Thursday, October 31, 2013

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Day 299 Coupeville Pumpkin Patch Visit


Coupeville Pumpkin Patch Visit
Plein Air
5 x 7
Oil on Canvas board

Sherman Farm's pumpkin patch on Ebey's landing near Coupeville is
a terrific place to spend a sunny, fall afternoon. I've always admired this
tall, narrow building. Next time I see Mr. Sherman I'll have to ask him what it is for. :)
 If you get a chance to visit, be sure to try the sugar cookies. They're fabulous!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Day 298 Victoria and Tea

 

Victoria and Tea
Oil on Canvas Board
8 x 10

About a month ago I had a great opportunity to collect some photo reference
for future paintings at the Tilbury event in Kingston. This is a terrific event where models dress up in period costume and hold a pose for everyone to photograph or paint. I have to say I got some terrific photos. Over all it was a blast! I painted this in Ned's class. You can probably tell where he added his touch. :) If I end up working on it some more I will repost it.

 

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Day 297 Fellow customer at the U-Pick Farm


Fellow Customer at the U-Pick Farm
Oil on Gessoboard
5 x 7

Thai little guy really kept an eye on me while I took pictures of 
the sunflowers at the U-pick farm. I don't think he appreciated
me inturupting his sunflower seed breakfast.

Day 296 Fall is Everywhere


Autumn at Lake Quinault
Oil on Gessobord
6 x 6

The trees are so spectacular right now. I was inspired. This is based on a photo I took at Lake Quinault on the Washington coast last fall.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Day 295 Backlit Zinnia

 

Backlit Zinnia
Oil on Canvasboard
6 x 6

A backlit Zinnia from the U-pick farm in Snohomish.

 

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Day 294 Net Sheds in Gig Harbor - Plein Air


Net Sheds in Gig Harbor
Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a two day plein air
workshop in Gig Harbor. Did I have a good time? Of course!
The class was taught by well known, Northwest artist Eric Jacobsen.
I have never met a more positive, enthusiastic art instructor. I hope
I get to study with him again sometime.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Day 293 House Finch Thief


House Finch Thief
Watercolor
6 x 6

A watercolor I've been working on here and there for quite awhile. It's just about done, thank goodness. This innocent looking house finch was slowly but surely stripping the flowers off a small cherry tree in my front yard. The least it could do, I figured, was pose for a picture.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Day 292 Afternoon Geraniums 2

 

Afternoon Geraniums 2
Oil on Canvas
6 x 6

Once again the geraniums were lighting up the deck. This time I didn't hesitate to paint them. I particularly liked the pattern of the glowing leaves.

 

Friday, October 18, 2013

Day 291 Painting Near Winthrop

 

Painting Near Winthrop
5 x 7
Oil on Canvas Board

This is based on a photo taken on a PAWA plein air trip in Winthrop
about a year and a half ago. Those beautiful clouds turned into a whopper
of a thunderstorm. When all the fishermen started pulling their boats out of the water, we should've known something was up.

 

Day 290 A Smallish Pumpkin


A Smallish Pumpkin
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7

Another Julian inspired composition. Did you know he is teaching painting
workshops in Provence? Oh my goodness, wouldn't that be awesome to attend! Definitely on my bucket list.....

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Day 289 A Squash

 

A Squash
Oil on Canvas Board
6 x 6

I will freely admit that I modeled this set up after one of my favorite daily painters, Julian Merrow-Smith. His blog, Postcard from Provence, is a must see. This Englishman living in Provence is on his 2031st daily painting! How amazing is that?

 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Day 288 Pear in Sherbet Glass



 
Pear in Sherbet Glass
Oil on Canvas Board
6 x 6
Sold
 
Here is another summer, still life find. When I spotted this pretty,
little, green, glass bowl in an Astoria antique shop, I knew it had to be mine.
 
I've been using a little hand mirror to double check my paintings. Something
about seeing it in reverse really makes you see with a fresh eye. It
helped me catch some serious drawing errors in this particular painting.



