Merry Christmas 2012

"Divine Illumination" 6x8 oil on canvasboard in gold plein air style frame  $250 *SOLD*

To purchase painting, email me at truegritartgallery@gmail.com or call

774-419-4160 Tuesdays-Saturdays 10am-5pm

       Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I would especially like to wish those in the military who may be serving overseas, far from home, warm Holiday greetings. Also to those who may be recovering in military hospitals this Christmas, Thank You for your service and sacrifice. May you all return home soon and receive the warm welcome and undying gratitude, so selflessly deserved.   

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  I've finally installed a way to get automatic updates to Sgt Damon's Art via email (it's about time, huh?). This is a test post to see if it works. If you'd like to subscribe, enter your email address in the box at the top of the right hand column. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and you're enjoying the weekend.

The Return of "Full Moon Return"

"Full Moon Return" 24"x 36" oil on canvas w/ 3" wide gold frame

$1,600 SOLD

10% discount for military, veterans, millitary families and first responders

            Last February, I had entered the painting above into the "National Veterans Creative Arts Festival". I got a lot of positive feedback and inquiries on this blog when I first posted it back then. At the time, I couldn't accurately price the painting because I had no idea if it would win anything and I also wasn't able to tell when it would be returned to me. The painting won "Best in Show" in the local stage of judging at the Brockton VA Facility (Brockton,MA)  but did not place nationally. After the painting was returned to me, I went on to enter it in the "Pembroke Arts Festival" this summer where it received very positive reviews. It now hangs on the wall of my home where it sits and awaits the news of it's purchase. And to go to a new home and be admired by someone for years to come. 

For purchasing  info : Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

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10% discount for

New Article: The Victorious Saga of an American Painter

Craig Terlino- Boston Journalist

                A great writer and former schoolmate of mine from Brockton,MA, Craig Terlino wrote a great article about me on his blog- " The Good American Collective"- for Veterans Day. Check it out, then read my Vet's Day post below.  http://thegoodamericancollective.blogspot.com/2012/11/sgt-peter-damon_10.html

Happy Veterans' Day 2012!

                                             
                             "Bagpipers On Parade" 6"x8" oil on canvasboard
                                                              $200 SOLD

            This weekend there will be Veterans Day parades in both large cities and small towns across the country. The parades are a long standing tradition dating back to 1947 when the very first Veterans Day celebration was officially held in Birmingham, Alabama. Originally, November 11th was known as Armistice Day, named after the 1918 Armistice that ended WWI. In 1945 a WWII veteran from Birmingham named Raymond Weeks had an idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in WWI. Weeks was supported by Gen. Eisenhower, who advocated a national veterans' holiday. Weeks led what is generally regarded as the first Veterans Day celebration in 1947, but Armistice Day wasn't officially changed to Veterans Day until 1954 when then President  Eisenhower signed a bill into law recognizing the change.
           In almost every ceremony or parade honoring veterans I've been to, bagpipers seem to always make an appearance. The mournful wail of the bagpipe is something that has become familiar with events honoring those who serve our country. While searching through reference material to find subject matter befitting a Veterans Day themed painting I came across these colorfully uniformed harbingers of solemn dignity marching in unison to their somber music. I thought they made for good subjects to paint.
            I want to wish All veterans a happy Veterans Day. And if your not a veteran, please take the time to let those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom know how much you appreciate them.

                             The City's Oldest Known Survivor of The Great War
                                                       by James Doyle

                             Marches in uniform down the traffic stripe
                             at the center of the street, counts time
                             to the unseen web that has rearranged
                             the air around him, his left hand
                             stiff as a leather strap along his side,
                             the other saluting right through the decades
                             as if they weren't there, as if everyone under ninety
                             were pervasive fog the morning would dispel
                             in it's own good time, as if the high school band
                             all flapping thighs and cuffs behind him
                             were as ghostly as the tumbleweed on every road
                             dead-ended in the present, all the ancient infantry
                             shoulder right, through a skein of bone, presenting arms
                             across the drift, nothing but empty graves now
                             to round off another century,
                             the sweet honey of the old cadence, the streets
                             going by at attention, the banners glistening with  dew,
                             the wives and children blowing kisses.

For purchasing  info : Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

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New Painting

"Moonlight on the Bog" 8"x8" oil on canvasboard 

$250 SOLD

           Here in Southeastern Massachusetts where I live, I'm surrounded by cranberry bogs. In fact, the Ocean Spray headquarters is located right here in my hometown of Middleborough. It's inevitable, if you're driving through the local back roads , and major routes as well, that you'd be bound to drive by numerous bogs like the one pictured above. They are a fixture of the local landscape. Although I'm surrounded by them, I've never actually done a painting of one. I chose to do a night scene to capture the sense of isolated serenity one can feel while passing by. In the fall, the bogs are flooded to harvest the berries.

                 For purchasing  info : Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

                Please Help Share my blog on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons in the Upper Right Hand Column!

