Happy Halloween

We're in Georgia at the Crooked River State Park in St Mary's.

Just beautiful, quaint and quiet.

I found some time to paint the woods.

Oh my, time flies!

One last one from the drawing workshop. The simplicity appeals to me, this method gave me tools to simplify the figure while still keeping a dynamic image.

Drawing

Found a couple more from the week of intense drawing I did with Catherine Kehoe at MassArt last month.

This is done on cardboard, first drawn in graphite using the angles to block in the overall shape of the figure, moving from one point to the next with only straight lines.

Back to the lighthouse

Drawn to paint again in North Rustico, setting up on the edge of a narrow red dirt road along the shore. I was alone with nothing but the sun shining on me and the water lapping against the shore for a couple of hours but then the people started to come by. This lighthouse is on all the PEI tours!

North Rustico, PEI

I love this place. While I was painting, a charming gentleman stopped by, approaching me slowly and carefully on his cane, saying, "Paint anywhere my dear, have a look around wherever you like. Go anywhere out here and paint."

New Glasgow, PEI

I'm painting on Prince Edward Island and I'm in love! Everything and everyone up here is lovely beyond description.

Here's my first painting of the day.

8x8 on cradled panel

1946 Ford

Came across this old Ford in Wells,ME and couldn't resist.

Did a drawing first (on cardboard) to familiarize myself with the structure.

Such amazing color in the rusted paint.

8x10

Value Study

Done on cardboard after drawing the figure first, putting the paint down in flat shapes. Three values only!

Drawing

When I first learned to draw the figure, it was all about finding anatomical landmarks and measuring and comparing.

Last week I had the good fortune to attend a drawing workshop with Catherine Kehoe at MassArt. She taught a very different approach using straight line, a ruler and finding all the angles of the figure. 

This one is the drawing from the last day, so you can see all the lines used to find the form.

The Garden Shed

Another one for Wet Paint

Done more quickly, trying to focus on shape and value while getting those gorgeous summer colors right.

8x10

Wet Paint

Newport Art Museums big annual fundraiser - Wet Paint-was this past weekend. 

Sachuest Point

Working quickly as the afternoon light changes, I gaze around this beautiful spot and feel incredibly grateful to be seeing, painting, living.

8x8 oil on panel

The Point

I love this part of Newport, filled with tree lined streets and historic homes.

This is Pine St, looking towards the water on a hazy hot afternoon. Took a photo after showing my plein air class my initial block in. Because the scene was essentially backlit, the form is not very distinguishable. That was ok with me as I was demonstrating value simplification.

8x10 oil on canvas

Long Point Reflections

These afternoon reflections interested me, as did the the greenish brown color of the water, so different from the Atlantic Ocean colors. I wanted to show all the varieties of greens in the landscape and have the viewer swing from yellow tipped post to orange boathouse to red to orange canoe and around again! 

Chaumont Bay

A little cove in the bay where through the trees the sun lit up the opposite bank. That's the sweet spot that caught my attention. I sat up on the bank on flat rocks with the water lapping inches from my feet. 8x10

Thirty Mile Lighthouse

Headed up Lake Ontario in our RV, stayed at a remote park with this lighthouse begging to be painted. The small building was the outhouse, to its' left was coal storage. 12x12 on panel.

Group Paint Out

This panoramic scene called for a 6x12 canvas. I was caught by the darkness of the clouds, which had entirely changed 2 hours later. I find that staying with my original idea is usually best, rather than chasing a changing scene. This is the last, though not in any order, of the plein air work I did in the Adirondacks with the Publishers Invitational. Remarkable to see each artists take on the same ridge road vista as 40 or so of us painted along together.

Gabriels 1

Here's the first painting I did at Gabriels, a tiny town in the Adirondacks very close to Paul Smiths College, where we stayed for the Publishers Invitational last week. 

The sky was amazing! I don't really consider myself a landscape painter, but here it is - land, sky, distant mountains and the lone tree. 8x10

Bog River Flow

Sitting so close to these rushing waters as they flow into Tupper Lake was an incredible experience. I sat with my easyL easel on my outstretched legs while Karen LaValley painted beside me. I wish the painting had more the feel of what I experienced. First time painting a waterfall!  Another amazing plein air adventure with The Publishers Invitational in the Adirondacks. 12x12 oil on panel.

Last day of paint camp/ Publishers Invitational

 The  last afternoon in the Adirondacks was spent painting Tuckers Farm. Here's that painting and a photo of what I saw when I turned around. An amazing week in so many ways with no concerns other than painting. Painting two paintings a day plein air for four days in a row inspired me to commit to more time out and painting! The learning  curve goes right up with more time spent painting from direct observation.

Gabriels

An old barn sits in a field

Rich soil to its' back

Gentle breezes through the tall grass

And I pick up my brush

Lake Placid

When we rounded the corner and saw this view it was like- "Stop the car!"

We painted on the spot on a hillside next to steep steps into the village. It was all about simplification for me. 12x12

This Old House

Just a few miles down the road, this abandoned house attracts many of us who are painting in the Adirondacks this week at the Publishers Invitational. Heaven for someone who is looking for shapes all the time.

Paint Camp

I'm in upstate New York for the week being part of a Plein Air Invitational

In the Adirondacks. Our cozy group-118 of us- are being housed at Paul Smith's College, situated on the St Regis Lake.

