TODD BONITA'S ART BLOG

Shanty

2012-01-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

This is "Shanty", oil on wood panel (11x14"). This started as a class demo a year ago and sat in my studio pleading for its completion. I'm beginning to be surrounded by almost finished paintings...can't help it...I get to a certain point and something new and exciting gets my attention. I need to get better at completing things that I started before I begin something new...at least find a better balance. There is some good in starting new things when your energy and art spirit is soaring. This painting is going to be on the walls of the Gallery at Camden Falls in Camden, Maine. I hope 2012 is good to you so far.

Reach for the Sky

2011-12-29T19:03:00.001-08:00

"Reach for the sky pardna"...That might have been a slightly better title...who knows?...great fun painting this toy cow poke though. This is another antique toy painting I did exclusively for the Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, Mass and now their new location in Mount Dora, Florida.

Thank you

2011-12-17T07:40:00.001-08:00

Just a note to say thank you for coming out to the Button factory artist studio event and for your support throughout the year, it was another great one. I'm sincerely grateful for your patronage, support of the arts and encouragement. I'm excited about 2012 and anticipate another fun and creative year. There are three gallery shows already scheduled; Gingerbread Square gallery in Key West in March, Bowersock Gallery, Provincetown this summer, Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, Maine in September. I'm also looking forward to my 4 day outdoor painting workshop on Monhegan island in August and a number of other events I'll disclose as the year progresses. My sincerest thanks to you all. Merry Christmas and happy holidays,
Todd Bonita

Thanks to Jeff Dachowski from Dachowski Photography in Manchester, NH for these incredible shots of our little ones, Max and Kate. He knocked it out of the park. Best photographer on the planet. See Jeffs blog here: Dachowski Blog

Button Factory Artist Open Studios Dec 02-04, 2012

2011-12-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

It's that time again, open studios at the Button factory in Portsmouth, NH. Friday, Dec 02 from 5-8, Sat and Sun from 11-5. Each year we open our art studio doors for this annual holiday event. Please come by and see, meet and look, it's a wonderful event and I get some Christmas shopping done here too. There are jewelers, wood workers, sculptors, photographers, painters and crafters of all sorts. I'm in studio #224, second floor, take a left, I'm the last studio at the end. I have wine, beer and cream soda and whats left of my oil paintings for 2011. It's been my best year yet, thank you, come have a drink with me and say hello if you are in the neighborhood. Click on this link for more: BUTTON FACTORY OPEN STUDIOS

Rocket Racer and the very fabulous Bowersock Gallery.

2011-11-17T07:52:00.001-08:00

This is "Rocket Racer", it's oil on wood panel (16x20") and is part of the toy series I have been painting for Bowersock gallery in Provincetown, Mass. This will be hanging in the Bowersock Gallery booth at the 15th annual Boston International Fine Art show opening in Boston today. I want to say thank you to Steve and Mike from the Bowersock gallery, these guys work so hard for their artist. The fact that they invest in this booth every year is testimony of their efforts to be one of the premier New England galleries. They also took out a small advertisement this month in Art Collector magazine with one of my paintings in the ad. Thanks again guys. They also put together a nice article as part of a feature of my toy paintings in this months American Art collector.

Flying without wings

2011-10-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

This is an (11x14") oil on wood panel painting that I titled "Flying without Wings". It is another from the vintage toy series that I have been painting for the Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown and their new location in Mount Dora, Florida.

Monhegan Island, Maine painting workshop

2011-09-20T19:59:00.000-07:00

Painting the surf at Lobster Cove on Monhegan Island.

This was two weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to assembling photos and posting a bunch from my recent workshop on Monhegan Island in Maine.
Monhegan Harbor and Dock

On the Tuesday after labor day, September 06, a group of painters gathered here on the Island for a four day painting workshop, I'm still floating from how much fun it was.
Here are some of the misfits, hooligans, crackpots and characters who helped make this one of the best weeks I ever had. That's Barb Bodin with the pink socks, Patty Bonita is behind her (my Mom), Rockport painter Jean Byrd, Me and standing is pack mule Roy Nickerson.
Surf at lobster Cove was quite a show thanks to hurricane Katia.

The Red house, Fish beach and Manana Island...
Pat Nickerson's Thalo Blue period...She even managed to get some on her feet.
Adirondack's in front of the Island Inn, overlooking the harbor and Atlantic.
Lighthouse with Dory
Pat and her husband Roy hosted a pasta dinner the first evening to meet, greet and eat. She rented a cottage on Fish beach overlooking the harbor and Manana Island.

Fish beach.
Color theory chat at lunch time on Pats porch.
Jamie Wyeth's house on Lobster Cove
Sunset.

Demo painting at the lighthouse.

The Village.

Barbara Bodin en plein air.

Patty (my Mom) and me at Port Clyde harbor before heading home. I will be hosting another workshop next year on Monhegan Island. The dates are tentative but in all likelihood will be August 28 - 31, 2012. Please contact me via email or phone for early registration. Check my web sight for updated information www.toddbonita.com.

5x7" Thumbox (Most portable plein air system ever!!!)

2011-09-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

I love painting outdoors and am aware of the problems related to lugging heavy painting equipment into the field. For this reason, I have long searched for the most portable system I could find and for me, the Judson 5x7" Thumb Box seems to fit that profile.
Here above is all I need to get out and paint small 5x7" oil studies in the field.

(A) Toiletry travel bag I bought at Target for $13 bucks, it holds the thumb box and supplies.

(B) Miniature portable travel stool about $15...I saw these at the dollar store for $5.

(3) Targus Mini camera Tripod I got at Target for about $12.
Here above you can see everything I need can easily be held in one hand and is extremely light.
There are many travel toiletry kits out there, I took my thumb box into Target and test drove a few to see if it fit...plenty of room for the box and supplies.
Here above are the contents of the travel bag...

(A) Toiletry travel bag has pockets and zippers and even a hanger if needed

(B) 5x7" Judson Thumb Box about $60 - $80 (Click this link to their web sight)

There is also a You Tube video of Carl Judson using it that may be helpful...they call it the pocket box.

(C) Two 5x7" masonite panels that I gessoed 4 times. The box will hold an additional two panels so I can hit the field with as many as 4...nice!

(D) Ten tubes of paint..there is room for a few more but this is fine for the field, some might say too many. All you really need is three primaries and white so you could go super light.

(E) Small bottle of liquin.

(F) Pallet cup

(G) Small clips come in handy

(H) Rolled up paper towels. I use the blue shop towels because they don't leave little lint balls behind. I roll up about a dozen or so and they fit nicely.

(I) Palette knife
The box is constructed well, opens simply and is super light weight.

(A) I've never seen a smaller box and frankly I don't think I'd be interested in painting smaller than 5x7" in the field...if you wanted to though, they offer a 4x6" adjustable panel holder that will slide into the box and enable you to work on a 4x6" with no problem.

(B) Unsnap, turn the black knob and it opens, tighten the knob and it will hold the lid open in place. I keep a gessoed, 5x7" panel ready and waiting for me inside.

(C) I got my box with the pallet extension which unfolds to give me a little more paint mixing room and will also hold brushes in those little drilled holes.

(D) The palette slides open to reveal some storage room for my brushes and extra supplies..not a lot of room but with the toiletry bag, I find there is plenty of storage.

Contents of the 5x7" Thumb box ...(or Pocket box)

(A) Thumb Box in open position, you can see the thumb hole inside.

(B) Palette slides in and out

(D) Small handled brushes, some cut short to fit and a few travel brushes I bought on Ebay.

(E) The Ruby Beholder. This is a value finder and is the best kept painting secret ever! It's a quilters tool used to help desaturate color and enable you to see shapes as values. More on that below.

(F) Mighty Might jr. brush washer from Judson Plein air outfitters. This is the smallest turpentine brush washer I've ever seen and it fits perfectly in the box and holds enough turps for these little paintings. I use Gamsol instead of Turps btw. (Click here go to go to Judsons) They also have a video of Carl Judson using it.

(G) Miniature pliers to open paint tubes. I found this at the register at Lowes for $2 and thought, "Hey, that would fit in my little paint box"..."Viola" More on that below.
The hole in the box is how these little boxes got their name. You can simply paint while holding it standing or on your lap if you wanted. In the 1800's artist would modify cigar boxes, cut out little thumb holes and use them like this. Judsons has simply modernized the crude construction of the past and made it more painter friendly.
This is that small piece of wood that I cut and modified to slide into the box and serve as a palette extension...you can see it in place below.
With my modified piece of wood in place I've added a little more mixing space for my paints.
With the palettes in place, the mixing area is more than doubled..the brush holder will hold five brushes. I find as a righty, my hand sometimes bumps into them when painting on the right side of the canvas..I can remove two and it's fine.
Here I have cut the handle of a long handled brush to modify it to fit into the box for portability.
Here above I have two portable travel brushes that I bought on Ebay for about $8. I love them and often return to Ebay to get a few more from time to time. If anyone knows of a resource to get these please shoot me an email or leave it in the comments. (A) Closed position which preserves the integrity of the brush hairs. (B) They slide out easily with a light tug. (C) Ready to paint.
Here above is that plier do-hickey that I bought at the hardware store...they were in a featured bin at the register...$2...I had to get one. They are very portable as you can see and perfect for opening paint tubes.
Insert photo of my hands opening the paint tube with pliers above...(I actually set up the tripod and set the timer on the camera and posed for this action photo)...why is that funny to me now?
Best kept secret in America! I know thats dramatic but so is the name of this little wonder: "Ruby Beholder". This is a neat little tool to help you determine values. Easy to use. Hold it up to your composition and it takes the color out of everything so all you see is a red field of values. I paid about $8 online and another $8 for shipping. If anyone knows of a cheaper resource for this small red piece of plastic let me know or leave it in the comments. I will add that I first bought a sheet of plastic, the kind at Staples that is typically used for page dividers in notebooks...it's not quite the same, you can somewhat see the values but the there was a hazy vail that obstructed details. The Ruby Beholder is definitely the way to go. I got mine on Amazon...(Click here)
Landscape sans Ruby beholder...
Look at that baby work her magic..."Behold!!!...I give you the Ruby Beholder in action".
Underneath the box, pictured above, I ordered the tripod attachment accessory. This enables you to attach a camera tripod to the box. It was an additional $14 but I prefer to work with my pochade box on a tripod so I can be hands free.
It easily screws in to just about any camera tripod. The small Targus brand tripod here I bought at Target and it extends to three feet and four inches. I have a larger tripod if I want to stand but I really enjoy doing the smaller studies sitting down. I'm aware of the benefits of standing and moving back to see the whole breadth of your composition but with a 5x7" canvas I can do the cool guy lean back and see everything perfectly fine.
Here it is all set up in my garage...I can be ready to paint in less than two minutes.