New Painting - "Fall Shadows"

                 

                                   "Fall Shadows" 8"x10" oil on canvasboard

                                                             $300 SOLD

            There's a great scenic road that runs through the farmlands of  Middleboro, MA. Route 105 goes north through the center of town and crosses Rt 44 to a long stretch that passes through picturesque farms and woodlands that makes it a great place to check out the fall scenery of Southern New England. I spotted this old farmhouse there, which was situated along the edge of the road and noticed immediately the brilliantly colored trees in the small front yard. The American flag flying by the front door made for perfect subject matter for a painting.

     For purchasing  info : Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

                Please Help Share my blog on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons in the Upper Right Hand Column!

New Painting - Hello Again!

                        " Blue Collar Boats, East Boston "  24"x18" oil on canvas 

                                                              $900.00

              I realize I've been lagging on paintings and blog posts lately. I'll refrain from explanations since it's way too complicated to explain.  All I can do is promise to try harder to get back into the game. In the meantime, please bear with me. As I'm sure you can imagine, it's not exactly easy to live (much less paint) with a debilitating injury such as mine. I hope you enjoy the painting above. It depicts a scene from Boston Harbor, looking towards the shore of Eastie (East Boston). I was drawn to the working- class feel of the scene, the multi colored tenements lining the shore, and the eclectic assortment of work boats, the barge, the tugs, the dredge. All laid out against a spectacular blue sky on a mid-summer's day.  

   For purchasing info :  email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

       Please  Help Share My Blog on Facebook and Twitter by Clicking the Icons in the Upper Right- Hand Column ! 

                        " Fishing Off Falmouth 2 " 10"x10" oil on canvasboard $300 SOLD

            Ever since losing my arms I've longed to join my comrades in tackle on a fishing excursion. Though my injuries may prevent me from doing so in any effective way, I can still re-live the experience through painting scenes like the one above. I still enjoy taking my son fishing and watching him reel in a "Big One" from the murky depths. There's something very primordial in the struggle which ensues when one hooks a nice size fish. And the serene backdrop of an ending summer's day provides the perfect setting for the ancient contest.

        For purchasing info :  email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

       Please  Help Share My Blog on Facebook and Twitter by Clicking the Icons in the Upper Right- Hand Column ! 

New Painting

                             " Ready to Score" 8"x8" oil on canvasboard $250

                 Over the last year my wife and I have had the privilege of being soccer parents for the first time since our  kids were born. Now I'll admit, I've never really been a fan of the sport. I myself, am  more partial to football or hockey. But going to these Sunday afternoon games has become a welcomed ritual for us now. We love to watch our son play and cheer him on enthusiastically. Practicing with him has become a great way to bond, and I'm sad to see the spring season come to an end. So much so, that I decided to do a painting to commemorate our new found enjoyment.

              For purchasing  info : Email me at dannyowen03@yahoo.com  * All paintings are framed and Ready to Hang with 3" wide "plein air" style gold frames.

                Please Help Share my blog on Facebook and Twitter by clicking the icons in the Upper Right Hand Column!

Special Thanks to the Massachusetts DAV - 6/5/12

                                 
                             "Putting at Granite Links" 12"x24" oil on canvas
                                          Auctioned at event for $2750



                I am very honored and humbled to have been chosen by the Massachusetts Disabled American Veterans ( DAV ) as their Disabled Veteran of the Year for 2012. I have donated a painting to auction for their "Heroes Among Us" gala that will be held at Granite Links Golf  Club on June 15, 2012. When I was asked to donate a painting, I originally had absolutely no idea what to paint for the event. Then I remembered hearing about the spectacular views of the Boston skyline from Granite Links. My wife Jenn and I decided to take a ride on an amazingly beautiful spring morning in early May. All I can say is that the rumors did not do the view justice. It was indeed , AMAZING! Originally, I was planning on just painting the skyline itself. But as we were heading back to the car after snapping some great pictures, we spotted this man practicing his putts on a little practice green. I asked Jenn to snap a few shots but she was way ahead of me. Upon returning home and reviewing the reference photos, I thought the ones with the golfer were the most interesting and challenging to paint. I was especially eager to capture the atmospheric perspective created by the haze on the skyline. I was also intrigued by the golfer's bright red cap which compliments the many hues of both cool and warm greens in the scene.

NOTE: If anyone is interested in bidding on the above painting please email me at  dannyowen03@yahoo.com   and I will put you in touch with the proper people.

Two New Paintings 4-1-12

"Wall of Forsythia" 6"x6" oil on canvasboard $200 SOLD

             Spring has arrived early here in Southeastern Massachusetts. The unseasonably warm weather we had in March has brought out all the early bloomers with a vengeance. Most noticeably, the Forsythia bushes. The last house on the end of my rural street has a thick wall of the brilliantly colored bushes, which I have driven by now on a number of occasions. Each time I've driven by during the mid-day sun I was immediately drawn to the striking contrasts of complimentary colors and play of light and shadow created in the scene. So before they lost their flowers , I decided to paint them.

