Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Cape Dissapointment

 

Cape Dissapointment Light House
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
Plein Air

Although I'm disappointed in how this painting turned out, this is definitely not a dissapointing place to paint. PAWA is having a paint out here this weekend. I wish I could join them! It is certainly worth another visit. Maybe next year.....

 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Day 241 Dosewallips State Park

 

Dosewallips State Park
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7
Plein Air

We spent the night at Dosewallips State Park on Hood Canal. The more I see of this park, the more I like it. This particular spot is on the water where the tide snakes up little chanels through the sea marsh. If you like to see bald eagles, this is the spot. We saw a mom and dad feeding a youngling. I think Don counted up to twenty eagles passing by!

 

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Day 240 Seagull Surveying Fort Casey

 

Seagull Surveying Fort Casey
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7

While picnicking at Fort Casey with my daughters, Melissa and her two kids, Melissa pointed out this seagull surveying it's domain. I really liked the way it was highlighted against the silhouette of the Olympic Mountains.

 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Day 238 Evening on Penn Cove

 

Evening on Penn Cove
Oil on Gessoboard
5 x7
Plein Air

Another beautiful evening in downtown Coupeville. The water was a little choppy. Mt Baker in the background, just in case you're wondering.

 

Day 237 Fishing Hut....again

 

Fishing Hut and Lone Tree
Oil on Gessoboard
5 x 7
Plein Air

A loose painting on Skagit Bay of the Swinomish fishing hut with Lone Tree in the background.

 

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Day 236 Double Bluff Park


Double Bluff Park
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7

Not only is this long, sandy beach perfect for wading but it's also the world's best off-leash dog park. My dog, Loui, runs and runs and runs. Just remember to bring water for a thirsty dog and a beach towel for sandy paws. Double Bluff beach is located just south of Freeland on Whidbey Island.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Day 235 Penn Cove Mini

 

Penn Cove
Oil on canvas board
3 x 3

This little landscape is based on a photo I took at the boat launch in Coupeville.

 

Monday, July 22, 2013

Day 234 Back to the Market

So check this out.... I returned to the farmers market in Coupeville on Saturday. On one side of me was the kettle corn wagon...
On the other side was a local nursery...
Temptation on both sides! Did I succumb? Why, yes I did!
Thanks so much to everyone who purchased one of my paintings at the market. I hope you really enjoy them!

Day 233 Race Week in Coupeville - Mini


Race Week in Coupeville
Oil on Canvas Board
3 x 3

Went into Coupeville for an ice cream cone and found Penn Cove full of sailboats flaunting their bright, colorful spinnakers. Apparently it was race week. How sad I was I didn't know this sooner. After only a few pictures, the battery died on my camera. iPad to the rescue! I was able to get a few more photos but not nearly enough for my liking. Next year, just you wait......

Friday, July 19, 2013

Day 232 Lone Tree Mini


Lone Tree
Oil on canvas board
3 x 3
Plein Air

This huge, beautiful old tree stands alone on a small hill jutting out from the campground. Often, an eagle can be found roosting on it's uppermost branches. At high tide it is completely surrounded by water. It's simply impossible not to paint a picture of Lone Tree while staying at this campground.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Day 231 Fishing Hut at Sunset

 

Swinomish Fishing Hut at Sunset
Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board

3 x 3

Another mini from the campground near La Conner....

 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 230 Coupeville Wharf in Miniature


Coupeville Wharf
Oil on canvas board
3 x 3

Once upon a time I thought I would have more opportunities to paint while camping than at home. Boy was I wrong. In an attempt to continue squeezing daily painting in, while on the road, I've started painting even smaller. Creating these tiny pieces has been surprisingly satisfying.

 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Day 229 technical difficulties...

I've been using my IPad to take photos of paintings and post to my blog while on the road. Well, apparently iPad chargers and small puddles of undiscovered water in you motorhome sink don't mix. With a new charger plugged in, I'm back in business!

Swinomish Fishing Hut - Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7

One of my favorite local camping grounds is a Thousand Trails park just outside of La Conner on the Swinomish Indian Reservation. One of my favorite painting subjects visible from park is this cool little fishing hut next to the Skagit Bay.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Day 228 Monastery Roses

 

Monastery Roses

6 x 6
Oil on Gessobord

 

My husband's aunt is a nun living and working in a monastery in Rapid City. Sister Florence is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet and it's always a pleasure visiting her and staying at the monastery. One afternoon, while the family was out enjoying a popular tourist attraction, I got to stay in the peace and quiet of the monastery and paint roses in the back courtyard. Lucky me!

 

Day 227 Little cloud study

 

Cloud Study
5 x 7
Oil on Gessobord

Practicing clouds again.....

 

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Day 226 Adirondack Chairs

 

Melissa's Adriondack Chairs
Oil on Canvas Board
5 x 7

It's not summer without a painting of Adirondack chairs. These two happen to be in Melissa's front yard. They've caught my eye more than once. One summer evening, I couldn't say no any longer. So here they are, loosely painted.

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

What day are we on?

It's easy to loose track of the days while on the island.....

Chatfield State Park, Colorado - Plein Air
8 x 10
Oil on Canvas Board

This is one of my favorite plein air landscapes from our recent trip to Colorado and Wyoming. It's another state park very close to my sister-in-law Beth's home. Ah, the painting opportunities there! Can't wait to go back and paint some more!

 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Day 224 Horse Barn off Hollyberry

 

Horse Barn off Hollyberry - Plein Air

Oil on canvas board

5 x 7

A funky little painting of a horse barn near our cabin, just before sunset.

 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Day 223 Coupeville Farmers Market

I thought I would give selling at the Coupeville Farmers Market a try this weekend. The weather was gorgeous and the people were friendly. The experience was great for the ego but not so great for the pocket book. Ah we'll. I did have a good time, a great pizza for lunch and a free box of raspberries from a wonderful booth neighbor. :)

My quick set up. I decided to paint as people wandered by. Almost finished my painting for the day!l

 

Day 222 Oops!

Oops! I headed out to enjoy the Fourth of July on the island without photos of my latest paintings. So instead I'm posting a couple of pics I took on our recent trip to Mt. Rushmore. Now there is a place that will make you feel patriotic! Amazing!

And here is my oldest daughter enjoying the mountain..... :)
I hope you had a great 4th of July!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Day 221 Beth's Pond #2

 
Beth's Pond #2 - Plein Air
Oil on Canvas Board
8 x 10
 
When time was short Beth's pond, as we like to call it, was an
excellent place to kick out another daily painting. Those thunderheads
in the distance grew to a whopper of a thunder and lightening storm.
Fortunately, it also came with a good dose of rain. The last thing
Colorado needs now is another forest fire.

Day 220 First attempt at a Nocturne

 
Nocturne #1 - Plein Air
Oil on Gessobord
5 x 7
 
I thought I would give plein air painting at night a try. It looks like
I need to practice this a lot more. :)  The headlamp I wore lit
the painting and my palette pretty well. I wasn't, however,
prepared for the bug onslaught. I had to spend some time the next
day picking off all the little bugs from my painting. Ugh.
 


Monday, July 1, 2013

Day 219 Beth's Pond

 
Beth's Pond - Plein Air
Oil on Gessobord
6 x 6
 
My sister-in-law Beth lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
near Denver, a terrific location. There is also a pond nearby
with some great old cottonwood trees. How convenient for me!
Thanks again, Beth, for your wonderful hospitality. I really wish we could've stayed longer. :)