Doorways on Marlborough St

Marlborough Street 18

The doorways in the Back Bay of Boston shine with style and finesse all year long, but in late summer the flowers are peaking and the frontages are especially pretty.   For capturing city scenes in paint, I gravitate to Marlborough Street because it is quieter than Boylston or Commonwealth, which are just as grand.   Even the less manicured frontages have the elegance of mid-1800 architecture.

Festive Windowboxes

Little House and Snowy Greens

Every year as Christmas approaches, I work on at least one holiday painting. This year, one became four paintings as they were fun to create

The plan was to give the gallery a related grouping during the run up to Christmas.   Window boxes decorated for the holidays became the theme.   This idea came to me as I start thinking about how to decorate my own real window boxes.  The options are endless and I hope my real window box has as much color.

Red Ribbon Window Box

And speaking of color, the palette knife was useful for laying on the thick masses of cascading greens and flowers.  It was also good for creating rustic clapboards with a bit of scraping and multi-layering.

'Tis the Season!

Window Box Splash

Ornaments and Pink Ribbon

Christmas Carol and Red Ribbon

Christmas Carol and Red Ribbon

All the Christmas decorations are up and over the years, like many people, we have added to our collection.   I selected a few favorite items and combined them on the still life shelf in my studio.   This still life features some "rustic" pieces (a basket, greens, pine cones, berries and a book.) 

In our house, "A Christmas Carol" is a favorite, both book and movie (George C. Scott version :)).  That is why this was the volume featured in this Christmas still life. 

See Starry Snowman (previous post) blog for the photo of my studio still life shelf with two still life set ups, one of which is this featured piece.

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Paige Street View

Paige Street - Stage One

A quaint old Hingham neighborhood called "Crow Point" is situated just 10 miles south of Boston and can boast both ocean and bay views - even a distant view of the Boston skyline.     Modern builders could benefit from studying the lines and grace of many of these old houses.  Cupolas, gazebos and ornate weathervanes made each home a little different and more interesting than the next.   I likes the hints of (just enough) age and stress that give them character.   The "too pristine" look of "new development" wouldn't fit in well here.    Many large. centuries old shade trees accented the pretty but narrow streets.



Paige Street

One of my favorite homes was at the end of Paige Street.   I could only guess how many old fireplaces may have been serviced by that big old brick chimney.    The multiple, elegant rounded bows and white window trim picked up the warm light nicely.     I painted the scene somewhat realistically, although if you look closely, the pinks and yellows in the asphalt are certainly prettier than the real thing!