Commission

Just finished this piece for part of a commission.  "Salem Mantle", 14 x 11 inches, oil on panel.  I almost never do commissions for one reason or another.  I have turned down a number of projects in the past because I felt unsure the potential collector and I understood each other well enough.  I think that is critical in a commission environment, because each participant is an innocent bystander.  Let me explain;  the person who wants the commission may not have any experience with the commission process, and therefore it is up to the artist to make everything as clear as possible.  The artist is sort of the innocent because  they usually can only "do what they do" and might not want to choose to stretch their abilities when they have been paid in advance for a painting.  In my opinion most commissions don't work out when the artist accepts a project that is outside of their normal pursuits, and therefore if the client is unhappy with the end result, the artist doesn't have any way to offer the painting for sale because it was either so specific to the client or it is not part of their output and therefore the artist can't offer it to any of their galleries to sell, thus forcing the artist to dig in with the client and "talk them into it" which is always a very bad idea.  An artist should never be content if they have to talk their client into liking a piece....if the communication was thorough in the beginning, by the time the painting is completed, both parties should be happy.

I must add, that in this particular case, I am working with a wonderful client, experienced, knowledgeable and a real joy to work with!

Orhans

I have recently set up an Etsy shop which you can visit here.  I'm offering paintings from my collection.  In addition you will find giclees, original hand colored lithographs and some small inexpensive reproduction prints.  Please visit, and ask any questions that you might have....

The Monument...oil on panel, and photo on rice paper, 30 x 30 inches....what I did here was to take a photo from one of my folders of images, in this case of the iconic Provincetown Monument and after working on it in Photoshop, cropping and manipulating it, I sized it to fit the empty picture frame I had painted on the wall of the painting and printed the jpg on to hand made Nepalese rice paper.  Actually the paper is from a different plant whose name escapes me right now but it is just like rice paper.  Then I took this "print" and mounted it to the panel inside the edges of the frame.  To maximize the effect, I then painted the frame in to the edge of the paper.  Because the paper is so thin and a semi-transparent the effect worked very nicely.  On top of the rice paper print, I then painted in oil with transparent paint, and worked the image into the background to make it recess somewhat.  The effect was topped off by painting the subtle reflections in the glass.  I have never tried this "mixed media" effect before and found myself quite taken with both the process and effect.  I hope to revisit this approach in future works.

Hobnail at Night

I didn't think I still had a jpg of this image....this was from a few years ago;  Hobnail at Night, oil on panel, 36x36 inches...I really struggled with this piece, as I wasn't as familiar with making a painting interesting with such little content.  When I was finished I was very unsure about it, and a little reluctant to even exhibit it, but I had a show coming up at the time and I needed it for that.  So it was "damn the torpedo's" and I brought it to the gallery and it was featured in my show.  When I saw it the night of the opening my fears were taken care of and it sold a few days later.  Last week, I knocked the lamp over and shattered the globe....it's the third time I've done that and although it's probably easy to replace, I'm done!

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Nick-Patten-Invites/7129741

This is a really cool project that a designer put together and I stumbled upon on the internet the other day....I think it is so creative (and flattering) I somehow want to incorporate this image into a painting but I haven't figured it out yet....stay tuned!

 

New Painting

BEYOND AND MORE,   oil on panel  14 x 18 inches.  This is a new painting I finished last week.  I use the word new loosely here because it was a painting that I wanted to change when I got it back in my studio.  So I changed the entire tone by repainting everything.  Added objects on the table, took out a lamp that was there, and then added the lamp that can be seen now....I repainted the couch in a different color and the background and the floor.  I also readjusted the lighting to better suit the new  mood of the piece.  I haven't done this in some time so it was quite interesting to revisit this process.  I will be shipping this off to Rice/Polak, on Monday.