Find a shady spot, keeping in mind to keep direct sun light off your canvas and mixing area. For me, this little box is more for those times when I want to enjoy myself a little more and get comfortable. Because of the scale of the tools I find the whole experience more intimate than using larger equipment. It's the polar opposite of say the French easel or the Gloucester easel where it's about large canvas, large brushes, big hardy strokes, standing and backing up...This for me as a professional painter is my day-off kit. This is not Stapleton Kearns easel...This is my relax, sit and enjoy and take comfort in the portability of a kit that can literally go anywhere with little effort. I keep this in my car at all times so I'm ready to paint whenever and wherever the spirit moves me.
Look how nuts I look in this little chair...it's ridiculous..forget everything I said about the chair...my left leg went numb in a half hour and my back got stiff...that could have more to do with turning 43. In all honesty the chair is fine for two hours of painting, I do use it but will sometimes prefer to sit on a rock...or broken glass or rusty nails...Just being silly, seriously, it's perfectly fine and portable..I do look nuts though.

If you would like to look nuts with me and some of my outdoor painting students, please feel free to join us out doors on the New Hampshire sea coast every Tuesday from 9:00 - 12:00 from March through November. This is the best time of year to be outdoors. See my web sight to find out where we will be so you can join us. We paint in a different location every month. I demonstrate and discuss landscape painting and principles of art and picture making. it's great fun and all are welcome to use and test drive my supplies. It's a great way to sample before you buy. I have many outdoor outfits I keep in the back of my truck. Here is a link to my web sight so you can see more info about our plein air painting class: Plein Air Painting. Please also feel free to call. Happy Painting.

Todd

Zoom.

2011-09-12T14:02:00.001-07:00

Here is another (11x14") oil on wood panel toy painting that I completed exclusively for Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, Mass. This one is titled, "Zoom".

Robert Crawford September 11, 2001

2011-09-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

A small sketch of Robert Crawford to remember the victims of September 11, 2001. I did not know Robert, I learned that he was a New York Firefighter for 32 years and was 62 years old at the time of his missing status on 911. He was from Brooklyn, NY. His daughter wrote on a memorial sight regarding her father: "To describe my father as great, that's not even a good enough word," Mrs. Eppolito said. "I was lucky for him to be my father. There is no other man that, in my eyes, could stand up to him."

Speed Demon

2011-08-17T18:39:00.001-07:00

This is another toy car oil painting, I titled it, "Speed Demon", it's (11x14") and is painted on a wood panel. This was part of my July show in Provincetown, Mass at The Bowersock gallery.

Kennedy Gallery Opening Friday, August 5, (5-8pm)

2011-08-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a (30x30") oil on canvas mounted on wood painting titled, "Survivor" that will be featured at the Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH as part of my exhibition of new oil paintings with an opening reception this Friday, August 5 from 5-8pm. Please feel free to come and join us for the opening. It will be fun with lots of art, friends, some wine and treats.

here is the skinny:

Opening Reception for new oil paintings by Todd Bonita, '"Depth and Reflection".

Friday, August 05, 2011 (5 - 8pm)

Kennedy Gallery

41 Market Street

Portsmouth, NH

(Kennedy Gallery represents my oil paintings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and works will available all month and throughout the year. For more info you can go to their web sight at: www.Kennedygalleryandframing.com

Olf Friend

2011-07-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

This is another (11x14") oil on wood painting from my antique toy series that are currently showing at The Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, Mass on Cape Cod.

Bowersock Gallery show in Provincetown, Mass

2011-07-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

This (11x14") oil on wood painting is titled, "ABC Towing" and is one of the featured pieces in a two person show starting tomorrow, July 15, 2011 at the Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, Mass on the very tip of Cape Cod. Opening reception will be from 7 to 9 pm. Also in the show will be a talented painter who is also from the New Hampshire seacoast, Darlou Gams. I became a huge fan of Darlous work when I first moved to the seacoast back in 2004, she does these soft and beautifully colored mysterious landscape paintings that for me evoke the work of Innes. I'm pleased to be showing with her at the Bowersock Gallery and I'm really looking forward to the opening Friday evening.

As excited as I am for the show tomorrow, my thoughts are with my brother Chris who is currently in third place in the main event at the World Series of Poker at the Rio in Las Vegas. First place wins 8.7 million..c'mon bro, mama needs a house, a Dunky's Coffee and a pack of cigarettes.

I was so excited when I found out he moved into third place I got pulled over for speeding...true story...heres my warning below. Go Chrissy-Vegas!!!

Painting retreat

2011-06-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

(Chris Volpe, me, Beaman Cole and Alistair Dacey. Concord Pond, Woodstock, Maine)

This past weekend I had the good fortune to pack up my painting gear and head up to Concord pond in Woodstock, Maine with some artist friends for few days of painting and tomfoolery. We rented a small rustic cabin on the water with no electricity, it had cold running water and an outhouse...off-the-grid...picture perfect and serene.
(Chris Volpe painting on Concord Pond).

We painted by day and at night we sat around the fire pit and talked about art, sipping Taliskers single malt scotch and puffing Arturo Fuente cigars...it was so manly, I could almost feel my chest hairs growing that very evening.

(Beaman Cole Canoeing on Concord Pond).

There was a small island a short canoe ride away that was ideal for a painting excursion. Beaman brought homemade bread, Cinnamon rolls and Blueberry pie. We ate like kings...maybe too much but it was great fun.

(Chris Volpe channeling Jimmy Page)

Chris Volpes Guitar, Alistairs Tortillas, Khona coffee in the morning...some of the simple extras that made this just about as perfect a weekend as your going to get.

Good times my brothers...good times.

Sognatore (Dreamer)

2011-05-18T09:56:00.001-07:00

There she is, the little dreamer. I've loved this little DaVinci drawing since I first saw it as an art student back in the early 90's. Leonardo really owned that ambiguous gaze thing (Mona Lisa). The wonderful mystery executed with that smokey atmosphere he pioneered (chiaro scuro) have haunted my dreams for years.

I completed this little (8x6") oil painting on wood panel I titled "Sagnatore" (Italian for dreamer) for the coming Bowersock Gallery show in Provincetown, Mass in mid July. I'll post about that as the date gets closer. Anyhoot, I share my art studio with a book binder and she has all these wonderful old books with old, yellowed and stained parchment...beautiful surfaces and textures...instant nostalgia. Grouped with an old key I bought at an antique shop, it is an homage to all things wonderfully venerable.

New Season

2011-05-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

I finished this small (6x8") oil panting on wood panel and titled it, "New Saeson". I've got a bunch of paintings almost finished in the studio...I picked up this habit of working on a batches of paintings, which is cool but the pile of unfinished works is beginning to give me anxieties. I need to think about finishing some more of these before starting something else.

The Sketcher

2011-04-06T10:51:00.000-07:00

I finished this (8x10") oil painting I titled, "The Sketcher". This is a completely new direction for me and I'm having some fun with it. This is a painting of a pencil resting on a piece of age-soiled parchment with a sketch of the head of a women. The idea is that the artist left his pencil on the parchment after the sketch. For me, it's a nod toward the art of drawing and the drawing student. The image of the womens head is referenced from a Drawing instruction book by Charles Bargue.

Plein air painting from my hot rod...

2011-03-22T20:12:00.001-07:00

I went to New Castle Commons on the New Hampshire sea coast to do some plein air painting of the ocean today...and by plein air, I mean I wimped out and painted on my lap in the front seat of my hot rod...and by hot rod, I mean my 2005, grey Chevy Equinox tripped out with two baby seats in the back...Nice! Above is my Guerilla pochade box with a 6x8 wood panel...I'm laying in the big shapes as you can see...some ocean and sky. I'm using a simplified pallet, from left to right: Titanium white, Cad Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Cad red, Aliz Crimson, Ultra Blue, Cobalt, Viridian, Burnt Sienna and Ivory black...there is a little Liquin in my pallet cup there too. At this point above, I'm only painting with a rag wrapped around my finger and rubbing in color. Brushes come later.
This is my default painting location, there is simply so much to paint by the ocean and these Commons have two light houses, a beach, craggy rocks and distant headlands...
I took these photos from my new Iphone...if you are familiar with Iphone technology and you happen to be an outdoor painter, you may interested to know that I used a cool App for plein air painters called the Digital View catcher, a compositional view finder for artist.

The small portable pochade box makes painting eazy-peazy. It stores 15 tubes of paint, liquin, pallet cup and even my small brush washer in the storage compartment below...it holds two wet panels and also has a tripod attachment on the bottom. Its perfect for painting a quick study just about anywhere.

If you would like to join me outdoors for plein air painting, I am teaching classes every Tuesday from 1:00 - 4:00, you are welcome to drop in for a session or sign up for a half dozen, I hope you can join us on a coming Tuesday afternoon. We are out there from March through December. We meet from 1:00 to 4:00 at different locations around the New Hampshire sea coast (and sometimes southern Maine). We discuss outdoor painting techniques, materials and artistic principles. Classes are demo and critique based and appropriate for beginners to pros. For more info including weekly painting locations or materials list, see my web sight or click this link: Todd Bonita Plein air painting.

Or call me at (603) 819-9100

Cherries

2011-03-21T19:30:00.001-07:00

There are stacks of almost finished paintings in my studio and it gave me a little anxiety when I reported for duty this morning. In the interest of completing something, I grabbed the smallest work-in-progress I could find and started painting. I finished "Cherries" by lunch time and almost finished another small painting by the end of the day. Perhaps tomorrow I will close the door on another if I can simply resist the temptation to start something new. I think I would be better off if I could harness some discipline in this area. Anyhoot, I have a really nice little gold frame I'm going to put this in and send it off to Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown.

Plein air painting opening day in New Castle, NH

2011-03-15T17:02:00.001-07:00

This is Sheila, smiling and shielding herself from the wind on opening day of my Tuesday Plein air painting classes. 45 degrees, sunny and windy but we managed to enjoy ourselves like giddy kids in a candy store. Today was about jumping in and committing to being better painters. We simplified our pallets to six colors plus white (a warm and cool of the three primaries). We looked at the landscape and tried to simplify it into abstract puzzle shapes of value and color within a picture plain. In the interest of finding a balance between academics and expression, we jumped in with brushes, pallet knives and squinting eyes and frankly had a genuine blast. I hope you can join us on a coming Tuesday afternoon.

Plein air painting classes are every Tuesday from March through December. We meet from 1:00 to 4:00 at different locations around the New Hampshire sea coast (and sometimes southern Maine). We discuss outdoor painting techniques, materials and artistic principles. Classes are demo and critique based and appropriate for beginners to pros. For more info including weekly painting locations or materials list, see my web sight or click this link: Todd Bonita Plein air painting.
Or call me at (603) 819-9100

Gingerbread Square Gallery, Key West, FL

2011-03-07T08:14:00.001-08:00

I'm thrilled to report that I have developed a new relationship with Key West, Floridas Oldest gallery, THE GINGERBREAD SQUARE GALLERY on Duval street. They have been in business for 37 years and represent some top name artist like Anne Packard from Cape Cod, Mike Palmer, Sal Salinero amongst others. They have invited me to be part of an exhibition that opens this evening with an opening reception from 5:30 to 8:30. If you are in the area tonight or anytime in the future, please come and see some very rich art work in a very classy gallery.

