Monday, January 28, 2013


Began a new temp job today.   Loving it because not only am I working with invoices and inventory, but there's a good vibe in the warehouse.   Everyone I met is really nice.  And as a bonus, it was lightly snowing on my way home.




Yesterday I spent a very special afternoon at the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, MA experiencing "Eternal Presence" and the retrospective of master artist John Wilson and then enjoying the artist talk with Mr. Wilson.  It was a privilege having the opportunity to listen to him speak.

I've been in love with his work since the mid-nineties.   In addition to being a brilliant draughtsman and printmaker, he is the artist who won the commission to do the MLK bust in the Capitol Rotunda in D.C.

He was born in 1922 in Roxbury, MA and spoke of going to museums and never seeing art that looked like him.   His passion for drawing led to a prolific career as an artist and teacher.   He said that he always had a strong desire to communicate his reality visually, through mark making.






Thursday, January 24, 2013

Wow.  It's been and still is so cold that our baseboard heat in the apartment can't keep up.   My roommate had the day off and so I invited her into the studio because it's quite toasty there.  She brought her art supplies and after rearranging the bottles on my windowsill, spent a warm and calm afternoon happily painting the still life while I tackled a new charcoal drawing.






Wow.  Yesterday just flew.  I had hoped to paint and begin some charcoal drawings but spent the day packing and shipping work to customers.  Then dinner/drinks with a new friend.

This weekend I am very much looking forward to seeing a retrospective at the Danforth Museum in Framingham.  The artist will be there to speak about his work.   The first time I experienced John Wilson's work was in the mid-nineties.  Our prof took us to the MFA in Boston to see Dialogue:  John Wilson and Joseph Norman.   That show made a powerful impact on me and to this day, I still think of it often.

So seeing a show filled with Wilson's creations is super exciting.  

Here is information about the exhibit, Eternal Presence

This is an etching by John Wilson:  Martin Luther King, Jr. 2002




Since I purchased my iPad mini last month, I've been experimenting with Sketchbook Express and am enjoying it.  I have a bunch of drawings in progress.  Here are two that are finally completed.  I do not have a stylus and so it's all finger work.










Monday, January 21, 2013


We The People...

I wanted to watch the inauguration with lots of people. Last night I saw the state Dems were hosting a viewing event at Rick's Roadhouse in Prov. It was good...and perfect to be with a crowd for the experience. At the end I was interviewed by Channel 6 ABC news and when the reporter asked me the first question, I answered along the lines of - that as a queer person I am incredibly moved to be mentioned by this president. We are not invisible.


I also answered many more questions and spoke of how substantial change happens in an excruciatingly slow manner: two steps forward, one step back.  I also vocalized my hope for compromise by the parties.  Although I have an ideal, I know that nothing can be done if each stands solid and refuses to engage with the other. 


From Obama's second inaugural: 

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.





 "Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase." 
- Martin Luther King, Jr.   

Here is a still in progress Beach painting. 40"x30", oil on canvas.



Saturday, January 19, 2013


Other than painting on Monday, the remainder of my studio time has been immersed in getting my financials in order.  Because I'm feeling the pressure of deadlines, it has pretty much sucked any creative space including taking photos.  My large work table is now covered with neat piles of receipts and papers.  And many post-its.  This morning I finally purchased a full size keyboard for my laptop which greatly assists with whizzing through excel.   After a delightful brunch at the Modern Diner with Lewis and Ian who came down for a Brown wrestling match I'm back at my desk.    This WILL be finished by tomorrow afternoon.   Dang it, I want to get back to art making.   Here are some studio posies I shot earlier in the week.




Wednesday, January 16, 2013

My backyard on a snowy Providence morning.




Tuesday, January 15, 2013

A watched pot...



Sunday, January 13, 2013

After hearing from a few folks, I decided to create a webpage with all the sale paintings instead of featuring some each week.

You can find the work at www.mariegagnon.com and click on "sale".  If you find one you want, email me with the image and we can set up the payment/shipping details.  From there, I can go into the webpage and mark it "sold".   Thanks!

Today's photo taken in the studio.






Saturday, January 12, 2013

I'm having a painting sale and will be featuring paintings each week.

You can see the work here at gagnonart.blogspot.com

One of this week's paintings - 12"x12", oil on canvas, 2010.  $150 plus shipping/handling.

In addition, I finally created a twitter account for my art.  I don't expect to tweet heavily but will put art news there.   

You can follow me at twitter.com/gagnonart



Wednesday, January 09, 2013

what I've been working on this week.  still in progress.   
oil on canvas.  60"x36"




Tuesday, January 08, 2013


Today is tax prep day. Between the moving expenses, paying my own health insurance, being in a new state with income tax and pulling out of my SepIRA, as well as my art expenses, it's going to be messy. Most of my paperwork is organized. I now need to go thru the top left pile. Once organized, I can begin creating my spreadsheets for expenses/revenue. Yeah, I'm a painter who totally hearts excel. Then I'll have a tidy packet for my accountant.





Saturday, January 05, 2013

Today was a business day.  Began prepping to do taxes and a few lengthy phone calls regarding a recommendation I am writing for someone.  No painting.

But yesterday was an awesome painting day...working on 3 paintings that have had me stuck since summer.

Here is one of them.  It's 28"x22", oil on canvas.



Friday, January 04, 2013

Photo taken during today's studio session...



Thursday, January 03, 2013


For the first time in what feels like forever, I have 10 days with no appointments, no part-time temping and no travel plans. I can really settle into the studio without worrying about outside commitments. That is, except for grant applications and putting tax info stuff together for my accountant. But even those...are about the business of art and so right now, feel enjoyable.

And...I so have to get my haircut. It's a month overdue and driving me crazy. Okay just one non-art commitment.

Photo taken at Thorne's Market in Noho MA.



Yesterday I received my final 2012 art shipment.  Jerry's Artarama was having a huge sale on paint and so I stocked up.  It also allowed me to purchase a few brands I've never before used.

The book was not part of the shipment.  Nor the cat.  :-)



Some images from New Year's Eve in Noho MA...