Art Update: July 26-September 10, 2022

Hey guys, I dropped off this painting to River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta, Maine yesterday.

The theme is “Land and Sea.” Member and non-member artists are invited to display their work. I’ve seen some of the paintings/sculptures submitted. They are fantastic.

It’s a juried show, therefore, I hope to be included in the group displaying their work for a month. The only thing better’n displaying is selling the painting before the end of the show. That would be oh-so-cool, don’t you think?

When: The opening reception, and meeting the artists, is Saturday, July 30, 2022, from 2 to 4 PM.

Where: 36 Elm Street Plaza, Damariscotta.

How Long: Show will be on display from July 26 and continues until September 3, 2022.

Come visit.

If you can’t make it to the reception, that’s okay. Visit to fit your busy schedule.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 4 pm

Closed: Sunday & Monday

I have another empty spot on my studio wall. Working on another painting which will soon fill that spot.

Comments welcome below:

Art Update August, 2021

Hey guys, I participated in the July showing at River Arts Maine Gallery in Damariscotta from July 7 to August 7, 2021.

Upon returning to pick up my piece, I found it had SOLD!

Knowing someone appreciated the hours spent creating, painting and fretting as I composed and layered color over color, to produce the effect desired, is a nice feeling.

I now have an empty spot on my studio wall. Presently, I am adding finishing touches to my current painting which will soon fill that spot.

Dear Art Lover,

Thank you for purchasing my work. May you enjoy many happy hours looking into the scene and imagining yourself there, experiencing the “Sunset at Curtis Light.”

Curtis light house at sunrise
Sunset at Curtis Light 12×16″ oil on canvas.

Drama was my goal. I love clouds, especially when they take on a lulminescence…a glow.

That glow reflected on the Curtis Lighthouse, the ocean, and the schooner anchored in the background.

This painting reminds me of my time at sea on a beautiful schooner, enjoying the fresh air, the evening sunsets, the lapping of the water against the ship, the laughter of the other guests and the crew. Yes, the crew and their comittment to make it a safe and wonderful experience. As we sailed up and down midcoast Maine’s waters, we were rewarded with gorgeous sunsets, beautiful light houses and rocky shores. Oh, and don’t forge the gulls. I hear them every day from my studio. They are a delight.

A Cake-Walk With No Shelf To Spare

Sharpened the old hammer and nails and built a bunch of shelves.

We finally moved out of NH.

Our Maine home has huge closets, but shelving is very limited.

Why 24″ between closet shelves? At the left, you see big gaps between shelves.

Where there were three, now there are five!

At the right, I widened the single 10″ clothes closet shelf and added a second story.

This other closet’s bottom shelf is now over 22 inches deep and the top shelf is 12.

Now a stack of clothes won’t teeter and fall to the floor. Big improvement!

Next I’ll finish a closet started two years ago. It had been a huge, empty closet meant for a washer and dryer. I moved the back wall inward, creating more space in the kitchen located behind the closet. This freed up space allowed me to install a fireproof wall and a kitchen, wood-cook stove directly behind the new, smaller closet.

Next I plan to enlarge the walk-in closet upstairs. Big bedroom and the closet doesn’t have enough… you got it… shelves!

You do what you gotta do.

I’m off to make a building materials list.

That Shelter Institute course my son and I took years ago has really paid off more than once.

After building my Post and Beam home in the 90’s, this is a cake-walk.

Any projects in your neck of the woods?

Please leave a comment and share.

Jo M. Orise – August, 2016 Art Update

“Friendship – The Nudge”
by: Jo M. Orise

Saturday, August 13 (9-4 PM)- Sunday, August 14 (9-1 PM), 2016

Come to the Aldermere Farm, annual art show located in Rockport, ME.

I have submitted ten original framed paintings, and fifteen matted prints. This year Aldermere has changed from a one day show to a two day show. That is fantastic! Lots of folks new to the area usually find out too late that there was a show that day they visited Camden and Rockport area. Waiting for a year to fit the popular, annual show into their schedule is always ‘iffy.’
Two days makes it easier for all. After all, there will be featured more than 200 paintings. Amazing! Under one roof too.

Beltie Stroll
by: Jo M. Orise

Now, hanging that many paintings is an extreme challenge. I insisted on helping out last year. I was glad I did. I gained an appreciation as to how much hard work Aldermere goes through to plan and set up such a show. Due to a prior commitment, I contributed a half day’s assistance in hanging artwork. They appreciated it and I was happy to volunteer.
Aldermere Farm in Rockport, features beautiful Belties and is a non-profit trust focused on farming and agriculture. We artists donate a portion of our profits to the organization.
Aldermere Farm has a store that is open to the public where they sell crafts and healthy, quality beef.