Key #7

2011-02-19T06:50:00.000-08:00

Just finished this small (8x6") oil painting brilliantly titled, "Key #7". This is my kind of title. To be honest, I did labor a little and try to come up with something clever but eventually I came to the conclusion that the painting is simply a study of an old vintage key on some weathered and beaten wood..it's about textures, design and the simple subject. Viola!
This will be sent to the Bowersock Gallery on cape Cod as part of a series of small still life paintngs I'm currently working on.

Harmony

2011-02-02T18:29:00.001-08:00

Feels good to put the finishing touches on a studio piece, this is "Harmony" (8x10") oil on wood panel. I will be sending this to the Bowersock Gallery on Cape Cod as part of a series of small still life paintings I'm working on for them. I am working on a bunch of these paintings as a group and will post them when I finish.

Great Bay, Greenland, NH plein air painting.

2011-01-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

I met up with Mary Byrom this afternoon to do some plein air painting by the Great Bay estuary in Greenland, NH. We set up by a snow mobile trail in 20 degree temps and pretended the wind didn't bother us as best we could. To tell you the truth, once we got rolling, there was no complaining and the whole expreience was really pleasant. I love painting gear like a kid loves goobers in a candy shop so I was excited to see what Mary would be using. In a flash, she was up and running with her tripod mounted 8x10" cigar box pochade by Judson...nice! I had pochade envy if I'm being honest.
This is my new set-up, only my second outing with my Jullian half-box easel (I did make some modifications for this out-of-box-wonky gear). I bought it used on Craigslist for 90 clams and I love it. Minutes before we left today, the post man delivered my brand new "French Companion" folding palette box that you see here resting like a shelf...lots of room..it's like a studio out doors. I'm in love with my French companion and that aint the Champagne talkin..Ou la-la.

...Here is my landscape painting in progress just before I put in my dark tree accents to make her pop.

We were able to get in over two-and-a-half hours of painting time before the setting sun began changing dramatically. To see Mary's very good post with some striking landscape pictures click her blog posting here > Mary Byroms Blog .

If you would like to join me for plein air painting, Tuesday afternoon Plein air painting classes begin this coming March. I will paint outdoors every Tuesday from March thru December (rain or shine). This is an ongoing, outdoor class and all levels are welcome, you can drop in anytime but please call to reserve a space. I have daily equipment rentals if you want to try it and see if it's for you. Please feel free to contact me for further info or if you wish to sign up for a class or a six week session (recommended). I can be reached by email at tmbonita@gmail.com or by phone at (603) 819-9100. You can CLICK HERE to go to my web sight link for more information. I hope we can paint together this season.

Let the games begin...

2011-01-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Happy new year. I officially reported for duty after a three week vacation spent with my family and my new baby girl Kate. I'm excited to start the new painting season and jumped right in by heading outside to the Urban Forestry Center in Portsmouth, NH to do some winter Plein air painting. It was actually more comfortable than it may appear..as long as you have toasty boots on and dress warm you really should be all set. It's nice to be back.

My second masterpiece

2010-12-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Kate Wyeth Bonita. Born Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7:57 am. 8 pounds. 22.5".

I can't take all the credit as this was a collaborative masterpiece created with my wife Alison.

Kate is the companion piece to my first masterpiece, titled, "Max David Bonita".

Monhegan Island Plein air painting workshop

2010-12-10T09:37:00.001-08:00

I'm taking reservations for next years Monhegan Island, Maine plein air painting workshop which will take place September 6 - 9. We will spend four days, totally immersed, painting outdoors around the village, small coves and craggy coast of this Island art colony. This is a relaxed workshop, open to all levels. Cost is $300.

If you would like to sign up or if you would like to purchase a Gift Certificate for someone, I would be happy to mail one to you in time for Christmas. You can contact me by email at tmbonita@gmail.com or by phone at (603) 819-9100.

For more extensive information, which includes supply list, Island accomodations, etc...please see the listing on my web sight under classes...you can click here: Monhegan Island workshop with Todd Bonita

You can also go to my web sight and click on "Classes" too.

Button Factory Open Studios (December 4-5, from 11-5pm)

2010-11-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

The annual Button factory open studios is happening this coming weekend and I will be opening my doors for the fourth year for this event. My studio is #224, please come by and say hello, I will have beer, wine, cream soda and treats....and oh yeah, plenty of original artwork. This is a fun time as over 70 artist open their doors for this once a year event. Here are the details:

Button Factory Open Studios

December 3, 4, and 5th (Fri, Sat and Sun)

855 Islington Street

Portsmouth, NH

Friday evening: 5-8pm

Saturday: 11-5pm

Sunday: 11-5pm

Here is a link to the Button Factory web sight...I hope to see you there. All the best,

Todd Bonita

Bowersock Gallery, Provincetown, Mass.

2010-11-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled to announce my new relationship with The Bowersock Gallery in Provincetown, Mass, they will be representing my still life oil paintings in the coming 2011 season. I couldn't be happier as they have been on my radar since 2006. I've had their gallery postcard tacked to my bulletin board for three years and have sent them my work on two occasions since 2006. They are extremely professional, believe in their artist, appear to have a clear mission and vision for their approach to the market and they invest in the promotion of their artist and themselves. This is evident by their advertising in national art magazines and involvement with things like leasing booth space at this weekends 14th annual Boston International Fine Art show. I'm honored to be affiliated with them.

Here (above) is the postcard for the Boston International Fine Art show this weekend. Steve Bowersock included my "Toy blue car" painting on the postcard...thats my buddy Chris Volpes painting on the lower right. They've got a great bunch of talent in that gallery, I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of it and excited for 2011.

"Tin Blue Car" (Oil on wood)

Breathe

2010-11-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I finished this small gallery painting (6x8") that I have been tickling in the studio...I titled it "Breathe". To me, this old working craft is taking a breather before that tide creeps in. It started out as a plein air painting and then evolved into a class demonstration where I showed how to turn your out door studies into a more thought out studio painting.

Little Red Boat

2010-10-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

I did this small little painting (5x7") as a mental exercise in simplicity. I love the idea of "K.I.S.S."...."Keep it simple stupid". I pretty much base my design theory on it as most of my studio paintings are about a singular, simple subject existing in a subordinate space. I borrowed the premis from Ken Beck, my first painting instructor at the Art Institute of Boston almost twenty years ago. He once asked our class to paint a bunch of bananas and then at critique time he suggested we focus or crop in closer to get at the essence of the subject and to make a more interesting design. He stressed the importance of squinting to simplify the big shapes and asked us to step back so we could see our composition on canvas from across the room...ideally, it should pop from across the room. Ken paints huge, pallet knife paintings, usually a singular subject and they pop from across the state line..they are strong works of art and stand out in a room full of paintings.
Ken Beck with some of his art.

Sea Shack

2010-09-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

I just finished this small oil painting on wood panel and titled it, "Sea shack" (6x8"). This is a painting I completed from referencing my plein air (outdoor) study of this salt box shack in Chatham, Mass on Cape Cod not long ago. (see below) Seeing them side-by-side makes me appreciate the characteristics and finishes that each version possesses. I like the freshness, looseness and sketchy-ness of the outdoor study (below) while at the same time, I like the amount of detail, textural variety and mood I put in the studio version (above). I get a different satisfaction from each, not to mention, the experience of making them had there own inherent but different joys.

I am currently instructing a Plein air painting class and a studio oil painting class on Tuesdays at the brush and Palett art center in North Hampton, NH. If you would like to join us outdoors to paint the New Hampshire seacoast landscape, or join our class to learn studio oil painting techniques, please email me privately at tmbonita@gmail.com or call me for more info or to reserve a spot. (603) 819-9100.
Here is a link to my workshops: Todd Bonita workshops
Here is a link to the brush and Palett: Brush and Palett

Portsmouth Herald feature

2010-09-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

This is from yesterdays Portsmouth Herald, how incredibly thoughtful. Thank you Jeanne. (click on image for larger version)

Lt. Raymond Murphy (9-11-2001)

2010-09-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch I did today of Lt. Raymond Murphy. He was a New York city firefighter and a hero who died while saving lives on 9/11/2001. I did not know him but thought it might be a respectful way to pay tribute to him today. Here is a link to a web sight that was set up by his family as a way to remember him. Raymond Murphy Rest in peace and thank you Raymond.

This photo epitomizes firefighters everywhere. It was taken September 11, 2001, after the collapse of the first tower and shortly before the collapse of the second tower. It shows Lt. Ray Murphy and Firefighter Rob Curatola of Ladder Co. 16 walking south on West Street towards the debris of the first collapse to resc ue survivors. They had just assisted in the removal of survivors, one of which was an injured Firefighter. Ray had instructed firefighter Rich Ratazzi, also of Ladder 16, to take the injured firefighter back to the ambulance staging area at Vescey and West Streets, and then to meet up again in the high-rise truck which is to Ray’s right in the photo. As Rich was leaving to care for the injured firefighter, he took a quick photo with a disposable camera many firefighters carry. Shortly after this photo was taken, a general evacuation of the area was called and Ray and Rob were caught in the destruction of the collapse of the North Tower. Rich did not realize until the next day that he had captured such a meaningful photo. Rob Curatola’s body was found on September 12, he had been married just (3) weeks. Ray’s body was returned to us on October 1, 2001. The photo which brings great solace to our family, shows the professionalism, courage, and determination of firefighters everywhere, who have the ability to remain calm and focused in the midst of such chaos! May God Bless You All!

The Family of Lt. Ray Murphy

Plein air painting (Chatham, Mass)

2010-09-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

This is from my recent plein air painting trip to Chatham, Mass on Cape Cod.

I found this cool little salt box shack near Chatham harbor and started my lay-in.
I'm using the 9x12" Open box M pochade mounted to a tripod and working in oils on an 8x10" wood panel prepared with gesso. In this above photo, I am washing in the local color very loosely with a paper towel and without any drawing. I'm just looking for a loose representation of the big mass shapes, values and colors.
Here above, I am taking my time to measure and draw with paint. I've changed a few things in my composition, like taking out that un-sightly "No Trespassing sign". I felt it was stopping the veiwer from entering the picture plane.
I kept the foliage pretty simple and used it to silhouette the shack. This is about two hours. At the time of this posting, I am almost finished turning this plein air painting into a finished studio painting. I will post that in a few days.

I am teaching a plein air painting class here on the New hampshire seacoast starting next week. It will run on Tuesday afternoons from 1-4pm beginning September 14th. If you would like to join us outdoors painting the New Hampshire sea coast during the most beautiful time of year, please shoot me an email or call me to reserve a space. (603) 819-9100. Here is a link to the workshop details: TODD BONITA PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP

Lovers

2010-08-16T16:40:00.000-07:00

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.

