Painting in Progress: "Cold"

Whenever I paint a portrait, I continue to work on it until I've totally exhausted myself and can't stand to look at the painting anymore.  I always find something in the painting that I would like to do "better".  Maybe it has to do with academic training - when one expects every painting to look "perfect".  I consider this painting almost done.  Stay tuned for the final outcome.

SUMMER ART SALE

Summer Art Sale

Melissa Imossi, "The Web", Oil, 32" x 32"

My husband,  Iacopo,  and I are having a Summer Art Sale on select paintings.  If your home or office has empty walls that are crying out for personality, now is a great time to buy our artwork at a discounted price.

People who have bought our artwork in the past tell us how happy they are to wake up to our paintings before they start their hectic days.  Art lifts the spirits, inspires and allows one to dream.  Below are a few testimonials we have received during past art exhibits:

Iacopo:

"A great peace came over me in the art gallery this morning.  Thank you for the beauty you contribute to the world!"  Lisa G.

"Yet another wonderful surprise on my 13-hour Long Island vacation."  Joanne B.

"I do a lot of work in the Huntington waterways.  Your paintings put me back in the water.  Well done!"  Chet L.

Melissa:

“Your paintings are beautiful, soft, tranquil, and yet, vibrant with life-like nature.”  Monica A.

“The work is beautiful.  Your touch is of a master. Bravo!”  George S.

“Evokes a feeling of “having been there” and being able to walk into your canvas.  Thank you for sharing these wonderful images.”  Nancy H.

               
 **Click here or on the image above to go to our Summer Sale Web Page.**

Auction: "Pink Roses", Oil on Panel, 10" x 8"

  Pink and gray are always a great combination.   Here is a chance to bid on a painting that is bigger than most of my others for auction.  If you would like to bid on this painting, click here.

Auction: Bright Lights, Oil, 6" x 6"

Late afternoon.  The sun is just starting to set.  Light is dancing off of the water and the waves are lapping onto the rocks.  The setting is perfect.  My daughter ventures into the water to jump from rock to rock.  She does it quickly before I start to call her back.  If you would like to bid on this painting, click here.

Painting in Progress: "Cold", Oil, 14" x 11"

I started this painting of my daughter after the last snowstorm of the year - it was already spring, but I guess that's normal these days.  I put the painting aside so that I could view it with fresh eyes the next time I sit down to fine tune it.  I would like to complete it this week.

I definitely want to lighten the background and gray it down, so that it moves into the distance.  Most importantly, I need to do another pass on the face.  The eye area needs to be softened-up and the highlights need to be added on the face.   The less important areas of the painting, like the snow in the background and her ears, will be left "as is', with just an initial lay-in of color.

Book Recommendation: "How to Become a Famous Artist and Still Paint Pictures"

An artist friend of mine loaned me the book, "How to Become a Famous Artist and still Paint Pictures", by W. Joe Innis, artist and writer.  The book was originally printed in 1994, so it is out of date regarding the internet as a viable sales source for artists, but much of his advice still holds true.  It's such a funny and well written book, with many good tidbits of information and advice for artists, that it's still a great read.  Below are a couple of points that Innis makes about artists, their craft and their patrons:

"A painter's life is populated with ideas, color he has seen, and hope, hope that his next canvas will reflect a small part of how he feels about it all."

" An artist ought to live before he paints and the canvas he produces ought to stand as a testament to what he's seen."

"A good painting will speak to you if you care to listen but don't be embarrassed if the language is intimate: a whispered exchange between the one who paints it and the one who sees it."

Auction: "Looking for Crabs Study" Oil, 7" x 5"

Lost in the moment while looking for crabs on a spring afternoon.  Enjoying the fading sunlight and the touch of the cool water.  Life can be so simple and so sweet.

If you would like to bid on this painting, please click here.