Yarmouthport.
Yes, this is the front of my car- it was only about 43 degrees so I really didn't feel like getting out. Anyway, if you look straight ahead there is a spit of land. (click on for a larger view)

That is Sandy Neck in Sandwich and you can see the lighthouse probably the closest from this area.

Then I took a little side trip over to Bray Farm in Dennis. It seems kind of funny to have a farm right on a marsh, and to be able to see the bay in the distance, but it sure is a beautiful spot.

Looks like spring is here!Have a happy day.

:)

My very first motorcycle

I found out that some of my older photo cd's won't work anymore- in fact a couple of them make my computer crash, so in a desperate attempt to save the rest ,I spent the weekend copying the others that still work. My photo's are pretty much my memory so you can imagine how devastated I am that they are just (poof) gone.
Anyway, while going through them I found this photo of me taking my sis for a ride on my very first motorcycle (Honda XL 25oR on/off road). I was 18 and she was 14. I used to have so much fun riding my on/off road bikes; I'd be riding along and if I saw a dirt road I'd just veer off and go exploring. The only thing I don't miss about these bikes (and I eventually had 4 of them) is the kick starting. (sometimes they'd kick my back!) I'll take my electric start any day.
Nice helmets huh? lol

Purple Irises

2.5"x3.5"

I thought I'd throw on something purple today (on my blog that is). Sometimes I just get the feeling I need certain colors. Purple is supposed to be a very spiritual color.

Today I was driving by Sienna's middle school and there was a police car blocking anyone from entering, with it's lights flashing, so I looked up the drive at the building and there were police, fire trucks, ambulances etc....apparently there was a gas leak and they had to evacuate everyone. Well, come to find out (when Sienna got home and told me all about it) it was in HER classroom that it was leaking from. And...both her and another boy lit a match to start their gas burners (it was science). Yikes. I'm just feeling very lucky to have my little girl come home alive today.
I'm also glad that I don't let my kids leave the house without knowing that I love them.

Perfect Wave

18"x 24 x 1.5"" Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas (www.brydenart.com)

I finished my latest wave painting. When I look at it I feel happy. I think it's the colors. They are just happy colors and I planned it that way. The reference photo was taken at Nauset Beach in Orleans and the water was a bit greener- dark green that is, and cold looking. I like to have the ability to play God and warm up the water whenever I can. :)

1851 Levasseur Planishere

1851 Levasseur Planisphere

Today I worked on (hand colored) a couple of antique Levasseur maps (this was one of them) for a dealer in Dallas Texas. It was a good day to be inside because it was actually snowing out again! It didn't accumulate, but it was cold and really windy. I know how cold it was because I had to work with my window open for a few hours. BRRRRRR!!! They were replacing my oil tank and the fumes all seeped into my studio. It was pretty nasty. And I try to be so careful of not breathing car fumes and cigarette smoke and here my house is filled with toxic fumes that I had no control over. Yuck.
Anyway....they are pretty much gone now and maybe I can concentrate on some real work now, or..... I can just call it a night and go relax with my kids- maybe snuggle on the couch, make some popcorn with M&M's and watch American Idol.
Hope you are having a good night!
ps. Welcome http://alphainventions.com/

Off the Wall Sale at Cape Cod Art Association

This was a little 4"x6" (not a good photo) painting I donated for the "Off the Wall" exhibit at the Cape Cod Art Association. It's a pretty neat little fundraiser they have each year now. This is how it works. The walls are packed with 4x6 paintings - with no frames and no signatures, and all for the same price of $60, so no one really knows who the artist is until they buy the piece of art. They may get one that is 'worth' a lot more than the price they paid if it's from a well known artist. The sale started at 4pm a couple of weekends ago. I got there at 4:05 (just to check it out) and the place was mobbed! People were buying paintings left and right. Mine went pretty quickly (which was nice to see), and almost half were sold before I left at 4:30! There was some really great art there and if I had a extra $60 kicking around I would have bought one too.

On a personal note: I finally got the yard raked yesterday!! Well 3/4 of it, and my arms actually still ache today. I had to take some Tylenol to sleep last night they throbbed so badly. I guess I don't exercise my arms a whole lot, but I'll tell you- having aching arms is NOT good for painting! (especially when I need to do the fine, precise coloring of maps -which I need to do right now). Wish me luck!

Payne's Creek painting

14"x18"x 1.5" Paynes Creek in Brewster http://www.brydenart.com/

I know it's not even close to summer yet, but I couldn't resist painting this one. I love how the ripples of sand caught the evening light and the marsh grass just glowed (in my eyes anyway). Paynes Creek in Brewster is a very beautiful salt water creek that comes in off the Cape Cod Bay. When the tide is out you can walk across it, and toddlers play in it, but when the tide is in it gets pretty deep and people fish off the little jetty there. There are lots of crabs and shells to look out for when walking in it, but the water is so clear you can generally see the bottom - at least at this end of the creek where it meets the bay. See the mast in the background of this photo? It's the same mast of the boat I painted. I love this photo of the boys walking across. I think one day I'll have to paint it too.

