AJP Fine Art

"Plein Air"
I enjoy painting on site, but the logistics can be daunting. This was painted in the early spring as trees begin to bloom. New England forest begin with a red haze of blooms from the maples. Last year's marsh grass is still standing, golden.
I love the skeletal structure of the trees showing with fresh growth just coming out. Painted over a two day period, at the same time of day, in Egg Tempera and Ink. I would leave on the Minute Bike Trail about 9AM and would arrive at about 10AM, set up, paint for two hours. I started with the ink drawing of the trees and worked up the egg tempera from there. The size is 8" x 10".

The next in my exhibition of older art. An exploration of abstract expressionism. Created on handmade rice paper with natural fibers. It's mixed medium of gouache, pastel, watercolor, graphite, and charcoal. The size is approximately, 24" x 36". 1986

Nieri'ka is the Inuit word for the portal between this world and the spirit world. The portal that the Shaman passes through when he travels to the "other" side.
This was an area I was exploring in 1985. I was trying to use the old masters methods of painting religious ideals and applying it to abstract design and the modern exploration of spirituality.
This is a small panel, 6 1/2" x 8 1/2". Oil, Gold Leaf, & Amethyst on Gessoed Panel.

This is an Oil & Beeswax on canvas, 48" x 62", executed during the dark times of 1986 - 1987. The AIDS epidemic had hit full force and my brother was dying. During "well" spells we both painted together, and this was what was coming out of me. "Homage..." is the culmination of a series of paintings I was working through using the tree as a metaphor for the psychological drama that was playing out in our lives at that time. More to follow...

This weekend I'm going to have a meeting with a small gallery on the Somerville/Cambridge line. On Beacon St., a couple of store fronts up from Dali's Restaurant. She's having a landscape show in February.
In that frame shop in Wakefield, next door is a gallery going in. Still putting in fixtures. He wants to show my work. He wants a hanging fee of about $10.00 a painting, and will only take 25% commission. I'm starting all over again, right from the bottom. What's wrong with this picture? I really think New England is going down the tubes. Everyone likes my work, but will not take the slightest risk, and my work is a sure thing!

Last night the pastel demo was a HUGH success! I had an audience of about fifty men and woman from the Newton Art Association. Everyone loved me.
The Pres. & Vice Pres. said it was the best demo so far. Surprised I was a virgin. I was able to paint, talk, and answer questions, all at the same time. This seems to be a big problem with other artist. I demonstrated the technique of pastel painting sky & clouds. Start to finished. This was something they never saw before. Other artist would maybe put down about 20% of a painting without showing much of a technique, or spend two hours waxen esoterically about art. Anyways, should have become a teacher. I loved doing it so much and it was just so natural.
Maybe it'll be a back door to teach?
Another benefit is I get paid and will be recommended to other Art Associations in the Boston area.
This saturday, October 16th, is the grand opening of The Artist Corner in Wakefield, MA. I have two giclees on display. A new venue!!! Through this contact, I may be able to have an opportunity to get onto the ground floor of a budding artist cooperative. Amazing how the arts can be so interconnected.

A sad fate for the art businesses on Newbury St. The first block (near the Ritz) has had vacancies for over a year now. Two other store fronts have changed hands twice in the past year.
I've been showing for over twenty years now. Newbury Fine Arts at #29 Newbury St., has shown my work for much of this time. They have had to change direction to make sales. For the last year I've been in search of serious representation. I have the experience and I'm well seasoned to the art business. I've also worked for a gallery as a curator and master in-house picture framer. In the past I worked retail framing. Doing the whole wholesale side with only framing for the gallery art was great, but that is not what I want. I'm trying to make a living on my art alone. A very difficult task.
I would like to stay in New England, but I've tried submitting my work to many galleries in the metro area. No deal... I've probably done everything I can here. People always want something different and I'm now old hat.

I think it's the times we're living in now. No one is focused on the beauty in this world. I've been pounding the pavement, but to no avail. Galleries in New England are being hit hard now. Geographically, this is the slowest area in the country in the arts and decoration sector. Hence, no one wants to show new artist. It's tough. The south is booming so maybe this yankee will be moving south of Mason / Dixon line.

I placed a post on craigslist.org - Boston in Community/Artist and someone cut and paste my image in a new post with the word crap above it! What's up with that? Isn't it hard enough for us artist!
I think it's the times we live in. America is so ignorant of the arts. Why can't we, as artist, make a living off our art? It's nearly impossible to get people interested in what we are trying to do. Now, from inside our ranks, is someone putting us down! Ugh!!! Is it all worth it?!

This is an image from my childhood. Follow this path. You'll come to Pike's bridge. A place I communed with nature as a boy summering in West Newbury, MA.
From this vantage, behind you is Indian Hill. It was a strange place. A place that my brother and I called, "The Burnt Castel."
This was an old mansion. Burned, but people stilled lived there. Like something out of a Poe novel.
Odd, the green in the back field. No one thinks it's real. It is. Fresh new rye grass. Planted late.
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This is one of my more magical pieces. I've painted this scene twice so far. Each is different because it constantly changed .

This is a pastel painting of a small pond in Newbury, MA. Invasive, but beautiful, Purple Loosestrife surrounds this place.

Mid-Summer in Ipswich, MA. This is on the road to Crane's Beach or "Castle Hill." This is only one of many places on the neck that will take your breath away!