Ramsey Library Solo Exhibition

“Paintings of the Jersey Shore”

   I will be exhibiting a series of my Jersey Shore paintings at The Ramsey Public Library in Ramsey, New Jersey. The exhibit consists of 18 paintings of Jersey Shore locations, dating from 2004 to 2013. The exhibit will be displayed from May 6 through June 2nd.

 All of the paintings are available for purchase. Please contact me by email for more information: spdamato@gmail.com

   “Two Lighthouses” (N. Wildwood)     Watercolor   
9 ½ ” x 13”    2012

Please view the previous posts to see more paintings of this series.

The Ramsey Public Library

30 Wyckoff Ave

Ramsey NJ 07446

201 327-1445

   

http://www.ramseylibrary.org/

Hours:

Mon – Thurs 9am - 9pm

Fri 9am - 5pm

Sat 10am – 5pm

Sun 12pm - 4pm

Directions:

Take Rt. 17 North to Lake St. exit. Go west on Lake St.

Which changes to Main St. and then changes to Wyckoff Ave.

The library is on the left just past the light at N. Central Ave.

New Paintings - New Exhibits

  I've been painting at the shore during some of the mild winter days. I'm able to paint in my car if it isn't too cold. The following paintings will be added to my "Jersey Shore" series.

  I sketched this scene of St.Catherine's church a few days before Hurricane Sandy hit the area. A few months later I came back to work on the painting. I was able to park right in front to get this view. St. Catherine's has always been one of my favorite New Jersey churches.

"St. Catherine's"  (Spring Lake)      2013    Watercolor   9 1/2" x 13 1/2"  Sold

   The following two paintings depict a couple of the well-known and legendary Asbury Park clubs.

"The Stone Pony" (Asbury Park)      2013      Watercolor      12" x  16"   Sold

 

"Wonder Bar" (Asbury Park)        2013         Watercolor         14" x  7"

 
"Belmar Inn" (Belmar)        2013         Watercolor         14" x  10"

"Shore Home, Warren And Ocean" (Spring Lake)    2013    Watercolor    10" x 7 1/2"  Sold

  I will be exhibiting my "Jersey Shore" series at the following New Jersey Libraries. My intent is to keep these paintings together as a body of work, while making them available for purchase.

• Ramsey Public Library, Ramsey, New Jersey, May - June 2013
• Berkley Heights Public Library, Berkley Heights, New Jersey, September - October 2013
  
• Ridgewood Public Library, Ridgewood, New Jersey, April - May 2014

  I'll will be posting more information, exhibit dates and new paintings soon. 

Please scroll down to see more work.

Solo Exhibition at The Cranford Public Library

    



“Oxygen Tattoo” (Wildwood)     Watercolor   
9” x 15 ½”    2010



  “Paintings of the Jersey Shore”

   I will be exhibiting a series of my paintings at The Cranford Public Library in Cranford, New Jersey. The exhibit consists of paintings of Jersey Shore locations dating from 2004 to 2012. The exhibit will run through the month of December.

   This show was planned months before the destruction that Hurricane Sandy has caused on the shore. I had some reservations about proceeding with this show, but decided to continue and thought some might still enjoy seeing the beauty of these areas. 

 

“Wildwood Crest From The Beach”    Watercolor   
9” x 14”    2008



   The Cranford Public Library is located at 224 Walnut Avenue. The hours of the Library are:

   Monday to Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
   Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
   Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
   Closed Sunday

Directions:

   Garden State Parkway Exit 137. Follow exit sign to Cranford. Continue into town and make a left onto Walnut Ave. The Library is two blocks down on the right - 224 Walnut Ave.

   All of the paintings are available for purchase. Please contact me by email for more information. spdamato@gmail.com

   Please view the previous post to see more paintings of this series.





“Carousel”  (Asbury Park)    Watercolor   
9 ½”x 13 ½”    2012   Sold



Paintings Of The Jersey Shore

  
   Most of these paintings will be included in my upcoming show at The Cranford Public Library in December.

“The Tent Homes” (Ocean Grove)   Watercolor   
10 ½” x 13”    2012



“Two Lighthouses” (N. Wildwood)     Watercolor   
9 ½ ” x 13”    2012

“Distant Watertower” (Wildwood Crest)    Watercolor   
10” x 14”    2010

“Tents On The Beach” (Cape May)      Oil    
11” x 14”      2009

“Sea Girt Lighthouse”    Watercolor   
7” x 11”    2010



“Port Royale From The Beach” (Wildwood Crest)
Watercolor    8” x 11 1/2”    2004

“Rides On The Pier” (Wildwood)     Watercolor   

11” x 15”    2010

“Boardwalk From The Beach”    Watercolor   
10 1/2” x 14”    2012



“Pier From The Beach” (Wildwood)     Watercolor   
“5 x 7 ½”   2009   Sold

“Ocean Grove Street Corner”      Watercolor      
11” x 15”    2012



“Tents On The Beach” (Cape May)     Watercolor   
7 1/2” x 10 1/2”    2012



“Police Headquarters” (North Wildwood)   Watercolor   
7” x 11”   2012

“Carousel”  (Asbury Park)    Watercolor   
9 ½”x 13 ½”    2012   Sold

“Wildwood Crest From The Beach”    Watercolor   
9” x 14”    2008

“Oxygen Tattoo” (Wildwood)     Watercolor   
9” x 15 ½”    2010

“Stokes Statue And The Great Auditorium” (Ocean Grove)
Watercolor    10” x 14”    2012   Sold



“The Stone Pony”    Watercolor      
11” x 15”    2012

Westfield Outdoor Show October 21, 2012

    I’ll be participating in an outdoor art show and sale event in Westfield next Sunday. The event will is sponsored by the Westfield Art Association and will take place on the sidewalks of Broad Street and Elm Street in downtown Westfield.

