Moonlight Serenade

Moonlight Serenade

9x12 oil on panel

Inspired by the nocturne I did at Jason Sacran's workshop in St. Pete last month, I went to the Bird Key Yacht Club in Sarasota last week right around sunset with the intention of painting a scene at night there. Unfortunately, as I was setting up I realized I'd left the attachment that clips my pochade box onto my tripod at home. So, though I normally stand at my easel, I ended up sitting for this one, balancing my palette & painting on my lap! 

If you're in the area and would like to see this one in person, it will be on display and for sale at the Edson Keith Mansion at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 Tamiami Trail in Sarasota as part of the Paint Sarasota Paint Out from 5-8 Feb. 26th & 27th and noon-5pm Feb. 28. Hope to see you there!

Remember Your Roots

Remember Your Roots

12x12 oil on canvas panel

I've long been fascinated with these giant Banyan trees at the Marie Selby Gardens in Sarasota, Fl. They're actually pretty surreal looking in real life! This one in particular caught my eye recently, as I was scouting out a scene to paint for the Sarasota Paint Out. The bark appeared very orangey in places which contrasted nicely with the crisp blue sky, especially where the sun would hit it, making it almost appear to glow! 

Anyway, whenever I visit these gardens I'm reminded of the last time I spent an afternoon with my maternal grandfather nearly 20 years ago now. He was nearing the end stages of Alzheimer's when I came down to visit him and my grandmother, shortly after graduating from college. My grandmother- who was one of my first art teachers, is now 93 and to this day one of my most favorite of people- suggested I take him for a picnic at Selby Gardens, so I did. Unlike my "Muttie" and me, he and I were never very close when I was younger as he had a very abrupt nature and harsh demeanor. But as the disease took over he mellowed (considerably!) becoming quite child-like and docile, in fact. As a result, the last day we spent together was really rather sweet. Anyway, the title of the painting has a bit of a double meaning I suppose.

Big Top Under a Blue Sky

Big Top Under a Blue Sky

8x10 oil on canvas

This was the 2nd of two paintings I did last Friday (wasn't quite so happy with the first version.) Turns out painting a big white tent is a whole lot harder than I'd thought it would be! The Sarasota Circus sets up for the month of February over by UTC in a vast, empty field and I remember thinking last year as I drove by it on the interstate how I'd like to paint it one of these days. The Light Chaser's "Paint Sarasota! Paint Out" kicked off this past week, so that was as good an excuse as any to give it a whirl!

Poetry in Motion

Poetry in Motion

20x20 oil on panel

I sure am enjoying the square format these days! In this piece I want to focus on the subtle values and color shifts of the waves and sea foam, as well as the overall movement and structure. In a way, the process of painting this one felt a bit like composing a poem- a love poem to to the ocean perhaps!

 Lately I've really been noticing the impact that my dedication to painting from life over the past several years is having on my larger studio pieces and I'm excited to see what happens next! 

This one was so much fun I think it may be the first of a series. Stay tuned...

Morning Pallete

Morning Palette

30x40 oil on canvas

A couple months back I did a small plein air painting one morning of the sand dunes behind our place on Anna Maria Island. As dawn crept up over the intercoastal it painted the sky and all that it touched such lovely pastel colors, a scene which I felt deserved to be explored in greater depth on a larger canvas.

Five O'Clock Shadows

Five O'Clock Shadows

20x20 oil on canvas

The cool blue/violet shadows casting abstract shapes in the foreground of this scene were just too much for me to resist!

If you've ever spent a full day at the beach you know the feeling of that time of day when your skin has been baked red by too much sun, is crusted in sea-salt and sand... and you just don't care ;)

 Time to turn the page, pour a drink, and continue building that sand castle! 

(Or in my case, get out those paints!)

For the Love of Fog

For the Love of Fog sold
5x7 oil on panel

On my drive down to the studio the other morning the fog was as thick as pea soup...
which, of course, inspired me to pull off to the side of the road and paint those wonderful grey shapes and values!

Night Fishing

Night Fishing

16x20 oil on panel

A further exploration of the nocturne I did on the Ft. DeSoto fishing pier last month, this time larger and in done in the light of my studio.