Beach Bucket

I think this one's just about finished. Time to put it on the website. (www.brydenart.com)

(Not quite done yet)

Sometimes I like to photograph my paintings half way through so I can work out the bugs. If I see the painting as a photograph (on my computer), sometimes I can see the composition better, or the colors, or just the over all feeling. Another trick I use to work things out is using a mirror. I have a big mirror at my desk-not so I can look at myself all day, but it serves 2 purposes: #1, it's better Fung Shui because I have windows behind me, and #2, I hold my paintings up to it so I can see them backwards. In other words, I'm looking at them in a totally different way and it screws up my brain enough to be able to see them in a fresh new way. Other than that, I take my paintings to bed with me. Ok, that sounded weird but, when it's time for bed they come in my room and I place them all around my room so I can see them first thing in the morning. I will do this for about a week before I think I'm really done with a piece of art.

On another note, I took a drive to East Dennis this morning after dropping off Brielle at work. I was going over the bridge on Bridge Street and I saw a muskrat swimming in the marsh river below!
I didn't quite get a photo of him...but here's the river anyway. Everything is so brown. It's that time of year when you just can't wait for the first signs of spring. It's even quiet on the tourist front, but that's just the (nice) calm before the storm.

Perfect Spot

I worked on a large wave painting today. It's about half done so I won't post a photo until it's finished. I just found the photo of this painting (8x10) which I did a while ago. I really love it. I think it is a place that I'd like to have a picnic and then maybe go for a swim. Wanna come? I'll bring the....water. (see paragraph below)

I just read something that I really liked. It was about drinking more water (which I try to do) and when you do it, think of the water as "liquid love"; nourishing all your cells with love as you drink it.
I really liked that thought. I'm going to go with it.
In case you can't tell I'm starting to think of the upcoming swimsuit season. Ugh.

Shells

ACEO (2.5"x3.5")

Just a quicky before I forget:

Here's a link from one of my customers about ACEO's. So if you don't know what they are, or what to do with them this is a good point of reference.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4808983_collect-miniature-art-aceo.html

It's supposed to be really nice outside today.....but it's still early and only 40degrees. I haven't gotten my youngest off to school yet. Maybe I'll actually get some work done today, or maybe I'll just play hookie and go for a ride on my motorcycle. I love that I can do that and then work at night. Sometimes (I feel) it's more important to enjoy the day, because then I come back full of life and inspired to create a masterpiece. Life is pretty darn good and I'm excited to have another chance at creating wonderful things today. I hope you are happy and excited about today too. Have a wonderful day!

Saint Patricks Day

Happy Saint Patricks Day! I don't have green on, but I am standing in front of a green plant. Does that count? (I'm not Irish- I'm a mutt -part Portuguese, Swedish, German and American of course).
ACEO 2.5"x3.5"

Sparkles on the water. What can I say? I'm attracted to them and I keep trying to work out how to capture them in paint. They mesmerize me as if I were gazing into

a sea filled with diamonds. (And aren't diamonds a girls best friend?)

Italy and fountains

2.5"x3.5"
Here I go with the paintings of Italy- a place where I've never been but always seem to want to paint. I can almost feel the warm sunshine and the different type of (dry mountain) air than they have there. (not like the moist sea air here on the Cape). I feel like I've already been there- and I probably have in another life.

When I think of Italy I also think of beautiful fountains. The sound of the flowing water...the old cement they are made out of.... the curves....I painted this little one so the birds could enjoy my fountain too. (2.5"x3.5")
I just had a little flash back to that artist (I can't think of his name right now...) in the 70-80's with the big fro, and he had a painting show on tv. I used to watch him a lot even though I wasn't an artist back then, but I always loved it when he'd put a little squirrel in his painting over here, and a happy little tree over there. He was so sweet and kind, he really made an impression on me. Oh what the heck was his name. That's going to bug me all day now!

Filming on the Cape

Yesterday we were leisurely driving around Welfleet, Truro and Ptown and at an ocean side beach we came upon this scene. We wondered what had happened and why everyone was looking down over the cliff, then we realized that they were filming a movie! I have no idea which one and I didn't see any major movie stars but it was kind of neat anyway.

These people were standing next to us watching. You can see the camera person near the van. It was supposed to be some sort of crime scene I guess. This is the view looking down at an ocean beach in Truro (I'm not sure which one it was) but it's a LONG way down. And the strange thing is, they don't even put any rails or guards up on some of them so cars don't drive right off. We drove into Provincetown and walked the trail through Beech Forest which was absolutely beautiful. The weather was in the 40's too, so it was nice out. (Most of the ice was melted). It was a beautiful day and I got some nice reference photo's.

Then I when I got home I realized I had a flood in my basement. So I had to deal with that. Fun fun. Luckily it only ruined a few old rugs. The rugs actually contained the water so it didn't spread to the rest of the basement but trying to get wet rugs out of the basement was no easy task.