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If you are in the area, please do drop in and help support the local artists and Aldermere’s non-profit farm.

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The show is to be held this coming weekend, August 13, 9-4 PM and August 14, 9-1 PM at the historic farmhouse located on the Aldermere Farm, 20 Russell Ave in Rockport, Maine.

Leave a comment. Love to hear from all of you.

Jo M. Orise – July, 2016 Art Update

Lincolnville Beach – the Lincolnville Fine Art Gallery

UMaine Belfast Center art show ended a few weeks ago. On my way home from retrieving my painting, I decided to visit the Lincolnville Fine Art Gallery
at Lincolnville Beach. It is on the route to Belfast.

My previous attempt to visit the gallery proved futile—closed. This time I was in luck and I happily viewed lovely works of art and craft.

I complimented the owner, Dwight, at his art and craft selection and gallery display.

Dwight has on display his own creations of wood sculptures and wall hangings, which I found very charming and tastefully executed. (One of his large pieces is hanging on the right side of the gallery as seen in this photo.) He is an artist/ owner/curator/realtor! And I thought I was the busy one.

Grace Bailey Anchored at Curtis Light
by: Jo M. Orise

Dwight invited me to fetch my painting from the car.

“You painted this?” he chuckled.

“Yes.”

“How about leaving it here. I have room for it.”

So, after discussing the terms and reaching agreement, I now have my painting hanging in the Lincolnville Fine Art Gallery.

I am happy about this opportunity to be represented in Lincolnville. Hopefully someone will see my work and decide they can’t go home without it.

Jo M. Orise – June, 2016 Art Update

English: Domestic crested duck (a variant of Anas platyrhynchos f. domestica) in the harbor of Camden, Maine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As you know, the Damariscotta, River Arts Gallery art show is still on until June 16. See my previous blog for more information.

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Today, I have cause to celebrate! My art is now displayed at the Ducktrap Bay Trading Company gallery in Camden, Maine. They have a terrific collection of high quality crafts and fine art. The focus: Marine Art.

The owner exudes positive attitude and is so energetic, one can’t help being swept up in his enthusiasm. I am very pleased to have met him.

When you visit the gallery, you will fine a few of my pieces there. Come on in to the Ducktrap Bay Trading Co., on Route One, Downtown, Camden. You will be utterly impressed at the selection of marvelous works displayed throughout the shop.

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I entered one large painting, 24 x 18″ Grace Bailey Anchored at Curtis Light, oil painting, into the 14th Annual Festival of Art, Senior College at Belfast, Maine. The 2016 showing is for three days.

Location: UMaine Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915
Date: Festival weekend June 9-12

     6/09 Thursday, 6-8 PM. Opening/reception and first viewing. Music by Belfast Bay Fiddlers
     6/10 Friday, The art exhibit 9-5 PM.
     6/11 Saturday, The art exhibit 9-5 PM. Noon – 1 PM. Harpist Nancy Schroeder. 1-3 PM, Presentation by guest artist, John Whalley.
     6/12 Sunday, The art exhibit 12-3 PM.

http://www.Belfastseniorcollege.org for more information.

Like my blog and leave a comment.

Thanks,

Jo M. Orise – May 27 to June 16, 2016 Art Update

“Marshall Point Light 4”
by: Jo M. Orise

You are invited to my first show for the 2016 season in Maine.

The show is at River Arts Gallery, Route 1, in Damariscotta, Maine, May 27 to June 16, 2016

This is a group show for a large number of local artists.

“Marshall Point Light 4” is on display at the show.

It is a framed, oil on canvas – 16″ x 12″.

Opening social event:
Friday, May 27, 2016 from 5 – 7 PM.

Gallery hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 4 PM
Sunday 10 – 2 PM.

I also have a few matted original paintings in the art bin.

See you there!

Please like my blog. Leave a comment.

Jo M. Orise April, 2016 Art Update

“Morning Watch” by: Jo M. Orise

NEW artwork is now available for viewing at my virtual gallery, http://www.jomorise.com

27 paintings in 11 months!

Rumor is, “Spring has arrived.” Therefore I am getting my artwork ready for upcoming art shows. My plan includes group shows and solo shows.

Go to http://www.jomorise.com See what I’ve created and please leave a comment.

