Sognatore (Dreamer)

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

My second masterpiece

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

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)

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Lt. Raymond Murphy (9-11-2001)

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