Today is another day and it's almost 50 degrees out! The sun is shining and everything is new and fresh. (Ok, I'm trying not to dwell on the negative in case you couldn't tell). I'm going to have a great day and I hope you are too.

:)

Squirrels

Looking out my window yesterday I saw this cute little squirrel just standing there on 2 legs looking at me. Then he'd hop a little and stand back up and look at me. He must have done it 5 times in a 10 foot stretch.
Is he not the cutest thing you ever did see?!

This is conservation land in Harwich. There are beautiful cranberry bogs on both sides of this muddy road which goes to a pond and a river with a herring run (which ultimately goes out to the sea). There are trails you can walk on all around the area. It's really nice on a warm, dry day. It was a little muddy on this day so I didn't get out of my car, but I got some good cranberry bog reference photo's.

Oh, I did want to make note that yesterday I saw the first signs of spring here on the Cape! Yes, Crocuses (sp?) in my neighbors yard. He has a lovely garden and you can see everything sprouting in the spring because he keeps it so neat. I guess this means that I'm going to have to rake leaves so my flowers can come up now. (ugh- not looking forward to THAT!) But I do love to see them grow.

Round Cove in Chatham

www.BrydenArt.com
This is a painting I decided to re-do. It had potential, but it just didn't grab me, now it does. The sailboat is in Round cove (Chatham) with the golf course (I think it's called Eastward Ho) in the background. When I look at it now, I see a gentle morning light warming the peaceful summer's day. It looks like I am the only one to witness this beauty because it's so quiet. And there's just something about me and sparkles......they are like a little glimmer of heaven.

Chatham Fishing Boats

www.brydenart.com 14"x 18"x1.5"

This is my latest finished painting. You may recognize these fishing boats from Chatham Harbor. I love the name of the darker boat "Bad Boys", but then again don't they say most women are attracted to Bad Boys? lol


Well the weekend is over...it came and went in a hurry, now it's a rainy, gloomy, Monday and all my kids are off at school. The house feels uncomfortably cold and lonely. I'll have to go make myself some hot tea and settle down to painting then the world will start to glow again.

Cape Cod Charm

"Cape Cod Charm" is what I'm going to call my upcoming show at Mayflower Place, and this painting will be on the postcards being sent out. I just finished this painting and I'm very happy with it. I had done a smaller version of it (5x7) but this one is 9"x 12" and has a lot more detail than the smaller one. This house is in Chatham right near the golf course, and it looks just like this in the summer- I didn't make up any of it! How gorgeous.
I think since that's the new name of my show I'm going to have to concentrate my painting efforts on doing more cottages, roses and arbors etc...That shouldn't be too hard, I'm really getting into them lately.

Wasn't I just talking about the Coyote's on Cape Cod? (Here's the Law of Attraction at work) Well, yesterday around 4pm this beautiful, healthy looking Coyote came out of my back yard (which is a lot of woods) and proceeded to walk over to my neighbors yard and pee on their bushes (they have a dog, so I think it was leaving it's calling card)

This is their house in proximity to mine. I'm hoping this isn't his 'usual' route. He didn't look big enough to be a threat to my 13 year old, but to any cats or small dogs that may be out an about...He/She was beautiful to see though. I always feel honored to be able to see wild creatures in my yard, or anywhere for that matter.

Oh, just want to say hey to anyone who found my blog from alphainventions.com/ . Thanks for stopping in, hope you come back real soon now, ya'hear? (Ok, I don't really have a southern accent)

Moonlight Over Cape Cod

For some strange reason I decided I wanted to paint some night scenes. Maybe because I had this beautiful blue mat board awaiting some fresh paint. I always find it a fun challenge to paint on colored board.

This one is of Fort Hill in Eastham, one of my favorite spots to look out over the beautiful landscape of hills and marshlands, dunes and sea.

Here's a little red row boat waiting ...It looks like a warm summer night and it would be fun to untie the boat and sneak it out in the pond for a little ride in the moonlight. The oars are in it of course.(Oh, I have such an imagination!)

This one reminds me of wonderful evenings spent on the beach at night with my kids, watching the full moon rise.

And I threw in Sandy Neck Lighthouse...just because I felt like painting it!

(These are all on Ebay right now:

http://stores.ebay.com/Cape-Cod-Artist )

Yanni

Here it is March 1st and it's snowing again. In fact, we are supposed to get more tonight, then even more tomorrow! Unbelievable.

Right now I'm watching Yanni in concert in Acapulco. Even though I was flipping through channels and I didn't think I would want to watch it for too long, I was hooked. What an amazing show. I wish I could see him live. The musicians are so good and so entertaining. I love Yanni's music anyway, in fact I paint quite often while listening to it so you could say some of my paintings are products of his music. Anyway, if you get a chance to see the show (it's on Rhode Island PBS) it's worth watching if you like Yanni music. What a talent!