While the beaches in summer are one source of inspiration for me, I do love the other seasons here in New England. Winter provides more quiet time that I use to stretch canvases and design new work. As it turned out though, this February was a little hectic as I ended up participating in four shows, including my solo show at Gloucester’s Sawyer Free Library in their Matz Gallery, showing through February 28th.
At The Matz Gallery, in the Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester
“December Sailing” came about (pardon the pun) from a visit to Newport, RI, where I was attending the opening reception for the Annual Holiday Show at the Jessica Hagen Fine Art gallery, which included my “Haze” piece. Many thanks to Roy Mattson for introducing me to Hagen!
December Sailing, 24 x 36, oil on linen
The day after the reception I went for a drive around Newport. It was a miserable, gray, windy and rainy day and there in the harbor was a race of “frostbiters”, as they’re called, competing in the their Laser sailboats. In the misty background were the silhouettes of the buildings and landscape of Goat Island. The colors of the sailors’ outfits stood out as they hung over the water in an effort to keep the boat from flipping over in the wind. “December Sailing” is now hanging in Hagen’s show, “Weather or Not”, thru March 9th.
The Cove – Sketch
“The Cove” was finished in time for the Rocky Neck Now 2019 show, “Looking All Around”. This painting began on Pebble Beach as a very large, plein air sketch on its 24 x 36 canvas, which I later finished in the studio. Get over to Rocky Neck’s Cultural Center to see this great show by the diverse group of Rocky Neck members, showing through March 24th.
(Click images for a larger view)
The Cove, 24 x 36, oil on linen
“The Songs We Sing”, painted last year, was accepted into Cambridge Art Association’s annual Members Prize Show, showing through March 23rd, at the University Place Gallery in Harvard Square.
The Songs We Sing, 24 x 36, oil on linen
Oh, and I just finished my first big painting of 2019, “Beach Mother in Blue”. Stop by to see it here in my studio!
Beach Mother in Blue, 28 x 42, oil on linen
Hope to see you on the tour, June 1 & 2, but please visit my studio any time by appointment, or you can find my works locally at Rocky Neck Gallery 53 (opens May 25th), Gloucester, and at Muzio Designs (year round), Essex.
Click here for more about Rob Diebboll