Monday, October 14, 2013

Day 287 Basket with Fruit

 
Basket with Fruit
Oil on Canvas Board
6 x 6
 
Oh, I struggled with this piece. The cute little Asian basket I found
in an Astoria thrift store is not quite so cute to me anymore...

Day 286 Rose HIps - Plein Air

 
Rose Hips - Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board
 5 x 6
 
I had an opportunity to paint plein air on a grey fall morning
last week. The monochromatic landscape just wasn't making my heart
beat faster. I did, though, spot these beautiful rose hips. Now the
blood was moving....

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Day 285 Silver and Begonias

 
Silver and Begonias
Oil on Gessobord
6 x 6
 
Begonia flowers are wonderful. They are so sculptural and come in
such eye popping colors. I couldn't let summer go without trying to
paint a few.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Day 284 Silver Still Life

 
Silver Still Life
Oil on Gessobord
6 x 6
 
A still life I almost forgot to post. I'm very fond of this little silver
piece although I don't know exactly it is. It has a lovely patina.
 I'm assuming it is a little vase but it is a tad bit wide for that.
Any ideas?

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Day 283 Pumpkin Study 3

 
Pumpkin  Flower Study 3
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7
Plein Air
 
This is it, my favorite study. I think that's it for the pumpkin
flowers this year. Not the last of the pumpkins though..... 

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Day 282 Pumpkin Flower Study 2



Pumpkin Flower Study 2
Oil on Canvas Board
6 x 6
Plein Air
 
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit a pumpkin patch
to paint when the pumpkin flowers were still blooming. I came away with a
painting I was really pleased with. Every year since, I tried to
get back while there were still flowers but wasn't successful.
This year, by golly, they were still there. So I tried to recreate what had
worked so well before. Sheesh! It's turned out to be far more difficult
than I had anticipated.... I'll post my favorite attempt tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Day 281 Pumpkin Flower Study 1

 
Pumpkin Flower Study 1
Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7
 
I have a passion for pumpkins. It's as simple as that. I think it all
stems from a magical morning visit to a sparkly, dew covered
pumpkin patch as a child. Although, it could also be their lovely,
intense color of orange and their voluptuous, round shapes. Or maybe
because they are a big part of one of my favorite holidays.
Whatever the reason, pumpkins rock.

Day 280 Silver with Dahlias



Silver with Dahlias
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7
 
We have recently gotten a new computer. Thank goodness! The colors are much
more saturated on this monitor. So, while trying to represent my paintings
as truthfully as possible, there is a good chance I will over compensate.
If my postings look unusually dull from here on out, please let me know.
 
Mini dahlias from my flower boxes.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

279 South of Snohomish

 
South of Snohomish - Plein Air
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
 
On a fine fall day I headed out to paint on the river south of
Snohomish, hauling my dad along for company. Try as I might, I couldn't
find a river view I was happy with.  So I made a 180 degree turn and
painted what was behind me instead.

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Day 278 Silver Creamer with Lime and Geranium

 
Silver Creamer with Lime and Geranium
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
 
I had a really great time hunting for still life props during our travels
this summer. This silver creamer leaped out at me in a Goodwill
 store outside of Astoria, Oregon. I was more than happy to take it home.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Day 277 Pear with Carnations


Pear and Carnations
Oil on Gessobord
6 x 6
When one feels rusty it's not a bad idea to simplify the composition.
A single pear is a good subject. Of course I couldn't resist tossing
in a few carnations as well. So much for simplifying.


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Day 276 Geranium in Silver Vase




Geranium in Silver Vase
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
 
After spending a summer of painting either in plein air or from photos, I
find I'm a little rusty on the old still life. Nice thing about wet Washington
falls, winters and springs, there will be plenty of opportunity to get
back in the groove.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Day 275 Baby Sparrow Sings

 
Baby Sparrow Singing
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
 
I found this little guy at a plein air paint out last spring on Rosario Beach.
According to the gal painting nearby, he serenaded her all afternoon
from about four feet away. How cute is that?