           What a cool preview shot for my show opening at the Laffer gallery ....such a beautiful gallery, really looking forward to seeing the show.                                                                                                                                                    

SUMMER WORKSHOP IN PROVINCETOWN

. Workshop Materials List		Explore the techniques used to execute the most important key to painting like a realist: the under painting. This course provides a thorough foundation for students to learn the fundamentals of executing an under painting in oil using only black and white. Working from a photograph, you’ll learn how to use the age-old method of the grid technique. Students will be shown how to create a grid for the subject photo, and how to transfer this grid on to their panel to work from. Through a hands-on approach from beginning to the end, you’ll work on your own under painting and gain the knowledge of how to do it again. Nick Patten grew up in Troy, New York. He completed his undergraduate degree in studio art before moving to New York City where he took life drawing classes at the Art Students League of New York and the National Academy of Design. He and his wife later moved to Cape Cod and opened their own gallery that featured his work. They now live in the Hudson Valley.

 I'm going to be teaching a workshop in Provincetown this summer.  August 5th and 6th at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum....you can go on line and check out the whole program HERE

Artist talk at the Laffer Gallery

Almost half way through my upcoming show at the Laffer Gallery I will be giving an artist talk on Thursday evening July 11th from 7 until 8 pm.  Anyone who wants to attend should contact Erik or Jon at the gallery as seating is limited.  Hope to see you there.                                

UPCOMING EXHIBITION
"Interiors" featuring Nick Patten
June 28 - August 4

Opening Reception: Friday, June 28, 6pm - 9pm
Artist Talk:    Thursday, Jul 11, 7pm - 8pm

''CONTINUOUS''  OIL ON PANEL  30"X30"

 Just finished framing everything for my upcoming show at the Laffer Gallery (www.thelaffergallery.com) ....

Rice/Polak Gallery
What a great surprise while  I was poking around and discovered on Face Book that they already had put a couple of the new pieces in the front window.  I'm really honored by that. Check out the ''news'' page on their site as they have put a really nice welcome note on there as well.

I am so thrilled to be moving my Cape Cod representation back to Rice/Polak Gallery in Provincetown!  If you are on the Cape this summer stop in and see the gallery and all of the wonderful artists they represent.  Visit them on line by clicking here

UNDERPAINTING

Here are a few images of the progression of the under painting that I start all my pictures with.  As you can see I'm painting on a canvas that has a neutral grey ground applied, that is my first step.  Then after carefully selecting and cropping my photo, I apply a grid to it, so I know what I'm working with.  Then comes the task of transferring that grid to the canvas which I did here with white colored pencil.  Next step is to lay in the composition which I do in black and white.  The final image shows the completed under painting which doesn't have to be too refined, but just enough for me to see what I've got.  So I set this aside and work on something else tomorrow because the paint will not be dry.  I love working this way.  I'll follow the steps of this piece here in the blog so you can see how it progresses.

"TROY ENTRY" OIL ON PANEL  28"X32"  

This is a new painting for my upcoming solo show at The Laffer Gallery.  This is also announcing my new website!  Same address, nickpatten.com, but a whole new look....there is now content that will give more insight as to what I do, have done and most importantly will do.  There is now a page where you can see my new GICLEE print offerings, as well as of course a PAINTINGS page, that will be updated with new pieces that you will see there first....and there is a CONTACT page where you can submit your email address with any comments or thoughts and you will be put on my mailing list which will include show announcements, additions of new work, special offers, workshop schedules and a lot more.  Check out the EVENTS page to get details on upcoming happenings.
I'm really going to be more in touch this way, and keep folks a little more informed than I have in the past.  That might be an understatement but so it goes.....also you can get this blog in your inbox by submitting your email address at the top of the page.   Keep following me on FACEBOOK, and hopefully I'll be able to produce paintings worthy of your attention.
thanks

This is a recent painting titled "Old Friends"  I'm re-exploring still life, after many years and thoroughly enjoying it....could say it was my first love before room interiors...this is a smaller scale than I'm use to working in at 8 x 10 and it is exciting to see what an impact small paintings can have.  This will be exhibited at the Rice/Polak Gallery in Provincetown this summer

More than This
40 x 50 inches oil on panel....now on view at CK Contemporary in San Francisco...visit them HERE