Kennedy Gallery Opening

2010-08-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

Thinking Back

2010-08-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Portsmouth Tugs

2010-07-13T13:50:00.001-07:00

I just finished this (11x14") oil on wood panel painting I'm titling, "Portsmouth Tugs". I used photo reference from an amazing photographer friend, John Winslow. He does everything; landscape, animals, people and architecture. I hope to reference more of his photos in the future. As a painting, I exaggerated the atmospheric perspective between the tugs to give a deeper feeling of space between them. I did this using sharper value contrast, sharper edges and more saturated color on the tug in the foreground..I wanted it to pop in front of the second and third tugs.
This painting will be part of a solo exhibition I am having at The Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Friday, August 6, with an opening reception from 5-9p. This is my first mention of it on my blog. I will send out my email notice and postcards to follow. If you are not on my email notice list and you would like to be, please drop me an email at tmbonita@gmail.com and I will be happy to include you. I send out notices about twice a month including events and new paintings as I finish them.
I have a lot of small paintings that will be hanging in this show. they are currently in my studio in various stages of completion...please check back, I will post them as I finish them.
(Been busy painting for this upcoming show but I still intend to post my notes and more photos from the Don Demers workshop I recently took on Cape Cod).

Don Demers workshop on Cape Cod.

2010-06-28T20:25:00.001-07:00

Today was the first of a three day plein air painting work shop with legendary landscape artist Don Demers. I plan on posting extensively about the entire experience and sharing my notes and images here on this blog. Sitting here with my laptop I'm realizing that there is so much information and I have so many images and notes to share after day one, that I am going to space out the information over the course of the week. He did two demos today, each with a different technique and goal. I'm going to post about the first one today.

In the morning we met at the Creative Arts center in Chatham. There were 14 painters, including myself. Most were from the Cape and after painting and chatting with them, found that all were very capable and some were professional with gallery representation. Most had already studied with Don before..this was my frist time meeting him. He's a really nice guy and I'm not just saying that. He's very down to earth, smart, witty and very passionate about making art. After a brief synopsis of what to expect for the day we all met at Round Cove landing in Harwitch. (click on any of the images to see them larger).

Don set up for his demo using an Open box M plein air set up mounted on a camera tripod. It was mostly sunny with high humidity and heat expected to reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit with strong winds. Not perfect but far better than rain. Here are my notes: (I will expand them as best I can but forgive me, it's very late and I need to rest to do it all again tomorrow). Dons plan for this first demo was to help us clarify our thoughts and simplify the subject matter before us on canvas. He started with a thumbnail sketch of the composition using a soft pencil on paper.

His thumbnail sketch, shown above, was only a few inches but proportionate to the size and shape of his canvas. He squints his eyes to better understand the value structure of the composition and then assigns those values in his thumbnail drawing. He's not interested in detail at this point. he's looking for abstract shapes and organizing them in an artistic manner. He's not seeing boats, he's seeing abstract shapes. He's not staying exactly true to whats before him, rather, he may make a shape larger or smaller, longer or shorter...whatever he feels would make the composition serve or support his initial intent. This thumbnail drawing will serve as reference and he will stay true to it as the painting progresses and the sun and shadows move and change.

Dons palette is made up of various oil painting brands, he's not committed to any one specifically but said he was getting rid of his Rembrandts. He likes Utrecht. He talked about historical palettes of former artist and stressed not to get to caught up in all of that, palettes are no big deal. Keep them simple, at least two reds, two yellows and two blues. Don changes his palette with his paintings but mostly lives in the neutrals. His palette today was pretty typical for him. From lower left to right, going clockwise:
Alizeran Crimson, Cad Red medium, Cad Orange, Yellow Ochre, Cad Yellow light, Cad Yellow Medium, Viridian, Cobalt blue, Ultramarine Blue...those two earth colored worms at the bottom are Raw Sienna and his favorite Greenish Umber...He swore greenish umber will get landscape painters out of a lot of binds. No white yet!

Here was the scene before Don. He noted that he was attracted to it for it's close value range and smokey air atmosphere. He said that subjects with close value ranges are more moody and have more feeling.

He began by mixing a dark color and added liquin...Liquin is a quick-dry alkyd based medium. He then began drawing the shapes with a small bristle brush, taking care to stay true to his thumbnail and nature before him. For this demo he is working on the white of the canvas (No wash) he's using linen mounted on birch panel. While working, he quoted artist and recommended books. He recommended a Dover publications book titled "Composition" and quoted from it, "Don't seek beautiful objects to paint, instill beauty in the everyday arrangements"....or something like that. Is it too late to say that I am personally responsible for everything that I write here about Don Demers. If I misquote or misrepresent what he communicated in any way, I defer to baking in the sun all day.

When the painted drawing on the canvas was done, he switched to a larger brush and began washing in some of the dark shapes, again, staying true to the values he already established in the thumbnail drawing and trying to interlock pieces of the dark puzzle. He said that in art school, they told him to use the biggest brush to get the job done, but Don disagreed to the extent that it makes more sense to use the right brush for the job at hand. "I understand the concept of breadth with a large brush but it can lead to sloppiness...instead, use the right brush." He recommends using a variety of brushes; flats, rounds and his favorite and most versatile, the filbert brush. He was using bristle brushes but will also use synthetics to soften edges later if needed. He wants to cut down on his brush collection. He shared his thoughts as the painting developed: Areas of inactivity should be complimented by areas of activity. He cleaned his brushes with Gamsol (an odorless turpentine substitute)

Here he has quickly laid in the background foliage and simplified it as a color shape. This was key for me to see personally...I would have tended to fill that background landscape mass with more detail, darks and lights. Don laid it on, pow! He then had to make a critical decision about the sky and water color and value. They were similar but one had to be definitively different from the other in color and value...He made the sky darker.
As Don filled in the water, he switched to a bigger brush because he had more space to fill. He's trying to build connections with his color, making it warmer or cooler as needed. He prefers to work from the neutrals outwardly and noted that paintings can live in the neutral zone for almost the entire painting and then in the last five minutes can pop and come to life with the addition of chromatic colors or whatever color is necessary to do so. Again he mentioned the inherent moody feeling you get from using neutrals and similar value ranges. He compared it to the evocative and emotional response you get from black and white photography. He deliberately opted not to begin this with a transparent wash under painting because the smokey and moody atmosphere is better expressed with rich color. Don used a viewfinder to isolate and focus on a color relationship between the sky and where it met the distant landscape. As the painting progressed, the tide and landscape changed, this is where a landscape painter must stay committed to the original thumbnail or they will be chasing their tail.

This was a cool tool...a small metal rod that Don bent the end on and uses to help him paint straight lines.
"I'm not a formulaic painter...I'm more reactive to the subject, thats where the truth is".

Don started laying in thicker paint, gliding it across the canvas using the side of the brush sometimes. He went back into the tree shapes on the right and used a darker and cooler color, pushing, touching and dragging color. Using a very light color and a small brush he added small notes to the background looking to add to the spirit of the piece..small punctuations...this is where the art is...even thought he's a realist, he's thinking in abstract terms...looking, thinking, feeling, selecting....Artistic selection of the landscape.

Here is the finished painting. Click on it to see it larger...he added that mooring ball on the lower right and saw it as oriental in it's concept....a small, quiet shape surrounded by all this shape...it was almost like a musical sound..bing! He started the painting at 9:45am and finished an hour and twenty minutes later at 11:05. He asked us to find a spot and do an exercise-not a painting-but an exercise to find structure, organize our thoughts and image. I'll post my exercise manana.

Gallery 51 Opening, Meredith, NH

2010-06-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

There I am with the very lovely gallery owner of Gallery 51, Christine Hoedecker-George.
Good times! Zipped up to Meredith, NH on Lake Winnipesaukee last evening for the opening of my summer exhibition at Gallery 51 and it was really fun. It was my first time seeing the new place and I was charmed. Christine had moved the old gallery (Gallery at Mill Falls) up the street to a new location in a quaint little spot next to the historical society on Main street. We had wine and treats, met some new people, had some laughs...the official word is, "Life is good!". Christine, her husband Kevin and their friends were very cool to hang out with after ward and I'm looking forward to returning on Thursday for a long weekend vacation.

As soon as I'm done typing this, I'll be heading down to Cape Cod for a few days to paint with the legendary landscape artist Don Demers. He is hosting a workshop in Chatham and I plan on sucking up as much info from that mans cerebellum as I can process. I'm very excited about it and promised some of my painter friends that I would post extensively on the experience and Dons process, theory and technique. I'm staying with my old friend Rob from high school so there is an outside chance we may drink rum and cokes instead of me posting. Either way, I will do my best to continue my "Life is good" mantra.

All my best to you.
Todd

Gallery 51 Opening reception

2010-06-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight is the opening for my summer show titled, "Timeless Beauty" at Gallery 51 in Meredith, NH on Lake Winnipesaukee. The gallery represents my work all year, so if you can't make the opening tonight and you find yourself in the lakes region, please feel free to stop in and say hello to Christine Hoedecker-George. She's a painter as well as the gallery owner. Her work is reminiscent of Andrew Wyeth in my opinion, with a fresh and honest looseness that it is definitely her own. Above is the Laconia Citizen online article featuring the details about the gallery and my show. Click on it to see it larger or click this link: Gallery 51 Todd Bonita opening

Here are the details of the opening:

OPENING RECEPTION FOR
TODD BONITA
"TIMELESS BEAUTY"
at GALLERY 51
JUNE 26, 2010 5-7pm

Gallery 51
51 Main street
Meredith, NH
(603)279-3123

Hope to see you there.
All the best,
Todd

Random acts of wowness!!!

2010-06-10T10:35:00.001-07:00

Marilyn Graziano holding her Bonita reproduction
True story!...I met artist Chris Volpe yesterday for a "Painter Play date" plein air outing in New Castle, New Hampshire. When I arrived, I saw two artist painting by the ocean; Marilyn Graziano and Barbara L. Clark. I introduced myself and when Marilyn heard my name, she pulled out a postcard from her paintbox that had one of my oil paintings on it. I couldn't believe the coincidence! I was shocked!..but the plot thickened..she went off to her car and returned with a painting reproduction she had done of my oil painting titled "Sunday" from the postcard...I was at a genuine loss for words...Chris Volpe exclaimed, "Wow, dude, your famous!". I'm definitely not famous but I was genuinely touched, moved and flattered by this random act of wowness. For a few moments Marylin Graziano, a fellow paisan from East Boston made me feel really good about the work. Thank you Marilyn
(p.s. Marilyn, if you read this, please feel free to email me privately at tmbonita@gmail.com, we would love to get together and paint together sometime with Barbara and yourself).

The Lake (48x60")

2010-06-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

Finally finished the beast...this is the largest oil painting I've done to date at 48x60". I've painted some larger murals but the focus on this level of finish was much more intense for me. I really enjoyed the experience of this scale and I'm looking forward to doing another and maybe something obscenely larger in the future. That would be great fun. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I painted a smaller version (18x24") of this painting titled "The Lake", but always felt that shallow water in the foreground needed to be almost life size.