There are some incredible painters here, I'll name names in another post, but we are painting without hierarchy and just enjoying being out painting.

Big groups, small groups,

many different locations each day. Here's an 8x10 from the morning. Can you feel the drizzle?

The Square

I think I've got it! Sometimes the painting has to sit in the studio for a while and one day, I realize it's done. There is

nothing more to add to what I wanted to say. I am ready for the next blank canvas!

Almost Done

I wanted to show the update on my larger plein air piece. I took the emphasis off the foreground rock, which I thought had too much light on and around it, extended those shadows over to the left and put in the pink foreground shape. Not sure if it's done. I'll have to wait and see...

Not a strong point for me!

Peter's Farm

Didn't have a chance to paint during my plein air class this Tuesday, so I went back the next day to paint at Judy Chaves house.  Judy lives next to this wonderful farm with barns and outbuildings which are so fun to paint. Afternoon light is so special, though it was getting cold as we finished up at 7pm.

This one is 12x12 and going to Mystic Arts Center for their annual fundraiser.

My kind of Sunday

Working yesterday on my painting of Queen Anne's Square! What a beautiful morning. Forgot to bring my medium, remembered the sunscreen, soon I'll have it all together. Plein air season has arrived!

Not There Yet

I had toned this 30x30 canvas some time ago and laid in a dark generalized composition, which got turned to the wall until this morning. Inspired by painters like Rackstraw Downes, who return with a large canvas multiple times to a location, I loaded the car and headed down to Queen Anne's Square to see what I could do. It was a fantastic feeling with that big canvas, a sort of freedom came over me and I thought, "Just paint!" Listening to music with earbuds kept the passerbys at a distance and the time flew. Going back Friday- weather permitting.

Camping and Post Number 500

We went camping last weekend and despite the cool day and lots of fog, I was determined to paint. It's been way too long! I wanted to depict the classic Airstream nestled among the trees, being a part of its surroundings.

12x12 on panel. Just added a second image which is truer to the painting. Took the first with a lot of glare on the painting which washed out the color. Hmmm.
As I was updating this post, I realized it is the 500th time I've blogged! Nothing feels as good as being consistent with something that is important to oneself. Instead of thinking about doing, DOING is what gives me the deep satisfaction of really being in this process.  The results aren't what are most important, it's the showing up and doing the work. I appreciate everyone who visits my blog and takes the time to comment, it means so much to be part of this community! Thank you all.

Blue/Orange

Introducing color harmonies in the class I teach by using complementary palettes. Today is blue and orange. I'm including one view of the set up as well as my painting. 8x8

Approaching a Finish

Having made the adjustments in each area of this painting that called to me, I can now let it sit a bit, to see if it is finished. I don't want to fuss over it, but leave when there is still something left unsaid. Not to overwork it then, is my objective. This painting is 24x36, first in a series of Newport intersections.

Painting Along

I'm painting along, feeling good about what's happening in this painting, but want to activate the left side of the canvas. Shadows in the street? The bottom left corner shape with more hue and value? There is still a lot of work to do!

A Bare Start

I almost didn't post this because its the very beginning of a painting and EVERYTHING needs to be resolved. On the other hand, it's interesting to see the artists mind at work, how the bones of a painting are conceived.I began this from multiple reference photos that I took during the torrential rains we had earlier this week as I want to show a wide angle view. I have wanted to do a series of Newport intersections for some time now, this one is America's Cup Ave with Mill Street on the right. The park is Queen Anne's Square with Trinity Church at the center of the painting. 24x36

Pink Hyacinth

Working on a 16x20 canvas, spring bulbs with paper wrapping. I am interested in the folds of the paper, red on one side and pink on the other. I want to give the impression of the flower without showing each and every petal.

Monotype

My first printing effort in many many years! I joined in with a group being taught by Felicia Touhey, one of the wonderful artists at Beach Studios.
Preparing the ink to the right consistency with a spatula like tool, inking the plexiglass, making the image by scratching out, wiping out, basically removing ink in the areas you want light. Figuring out how much to remove must come through experience. 
Printing on gorgeous heavy paper that has been soaked in water, then patted with a towel, with a hand press. Carefully placing the plate on the press, aligning the paper correctly, then covering it with another protective paper, then the magic happens as it goes through the press. I was limited by other time restraints that day, but hope to try again one day!

Queen Anne's Square

An 8x10 study intended to explore a color palette I'm considering for a larger painting that I will be starting soon.

Inside

How nice to be painting in a room with a blazing fire, a cup of tea, a beautiful friend, looking upon this!  Loving Vermont.

American Beech

Painting weekend in Vermont. Did this after coming in from snowshoeing!

It is so beautiful here.

Studio Input

I was painting merrily along yesterday and asked for (be careful what you ask for) some input from my studio colleagues and here's what I heard

1. It's looking like 2 different paintings, the chair on the right and the flowers on the left.

2. The upper right corner is too heavy and the bottom right corner pulls you out.

Now first, let me say, I asked for feedback. With it I have choices. Leave it my way or take suggestions. In the end, I just want a good painting! Note: they gave me all positive feedback first! I love being in a studio with such caring, talented, and generous artists who want and help me be a better painter!

I have integrated the colors, putting more reds into the flowers, lost the upper chair arm altogether, lightened the color of the cast iron of the chair, it now has the colors of the shadows in the paper, lost some edges and now it will hang on the studio wall until I say, "Finished!" As usual, I welcome comments.