                                                                              

"Island Bus Stop" 8"x8" oil on canvasboard NFS





              I painted the above piece as a replacement for a pastel painting I gave to my Mom about 6 years ago. At the time I did the original version, I thought it was good. But in recent years, I've gotten much better with my work and I've grown tired of looking at the sub-par version hanging on her wall. So in honor of her upcoming birthday, I decided to redo the painting (in oil) and I'm much more happy with the new results. I hope she will be as well.

           I love the sense of intimacy in this painting. It was painted from a photograph that was taken by my wife and I while visiting the island of Martha's Vineyard in the Oak Bluffs section. The painting depicts two women waiting for the bus while on a weekend visit to the island.



                                                                                                         

New Painting 2/13/12

                       "Full Moon Return" 24"x36" oil on canvas  Not Yet For Sale

            Every year the VA holds a national art competition for veterans called the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. I've entered the competition a couple times now, winning  third place in my category ( veterans with physical disabilities) in 2009.

            This year I hope to enter the painting above. It depicts a small sport fishing vessel returning home from a long day's adventure. My wife and I took the picture I used for a reference photo from the same spot at Green Harbor (on the South Shore of Massachusetts) that I painted "Green Harbor Moon" (see post from 1/30/2012). The painting is not yet for sale. It will have to go through the accepting process and hopefully through several rounds of judging before I can accurately price it.

Of Art, War, PTSD, and Therapy

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner "Self Portrait as Soldier"

        About two years ago, I learned of an art exhibit which was being presented by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons called, "Wounded In Action: An Art Exhibition Of Orthopaedic Advancements". After submitting a painting , I was asked to come and give a presentation for the exhibit's premiere at their 2010 convention, which was to be held in New Orleans, LA. I accepted the offer with great enthusiasm and started to work on the project right away, searching through art books and researching the Internet to find good material for the presentation. I focused on the painting above, which I found in a book about Modern Art. After learning more about the painting and more importantly, the artist, I realized it would be the perfect subject with which to start my presentation.

           The painting above was done by the very famous German artist and WWI veteran, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. Kirchner is considered by many to be the father of the Expressionist movement. His experience in the First World War affected his art deeply. When the Nazis came to power in the 1930's, Kirchner and other prominent artists were persecuted for they're beliefs and lifestyles. Hitler declared him and others as "Degenerates" and confiscated many of their works. Kirchner's persecution along with problems most assuredly associated with PTSD , led him to commit suicide at the age of 58. An ironic footnote to this tragedy( and also a little known fact) is that Hitler himself was once an aspiring young artist and in fact a very talented painter of architecture. After WWI , Hitler was rejected from prominent art schools and many have speculated that this rejection was the reason for his later persecution of other artists.

           In any case, I was immediately drawn to Kirchner's self portrait and spoke about it greatly during my presentation (which can be seen below). I also spoke about how art has become a great source of therapy for me in dealing with a devastating injury and the loss of a fellow soldier. I've recently acquired a video of the presentation I made at "Wounded In Action" and  have posted it below. My painting titled, "We Honor The  Fallen"  won Best In Show at the exhibit, which can be seen at the following  link: http://www.woundedinactionart.org/artist.php?artist_uid=20 . You can further browse the preceding link to see the complete exhibit, which has been touring the country for the past two years.

          

                                                                              My Presentation At "Wounded In Action"

New Painting 2/6/12

                       
                             " Nantucket Light" 6"x6" oil on canvasboard $200 SOLD

           Here is another painting I did over the summer that's been hanging around my studio. It depicts the Brant Point lighthouse on the picturesque island of Nantucket, MA. It is often photographed, and painted probably equally as much. If ever asked, I would have to say that this particular lighthouse is Nantucket's "signature" lighthouse.
           I wish I had something more current to post. At present, I am working on a very large painting which will be submitted to the National Veterans' Creative Arts Competition. The deadline for submissions is next Monday. As usual, I am feverishly working to complete the piece so that I can compete this year. Last year, I opted out. In 2009 I won third prize nationally . This year I hope to win big. Wish me luck.

I'm Back 1-30-12

                                     
                             " Green Harbor Moon" 18"x20" oil on canvas $800 SOLD

           Unfortunately, for the last few months my posts on this blog have been virtually non-existent. This has been due to a number of set-backs I've been enduring, mainly having to do with my overall health and well being. I will spare my audience the gory details and instead will happily report to you that my life seems to be back on track (at least for the time being).
          The painting above has been sitting on my easel since late summer. I finally managed to achieve an acceptable result so that I can officially call it "finished". The scene depicts the view from across the channel that enters the picturesque inlet on the South Shore of Massachusetts known as "Green Harbor" in Marshfield, MA. Some of my local readers may remember the public beach which used to be located directly adjacent to the harbor, known locally as "Burke's Beach".This is the view from the jetty at the old beach if you were to look directly across the little channel. I took my family out there on a moonlit, late- August night last year. I wanted to get some pictures of the full moon and thought of this spot from my childhood. I remember, as a small child, sitting on the jetty and drawing this exact scene (in daylight) in my sketchpad. Unfortunately, the public beach is no longer there. However, you can still gain access to the spot by way of a private beach for local residents.