I ordered a frame for this and hope to have it in my studio by next week, then I'll carefully package it and ship it off to Gallery 51 in Meredith, NH for a solo show I'm having there at the end of the month. This will be my first official notice for the opening, here are the details:

Todd Bonita solo exhibition at
Gallery 51,
Saturday, June 26, (5-9pm)
51 Maine Street,
Meredith, NH 03253
(on Lake Winnipesaukee)

First Day of the rest of your life (24x36")

2010-05-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

I just finished this larger version (24x36") of an painting I did last year titled, "First day of the rest of your life". The original was an (8x10") oil on wood and I have wanted to do this larger version ever since. The numbers on the side of the boat are Max's birthday, January 11, 2007...this makes the title even more appropriate for me personally. This will be going to Gallery 51 in Meredith, NH for a solo show I'll be having there the last week of June. I'll do a few post on that with more details as it grows closer to show time.

Gonna need a bigger boat...

2010-04-16T06:40:00.001-07:00

This is a 48x60" I'm working on for an upcoming solo show at Gallery 51 in Meredith, NH on lake Winnipesaukee this summer. I have been thinking of painting a whopper for a while and this seemed to be a good opportunity. I painted an 18x24" version of this about two years ago. I really liked the way it came out and wanted to explore the shallow water in this on a larger scale. The 18x24" painting sold three days after exhibition so I never really had a honeymoon period with it. She's been on my mind ever since so it's time for a rebirth on a grander scale...Or as Brody put it in Jaws, "Gonna need a bigger boat".

Christopher Volpe, Painters play dates and the Swinging Maxes.

2010-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

The Swinging Maxes.

"I'm Max Tyler Volpe". That was my introduction to the three-year-old-swinging wipper-snapper pictured above on the left...The little guy on the right in the GAP shirt is my three year old son Max).

We met Max Volpe and his dad, the very talented painter, Christopher Volpe for a play date this week in New Castle, New Hampshire. Chris Volpe affectionately refers to them as "The Swinging Maxes" in his recent blog post about our getting together for what we hope will become a revolutionary concept, "Painters play dates". The idea is to get together with our sons and plein air easels and take on the great out doors together, having fun with the boys and painting the great New Hampshire landscape.

Christopher Volpe

In addition to being a hell of a painter, Chris is a gifted writer and teacher...I love the way he writes about our get together, his enthusiasm is genuine. Please read his blog post Christopher Volpe Blog

The Hauler

2010-04-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

This painting is titled, "The Hauler" and it's 24x30" oil on wood panel. It was one of the paintings featured at The Rockport Art Association show. The image is referenced with permission by an incredible photographer and videographer from Chatham, Mass named Christopher Seufert.

Keepers House (Monhegan Island, Maine)

2010-03-26T21:03:00.001-07:00

Busy, busy, busy...but who isn't these days? I finished this painting of the Keepers House on Monhegan Island, Maine. It's 10x20" oil on a wood panel. I made it specifically to hang above the fireplace in the Old Tavern gallery at my opening at the Rockport Art Association show this Sunday. I had originally planned for a painting twice this size and had a piece of wood cut to 20x40". Unfortunately, I found myself pressed for time and decided on this much more intimate sized painting. I think these dimensions are perfect for small landscape works. Great fun. This is my last post until the show on Sunday so here are the details one last time....I hope to see you there.

Todd Bonita solo art exhibition
Sunday, March 28 from 2-4pm at
The Rockport Art Association
12 Maine Street, Rockport, Mass

Look Ma...I'm wicked famous!

2010-03-20T17:56:00.000-07:00

Maaaa...check it out, I'm on the front page of the Transcript!
I live on the New Hampshire sea coast but I grew up in the small Boston suburb of Winthrop, Massachusetts. The local newspaper; The Winthrop Transcript, was kind enough to print an article about my upcoming show at the Rockport Art Association. My mother still lives in Winthrop and she really bought ten copies. Thank you Winthrop Transcript...I thought that was very cool. I still know a lot of people from my old hometown and I've received word that some people who read the article will be coming to the show. Awesome! I look forward to seeing you. This is all a great way to post another reminder for my art exhibition next week:

Todd Bonita One Man Show
at the Rockport Art Association
March 28 - April 09, 2010
Opening reception Sunday, March 28, 2-4pm.

At the Old Tavern
12 Main St
Rockport, Mass 01966

Hope to see you there.

Rockport Harbor

2010-03-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

I finished this painting yesterday in my studio, it's (16x20") oil on wood panel. I'm calling it "Rockport Harbor". I was going to title it "Motif #1 and #2" but that would have been a little hokey I think. This painting will be part of my one-man show at the Rockport Art Association at the end of the month. I will post the info again before the show but here it is for you now:

Todd Bonita One Man Show
at the Rockport Art Association
March 28 - April 09, 2010
Opening reception Sunday, March 28, 2-4pm.

At the Old Tavern
12 Main St
Rockport, Mass 01966

Please feel free to come to the reception, there will be wine, beer, food and a lot of characters. Hope to see you there.

Cove Lilly

2010-03-01T05:57:00.001-08:00

We have been without electricity for a few days here in New Hampshire after a wicked weekend wind storm. Read that last part again. Anyhoot, I finished this small 8x10" commission titled "Cove Lilly" a few weeks ago and I'm just getting around to posting it today. I think there is another painting in here somewhere, maybe in a crop of the Lilly pads. Hmmmm...
Busy, busy, busy working in my studio painting and getting ready for a solo exhibition in four weeks at the Rockport Art Association. The opening is Sunday, March 28th from 2 -4pm. Please feel free to come. I will be posting several more times about it before the show and I will include images of some of the paintings. There are so many that are in-progress right now..I really should focus on finishing some of them. I hope this finds you well.

The Clammer

2010-02-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

This is an oil painting I finished and framed and sent off to the Rockport Art Association Winter show. It's called "The Clammer" and is 11x14" on wood panel. The model is my buddy Johnny Hames again, he has a natural ability at this kind of thing. I've known him since we were just wee-one-little-snot-nosed kids. I know him very well...I mean his nuances and subtle little things that can come in handy when trying to capture something expressive in a painting. I don't think I could have caught some of the subtleness of character without knowing the model so well. It makes the painting of it that much more enjoyable too.

Baseball #3

2010-01-11T13:18:00.001-08:00

This is a small oil painting measuring (6x4") and is painted on wood panel. I did this for my son Max's third birthday today. I'm sure he would have preferred a painting of McQueen from the Cars movie but I'm hoping a day will come when he appreciates this. Happy Birthday Maxy.

Venerable Spirit (30x40")

2009-12-23T12:39:00.001-08:00

This is "The Venerable Spirit" (30x40") oil on wood panel. I did a smaller version (6x8") of this image a while back and have had a fondness for it..I wanted to do a larger version and finally got a chance to..viola! This boat was docked in Rockport harbor some years ago and has absolutely beautiful lines. As a design, the work was done for me, look at that swooping line on the left side of the boat..what a craft! The colorful reflection of the houses in the background keeps your eye from exiting the picture plane and keeps it moving around the composition.

Thank you all for checking in from time-to-time, I hope you'll be back..I'm very excited for 2010 as an artist. I have four shows scheduled so I will be very busy. Here is what is ahead in 2010:
Rockport Art Association, Rockport, Mass solo show March 28
The Gallery at Mill Falls, Meredith, NH, one man show June 25
The Kennedy Gallery, Portsmouth, NH solo show August 06
Button Factory Open studio, Portsmouth, NH December 05.

Happy Holidays to you all and happy New Year.
Todd Bonita

Thank you.

2009-12-07T14:09:00.001-08:00

Max, Alison and I at my Button Factory art studio
Thank you to friends and family and the hundreds of visitors who stopped by my art studio this weekend at the Button Factory open studio event. It was a huge success. I had some genuine belly laughs and met a lot of really cool new people from all over the country. I met a guy who recognized a boat in one of my paintings as belonging to his neighbor..he called him and told him, and in a short time I was shaking hands with the owner of the boat..Turns out his father-in-law built him that boat by hand..after a brief phone call I was soon introduced to an 89 year old boat builder named Charles who had made that boat with his own hands...how cool is that?! He invited me to his boat building workshop where I definitely plan to go and observe and in all likely hood do a painting of this man working his craft. It was wonderful.
Fifteen paintings found new homes and I will likely start relationships with two art gallery owners who welcomed my work this weekend. Thanks to you all.

Charles B. Darcy the boat builder who hand crafted the pea pod boat in my painting titled Newcastle Dory #1 shown on the wall behind him.

OPEN STUDIOS 2009

2009-11-27T13:37:00.001-08:00

I would like to invite you to my 2009 artist open studios event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on December 05 and 06 from 11 to 5p. This takes place at the Button Factory artist building at 855 Islington street...it's the 23rd year for the building and the fourth for me. This is our annual holiday event where we open our studio doors and invite you all in and includes over 70 artist...painters, photographers, sculptors, woodworkers, jewelers...and even a guy who makes wooden boats by hand. Lots of creative types and some unique holiday gifts. I am in studio #224..second floor, take a left and I'm all the way in the back...I share a studio with Lynn Crocker, the book binder. I'll have wine, beer, water and of course cream soda. My Mom usually bakes something nice too. Please feel free to stop by and say hello.

Here is a link to the Button factory web sight that includes directions and more info..hope to see you.

THE BUTTON FACTORY OPEN STUDIOS

Three Scalliwags

2009-11-24T05:52:00.001-08:00

I finished and framed this (16x20") oil painting I'm calling "Three Scalliwags". These dinghy's are moored in Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, Maine. The red one says "Ugly Anne" om it and belongs to a larger boat of the same name. This stuff is gold to me. I love the character and sense of humor that the fisherman who named it must have. There is an honest filth to it that I'm attracted to. I think my recent paintings have this thread of filth weaved into it..everything is a little banged up but still pretty sturdy. Chipped paint and worn surfaces..wonderful textures..good stuff.

This painting will be hanging at my annual open studio the first weekend in December at the Button Factory artist studios in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I'm in studio #224, please feel free to come by and say hello. I'll provide more details in a coming post.

I also want to thank the jury of the Rockport Art Association in Rockport, Massachusetts for welcoming me as an artist member. I'm honored to be part of the rich art culture of Cape Ann. A lot of my painting heroes have roots there and I'm looking forward to taking part in their exhibitions and activities. I currently have about a half dozen paintings on display there as part of the new Members exhibition in the upstairs gallery and a few smaller pieces in the Holiday small works show in the main gallery.

