Just getting around to posting this small (6x8") oil on wood panel painting titled, "Lovers". This is one of the paintings I finished for the Kennedy Gallery show and is currently hanging there. The image started from photos I took in Winthrop, Mass (where I grew up) not far from where my mother currently lives near the public boat launch. I've flipped it, adjusted shapes, pushed and pulled compositional elements until I was satisfied with a design that supported this little concept. The darkest darks - lightest lights and the hardest edges are on the boat in the foreground. This is to control the journey of the viewers eye throughout this picture..it begins on that boat and eventually makes it's way to those gulls in the background. The lovers. This is achieved by placement of shapes and softening the edges on the gulls...your eye will go first to harder edges and greater contrasting areas (ie: the boat). As a narrative, you first see the empty and worn surfaces of this quiet and perhaps contemplative boat. Your eye then horse-shoes clockwise to the boat reflection - mooring - land shape - and then to the gulls. It happens in a second. It doesn't matter that the viewer recognizes all this tom-foolery....for me, on the other hand...it keeps me interested when I try to achieve something with another layer beyond picture making. Great fun for me.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Lovers
Just getting around to posting this small (6x8") oil on wood panel painting titled, "Lovers". This is one of the paintings I finished for the Kennedy Gallery show and is currently hanging there. The image started from photos I took in Winthrop, Mass (where I grew up) not far from where my mother currently lives near the public boat launch. I've flipped it, adjusted shapes, pushed and pulled compositional elements until I was satisfied with a design that supported this little concept. The darkest darks - lightest lights and the hardest edges are on the boat in the foreground. This is to control the journey of the viewers eye throughout this picture..it begins on that boat and eventually makes it's way to those gulls in the background. The lovers. This is achieved by placement of shapes and softening the edges on the gulls...your eye will go first to harder edges and greater contrasting areas (ie: the boat). As a narrative, you first see the empty and worn surfaces of this quiet and perhaps contemplative boat. Your eye then horse-shoes clockwise to the boat reflection - mooring - land shape - and then to the gulls. It happens in a second. It doesn't matter that the viewer recognizes all this tom-foolery....for me, on the other hand...it keeps me interested when I try to achieve something with another layer beyond picture making. Great fun for me.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Kennedy Gallery Opening
I was thrilled to see two of my favorite seacoast painters come to my opening last night at the Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Pictured above are Stan Moeller and Mary Byrom.
Thank you Wendy, Terri and Lyn from Kennedy Gallery for all your hard work and doing a beautiful job designing the show, you are awesome.
This is part of my Bonita crew (above) after the show at the Portsmouth Brewery. (From Left: Sister Kara licking my hand, Mom, Me, Bobby in the yellow shirt; he was the model for my "Smitty" painting..and my sisters boyfriend Scott. 
Add for the show from Fosters (click to see larger). It was such a good time, I'm still floating...nice to take a breather after three solo shows in six months. The next show will be the first weekend in December at the Button factory in Portsmouth for the annual open studios. All the best,
Todd Bonita
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Thinking Back
This is one of the oil paintings I have framed and already hanging at The Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH for the opening this coming Friday evening. Here are the details:
Todd Bonita
"Possessed by the Sea" New Oil Paintings.
Kennedy Gallery
Portsmouth, NH
Opening reception
Friday, August 06, 2010
5-8pm
The Kennedy Gallery
41 Market street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Hope to see you there.
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