Coming Up Green

A plein air painter living in New England, looks forward to the change of seasons. It’s been a rainy winter here with not much snow, and so I’m ready for spring to arrive. Spring means ‘green’ and it appears that 2024 is really coming up green for us.

As we turn the corner into March, I have more golf commissions I am now working on. I love painting the variety of greens that defines a good golf hole. I’m back to producing more large paintings of the No. 2 course at Pinehurst Resort and I think it’s a most unique and special place. The golfing legend, Jack Nicklaus, was quoted as saying about Pinehurst, “If I had one golf course, from a design standpoint, one that I really love, it would probably be Pinehurst. There’s a tree-lined golf course where trees are not a part of the strategy.” Herein lies part of the magic and sense of place of Pinehurst. The trees may not be a part of strategy for the golfer, but they are an integral part of the beauty and elegance in the design of this Donald Ross masterpiece. The pines showcase each hole and are breathtaking to see and to paint.

 In late April, Pam and I will host an online weekend workshop ‘Painting Greens’. This abundant color found in nature confuses a lot of painters, but this workshop will concentrate on how to approach mixing a variety of greens in a simple and sensible way. This workshop has changed a lot of my students approach to landscape painting and the improvement and harmony in their greens is instantly noticeable. If you can’t attend this online workshop but want to better understand this subject, ‘Painting Greens’ is also a self-paced mini workshop on my website. The instructor-led version is sure to get all your questions answered and give you feedback on your efforts as you go. The timing of this workshop will have you fully prepared for painting spring and summer greens before they pop.

Speaking of a variety of greens, in September we are traveling to Ireland. Come take advantage of painting for a full week in this amazing location with daily painting demonstrations and instruction! We will all stay in the tiny, enchanting and picturesque village of Ballyvaughan where time slows down and everything feels just right…like putting on a pair of cozy slippers. Ballyvaughan overlooks Galway Bay and we’ll be taking you to some amazing places to paint nearby. It’s known as being one of the most fascinating places in Ireland and Europe. 

 I read that in the realm of poetry, green often serves as a powerful source of inspiration, evoking emotions, imagery, and symbolism. The color green, with its association with nature, growth, and vitality, has captivated the minds of poets for centuries. The same can be said about landscape painters. Since it’s my sincere intention to be a poet with a paintbrush, and with everything starting to come up green, I’m ready to be inspired! 

 Warm Regards, 

David & Pam

Folinsbee Considered

30 SECONDS IN THE STUDIO

Folinsbee Considered

Sometime in 2022 I acquired a book about the life and work of John Fulton Folinsbee. “Jack” Folinsbee was an American landscape, marine and portrait painter, and a member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known for his paintings of the factories, quarries, and canals along the Delaware River, but he also spent a great deal of time in Maine and bought a farmhouse between Bath and Wiscasset in 1949. At this point, he embarked on a new aspect of his career as a marine painter. 

The book “Folinsbee Considered”is the most comprehensive look into the fascinating life and work of this great painter. I’ve been familiar with Folinsbee for a long time now, but this winter I picked the book back up in earnest and dove in headfirst. 

This publication has led me to explore in more detail, the work of many of his contemporaries; like Jonas Lie (Lee) Harry Leith Ross, Fern Coppedge, and Robert Spencer to name a few. I knew of all these painters, but now I am digging in a little more and seeing how they may have influenced each other in their work, particularly how Jonas Lie, Robert Spencer and Harry Leith Ross inspired and influenced Folinsbee a great deal. That said, “Jack” Folinsbee was indeed his own person and made it a lifetime journey to explore and find his own voice in American Art. He is truly genius. 

In our weekly critique classes ‘David Lussier’s Art Circle,’ I guide the weekly painting challenges, given as assignments to the groups at the end of each class, around both what the group will specifically benefit from, based on what is being turned in, and around the exploration of paintings by other past greats that we look at each week in class.  

We have been digging into Folinsbee a great deal. It is a wonderful way to be able to learn and be inspired. By exploring and taking it all into careful consideration, everyone is growing leaps and bounds in these group classes. For Pam and me it is both rewarding and challenging to be steering the ship constantly into uncharted territory. The energy, camaraderie, and work within these Art Circle Groups is nothing short of amazing. 

For me personally, I find that by challenging myself daily, much like I do with my students, I am forever in a state of flux and learning, and I am never just standing still. Hopefully, that is evident and seen in my work. It is paramount to a fulfilled life, to be always striving to learn more, and to make painting a lifetime exploration towards finding your own unique voice. 

 Warm Regards, 

 David & Pam

John F Folinsbee Catalogue Raisonné

Visiting Old Friends

We’ve been pretty busy visiting old friends during the pandemic.

Pam and I have visited a plethora of art museums and galleries online, since March of last year. When you really dig in and explore the painting images of past greats, you really do feel like you’re visiting with old friends. Each week, we search online for paintings by a variety of masters, to share the work with the group of artists who make up David Lussier’s Art Circle. Not only do we search and find images of great paintings, but we search websites to find large file images that allow us to zoom in and really see the work up close and personal.

It’s akin to standing a foot away from a painting in a museum and practically putting your nose to within an inch or two from the canvas. We do this in order to see the artists brushwork and paint quality. We’ve gotten called on this a few times over the years by security guards just doing their job. The act of being able to do this online is an absolute pleasure and you can study the work for as long as you like.

The list of great paintings that we’ve looked at and discussed is a long one. It’s inspiring to see how painters used their skills to compose their paintings, used color and made their marks in paint. It never gets old and you can learn a lot. Recently we looked at the Monterey Museum of Art and the paintings of E Charlton Fortune. An American Impressionist from California, She was well traveled, studied in Europe, New York and San Francisco and was very prolific. Fortune died in Carmel California in 1969. Her compositions are amazing and busy, but fantastically designed. Her brushwork and use of paint in general is exciting to look at.

There are numerous museums who are offering large file images online, of work that is considered public domain and there are many galleries who give the viewer the opportunity to enlarge and zoom in on some painting images. It’s fun to have a look!

Warm Regards,
David & Pam