Sea Grasses

Sea Grasses SOLD

11"x14" oil on linen

The sun kept disappearing on me yesterday, still, it was a lovely cloudy morning to paint on Anna Maria Island. When the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, however,  I was forced to call it quits as I couldn't stop shivering and shaking... Don't know how all you plein air painters up in the snowy north do it?!

Mangroves

Mangroves

8"x10" oil on linen

Painted on Casey Key in Venice, FL last week with The Light Chasers Plein Air painting group. I was inspired (and challenged!) by the abstract qualities of the outstretch roots and play of light and shadows.

The Cherry Residence

The Cherry Residence

8"x10" oil on panel

Christmas came a little early to the owners of this house, located in St. Pete Beach, today!  

While I don't typically paint portraits of people, I am happy to paint "house portraits!" The couple's daughter commissioned this painting as a gift for them, recognizing that one day in the future, should they sell it, it would be lovely to have a painting to remember it by. If you have a house, a special view or favorite place that you'd like to have turned into a painting, either for yourself or as a one-of-a-kind gift, feel free to email me at cmurals@verizon.net. Though I prefer to work form life when possible, I can work from photos if you are not local, and can give you an idea of prices according to the size you'd like.

Christmas is right around the corner...!

Myakka Palms

Myakka Palms

8"x10" oil on panel

Painted this palm trees study with the Light Chasers group at the far end of Myakka River State Park the other day. Working on massing in my trees and varying my edges.

Anna Studies

My 8 year old daughter was gracious enough to pose for me a bit this "slightly chilly" afternoon on the beach (thus the pink hoodie.) It was fun to work on gesture drawing the figure with my oils. Inspired by the English artist  Haidee-Jo Summers' work, I'm thinking of incorporating more figures in my paintings somewhere down the road, so will be tucking these away in my ideas file...

Low Tide

Low Tide

6"x12" oil on canvas

Little study of the shore this morning. May go back and work on it some more in the future...

Drifter

Drifter

11"x14" oil on panel

Shadow play, abstract shapes, stark contrasts of dark and light, moving water... and I get to wiggle my toes in the sand for a few hours! That's all the ingredients I need to make for a great morning of painting!

Wave Goodbiye

Wave Goodbye

8"x10" oil on panel

Another in my on-going study of water in constant motion (aka waves.) I have to admit, when I started this one I wasn't holding out much hope that it'd turn into anything. In fact, I think I spent much more time just staring at the waves as they crested and crashed, with my brush poised in midair, than I did painting! All the while I kept thinking to myself, this is an exercise in futility! But in the end, all that studying seems to have paid off, because it turned out pretty good... I think so anyway!

Beautiful Day in MiraBay

Beautiful Day in MiraBay

5"x7" oil on panel

I was itch'n to get my brushes wet this morning, but didn't have a lot of time, so I walked across the street to my friend's yard and painted the view of the neighborhood clubhouse from across the lagoon.

Drift Away

Drift Away SOLD

9"x12" oil on panel 

Beautiful morning light on the driftwood beach... subtle reflections in the water... lovely abstract forms in this natural sculpture garden by the sea!