Fresca Story - The Dilemma

This is the second painting in the series set at Fresca Grill. Both the lighting and the models were so dramatic that I have decided to make a painted mini-series. The titles of the work will be the only explanation. I will let your imagination fill out the rest.
Thanks to Jared for being the model for this evening's painting.

Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

Purchase of this daily painting may be done through contacting my email . Each daily painting is $150 US plus applicable tax. (Please see Terms of Sale)

Fresca Grill, The Story Begins

Last night I went to an amazing new restaurant in New Bedford on Rivet Street called Fresca Grill. I wanted to paint the inside of the gorgeous old brick building and Victor Vieira, the owner, was great to allow me to bring in a crew of models for my daily blogs! The atmosphere and the incredble food had me staying much longer than I intended. The sea bass on a foundation of truffled polenta with avocados and grilled tomatoes had me transported out of my everyday existence. This sounds dramatic but that is the essence of the Fresca Grill. Do yourself a favor and check this place out!

Looking through my material from that night, I found it read like a scrambled drama. I have decided to try to tell this mini drama through my daily paintings so stay tuned and read the titles to follow the story! Special thanks to Tasha who not only waited on us but is tonight's model and to Victor who so gracously let me use his beautiful restaurant as the setting!

Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

Purchase of this daily painting may be done through contacting my email . Each daily painting is $150 US plus applicable tax. (Please see Terms of Sale)

Long Day

I am very luck to have a daughter who plays along with me and will be my model. My favorite poses are the ones in which she stops posing and just relaxes. She flops herself down and suddenly there is the painting! Tonight, she and some friends will be my models in a new Restaurant in the city called Fresca. If all goes well, tomorrow’s blog will be a restaurant scene.

Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

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Taka

I am a huge fan of Turk’s in Mattapoisett. No doubt about it, Taka is amazing! He makes the most beautiful, delicious sushi my sister AnnMarie and I have ever had and she travels all over in search of great sushi. The best part is that Taka is always happy to see me…and everyone else. He beams with energy and excitement as he works his magic making food to fill the crowded rooms and stunningly delicate flowers from vegetables! I sit at the counter if there is an open seat so we can catch up on each other’s lives while I eat and he creates! Pure happiness!Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

Purchase of this daily painting may be done through contacting my email . Each daily painting is $150 US plus applicable tax. (Please see Terms of Sale)

Trees along the Buttonwood Pond

This was an amazingly beautiful day. The sun was bright and clear but the strangest thing was that it would just start to rain with the sun fully shining! Big rain fell twice for 10 minutes or so and the sun and rain together just intensified all of the colors. The tree bark became dark and the leaves just became shiney and brighter! It was stunning! It was so warm that people at Buttonwood Park just let it rain on them as they walked around accepting the refreshing showers! Great to be part of such a gorgeous day!

Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

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Goulart Square Bakery

This is Goulart Square Bakery on Rivet Street in the South End of New Bedford. They carry a fantastic Portuguese corn bread. The woman in the painting was kind enough to let me do my thing so I could do this painting for my blog. I don't know her name yet but the next time that I go in, I will ask her and then update this post. At one time I lived right down the street from this bakery and would walk here on a weekend morning to buy the bread still warm out of the oven. Not much was better than that with a little butter and some cold milk....I think that I will just have to get some tomorrow morning. Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

Purchase of this daily painting may be done through contacting my email . Each daily painting is $150 US plus applicable tax. (Please see Terms of Sale)

Lilly Tending

I love this flower shop. It is called Sowle the Florist and it is in the North End of New Bedford. It is run by a sweet Portuguese couple who have owned it for thirty years. They bring me in the back and let me pick out my flowers with them. This is one of the owners. He is removing the rust colored pollen leaving the flowers amazingly beautiful. This is one of my favorite places to go. Buying flowers at the grocery store is so impersonal. There are still many family owned unique stores and places to eat in this area. I plan to paint a few of the best.

Oil on Panel / 5.9” x 5.9” / 15cm x 15cm

Purchase of this daily painting may be done through contacting my email . Each daily painting is $150 US plus applicable tax. (Please see Terms of Sale)

Little Woman "A"

5.9" x 5.9"/ Oil on Panel / 15cm x 15cm

Happy Birthday, AnnMarie!

This is my first official daily blog posting. I have finally gotten all of the materials ready that I need to make this a daily practice. During the next days I will go public via e mail, press etc. It is my intention to daily paint the things that make life worth living. Painting with this in mind is for me a meditation on gratitude, leaving me happier and maybe even a bit wiser to have had taken the time to absorb what gives life value to me. Speaking of which, I must paint my sister, AnnMarie! Today is also AnnMarie’s birthday! I have chosen to start the daily painting on this day in her honor for it is a fact that without her encouragement I would not have developed the confidence to become a professional portrait artist. She had all the faith in me that I did not. She helped talk me through the daunting fear of my first commissions. She helped me gain confidence and as a result, she has single handedly help to change my life into something that I truly look forward to every morning.

Today’s painting, Little Woman “A” was made as a complement to the previous post, Little Girl “A” that I painted 14 years ago. The two are both of my daughter who will be 17 years old in a few weeks! She has lost her blond hair and has grown to be so beautiful inside and out. Even her brother felt I nailed her image.

Oh my God. Finally it looks like her…I really love how it looks close up.
--James
(so I included a close up)

Today’s post is a dedication to my family but the entire blog itself is dedicated to the one person who made it possible, my sister AnnMarie. Happy birthday, Ann!