Nancy Medina Flower Painting Workshop

11 x 14
Oil on Canvas
Nancy Medina Workshop One

I attended a fabulous flower painting workshop here in San Diego given by Nancy Medina.   She has a very technical, methodical painting process that I found easy to understand.   She uses transparent colors for an underpainting and then punches up the colors with opaque on top - keeping cool and warm colors in mind.   As a class we painted these first two together.

11 x 14
Oil on Canvas
Nancy Medina Workshop Two



6 x 6
Oil on Panel
Dyed Zinnias
 



Since Nancy was flying home to Texas she asked us San Diegans to help ourselves to the flowers from the workshop.    I chose stunning pink zinnias (dyed!) and some blue larkspur.    I painted these using her method.  

Spring Forward ... Fall Back Classes!

This fall I have been busy taking classes and have fallen behind on painting and posting my work.  I would like to share some of the work I have done in my two drawing classes.   The first three images are from Kris Nugent's life drawing class at Mira Costa College and the last three are from Frances-Marie Haeger's Basic Drawing & Sketching class.

This was a 10 minute sketch in vine charcoal.   The model was long and leggy and I got a fore shortened view!

We used the side of a chunky piece of charcoal on this one. 

Also a charcoal short sketch - 5 minutes at the most.

 

In Frances-Marie's class we did a lot of different fun projects ... we drew bugs!

Then we zoomed in on our bugs and redid the shapes and colors.

Our final project was a sunset in pastel ... then used a black magic marker to make back-lit objects in the foreground.

 

It has been fun doing some different things and using different materials this fall.   It has been nice not focusing on a finished product but rather on having fun and creating.  Hopefully I will get some growth artistically from my experiments.   Later this week I will share from my "on location" watercolor class!  Fun is Diversity has been my fall theme.

Linda's Roses

9 x 12"
Oil on Canvas

My friend Linda let me know she had some fabulous roses on her dining room table waiting to be painted!   And was she right!   They were vibrant and reflecting against a white linen cloth and silver pitcher.

As fall marches toward us most of these beautiful roses are spent.    However, just as in our lives, the memories live on!   Enjoy.

Outdoors in San Diego!

When I wasn't painting at the beach, my painting friends from Mira Costa College landscape class with Kris were trooping about!   These are in various states of being completed - my goal was not the finished product but rather the process of completing a painting within one setting.    Sometimes it was time to go before I was really done!




Olivenhain Bachelor's Quarters
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas



Oceanside Mission
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas
 



Magee Park
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas

A Swami's Summer of Painting!

 This summer I painted at Swami's beach in Encinitas on four different days.   I have posted these in chronilogical order hoping to see the changes over time - seeing more and seeing better.   Painting outdoors is still a challenge to me!





Swami's I
6 x 8"
Oil on Panel

 

Swami's II
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas
 

Swami's III
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas



Swami's IV
8 x 10"
Oil on Canvas
 

 







Lagoon at High Noon



Batiquitos Lagoon at Noon

9" x 12"

Oil on Panel

It was a "late start" painting day last week when we headed to the Lagoon.    Since I parked on the far side and hiked in with easel and backpack in tow it was close to 11 before I got started.   The sun was straight up, blaring a blue sky with lots of green and not much pink and red to be found.

I would like to go back and paint this scene a little earlier in the morning or late afternoon to catch some warm tones.

San Elijo Lagoon

My Friday painting class is well over but a small group of us have continued to meet to either draw or paint.   This painting was done last Friday near North Rios in Solana Beach in the San Elijo lagoon.   It was a beautiful late afternoon and we not only enjoyed painting but enjoyed seeing one of our artist's lovely home near by.   Thank you!

 

San Elijo Lagoon
6 x 8 Oil on Canvas

Oceanside Harbor Boat
8x10
Oil on Canvas

I painted onsite with a friend a couple of weeks ago at the Oceanside Harbor.   I simplified the subject since there were so many boats and piers to choose from!  

These paintings were done in my Friday painting class at Mira Costa College taught by Kris N.    Kris is a great instructor who always finds something constructive and inspirational about each painting done in class.   Today was our final critique and I will surely miss my Friday painting!

Study of Bierstadt Looking Up Yosemite Valley
16x20
Oil on Canvas

Greek Orthodox Church
8x10
Oil on Canvas Panel



Carlsbad Fields
9x12
Oil on Canvas

Rose Bowl
9x12

 

Study of Rex Brandt – Coast & Pier

16” x 20” Oil on Canvas

These two paintings are hanging at the Off Track Gallery.   I am showing there now with a small wall space and until the end of May - right by the front door.    Come by and have a look if you are in down town Encinitas.

I am trying to catch up on posting.  This spring I have gotten a bit lazy.  However, I have been painting.   One of the purposes of this blog was to record my painting progress.   What do you think?

Gifts from the Garden

Gifts from the Garden
10x10" Oil on Canvas

I am packing to travel to Scottsdale Artists School for a week long workshop with Robert Johnson.   His floral still lifes are spectacular.  I did this painting to prepare.   One of the wonderful things about the world of painting is meeting new people and reuniting with acquaintances.  I will be attending this workshop with a friend I met 3 workshops ago!   What a special treat.

 

The lemons, camellias and lilacs are all gifts from our garden.

 

This painting will be on show at the Off Track Gallery in Encinitas.  Stop by and take a look!

Green Glass  8x8 Oil on Board

Blue Glass 6x6 Oil on Board

Looking out my window today there is a blazing bright sun that fools you into thinking it is spring until you touch the cold window.

These two small paintings of glass are full of bright sun but at the same time have a chilly side to them - cold hard glass.

I painted them using a transparent layer first then over that an opaque layer.

Stop by and see my work at the Off Track Gallery in the Lumberyard in Encinitas on 101 Hwy.  Thanks for viewing my art!