"The Harlem Meer"

12 x 24
oil on cradled panel

Last autumn I was at the up at the northern end of Central Park at the Harlem Meer (Meer is Dutch for lake) with my friend Patricia Peterson who is a wonderful artist. I had never been to that part of the Park before and was astonished at how beautiful it was. Besides the lake there are beautiful gardens and fountains and pathways to see. Patricia and I painted there for a few hours until it got too cold. I later finished this painting in the studio. I tried to not to be too tight in my brush strokes but don't know if I have achieved that. Landscape painting is not something that I do very often but I am hoping that the more I do it the looser I will become.

"Carnival of Venice"16 x 20

oil on cradled panel

It's been a while between postings but I have been working on a number of new paintings and this is the latest in the bunch. I have wanted to do a painting with this mask for a quite a while. It seemed like it took me forever to complete the whole thing because of all the different patterns on each and every one of the objects...a lesson learned. Although I think the end results work, I will think twice before putting in so many intricately detailed things in the same painting.

I decided to call this one Carnival of Venice because of a few items that come from the area. While we were in Venice, my daughter bought the mask and the two red liquor glasses that are hand blown and come from Murano, an island off the coast of Venice. The jewelry box doesn't come from Venice, though, I actually bought it in Sorrento which is famous for its inlaid wood pieces. But I particularly liked it because it was done in a matte finish instead of the usual shiny one.

"Limoncello"16 x 20
oil on cradled panel

I had fun painting this one but the lemons died several times before it got done. There was too much "life stuff" that got in the way before I was able to finish this one. A little background about the subject matter...the Deruta ceramic wine pitcher was given to my family by one of our cousins in Rome. We had gone to a beautiful restaurant in Castel Gandolfo where the Pope makes his summer residence and my mother expressed an admiration for the pitcher the house wine came in. Eugenio, our cousin, never letting an opportunity to please go by, went to the waiter and asked to buy the pitcher for my mother...a lovely present and wonderful remembrance. The whole set-up reminded me of the Italian liquor called Limoncello that my cousins make with the lemons from their lemon tree. The scarf is actually my daughter's that she bought while studying in Italy...I don't even think she knows I have it...

"Apple Basket"

16 x 18

Oil on cradled board

This is my latest painting. Again, I used one of my mother's treasures, a ceramic basket. Painting these things gives me some kind of connection to her and the past. I'm sure she would be happy knowing I used one of her favorite bowls.

"Chianti and Figs"

16 x 20

Oil on Cradled Board

I had started this one a while ago but just finished it the other day. I kept switching different things in and out of this set up until I settled what you see now. My intention was to work with the colors purple and green...so that limited me as to what I could put in the painting. I actually started out with the artichoke because it was so beautiful and then added the old fashioned Chianti bottle and on and on from there.

"Angelic Arrangement"

16 x 20

Oil on Cradled Board

It has been a long time between posts but I thought I would share with you one of my latest paintings. My mother had this bowl for many years and I never really liked it. When she passed away and I was cleaning out her house I took out the silk flowers that had been in it for years and I instantly realized that it was a gem. I don't know if it was the removal of the flowers that did it or the fact that this piece was a thread that tied me to the memory of my mom. In any case, it is something that I will always cherish.

For pricing information, email me at ritamarandino@me.com

"Strawberries"

Oil on panel on canvas

12" x 12"

Sold

This painting has made the rounds. It was in a show at Art Gotham in New York City and then went to my gallery on Cape Cod, Osterville Fine Art and Design. In between both of those things, I worked on the parts that needed development...and here is the final product.

It's been a while since I have posted. There was a lot going on this summer...a road trip to Savannah, Atlanta and Washington, DC. While in Washington we attended an ordination which was most beautiful and memorable. Then on to Norway, the fjords and the Arctic Circle...very exciting and beautiful. Then back to DC to attend a moving and emotional ceremony at Arlington Cemetery for a dear friend. And so, not much painting has been going on this summer. But lots of pictures have been taken and in the coming year I plan to paint lots of new things from these memories.

More to do...

12 x 12

Oil on Board

This work in progress still needs more detail and brightening up of the strawberries. I might even change the color of the base that the bowl and strawberries are sitting on. More later...when it is done...hopefully, today.

If you are interested in purchasing this painting please email me at ritamarandino1@mac.com