New Paintings .... Greens and Blues

One of the most important things to learn and understand when painting landscapes outdoors is accurately mixing greens & blues.    A hillside covered with brush is one of the hardest images to capture when painting on-site.    The intensity of the sun can trick you into painting the greens (& blues!) more vividly than they are.    The first two paintings below were painted outdoors onsite in one sitting.   I was happy I didn't intensify the saturation beyond reality.   Keeping the greens muted and subtle was a challenge but I accomplished it here.   The last Waterlilly was painted in my studio with controlled lighting so I dove into the intense blues!  These new paintings will be at the OffTrack Gallery in Encinitas just in time for the Reception Saturday, June 1, from 4 until 9. 

Murhpy's Hills
8 x 10

Waterlily I
8 x 10

Waterlily II
16 x 20

Anemone
Oil on Canvas
12 x 16

This week we welcomed spring!    These colorful anemone got me ready for sunshine, blue skies and cut flowers.   I am not surprised to learn these flowers are related to ranunculus which grow so abundantly in Southern California.    Their feather light petals dance!   Are you ready for spring?  These will be heading down to the Off Track Gallery here in Encinitas next week - so take some time to go and see them.   They may just get you dancing.

The San Dieguito Art Guild is hosting a Mother's Day Art & Garden Tour over the weekend.   These new paintings are packed up for the show and ready to delight our guests.  The florals will make a perfect Mother's Day gift .... flowers that last forever!

Thinking of Van Gogh
16 x 20
Original Oil Painting

Amalia's Roses
11 x 14
Original Oil Painting

Lifeguard Station
8 x 8
Original Oil Painting

Some Like it Hot!
9 x 12
Original Oil Painting

Golden Pear
8 x 10
Original Oil Painting

Garlic ... makes life more interesting!

8 x 8
Oil on Board

Sunflower Study

Sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers as well as my favorite things to paint.   I started this study with a thumb nail sketch including values.  Next I tried it in watercolor then oil.  All in good fun!

Sunflower Studies

Painting Class

Red Silk
16 x 20
Oil on Canvas

Painting drapery is an important lesson in class.   The trick I learned is keeping the darkest dark against the lightest lights to create your folds.

Sometimes it is harder than it sounds!

These three paintings were all about fabric, folds, darks and lights.

It was a lot of fun!

Blue Silk
16 x 20 
Oil on Canvas

White Silk
16 x 20 
Oil on Canvas

Painting at Cardiff State Beach ... aka Suckouts

I went painting on the beach in Cardiff two times this August.   While I was standing in the exact same spot the color is quite different.   Day One we were there in the morning and Day Two in the afternoon.   This is a nice place to paint if you are looking north since there is a picnic table conveniently located at the end of the cul-de-sac to hold supplies!   Quite a treat when outdoors.  I hope to paint there again before the month is over.   Stay tuned!

Cardiff Reef Day One
9 x 12
Oil on Panel

Cardiff Reef Day Two
9 x 12
Oil on Canvas

Workshop with Toni Williams

In June I took a 2 day workshop with Toni Williams.   She was a marvelous teacher as well as a kind & generous person.   I learned a lot.   These were the two results of the week!   If you get a chance she is definently an instructor not to miss!

Lake Hodges
8 x 10
Oil on Panel

Lazy Afternoon
9 x 12
Oil on Panel

Radio Flyer

8 x 10
Oil on Board

Last month I participated in the San Diego Botanic Garden's Artist QuickDraw.   We had 3 hours to complete a painting on site.   Instead of the landscape and iconic scenes in the gardens I chose this little red wagon that was in the plant sale area.   For some reason it reminded me of being a little kid playing with my brother and sister!  I wanted to capture that moment in time!

Taos Memories

Taos Memories
20" x 24"

Taos Mountain brings back many memories of summers as a child.   The smells of pinon, listening and telling stories and enjoying the mountains.   But mostly, it brings back wonderful memories of family and Mom!   It is good for all of us to remember the things we are thankful for - good memories are just one of them.

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

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

Mom's Taos

I am painting for the San Dieguito Art Guild's Mother's Day Art and Garden Tour.  I think of Taos when I think of my Mother. She often said her most precious moments were the summer days in Taos spent watching and listening to her children play.   I think we become a part of every person and place we love.  My brother took this photo of me and my sister in Taos a year after losing my Mom.  She was truly with us that day!

8" x 8" Oil on Panel

Grand Central Reader

Grand Central Reader is the January Painting Challenge for Lee A. Brown's A Day Not Wasted website.  There was a lot of information in the background of this photograph which I decided to downplay.   I like this gentleman ... not letting a moment go wasted while waiting for what?   The train?  A friend? 
Grand Central Reader 8 x 10" Oil on panel

Stacked but Uncracked

Some times the holidays leave me "stacked up" with to do lists, errands, gifts and baking.   This year I tried VERY hard to get things done ahead of time so I can enjoy time with my family home for the holidays.   So far, my list is stacking up but I am UNCRACKED!   I know I know .... I only have 2 shopping days left!

Stacked but Uncracked   6x6" Oil on panel

Shiner Bock and BBQ

My artisit collective Daily Painters Project's theme in July is the play Five Course Love at North Coast Rep Theatre. Each act is set in a different restaurant – one a Texas BBQ. What goes with Texas BBQ better than a cold Shiner Bock? This subject allowed continued practice painting glass bottles with cropped distorted angles. What could be more fun?

8 x 8" Oil on Panel