Hope this finds you all well.
regards,
Todd

Smitty

2009-11-11T05:19:00.000-08:00

This is an 18x24" oil painting on canvas I'm calling "Smitty". The oarsman is my brother Bobby Smith, (He took his stepfathers last name Smith) he was perfect for what I was looking for in this painting. Sort of a "Middle-aged man and the sea" concept. Sometimes I get these images and ideas in my head and they haunt me until I put them out there in paint. I've wanted to paint Bobby in this kind of image for a while and as a matter-of-fact, I consider this 18x24" canvas a teaser for a much larger canvas I have in mind for 2010. This filthy rogue still haunts my head.

The Oar House

2009-11-03T06:23:00.000-08:00

This is an (11x14") oil painting on wood panel that I am calling "The Oar House". The structure is an old shed near the school house on Monhegan Island. I put the oar and life preserver in the painting to help the composition and to support that nautical feel I was after. I also created and exaggerated a lot of the rust stains that are running down the door and clapboards. Rust has that burnt umber/orange hue that sometimes works to add interesting color and design to a painting.

Max 2

2009-10-26T06:19:00.001-07:00

This a small oil painting I did of Max from photo reference I took in the summer of 2008. I did the drawing last December and I just got around to finishing this for my wife as a gift for our tenth anniversary last week. Time really flies, particularly when you have a little wipper-snapper. What a joy watching my little rug-rat grow, I can't believe he'll be three in January.

Dirty Oar

2009-10-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is an (11x14")oil painting on wood panel that I'm calling "Dirty Oar". The model is one of my best friends, Johnny Hames. He was perfect for what I was after in this painting; A dirty, hard-working fisherman type. For me, I think it's helpful to know the model when you have something specific in mind. Johnny was perfect because he's so filthy and dirty...some may even use terms like scummy, disheveled or scuzzy-filth-bag. I did, however, have to struggle to create the painting in such a way as to not bring attention to the models enormous ear lobes..not to mention, his obscenely-colossal-mammoth-like nose. I think it would have detracted from the spirit of the piece. It's important to use artistic license when confronted with compositional decisions such as the ones presented here.

Patience (24x30")

2009-10-02T16:25:00.001-07:00

This is an oil painting on wood panel that I titled,"Patience". It's (24x30") and is a much larger version of a smaller (6x8") painting I did last year that you can see by clicking here
I love the scale of this new version...nice and airy and quietly commanding attention. At one time in art school I was told to, "Learn the rules so you can break them". I think this painting is an example of that. The subject is smack in the middle of the composition but ironically, that's what makes it work for me. I'm using symmetry to convey stillness in the design. This was integral to the mood and feel that I was after in this painting; contemplating the lost art of simple silence, stillness and patience.

Lines and Colors feature

2009-09-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm proud and grateful to be featured on Charley Parkers very popular art blog "LINES and COLORS". I've been reading it for several years and almost feel like "one of the cool kids" to be in the company of so many of my favorite artist. Check out Charley Parkers blog "Lines and Colors" here: LINES AND COLORS

Black and Blue

2009-09-22T16:07:00.001-07:00

While driving down the cape, I caught a momentary-peripheral glimpse of some boats in a small cove in Eastham. I knew I would return first thing in the morning to capture them with the rising sun. I returned just after five a.m. and discovered an artist gold mine. A dozen dinghy's all bathed in that rich Cape Cod light...A string of pearls out there on the cove..OK, ...a little dramatic but what happened next convinced me that my passion may be moving into the uncomfortable area of obsession.

After taking reference photos of the boat you see here in the painting "Black and Blue", I looked around...no one there but me...I climbed in the boat and rowed around to the other dinghy's fixated on the brilliance of the light, the boats and the tranquil calmness of the water. The hair on my neck was standing.

I returned the boat exactly like I found it. That's not me or my personality to steal a boat..(borrow!)...I was in a state of mania...it was wonderful.

Old Red

2009-09-14T16:54:00.001-07:00

This is "Old Red". It's 24x30" and is painted in oils on a linen canvas. It's a larger version of a painting I did a few years ago. You can see the older version here.

This painting represents my effort to achieve almost everything I'm after in picture making; simple design, singular focus of subject matter, a poetic use of color, texture and a full tonal range. I use these technical aspects to try and instill mood and character. I try to say something. 'Ol Red is a nod towards the leatherneck, craggy old sea salts who spend their rugged lives on rocky ships.. They are wise from the hard won knowledge of a life at sea. They smoke, drink, swear, tell dirty jokes and throw punches...their skin cracks when they laugh and sing. They are loyal to a fault...They are the old man and the sea...They are colorful New Englanders with nicknames like 'Ol Red. The chipped paint, the worn and weathered surfaces..it's all in there.

Christine Hanson 09-11-2001

2009-09-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

This is a small sketch I did of a two-and-a-half year old girl named Christine Hanson who perished aboard United Airlines flight 175 as it slammed into the Trade Centers south tower on September 11, 2001. She was from Groton, Massachusetts and at two-and-a-half she was the youngest of the 2,973 victims. Christine was traveling with her father Peter Hanson and mother Sue Hanson, they were on the way to California for a trip to Disneyland and to see relatives.

I didn't know Christine or her family but they will be in my thoughts and prayers today.

Watching the Sunrise

2009-09-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

This is "Watching the sunrise". I have an affection for this painting. For me, it's about the afterthought of watching the sunrise with those little birds and sharing a quiet moment with nature. For me, the act of watching light and observing how it falls on objects is at the heart of what picture making is about. The way light hits something is the first thing that stops me as a painter. It can sometimes make the hair on the back of your neck stand up...you know you've really got something. That's how I felt when I came across this boat and the way the rising sunlight was creeping up the back and side. The birds were not really there, I put them in as a device to share the experience with.

I use symmetry in my design to achieve a sense of stillness in some of my paintings. That's what's going on here with the boat and it's mirrored reflection. Everything is still; the boat, the birds, the water..the only movement is the implication of a rising sun outside of the picture plane.
This is oil on masonite, (10x20").

Morning Mist

2009-08-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

I love painting and I also love looking at other artist work. There is a photographer from Canada named Peter Bowers, who's work I find incredibly powerful, simple and poetic. His work, for me, represents our quiet and respectful reflections on nature. His imagery possesses a lot of the things I'm personally after in picture making. The oil painting above, "Morning Mist", was completed using some of Peters inspiring photos. It's (16x20") and I painted it in oils on a wood panel. ( A thousand thank you's Peter for your permission ).
Peter could very well have a completely different take on what his work means to him but one of the great things about art is the notion of walking into a museum or gallery and simply falling in love with a piece because it moves you for whatever reason. In my opinion it's not terribly important to even intellectualize it..it simply moves me. It's a curious thing.
Last week an amazing and courageous women named Robin recently sent me this touching letter about what my paintings mean to her, I'm completely moved by her thoughts:
Hi Todd,
Joan called me and I purchased Shallow Water. She is sending it off this week. Cant wait. Thanks for your thoughts on paintings. I have my own thoughts on my attachments to them and what they represent to me. When I bought that first painting I had just finished my 8th round of chemo at Dana. I have Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. I have a daughter who had just turned three when I started my treatments so I worked hard to get into remission. I had tremendous support all around me family, friends ,church family etc. But cancer is a lonely battle, God guides you through it but he is all that can help during that dark time. So the first painting represented kind of a tight relationship and also rich colors and darker water. The second painting was lighter water and a solo boat, maybe as I got better and felt better and less depressed I was able to manage a bit better on my own. And I had to start to be independent again. And that painting mirrored my feelings. Now Im two years out, im feeling so much more positive and happier and very thankful. The water is soft and light filled and the sun is shining! God got me through the deep water and to safe place. I love that sunlight in the newer paintings. Canoe has an exuberance and playfulness which is just beautiful and it has the rich colors but with lots of light.
So I didn't mean to wax on for so long, but you were so open with me about how you feel about your work- I thought maybe you would like to hear about the effect your work has on others. I am excited to see what the future holds for your work and evolution as an artist.
A true fan always
Robin

You make it all worth it Robin, thank you...and thank you for your permission to post your letter...I'm a true fan of yours always.
Sincerely.

Winnipesaukee Canoe

2009-08-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

This is "Winnipesaukee Canoe". It's 11x14" and painted in oils on a gessoed wood panel. My wife recently told me that "Winnipesaukee" is a native American term that means, "Beautiful water in a high place". We just got back from vacationing on lake Winnipesaukee and the translation is right on the money..We had a really nice vacation and I came home relaxed, inspired and ready to hammer out some new work. The opening was very special for me, my family and friends traveled from far-away places to come and see the show. I was sincerely touched by the support.

This canoe was painted with reference from Thompson Lake in Maine but it could be just about any New England lake in the summer. The mood of this piece for me is set by the transparency of that water in the foreground. It's that moment standing on the dock and simply taking it in..a day-dreamy moment, gazing into the shallows and drinking in the quiet and stillness of the surroundings. With this piece, as well as "Survivor", I have included more of the landscape in the composition.

Survivor

2009-08-03T07:46:00.001-07:00

"Survivor" (11x14") oil on wood.

This may be my last post before my gallery show opening reception this coming Friday, so I'll repeat the where and when here:

The Gallery at Mills Falls
312 Daniel Webster Highway
Meredith, NH 03253
(on Lake Winnipesaukee)
Contact Christine Hoedecker-George for inquires (hodecker@metrocast.net) or call the gallery at (603)279-3123
Opening reception for Todd Bonita new oil paintings "Boats" August 7, from 5-9p.

I've had a few emails asking if my work will be up after the show..just to be clear, the gallery represents my work so God willing, I should have some paintings on the wall throughout the year. Please feel free to stop in any time to have a look. It's a beautiful part of the lake, lots of shops, cafes and things to do and see. Alison, Max and I are making a vacation out of it and will be spending the week. Hope to see you there.

Lake Cove

2009-07-28T06:46:00.001-07:00

This is "Lake Cove" it's (18x24") oil on canvas. This is part of my one man show at "The Gallery at Mills Falls" in Meredith, NH on Lake Winnipesaukee. The show is in two weeks..Friday, August 7, from 5-9pm. I have thirteen new paintings in the show and a bunch of small studies as well. This should be fun as I have invited quite a few characters. Alison, Max and I are going to make a week vacation out of it. Please feel free to come to the opening and join us.

The Gallery at Mills Falls
312 Daniel Webster Highway
Meredith, NH 03253
(603) 279-3123
Click here for Mapquest directions

Foggy Cove Dory

2009-07-20T06:42:00.001-07:00

Here is one of the paintings I finished over the last month and a half getting ready for my show on lake Winnipesaukee. I've been busy painting and preparing for this show, which will be in three weeks (August 7th, from 5-9p) at The Gallery at Mills Falls in Meredith, NH. I have about fourteen new paintings for the show and maybe another eight small studies. I'll be posting them as I find time..I should really be in my studio right now but I miss posting regularly and wanted to post an update.