    Members are displaying their work between 9am and 5pm.

Directions:

Exit 135 of the Parkway. Follow signs to Westfield, Central Avenue. Continue until you come to downtown area. Make left on North Ave and then a right on Elm Street.



“Founding Father of the Ocean Grove camp meetings”

Watercolor  10” x 14”  2012   Sold

   This is a recent painting from my series of work from the Jersey Shore areas. I’ll be having a solo exhibition of them at the Cranford Public Library during the month of December. This piece will be displayed at the Westfield show also.

Solo Exhibit At The Cranford Library

  I will be exhibiting my series of work of the town of Cranford, New Jersey.

  The show runs from December 1st through December 30th. There will be a mix of watercolors, oil paintings and my sketches. The hours of the Cranford Libary are:

Monday to Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday & Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday

Awnings On North Ave    Watercolor   12 x 16

"Rialto Theatre" watercolor

"The Rialto Theatre"   watercolor   "12 x 9 1/2" by Stephen D'Amato

    I found myself really interested in these old movie theatres. The Rialto Theatre in Westfield is somewhat similar to the Cranford Movie Theatre. The jutting marque etc. They both face to the north and the sunset light from the west casts nice shades under the canopies and marques. The design is from a bygone era.

Recent Watercolor Still-Life Paintings

   After my rotator cuff tear surgery in October, I got to the point where I could paint small still lifes. The small sizes did not become a problem as the larger sizes would have. Actually I am still recovering from it, but fortunately sitting down with the smaller sizes are workable.

"There  Clementines"   Watercolor  "6 x 9"

"Apple and Pear"  Watercolor  "6 x 9"

Westfield Art Association Sidewalk Show

    Last Saturday we had great weather for the sidewalk show and a decent turnout. 

  These are a few of the paintings I had displayed:

"Maria" oil on linen 24" x 24"

"Cranford Hotel Side View" watercolor 6" x 9"

"Wildwood Pier"  watercolor  9"x 6"   Sold

"Perrotti's" watercolor  9" x 12"   Sold

"Sea Girt Station" watercolor  7" x 10"

"Jessica"  oil on linen  12" x 16"

Relaxing on the bench next to my work

A Pochade Box from a Cigar Box

  Recently I've had an interest to create a small pochade box from a cigar box. I have a simple one that a friend had given me a while back, but I wanted to modify one that would be a more versatile and would be able to accommodate my interests for both oil painting and watercolor painting. I don't consider myself "handy" but I learned a lot as I went along. Here are some pictures of what I came up with.

   I looked at a number of sites and blogs that featured cigar boxes and had information on how to convert the cigar box into a small pochade boxes. What renewed my interest was a book another friend had lent me. This was a book about painting from the plein air painter, Trevor Chamberlain. He was using a box that was designed for 19th century painters and that were not really made any more. It was much better design than the ones offered in the art stores today.

 

The neutral gray palette is thin Plexiglas that I use for oil painting

   I sought out many cigar shops in the area for discarded empty cigar boxes. They either gave them away or asked for a couple of dollars for them. Looking at some other examples; I found that I needed to know more about the hardware and assembling it.

Underneath the gray palette is the setup I use for watercolor.

   I used metal brackets and wing nuts on both sides for lid support and adjustable angles for the oil panels or watercolor boards. I added screws and nails to the top to serve as guides and slots to keep two panels for storage with separation. I also applied three coats of lacquer on the entire box inside and out. A metal hinge was added to the left side to keep it closed and secure. The top lid lip was cut out so the two 6" x 8" boards can slide in and out. The is a leather strap which has Velcro glued is attached so the boards will not slide out when moved.

   I cut down brushes and the brush holder as well as different watercolor trays. I also bought empty half pans and filled them with paint. The palettes were then glued with superglue to Plexiglas for easy removal.

   This box is great for painting small and if you don't want to draw a lot of attention to yourself. I found that using it in the car is a real advantage. Also it is easy to take on trips and I put it in my backpack on our trip to the southwest.

   Please contact if your interested in more about it.

spdamato@gmail.com

Trip to the Southwest

 

   Recently we took a trip to the Southwest, which included the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon. A great trip with some amazing sites to experience. Three words come to mind to describe it. Awesome, monumental and spectacular.

Judi and I at the Bryce Canyon

Antelope Canyon

Zion

This is my new cigar box/pochade box that I built

I will talk about the cigar box in my next blog

Bryce Canyon