Reeds

Reeds SOLD

5"x7" oil on panel

Inspired by the beautiful colors of a pond in my neighborhood and challenged by the idea of depicting the grasses both over and under the water (along with various reflections) this morning's little quick 1 hour study proved quite ambitious!

All Rolled Up And No Place To Go

All Rolled Up And No Place To Go SOLD

8"x10" oil on linen

I can't tell you how delighted I was to discover this field near my house full of hay bales last week! I often drive by it at various times of day and even without the rolls of hay it's a pretty pasture that I've had in the back of my mind to paint for some time. But now that its dotted with these great big cylindrical forms though out, casting long shadows and subtly shifting colors with the movement of the sun, well, its just that much better!

Morning Stretch

Morning Stretch

8"x10" oil on canvas

It was a brisk to say the least this past Sunday morning, but warm enough in the sun (as long as you were wearing a couple layers!) Itching to paint, but not wanting to stray too far from my kids- who were most content to stay in their pj's, under blankets, playing on their iPads all morning- I returned to the little mound of sand in the backyard that's been my muse lately, loving the long delicate seagrass shadows stretching out across the path as the sun was rising.

Enlightenment

 Enlightenment

12"x12" oil on cradled wood panel

I began this one last week on a rather overcast morning. I returned to the same place a few days later, but the light was different, quite a bit brighter.  I then had a decision to make, do I paint into the effect or simply add a few more strokes to resolve the original painting? As I stood there at my easel debating, the sun came out from behind some clouds, setting aglow the tips of the tree branches and bushes. That's when I realized the decision was pretty much made for me! Over the course of the next couple hours there were times I thought "that's it, I really ought to put the brush down now." But at the same time, I knew there were still unresolved parts. So... I persevered, continuing to work at it, keenly aware of the fine line between "over working" a painting and the desire to "get it right." In the end- thankfully- I think it leans more toward the later than the former!

The "money shot" ;)

In the Field

In the Field

11"x14" oil on panel

Ever heard the expression "I'm as happy as a painter in a field full of hay bales?"

(Well, now you have!)

Light Play on Sand

Light Play on Sand

8"x10" oil on canvas

I read yesterday about a series of small paintings plein air master, Kevin Macpherson, did some years back of a nearby pond. The term "series" is perhaps too modest a description for what came to be called the Pond Project... in which he produced 368 paintings of that pond to be exact! In reading about the project I noted his comment of how "the same view produced endless composition choices." 

Anyway, it got me thinking about the little path out to the beach behind our place that I've done several paintings of now, each somewhat different, depending on my perspective, the time of day and the weather. Though I don't anticipate doing anywhere near 368 studies of it, I like the idea of really observing it, as a kind of visual diary of sorts. Already, just in the 7 or 8 studies I've done so far,  I'm starting to notice more acutely the subtle shifts in chroma and temperature of the undulating sand and footprint shadows that make up this path... and I've not even begun to scratch the surface! 

So bear with me as you may likely see many more views of this path in the future...

Dunes at Dusk

Dunes at Dusk

8"x10" oil on canvas

Started this one last week, but lost my light about 45 minutes into it, which is often the case when painting the effects of dawn or dusk. Returned yesterday afternoon at the same time to bring it to completion. I was drawn to the patterns of glowing violet shadows and lovely whisps of gold along this path on Coquina Beach.

Serene Pond

Serene Pond

8"x10" oil on panel

Yesterday was one of those mornings where it wasn't exactly raining, but it sure wasn't dry by any means! I met up with The Light Chasers painting group at Sarasota's Rothenbach Park and after watching a great demo by one of the other artists, Joseph Melancon, I decided to do a quick painting of a nearby pond. I have to admit, normally I don't get too excited by the flat light of a cloudy day, but the work of a fellow artist I follow on Facebook, by the name of Edwin Bertolet, has been inspiring me lately. He does an excellent job, in my opinion, of capturing the quiet beauty and serene elegance of a landscape in his paintings, which is what I too tried to reflect in my depiction of this scene. 

Old Red

Old Red

9x12 oil on panel

So, what's a plein air painter to do on the coldest day we Floridians have experienced all winter? Why, put on several layers of clothes (the ones usually reserved for out annual ski trip) and go outside and paint of course?! And yes, I'm well aware that mid 40's is nothing compared to much of the rest of the country, but it's all relative! Anyway, while scouting out a good spot this morning I happened upon this little dirt path about a mile away from my house. The object at the end of it was actually an old red (fading to pink) couch that someone had apparently just dumped and left. Decided to use my "artistic license" and turn it into an old red truck instead!

Morning on Coquina Beach

Morning on Coquina Beach SOLD

9"x12" oil on panel

First painting of the new year! (Ok, so in full disclosure this is actually the 2nd, but the one I did on New Years Day turned out to be a dud and ended up getting wiped off... overcast day + moving boat in the water = fail. Oh well!) The sun was a welcomed sight this morning as I headed off to the south end of the island for a couple hours of painting before everyone else in the house woke up.