Which Doris Homer autograph to put in my photo album?

Hello all,

I came across my photo album of Prouts Neck, Main where artist Winslow Homer had his famous seaside studio (converted by John Calvin Stevens into a studio from father's barn in 1883). I befriended the Homer family that was left including Charlie, Doris and others. I was friends with Winslow's Nephew's second wife Doris, who lived at the Neck and was caretaker of the studio, which at that time operated on the honor system. I recall being given a personal tour of the studio, and Doris opened up closed rooms for me. The studio has since been sold to the Portland Museum, and Doris has died. She lived to 99. I would call her at her last home Piper Shores for lively conversation about the Neck. She was the major if mot only Realtor for the Neck with its private $$$$$$$ homes.

I asked her to sign two postcards for me which show the studio on the Reverse. When I assembled the photo album I thought I liked the personalized one - but now am unsure after switching them out to see.

Which would you choose and why? Thank you!

Here is one of my old paintings of the Neck. Homer's studio would be a few hundred feet behind and up on your left about 300 feet to the Marginal Path which goes all around the Neck. Since I painted this scene, the WW2 Coastal Observation tower has been demolished.

This true mahogany panel is 3 inches x 9 inches and I achieved the painting with a single brush (mongoose round #1) in a single night with a very limited palette of lead white, ultramarine , green earth, red ocher, yellow ocher, umber, and ivory black. The warm browns are actually the mahogany showing through up on the left in the trees and along the path. I hope you like it :-) This high quality paint made with cold pressed Baltic linseed oil has the absolute minimum of oil, so there is no real danger from not priming the wood. And with the lead white added in mixtures, the siccative effect had the paint drying so quickly I could do some drybrush by midnight. I started after dinner.

Below it a post-Covid oil on copper work, digitally scanned and transferred to a printed image baked onto an aluminum panel. It will never fade and can be cleaned with acetone or left outside a 0 degrees. My work is obviously changing. New work is being made now.

The original oil on copper oil was 3 inches square. The metal print is 12 x 12.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

This is me at the Neck C. 1996

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Permalink Reply by Doug James on Saturday

Top

1. Better signature placement

2. More details offered

3. Better contrast

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

Thank you - that is where I am at. I can keep the personalized one in a book.

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Permalink Reply by Doug James on Saturday

Fantastic artwork btw

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

That you, I appreciate that. May I ask which you prefer?

Here is the most recent. Natural willow vine charcoal on cardboard with true lead white, genuine Afghan Lapis and green earth. Finger application; under 30 seconds painting. Perhaps 45 seconds with the charcoal. Same subject, metal print 12 x 12 as before from the original oil on cardboard maybe 8" x 8".

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Permalink Reply by Doug James on Saturday

Not looking to give a cheap reply, but I honestly think I enjoy all three equally. Those are gallery worthy.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

Thank you - that means a lot to me indeed. I am sorry I do not have a larger version of the last to post. I think perhaps the last has the strongest composition and that was due to speed most likely - necessity. I could not move any faster so it all had to count.

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Permalink Reply by Doug James on Saturday

You certainly are a talented artist. Thanks for sharing them on the forum!

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

Thank you again - most kind. I am happy to share them! I am gearing up for work on a new series. Here is a photo of my studio. It was built in 1890, the year Van Gogh was apparently killed. I am just about done kitting it out.

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Permalink Reply by Doug James on Saturday

That’s fantastic. I have several Van Gogh, Monet prints. I love their works.

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

Those frames all over are for commissioned copies of works in the style and period correct materials/working methods of certain Impressionists. This photo below shows the frames I had made for me new series: - one of them is on the easel:

Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on Saturday

You know, I was thinking - I had my first one-man show in a legitimate museum when I was 16 in 1986. I will be starting my new series this April for the light as my studio has a northern facing window. I am preparing the chassis' now for priming.

I should be ready to show this series in 2026 - 40 years since my last show. I am ready now at 56. Hmm - the museum (built 1903) has seen total abandonment, restoration and now resurgence all in this time. Not unlike me.