A ‘Like’ AND Written Words are always appreciated. It is delightful to have people “like” my work or “not like” my work. I welcome honest critiques

Critique: a careful judgment or opinion about the good and bad. Questions may be asked, such as: ‘have you tried…..’ or ‘have you thought of…..” or “why did you do/say that?” Critiquing is something I introduced to my art students as well as to my animation students. It is practiced to assist one in a journey of creativity without being rude. Critiquing art and manuscripts has been around since the 1800s.

A painter at work en plein air – dog in a ‘flow state’. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After working so many hours, a simple “like” is nice, but words have more lasting power.

Oh, but I do “like” lots of things—popcorn, pizza, comfortable shoes, being in a “flow state.” (See previous post re: ‘flow state’)

I am now officially a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Click on link below.

Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, information about Jo’s studio/gallery events on the Maine coast.

Yes, I plan to open my home studio to the public by appointment. It will be fun to find out what will happen.

English: Schooner Isaac H. Evans under full sail on Penobscot Bay. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stay tuned. I’ll post my upcoming shows in time for you to plan to come and enjoy the display of work by me and others wherever we may be.

Check out my blogs and my website. Please leave a “comment” AND a “like”. I’ll will reply.

If you want to be on my list of people to be notified of upcoming events, follow me on FaceBook or on Wordpress-Blog or BlogSpot–Blog (this blog) or on Twitter.

Thanks for reading and I hope you smiled today.

Please share this post.

“Smile in your mirror every day.” Jo M. Orise

New Work by Jo

I’m working on a few different paintings.

One is a portrait of a boy with a conch while sailing on a schooner. Been thinking about this one for a few years and decided to just give it a try. His mom sent the photo for me to create this portrait three years ago, but she has not yet placed the order.

She has contacted me three years in a row, but still no order. She has purchased some of my artwork and loves them.

first sketch by Jo M. Orise

Therefore, I wonder why she changed her mind each time for the protrait.

Now this picture is in my head and wants out.

What do I do?

Draw it. Experiment with it. Lots of fun as I challenge myself in the process.

Here you see the first drawing in my sketchbook. It was okay. After noting things that need to be changed, I drew it on water color paper that had been soaked and stapled to a board to shrink tight.

Still, I put off painting.

So, I got another piece of water color paper, soaked it and just started painting the figure and its surroundings—no stapling, no drawing, just painting.

Boy With Conch Aboard.
by: Jo M. Orise

First it was wet-on-wet technique, then wet-on-dry.

What do you think?

I usually draw a few fine lines and erase them later. None of that here. Like I said it is pretty rough…but fun to do and see.

Next, I’ll just pull out the prepped water color paper that has the last drawing waiting for me. I look forward to this last part. It will be fun and I’ll post the finished piece.

See my other protraits at jomorise.com .

Looking for comments, tips.

BTW, the wavy looking boom is really the warping of the water color paper. That will straighten out in time.

Leave a comment or a post. I love to know what people think.

Jo M. Orise Art Update – September, 2015

Solo Exhibition by Jo M. Orise

You are invited to a solo art exhibition of new and older works, which include oils, acrylics and water colors. There are a couple of water color limited edition prints.

Owls Head Light by Jo M. Oriseoil on canvas 10 x 14″

Location: The Brown Bag Restaurant Cafe, 606 Main Street, Rockland, ME.

The month of September, 2015.

Restaurant hours:
Breakfast:
Thur, Fri, Sat 7:30 am – 10 am
Lunch:
Tues – Sat 10 am – 3 pm,

Bakery hours: Mon – Fri 10 am – 3 pm, Sat 7:30 am – 3 pm.

If you can’t find what you want, contact me and we can talk about creating the perfect painting for you and your home.

Whether you purchase or just view the artwork, please take a card and send me a note. Let me know what you think about the pieces. I always love to hear from viewers. Critiques are always welcome.

While you are at the Brown Bag, try their great food creations.

Chef Kelvin performs magic at the cook-stove.

The staff is friendly and fun to talk to. They are like family.

If you get to know the regular customers, you’ll find them friendly with great stories to share. You must go there and experience the ambiance. Our first visit was in 1999 and we got hooked.

So, friends—and soon to be friends—go to the Brown Bag Restaurant Cafe, enjoy the food, look at my artwork. If one moves you, an employee will be happy to remove it from the wall for you and assist you with it’s purchase.

Bring an artwork(s) home—you will have something special to enjoy for years to come.