Bocce on the Beach

"Bocce on the Beach" is one of my recent acrylic on canvas paintings. It is currently in my group exhibition at Lemon Street Gallery in Kenosha, WI (http://www.lemonstreetgallery.org/). The painting is of a scene I saw last summer on Long Sands Beach in York, ME. I compose with my camera typically and I loved this off balance composition with the lone figure on the left and the group on the right. I love the feeling of the late afternoon sunlight as well. This painting, while realistic and photographic-appearing from a distance, is actually quite loosely painted with very little blending of colors. The technique is a departure for me but I am really pleased with the result. The painting is 24 x 48 inches.

As usual, comments are greatly appreciated.

63 Cocktails

"63 Cocktails" is my newest work. It is an acrylic on canvas and is sized 30" tall by 40" wide. The painting is of a neon sign above John's Grill, a restaurant in San Francisco. At the time I was there photographing, I was drawn to the old neon both during the day and at night time. I shot many photos of the sign and have more paintings of it planned. I decided to do research on the restaurant recently and learned that the restaurant played an important role in the book and the movie "The Maltese Falcon." This piece is available for purchase. It is framed in a black wood frame and is selling for $2,000.00. If interested, please contact me at dsimoneau@wi.rr.com with the subject 63 Cocktails.

Dan Simoneau Art: Welcome to my gallery. About me and my work...

About Me...
I have been creating art for over 30 years. Art has always been a major part of my life. I make an attempt to work on something creative every day. I have been fortunate to have several of my pieces win awards in major juried shows and to have pieces in several collections throughout the country.

I graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1984 with a BFA. My majors were painting, printmaking and pottery and my minor was art history focusing on architectural history. I have taught art, primarily intermediate and advanced watercolor, through school programs and privately. In 2005, I was fortunate to be selected for inclusion in Who's Who in American Art.

I am currently gallery director of the Artists Gallery, Racine, Wisconsin's only artist-run cooperative gallery. The gallery is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary.

About the paintings...
I want my painting to make people look closer at the beauty around them. Beauty is present in many forms. In today's fast-paced world I want people to slow down, relax and enjoy the abundance of beauty in the World.

While it appears that I paint a great deal of subject matter, I really only have one subject in all my work. The subect is light. I am fascinated by the way light affects mood and the appearance of objects, whether, they be figures, landscapes, florals, etc. Monet captured the many moods and colors of light in his work and I attempt to do the same in my own style.

All works on paper are matted in neutral acid free mats and framed under glass or plexiglas.