Final Stretch of Summer

Final Stretch of Summer

8"x10" oil on board

It's August 31st, the official last day of summer... Fortunately here in Florida we can stretch it out a wee bit further!

A Grand Entrance

A Grand Entrance SOLD

9"x12" oil on board

Just can't seem to get enough of these sand dune shadows and frenzy of grasses!

Life on the Island

Life on the Island

6"x6" oil on board 

Did this one hour study while waiting for the sun to rise high enough to cast shadows on a nearby sand dune I wanted to paint. Good exercise in working quick and loosely! 

The SandBar

            The SandBar SOLD

8"x10" oil on board

This landmark restaurant on the north end of Anna Maria Island is a favorite place of mine to paint. I love the contrast of the light geometric shapes of the buildings against the bold dark shapes of the trees, as well as the festive lights strung around the cafe umbrellas! My focus with this one was on keeping my shapes simplified and my values compressed.

Path to the Seaside

Path to the Seaside

11"x14" oil on board

I've painted this same path before in the springtime, but found it had a very different feel this particular morning, late in the summer. The first one was painted on  a hazy, cloudy day,  whereas the light this morning was creating rich, sumptuous hues!  I like how compositionally it leads the eye in and on back while creating those wonderful shadows along the way.  The challenge, I find, is in depicting an impression of the sea oats and grasses without painting every single individual reed!

Cloud Study

Cloud Study

6"x6" oil on board

Couldn't resist the cloud formations reflecting the sunrise this morning. Am thinking I really ought to do more of these... Made waking up  early on a Sunday totally worth it!

Shimmer

Shimmer sold

8"x10" oil on board

I'm back on Anna Maria Island now after my recent travels to San Antonio, TX and East Tennessee and back to trying to capture little bits of this island's beauty with my brushes and paints!

I've been inspired lately by another island painter from way across the pond,
Brittish artist Haidee-Jo Summers, www.haideejo.com
 Check her out, she does absolutely stunning work and her depictions of sunlight on water are some of my favorites.

The View From the Porch

The View From the Porch (NFS)

8"x8" oil on board

Looking off the back porch of the cabin... not a bad bad view at all and made all that much better when holding a glass of wine in your hand!

Tennessee Creek

Tennessee Creek (NFS)

9"x12" oil on board

Oh the challenge of capturing the ever changing light on a shady little creek!

Clematis on the Vine

Clematis on the Vine

6"x8" gouache on paper

This sweet little flower's growing on a trellis alongside our cabin. I love the versatility of gouache paints  as they can be used both like acrylics and like traditional watercolors.

Fresh Picked

Fresh Picked

6"x8" gouache on paper SOLD

I picked these from my mother in law's beautiful garden, along with a couple wildflowers once afternoon.

Sam & Bamma Fishing For Our Dinner

Sam & Bamma Fishing For Our Dinner (NFS)

9"x12" oil on board

This one was painting on the first day of  our annual summer trip up to East Tennessee.  My son and his grandmother took the boat out in the pond to catch us some fish for a Fish Fry. While I only managed to catch one keeper all week, Sam & Bamma (thankfully) did a lot better and we had an absolute fish feast Saturday night!

View of Casa Rio From Under the Bridge

View of Casa Rio From Under the Bridge

5"x7" gouache on paper

On my last afternoon in San Antonio I had lunch under one of the multi-colored umbrellas of San Antonio's oldest Mexican Restaurant along the Riverwalk, Casa Rio, still being run by the same original family, now in it's 4th generation. The food was delicious... as were the colors of the umbrellas reflected in the water! 

Riverwalk View

Riverwalk View

6"x8" gouache on paper

Since I'd found a nice, comfortable shady spot I decided to stay put a while longer and just shift my perspective, so this is the view just to the right of the Hard Rock Cafe across the river. As I was painting it and listening to the endless procession of river taxi drivers going by, giving their standard guided tour to the passengers on board, I heard a few of them remark, "And now if you'll look to your left you'll notice an artist hard at work!" So I guess after 2 days I'd become part of the tour?!

Coffee at The Hard Rock Cafe

Coffee at The Hard Rock Cafe

9"x12" gouache on watercolor canvas panel

Loved the bright teal umbrellas of The HardRock Cafe from across the Riverwalk, also the loved the little post I found to rest my back against while painting this one! 

Breakfast by the Riverwalk

Breakfast by the Riverwalk

9"x12" gouache on paper

Another view of the restaurant with the lovely red umbrellas... I actually started this one in the afternoon, but there were no people as it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner, so I returned the next morning to finish it when there were plenty of unwitting models to chose from!

Two Reds

Two Reds SOLD

6"x8" gouache on wc paper

The following several paintings were done in gouache watercolors on a recent trip to San Antonio, TX where I enjoyed exploring the city's unique River Walk area. So many wonderful cafe umbrellas to paint! I'd almost forgotten how much I love the versatility of- not to mention the ease of traveling with- gouache paints!

This first painting was bought by the gentleman in the blue hat who noticed me from across the river working under the shade of a bridge (and trying to stay cool!) 

Sailboats Study #2

Sailboats Study #2 SOLD

6"x6" oil on board

Enjoying the music and the breeze, I decided to stay a bit longer and do another one!

Sailboats Study #1

Sailboats Study #1 sold

6"x6" oil on board

I enjoyed a rare opportunity to paint the afternoon light today. This, as well as the following one, was done off the Bridge St. Pier on Anna Maria Island looking out on the inter-coastal towards Sarasota in the distance. All the while I was painting a group of sailers sat nearby in the shade drinking beer, playing their guitars and singing, as the sun made its way down across the Gulf of Mexico.