Artist in the Park

Artist in the Park

8"x10" oil on linen

This painting was done last Thursday during the Paint Sarasota Paint Out Quick Draw Painting Contest. We had exactly 2 hours in which to start and complete a painting on the grounds of Phillippi Estate Park. I'd scoped the area out about a week before and had a few spots in mind to paint, however it'd been a bright, sunny day... and on the morning of the Quick Draw it was grey and overcast, causing me to rethink my view! Ended up just going with the feel of the day and spontaneously picking this spot under a big live oak across from a fell painter.

(Also ended up winning an Honorable Mention with this one!)

Misty Morning

Misty Morning

8"x10" oil on canvas

This was the last painting I did for the Sarasota Paint Out. It's a beautiful marshy area knows as The Celery Fields. (Apparently they used to grow celery here, but have since flooded the land and renourished it with hundreds of native plants, making it an ideal wildlife habitat and popular bird watching area.) The fog was dense as I set up, making for a lovely values study situation!

Ringling Ruins

Ringling Ruins

11"x14" oil on linen

There was just something about these old broken tera cotta pots off to the side behind the Ringling Museum that I loved. I first noticed them several months ago when I was meandering around the lawn of the Ca D'Zan and thought they'd make a great subject matter for one of my Sarasota Paint Out paintings. I ended up submitting this one for the show.

Live Oak Reflecting

Live Oak Reflecting

11"x14" oil on panel

Painted this one Sunday afternoon off the dock behind my grandmother's house. 

(Was a challenging subject!)

Bayfront Park, Sarasota

Bayfront Park, Sarasota

11"x14" oil on linen

This was done last Sunday morning during the Paint Sarasota Paint Out event. We had all week to paint around Sarasota County and turn in our best piece for a juried show. In the end, I didn't end up going with this one, but I sure enjoyed spending the morning painting in such a beautiful location!

Florida Morning

Florida Morning

9"x12"oil on wood panel

A field near my house. Couldn't resist the gorgeous cloud formations!

Tucked Away

Tucked Away SOLD

8"x0" oil on linen

From the 3rd day of Morgan's workshop, focusing on keeping the values of my lightest planes light! Painted in Nokomis, FL near the North Jetty Fish Camp, tucked away under the shade of some sea grape trees and mangroves.

Follow Me

Follow Me

11"x14" oil on linen

From Day #2 of Morgan's workshop. We painted at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey, FL. Was really concentrating on getting my values right with this one (along with about 21 other things!) Focused on   creating a sense of spacial distance by keeping my darks in the back lighter than my darks in the foreground. What do you know... it works! Ended up learning a lot with this painting.

Myakka Afternoon

Myakka Afternoon

9"x12" oil on panel

I took a workshop last week with nationally acclaimed plain air painter, Morgan Samuel Price. (Can't recommend her knowledge and skills as a teacher high enough!) This was from our first day of the workshop, painted in Myakka State Park.

Flooded Field

Flooded Field

9"x12" oil on panel

Went back out this morning to the field I've been painting lately, only to find that I couldn't go beyond with gate without rain boots on! The lingering evidence of Monday's torrential downpour sure created some nice color contrasts though...

Field Study

Field Study

5"x7" oil on panel

The morning I painted this one I was supposed to be on a plane headed to Vancouver for our annual family ski vacation... but a cancelled flight (due to snow storms in Chicago) delayed our departure by a day. So instead, I sent the kids off to school (much to their dismay!) and set out to paint in a nearby field (next to the Waterset neighborhood in Riverview.) The morning was rather gloomy (which honestly kinda matched my mood!) but just being outdoors and doing what I love to do helped lift it. And we did make it out the next day without any problem. 

It's been a week now since I last painted and I'm realizing that's the longest I've been away from my easel in many months.... now that the mountainous pile of ski clothes has been washed, dried, and put away for another year, it's time for me to get back out in the field!