This is "Foggy Cove Dory" and is an 11x14" oil painted on a gessoed wood panel. This painting reminds me so much of the great state of Maine and the mysterious mood the coastal region has when the fog rolls in. This particular style of dory also reminds me of Maine. It's a classic fishing dory, the kind they used a hundred years ago to present. The design of this boat is simple and beautiful. I chose this specific angle to not only make the design of the painting work but to also show off the lines of this graceful and rugged vessel.
Thank you for looking..I'll try and post more from this show soon.
All the best.
Todd

Reflection

2009-06-10T15:54:00.001-07:00

I finished this painting about two weeks ago but have been busy as a bee getting ready for my first one-man show coming up the first week of August, I'll post about that soon. Anyhoot, I finally had a chance to scan and post this tonight. My wife came up with the name for this about ten minutes ago; "Reflection". I'm a fan of the one-word titles..I think this is well suited for this painting. This is 11x14" oil on wood panel. the boat is from a reference photo I took on Cape Cod about three years ago..I did a similar version of this painting in 2006 and it's neat to see how much my work has changed since then by comparing them. Click this link to see the original version I called "quiet time": http://painting-life.blogspot.com/2006/07/quiet-time.html

After I tightened the drawing I pretty much painted this off the cuff, making up most of what you see here in the finish. This will be in my one man show August 7th at The Gallery at Mills Falls in Meredith, NH on lake Winnapasaukee.

Dreamer

2009-05-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

Ask any artist and I'll bet they will admit to be notorious day-dreamers. I'm the worst when I'm driving on the highway. I miss exits all the time, it's really an issue..ask my wife, she'll tell you. I've not only missed my exit, but on several occasions I've continued on past several more exits before realizing I was in a deep day dream. It can be a major inconvenience but I love that peaceful state of mind. This painting is influenced by that blissful state of day dreaming..la-la-la...what? This is oil on wood panel. (8x6") and is currently available at The Art House gallery in Brewster, Mass on Cape Cod. Feel free to email me if interested in this piece.

Hope this finds you well..la-la-la...wha-who?

Shallow Water

2009-05-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

This is another 6x8" oil painting that I recently sent to The Art House Gallery in Brewster. This dinghy was moored in just a few feet of water in Provincetown. I liked how it appeared to be weightless on the water. it's (6x8") and is painted on a gessoed wood panel.

Sunday

2009-04-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

There is something about this painting that reminds me of a summer Sunday morning..clean and bright. This is a small 6x8" oil painting on wood panel that I sent to the Art House Gallery on Cape Cod.

Mourning Light

2009-04-21T15:02:00.001-07:00

This is one of five new oil paintings I just sent to the Art House gallery in Brewster, Mass on Cape Cod. This is "Mourning Light" (6x8") oil on wood panel.

Dock 31

2009-04-15T18:33:00.001-07:00

"Dock 31" (6x8") Oil on wood panel. This is one of a small series of paintings I'm working on for The Art House Gallery in Brewster, Mass. There are five 6x8" paintings in all.I'll post the rest soon. This one is "Dock 31"..simple as that. It's a cool looking boat with beautiful lines docked on dock #31 in Camden Maine harbor. To me, this is just a painting of a finely crafted vessel. Not different really than a still life painter who carefully chooses his subjects simply for the beauty he sees in them..or a figure painter who chooses a specific model or poses her in a particular manner because he admires the way the shapes, curves, lines and light create a unique design.

Scotty's Cove

2009-03-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

This painting was inspired by the small town legend of a man named Scotty and the cove that was named after him. The following story is true...but quite frankly I can't confirm it..but it's a good one anyway.
I grew up in the small sea side town of Winthrop, Massachusetts and in the 1990's I rented a small studio right across the street from the Atlantic ocean. My back yard butted against a small cove that overlooked the Boston skyline and the Winthrop, Yacht club. It was in this cove that I met one of my neighbors, a very funny sign painter named Rick. For a fee, he would carefully adhere the name of your boat on the stern with vinyl lettering. The day I met Rick he was shit-faced and telling filthy jokes. He handed me one of his business cards which included an itemized list of the services he provided: "Vinyl Lettering, Wood & Billboard Signs, Airbrush & Pinstriping | Auto, Truck, Boat, & Van, Banners, Auto Graphics, Wood Signs, Parquet floors and Belly Rolls". I didn't know what "Belly Rolls" were and when I asked him, he lifted his shirt and started rolling his belly. The guy was hilarious.
Because I lived on the cove I would see him from time to time, usually just a wave and sometimes a quick belly roll.

Rick was an alcoholic and he was going through a bitter divorce battle. It was soon followed by a bitter custody battle over his only son. He lost everything in the divorce, including custody of his son, Rick Jr. His drinking became worse and there were nights when the police had to break up domestic altercations on his ex-wife's lawn. A restraining order soon followed. His ex was so bitter over it all she threatened to legally change the name of their son Rick Jr. to spite his name-sake...eventually she actually went through with it. Her son's name was legally changed from Rick Jr. to Scotty. needless-to-say, Rick Sr. was pissed but there was nothing he could do in the courts, he no longer had custody. He had no say.

...Or did he?...Rick Sr. changed his name to Scotty too. Brilliant! His wife still lived on the cove with her son and to spite her he made it his mission to re-name the cove, "Scotty's Cove". To boat owners who were docked in the cove, he offered discounted vinyl lettering if they allowed him to add the words, "Scotty's Cove, Winthrop, Mass" on the stern. On the route 145 road signs that lead through Winthrop he added in small letters, "Scotty's Cove 1 mile". That's true. If you're ever in Winthrop on rt. 145, take a close look and you'll see the words..they're still there. Eventually boats all over town had "Scotty's Cove" written on them and it soon began to be known town-wide as Scotty's Cove. His Cou'de Gra came when "Scotty's Cove" found it's way on to an official Winthrop, Mass map.

Several years later, Scotty Sr. passed away in his lawn chair in his front yard on the 4th of July. Independence day.

David Baker (1941-2009)

2009-03-11T18:54:00.000-07:00

My Father-in-law passed away three days ago..I'm profoundly saddened, sick over it and simply still cannot believe it. He was a salt-of-the-earth goof-ball and I loved him and miss him already and can't believe I'll never see him again.

He had back pain just after the new year and an MRI revealed that he had a metastatic tumor that was spreading rapidly. My poor wife was the one who told him..how horrifying?! Less than eight weeks later he died in Exeter hospital surrounded by his family and friends. I just can't wrap my head around how quickly is all transpired..all of this.

Five of my favorite David Baker memories:

1) In 1998 I bought an engagement ring and decided I was going to ask Alison Baker to marry me just after the new year..and in the tradition of courtship, I was going to ask her father David for permission to marry his daughter. At that time I worked as a chainsaw sculptor, carving bears and eagles on Cape Cod, it was a very cool job. My plan was to trade one of my carved bears for his daughter. David had a great sense of humor and was a woodsman and I knew he would appreciate it. I snuck the bear into his basement and the exchange went something like this:
Me (standing next to the bear trying not to laugh): In the tradition of the pioneers who traded skins, furs and pelts for the Indian chiefs daughters, I would like to trade you this fine wooden bear for one of your squaws.
David: which one?
Me: The medicine women (Alison was in medical school at the time)
David: I'll give you Kristen (Alison's twin sister)

2) David came to visit Alison and I when we lived in Philly and he was bragging about his artistic ability and how he was going to switch careers and become an artist. He wanted an honest critique of his art and showed me a stick figure drawing of a bird. I played along and gave a rave review and agreed that he should switch careers and hang up the fifty years he worked as a fire fighter and sell his tree service that he owned since 1967. We had a brief chuckle, he flew back to New Hampshire and I never gave any more thought to the stick bird. A few days later as I poured a bowl of cereal for myself a piece of paper with a stick bird drawing on it fell into my bowl. Dave tucked it in the box before he left..I phoned him, we had another chuckle, I thought it was over. The next day Alison was reading a book and a stick bird came out of one of the pages..another one was found wedged between the stacked dinner plates..another in my sock drawer, underwear drawer, several shirt and coat pockets, shoes, utensil drawer, cups, mugs, countless books, etc..we would find them weeks, months and even years later. The last was about two years ago wedged in the pages of another book. The later we would find them the funnier it became.."Oh my God, Alison, I found another stick bird, the man is nuts". He later revealed he thinks he made over a hundred of them and spent hours making them. I've never more looked forward to finding another one.

3) The day we moved back from Philly, David was so happy to have Alison home in new Hampshire again..he spent a large part of the summer mowing the words, "WELCOME HOME ALISON" in a grass field behind his house. It was about a football field long..not kidding.

July, 2003: Alison standing in the middle of the "Welcome Home Alison" field. David had lifted me in his bucket truck to take this photo.

4) Blueberry picking in his secret spots...I had only picked blueberries on mountainsides prior and didn't realize his secret spot was chest deep in a blueberry bog..great fun though..we got gallons.

5) Target shooting competitions in Davids woods..the targets were bear bottles and he would sometimes call me asking to help him make targets. He was a better shot than I was and I suspected he would would sometimes dog it and lose on purpose to make me feel good..I didn't care, I just genuinely enjoyed his company and being with him.

I miss you David.

Baseball #5

2009-03-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Pitchers and catchers have reported for duty in Florida so it won't be long before I'll be haggling with a scalper outside of the Cask n'Flagon for an obscenely expensive Red Sox ticket. I can't wait. This painting has had me in the spirit lately.

Someone had seen my miniature painting called "October" and commissioned this slightly larger (4x6") painting of the same ball for her husbands birthday. it prompted me to do a few more original baseball compositions which I'll be posting later this week.
This is "Baseball #5" (4x6") Oil on wood panel.

More work in progress

2009-02-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

I thought I would post what I've been up to in the studio these days. I've had to skip several studio days to attend to family matters but I did manage to get to a lot of under paintings and works-in-progress. Today, I'm posting the monochromatic under-painting of an 18x24" version of a painting study called "Ol Red". you can see a little of my set up in the foreground of the photo, I've decided to leave it in and chat briefly about my process, tools and pallet. That small bottle of light-brown colored liquid on the lower left is a nip of Baileys Irish Cream. Just kidding! Thats my bottle of Alkyd medium; Liquin. I use that in the early under painting stages to help the paint dry quickly. I'm using a wood pallet these days but I also use a glass one at home. My colors have been about the same for the last three years..from left to right as you see them layed out on my pallet are Titanium White, Cad Yellow, yellow Ochre, Raw Umber, Cad Orange, Burnt Umber, Cad Red, Aliz Crimson permanent, Dioxozine purple, Ultra Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cad Green Light, Permanent green, Viridian, Sap Green and Ivory black. Not shown are the colors I was using to do this under painting: Winsor & Newton Under painting white, Mars Black and Raw Umber. I had my full pallet out just in case I was feeling audacious..I wasn't. I use a lot of different brushes but for the under painting I use hog hair bristle brushes (various brands) and a few sable varieties to soften edges. I don't use any turps or add oils at the under painting stage. Actually, thats a lie..After I seal the charcoal drawing of the boat with a spray fixative I apply a "whisper thin" coat of refined linseed oil to the entire canvas to improve even flow but thats it! Then I cover the canvas with a thin layer of Raw Umber and use a rag to wipe away my lights. I build up the lights further using the under painting white. this keeps my lights opaque and thick while maintaining thin and transparent darks. I work the darkest darks with a thin wash of Mars Black. Thats it really. I'll chat more about my process when I post the next image of the progress of the above painting.

