Tourmaline

Tourmaline
9" x 12"
oil on canvas board

My goal is to finish three paintings by Wednesday. This one took me a little longer than I thought it would.
I think my next two are going to have to be smaller to meet my deadline.

I picked the title because tourmaline is a semiprecious bluish green stone. I like it. I like this boat too. Its a little jewel.

I am going to have to make some changes in the type of yellow I use though, because the one I am using has some red in it. I've been having trouble getting the clean, pure color I want.

Three Sisters

Three Sisters
9" x 12"
oil on linen canvas board
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I took the reference photo for this painting last spring at Fisherman's Wharf in Seattle.

Colorado Storm Clouds

Colorado Storm Clouds
16" x 20"
oil on canvas
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I really enjoyed this painting! This was from another of my fabulous stash of reference photos from that glorious rainy sunset. I was trying to decide between a photo of boats in the water, but this one won out. I enjoyed the more subdued colors in this photo.

The funny thing about cloud paintings is how they look like a big fat stinking mess until right before they are finished. I learned a while back not to freak out about the pig sty on my cloudy canvases until it is all over and done with. I wiped several paintings before learning that lesson.

I am trying to concentrate on composition. I've been reading, and the almighty "they" seem to agree that the key to a good painting is a good design. Food for thought.

Another Skyscape - WIP

16" x 20"

Its been a while, but here is the start of another cloud painting.

Texas Windmill- testing, tesing 1,2,3

Texas Windmill
6" x 12"
oil on canvas

Oh joy! I have been trying to learn a new program (Aperture 2) and I have made a breakthrough. I can now adjust a photo, and then (hold onto your hats!) POST IT ON MY BLOG!!!! WOOOAAAAH!

Sounds simple, I know, but I totally underestimated the differences between a Mac and a plain ol' PC. I will never go back. NEVER, I TELL YOU! The only thing I really miss is the "end" button, and the right click... I think I saw something in the manual about that- I'll have to read it again.

So to the painting... This is a sweet little plein air piece I just love. (I'm setting it aside as another option for the Whistle Pik show. I like it that much.) The windmill and water tank are situated right next to a farmhouse surrounded by fields, hay bales, barbed wire fences, and a few clumps of cacti. As soon as the cactus fruit are plump and purple I am going to pick some and eat em! Beautiful views and tasty fruit. Life is good.

I may need to retake the photo. Its a bit washed out.
This is a test of the emergency blog post system.... this is only a test.

Firenze Jumble

Firenze Jumble
9" x 12"
oil on linen canvas board
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I stumbled upon this cluster of houses on one of Bill Guffey's virtual paintouts. The lines on the houses looked like they were trying to get as far away from each other as possible, as soon as possible. The colors were alluring- I did embellish them a bit, but i like it.

I am learning that painting doesn't have to be hard. Lately, I have not been sketching the scene first. I've been going with my gut and going with visualization... you know, visualize what I want the composition to be and then just putting it down. Sometimes the final painting is a little odd, but I can always change it or start over. Lessons learned.

I like it! Jumping in feels good.

Blue Clouds

Blue Clouds
9" x 12"
oil on linen canvas board
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I so love these panels. The linen has much more of a tooth than the cotton.

Working from a computer screen is very different from a photo or life. My clouds came out much more blue, but I like them like that. I was surprised to see the painting in natural light this morning. Lighting makes a difference.

I may use this scene again sometime and tweak the cloud colors to more grays and purples... just to see what happens.

HAY!

Hay!
9" x 12"
oil on canvas board (linen)
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About a month ago I was driving down Friendship Lane and saw all these wonderful pot-bellied hay bales lounging in the fields on either side of the road. I took some pictures and used them for the first time last night. I had originally set up my easel off the back porch, but it was soooo hot and the sun was soooo bright that I wimped out and decided to work from a photo instead.

I hadn't painted since I went up to Washington to pack my stuff for the move, so I was feeling a bit rusty. I have to admit, I was not mentally in the best of places while working on this one, but I found forcing myself to focus on the process of painting to be good medicine. It was a good reminder to ditch the "tossers," as my friend Simon puts it, and move on. Unpleasant people and unhappy thoughts are not worth wasting my time and energy on, especially when I can put my energy toward something as amazing as creation.

Art and laughter are the best medicine.

And chocolate.
We cannot forget chocolate!