New painting - Nantucket: Fishing At Sunset.

 Nantucket is a favorite place with my bike riding friends as long as the surfside hostel was open. The rest of the island is way too expensive. The pandemic closed the hostel and it got sold. End of story for the bike trips, but I did get a lot of great pictures to do paintings of. 

I decided to keep a log of the time put in in producing this. F I usually paint from a photo and put it on top of my easel for a few days just looking at it and praying over it since art is a gift from god and and each painting is an act of worship. Then without any sketching I put painters tape across the panel where the horizon should be and I work that until mostly done. Then I paint below that horizon.

I kept account of how much time I was actually painting  and this one came in at 4 hours plus thinking about it between sessions as I visualized what should come next. As usual a few mishapa along the way, but it worked out. I am also constantly photgraphing the painting to see how it will look on-line, which leads to several attempts to adjust it.

This one is for the 2016 trip and it was a special event. While the sun was setting, the full moon was rising from the ocean. I've enchanced the picture with some wave action. The sand was hard to get painted since it was so dark. As usual you can get Merchandise from Pixels by clicking the link

here's the painting

here's my reference photo

And here's the moon rise going on at the same time

Bergefield Library - meet and greet of Visual Vacation

 I don't like these receptions. I have artist friends who feel the same way. A lot of effort with minimal response. But my friends wanted to see my paintings, but Bergenfield Library is not easy to get to. The only time I could do it was on Sunday the 22nd of September. The place is open 1 - 5 so instead  of a formal reception with a lot of paperwork, I decided on an informal meet and greet. I had classical violin music playing and  had a vase of pink carnations to had out to the ladies. Had about 12 people show up and then went out to dinner them.

Display at Bergenfield NJ library

 I had been thinking doing more displays of my paintings in local libraries. 10 year s ago i went thru most of the libraries in bergen County. I did one in Paramus 2 years ago and I'm scheduled for there again in Februrary. A Friend who works in the Bergenfield NJ library texted  me this sign from her library

So I called and a woman named Maria was in charge and I scheduled it for September. I titled it Jack Mckenzie Art - A Visual Vacation. My business card have that title. One of the librarians called it a Feel Good exhibit. There were three walls and I had to set up the hangers and then the 48 paintings that I had room to put up.  I had my Bob Ross doll in the main display, but the librarian wanted to protect it, so Bob got put in protective custody in one of the cabinets I had a few visitors during September.

I collect many art memes and printed out some to go under the paintings. I've Included a few.