Sunday, September 18, 2016

Some Recent Paintings

Some Recent Paintings

So it's been kind of a hectic past month or so... ok, truth be told, life's been a little hectic for our family since around last February. But I'm happy to report that we've finally sold our house- the house we raised our 10 and 12 year old children in since they were infants- and after 6 months of designing, gutting and remodeling our condo on Anna Maria Island, we have moved in and officially become full-time islanders! Of course, with all the commotion that comes along with moving, (oh, and a hurricane a couple weeks ago!) something had to give, and that something was my daily painting practice. But I am back at it now and making up for lost time! Below are some recent paintings done around the island and in Charleston, where my husband and I were lucky enough to visit last weekend. Thanks for bearing with me in my absence! 

Between Storms
8x10 oil on canvas board
(Squeezed this one in between the tropical storm and Hurricane Hermine a few weeks ago.)

Evening On the Island
8x10 oil on canvas board
(After the storm had- thankfully- passed!)


Chill'n 4x5 gouache on watercolor paper
(A page from my sketchbook- working on painting and on my tan simultaneously!) 



Going to the Chapel 4x5 gouache on watercolor paper
(Did this sketch as a card for the bride and groom, whose wedding we were attending last weekend)

House in Charleston 5x7.5 gouache on watercolor paper
(I could endlessly wander and paint the streets in Charleston... sigh!)


 These next 3 were all done this morning from the same spot on the Bridge Street Pier

Solitude 5x7 oil on panel
(The boat's actual name, printed on the side, read "Miller Time," but I thought "Solitude" suited the painting title a little bit better...)

Rowing by the Pier 5x7 oil on canvas board
(Just pivoted my easel to the left and kept on a'going!)

Harbor Light 8x10 oil on canvas board
(Last painting of the morning, loved those back-lit clouds! Starting to get my groove back...)












Saturday, August 6, 2016

Recent Tennesse Paintings

Every July my family and I head up to East Tennessee to visit relatives and spend a week at the Wright's farm on the Cumberland Plateau. In recent years I've been bringing my paint box with me and have realized that I tend to do more "work" while on "vacation," as my kids are happily running wild & free, my husband is busy catching up on naps, and my amazing mother-in-law is spoiling us rotten with home cooked meals made from ingredients fresh out of her garden! 
The weather was hot, the sweat bees were out and EVERYTHING was as green as could be- which actually made landscape painting a little tricky! Fortunately, I love a good challenge.

Fifty Shades of Green SOLD
8x10 oil on canvas board


Tree Amigos
6x8 oil on canvas board



Field of Green
9x12 oil on canvas board


Hydrangeas From the Garden
9x12 oil on canvas panel
(Called this one a "Plein Air Conditioned"painting!)


 The Road Home
12x12 oil on canvas board


The Blue Hole 
11x14 oil on linen panel SOLD



Pool at Blue Hole 
11x14 oil on linen panel SOLD


Wild Flowers 
5x7 oil on canvas



Queen Anne's Lace 
6x8 oil on canvas

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Beautiful Day on Bean Point



Beautiful Day on Bean Point
12x12 oil on canvas panel

It was a perfect morning on the beach to put a little paint to canvas!



On the easel

Monday, July 11, 2016

Cottage on the Corner


Cottage on the Corner
8x10 oil on canvas panel

This sweet little beach cottage has been on my radar for a while.  After dropping my kids off at their respective sailing & drama camps this morning I snagged a couple hours of plein air painting bliss!




Cottage on the Corner II
5x7 oil on canvas panel
 Here's the second (smaller, simplified) version, painted with the last 15 minutes I had left before camp pick up time. Good exercise in blocking those shapes in quickly!


Saturday, July 9, 2016

Dappled Sand, Dappled Sky


Dappled Sand, Dappled Sky
11x14 oil on linen panel

Got a little plein air painting in on the beach this morning, while giving my daughter a lesson!



(I know I'm "a little" biassed, but I think hers turned out pretty good too!)



Monday, July 4, 2016

Morning on Gulf Drive


Morning on Gulf Drive
6x8 oil on museum board

Couldn't resist capturing the "calm" before the annual 4th of July parade on the island this morning!

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Sketchbook Pages


Sketchbook Pages

I recently returned from a week-long trip to Guatemala with my son and several of his schoolmates, teachers and parents. The following are a few gouache (opaque watercolors) paintings from the sketchbook I took on our trip...







Traveling is always an exciting adventure... but there's no place like home!