I put this work-in-progress painting in a frame and set it on an easel by my work station so I could sneak peaks at it throughout the day..hoping to find resolution to the issues I posted last time. I got some creative emails from some friends of mine..my old college roomate Dan sent me back this image with a shark fin behind the boat. The truth is, I'd love to go with that one but my brillaint frined Beaman suggested I crop it..I may go that route.

here is what my set up was like while working...you can see some of my really cool studio too. I'll try and post a panorama of my studio in the future, I absolutley love working there.

All the best for now.
Todd

Work in progress

2009-02-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have been busy on several compositions that are currently in several different stages of completion. This is an 18x24" oil painting in my studio that I still have to resolve..that vacant upper left corner gives me the hee-bee-gee-bees..it's just unsettling. I'm going to put it in a frame and set it on a nearby easel and get cracking on something else. I'll let this marinade while in my periphery for a while and hopefully a resolution will come from being away from it for a period.

Rest in Peace Andy (Andrew Wyeth 1917-2009)

2009-01-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Lake

2009-01-13T13:54:00.001-08:00

This is another one of the Larger (large for me) paintings I recently finished and am just getting around to photographing and posting. I called this "The lake", it is 18x24" oil on canvas.

I'm looking forward to the spring and summer to get out to the lakes and do more paintings of the shallows and shores. The variety of colors and textures in lake water imagery is stunning and makes for endless subject matter.

For me, this paintings success relied on depicting the rocky shallow water and getting those beautifully rich, earthy colors that make it distinct.

Pony

2009-01-12T09:58:00.000-08:00

I painted this Pony for my four year old niece Emma as Christmas gift. It's 4x6" and is oil on linen, mounted on panel.

A different subject matter for me but Emma has been asking me to paint her a Pony since the spring..great fun knowing that it was for her.

The Humble Trapper (30x40")

2009-01-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

I finished this larger version of "The Humble Trapper" painting in December and I am just getting around to photographing and posting it now. It's the largest oil painting I've done to date at (30x40"). It was a lot of fun to work at this larger scale for me and I've already gessoed another 30x40" wood panel with the intention of doing another.

This painting is currently available (please email me at tmbonita@gmail.com for price).

"The Humble Trapper" (30x40") Framed.
I'm standing next to the painting to show it's scale. I may go even bigger before the year is out..

Web sight update

2009-01-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

Happy New year! My web sight was just updated with new images to start 2009 off fresh. Thank you Wade Settle for your work on this. You can contact Wade at: wsettle@gmail.com if you would like some web sight design of your own. Click here to go to my web sight: Toddbonita.com

Colour, Obsession, Joy and Torment (New book)

2008-12-28T19:58:00.000-08:00

I'm proud to have a page in the beautiful new Daily Painters book colour, obsession, joy and torment. Priced at $39, the 165 page book is 8" x 10" and features over 500 images by 146 artists from around the world.

Follow this link to learn more about it at Dailypainters. You can also order direct from Amazon.com or Createspace.com.

Max sketch

2008-12-19T21:18:00.001-08:00

This is a sketch I did for a painting of Max that I hope to finish before Christmas..it's a gift for Alison..it's charcoal on a piece of gessoed and sanded wood. I don't want to rush it so we'll see what happens. I'm going to start an under painting right over this drawing and then lay some color down when it dries.

Down East

2008-12-16T19:42:00.001-08:00

I titled this painting, "Down East" because it reminds me of the Great state of Maine. More specifically, the wonderfully gritty and earthy, blue-collar, hard-working, sea-fairing Maine. The mud, the fog, the muddy-water stain on the side of the boat, the seaweed hanging from the rope, the tattered buoy and overall weathered mood..it's all in there..wonderfully-gritty Maine.

This is a larger painting for me these days, it's 18x24" and painted on canvas. My tribute to the Pine Tree state deserved a grander scale. If you read this blog, you'll note that this is a larger version of a small study I did in September called "Muddy Cove Dory".

This new version was part of my recent open studio art show at The Button Factory. Fun weekend with a nice fix of friends, family and art. I met a lot of people and I am extremely grateful for all of your nice comments and kind words.

I'll post some of the other paintings from the show this week. thank you for looking. All the best,
Todd

"Down East" Framed (18x24")

Button Factory Open Studio 2008

2008-11-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

I rent an art studio space at the Button Factory in Portsmouth, NH and they are having their annual "OPEN STUDIOS"..woo-hoo...the 22nd year. this will be the second time I will participate and if you are reading this you are invited. Please come if you can, it's a very cool thing to do on the first weekend in December. I've got a bunch of paintings I'll have on the walls and there are over 70 other artist to see in the building..tons of art..a very good time. Wine, cheese, art and laughs...a fellow couldn't ask for anything more.

I'm posting another miniature painting along with a copy of the Open studio invite. The Miniature doesn't even have a name yet...lets call it "Cow #3 until further notice. It's only (2.5 x 3.5") oil on wood panel. I framed it with a very cool little frame I bought on Ebay. If you would like to purchase this little painting for $100, I will sell it to the first person who emails me at tmbonita@gmail.com.

I will be having an online pre-sale next week for subscribers to my oil painting blog.
I will give subscribers a first look at the new works and an opportunity to purchase the paintings that will be in my Open Studio show in December. If you would like to be on my oil painting email list and be part of this pre-sale, please send me an email at tmbonita@gmail.com with "subscribe" in the heading or body of the email somewhere.

thanks again for looking and I sincerely hope to see some of you at the Open house..please introduce yourself and have a glass of wine with me.

All the best,
Todd Bonita

Ready

2008-11-06T22:26:00.001-08:00

I finished this 8x10" oil painting I'm calling "Ready". It feels wonderful to post again..I feel like I've neglected an old friend by my absence. I've just been swamped with work and life and simply didn't find the time to post. I've got a bunch of things in progress that I would love to put up here and ponder..I just need to find some time.

October

2008-10-15T17:54:00.001-07:00

"October" (2.5x3.5") Oil on wood

Thats right, just two-and-a-half by three-and-a-half inches. I started this as an experiment with paint..trying out technique and exploring the medium on the smaller scale. I can accomplish experimentation faster this way.

I'm calling this October for the obvious reason that the image is a baseball and October is what it all comes down to in the American past time. This worn out ball pretty much sums up the season by the time October rolls around..injuries, emotional roller coasters, wins and losses, etc..it's all in there. If Red Sox fans look closely, you can see the scar from when the Sox traded Manny earlier in the season. it's right next to the series of scars left by Ortiz, Lowell, Beckett, Ellsbury and the severe beating handed down by the Rays. Not to mention the late games and the five and a half hour marathon game over the weekend that anti-climaxed in a late night (early morning) Sox loss.

Anyhoot, I've got my fingers crossed for a Red Sox come back of gargantuan proportions.

Through the Heart

2008-09-23T11:40:00.001-07:00

I finished this small oil painting that I'm calling, "Through the Heart". It's another small wood panel painting, (4x6"). I've been in a poker frame of mind lately..My brother is a professional Poker player and was recently in The World Series of Poker tournament in Vegas this past July. He (O.K. a glimpse of the back of his head) was on ESPN Tuesday evening, he was playing poker at Ray Romano's table (from "Everybody Loves Raymond"). He's a phenomenal gamer and extremely competitive..perfectly wired to be great at Poker. I would lose my shirt...What am I saying...I chose to be an artist and lose my shirt at the easel instead. I don't think my brother or I would have it any other way.

I was told early on that if you want to be an artist, be prepared to have the life and blood sucked clean out of your heart and soul. ("Oh my God, relax dude, I just want to paint some cool pictures")...As dramatic as it is, there is probably some truth in this statement for anything that you put your heart and soul into. I swear my brother has a few more gray hairs in his head upon returning from the World Series of Poker.
Some days you get the Bear..and some days the bear gets you.

This painting is about the days when the bear gets you. I got an email from someone asking if there were visual religious references here..(A spike through the heart...stains that maybe suggest the shroud or Turin or dripping blood) hmmm, no, I don't think I'm that deep..honestly. I really do just want to paint some cool pictures. I liked the aged surface of the wood and the worn playing card. Weathered and tattered textures appeal to my interest in objects that suggest ambiguous narratives. Great fun to paint.

Highlights Hi-Five "Riddle Me" Illustration

2008-09-15T12:45:00.001-07:00

I just finished another small assignment for Highlights Hi-Five magazine. This one will be in February 2009 issue I think. It will accompany some text that will challenge children to come up with riddles for things they find in my illustration.

I love working for this company, very professional and great fun.

Robert J. Foti (1959-Sept 11,2001)

2008-09-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing from my sketchbook of Robert J. Foti. It's my way of taking some time to draw and reflect on the faces of the people who lost there lives on 9/11. Robert Foti was a firefighter with Ladder 7 and responded to the World Trade center on September 11, 2001. He perished in the collapse of the south tower, his remains have never been found. I didn't know him but have been reading some heart felt words about him from people who loved him dearly. I read that when Robert was 12 years old he saved a boy from drowning on Lake Hopatcong. It seems he was destined to devote his life to serving and helping others. He served so bravely and gave the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11. Robert J. Foti is in my thoughts today.

Muddy Cove Dory

2008-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE TO BID
"Muddy Cove Dory" (4x6") Oil on Wood.
I finished this small oil painting I'm calling "Muddy Cove Dory". I took a short drive along part of the Maine coast about two weeks ago, looking for something to paint and I almost got whip lash when I drove by this dory sitting in the mud in an Ogunquit, Maine cove. This is just the kind of imagery that excites me lately. The filth, the mud, the fog...sweet love.
I pulled the car over and glopped through the very wet and sticky mud out to this dory and immediately thought of a story that's haunted me for almost eight years. I watched a TV show that reenacted the real life tragedy of a young girl who died when her feet got stuck in some mud flats. She drowned when the water eventually returned to the cove where she was stuck. How horrifying. She was a newlywed. She and her husband were going across these mud flats in an ATV when it's rear wheels became trapped. They got out and tried to lift the wheels out, that's when she burrowed her own feet deep into the mud. The more she tried to loosen the grasp, the more it swallowed her. Her husband went for help as the water began to come into the cove ..emergency personnel arrived and tried all day to free her. They became more desperate as the water slowly rose. The emergency team almost became stuck themselves, it was a real nightmare. When the water rose to her chin they gave her a tube to put in her mouth and attempted to raise it out of the water like a snorkel. Her head eventually disappeared under water. This was Alaska. Even though it was summer, the water is frigid. The tube eventually popped up and eerily floated away. My God..The horror.