Sunday, June 29, 2014

Beach Zen



8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

On-going paintings in the beach series.  I never seem to get tired of painting scenes like this.  I think it has to do with growing up on Long Island (NY).  Being surrounded by water, I spent everyday at either the ocean or the bay doing exactly what these two are doing.  When I was really young, I went to a day camp for six years, five days a week all summer on the Great South Bay.  The camp was pretty progressive for the times.  We grew vegetables, put on plays, had arts and crafts, had music, sailed, and swam three times a day in the bay.  Then came sleep away summer camp...Not a great experience.  No salt water, only a lake with leeches.  After the first girl came out with a leech on her, I knew I had to get out of there :-)  It was an eight week camp, but my parents had to pick me up after two weeks.  When I was a teenager, we spent a huge amount of time at the ocean at Jones Beach, or Fire Island.  Then later, with my kids at Amagansett.  There is no better way to grow up.  I now live on a lake, but I have to say I miss the smell of salt water.  When I paint these scenes, I can feel the sun and smell that beach smell....

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Bathing Suit Adjustments



8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Sand in your bathing suit...I so hate that!  I happened to catch this woman making the necessary adjustments.  Her contortions made me smile.  It took her a while to get comfortable enough to sit down again.  The funny part though, is that she had to do it all over again because she hadn't gotten it all out and still wasn't comfortable.  Oh Yeah...Wet bathing suit and wet sand.....The best of summer....

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Out Of The Office



8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Continuing the beach series, this lucky man was out of the office, but still connected.  Perhaps he was in a meeting... 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Alone With Her Thoughts



8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

Alone with her thoughts until I showed up, that is :-)  There was something so lovely and almost sculptural about her pose.  I really needed to paint it.  It spoke to me...This is another in my series of beach paintings.  I'm really enjoying doing this series and have plans for lots more, but one can never count on what I say I'm going to do.  I get distracted easily :-)

Friday, June 13, 2014

Sun Goddess




8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

I started this painting while sitting at an Artisan Open House.  My friend was with me, happily painting a rural scene with horses...I, naturally, was painting a young woman clad only in a bikini.  In the background was good old country music played by a man with the greatest country face ever.  (You can be sure he will appear on my blog one of these days).  I know people who stopped to watch were a little perplexed by my choice of subject.  From my place on the porch, my only option painting plein air would have been parked trucks....Though come to think of it, I probably would have had a large group of men around me.  As it was, I did get a few men looking at the bikini :-)  I had a very limited palette with me, so I played a little with the color.  Funky and Fun!

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Everything But the Kitchen Sink



8 x 8 Oil on Gessobord

When we go to the beach, it's an escape from our daily lives.  Right?!  Well, not these women.  They seem to have brought everything they could possibly carry from home.  I'm not sure if they made another trip to the car after this, but I wouldn't doubt it.  I might add that this beach has a concession stand, restrooms, and almost anything else one might desire.  You have to love them, though...That's why I painted them :-)

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Memorial Day Picnic, Smith Mountain Lake



9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

SOLD

Perfect weather, bright sparkling water, and this family having a picnic at the park over the Memorial Day weekend.  A painter's opportunity if there ever was one.  I have become addicted to painting people of all shapes and sizes.  I feel as though I'm sculpting when I move the paint around to get the effects I want.  I used to love to do this with pastels because my hands were in direct contact with the surface, but what was lacking for me was the thickness and creamy consistency that the oils have.  I'm still learning the ins and outs of painting with oils, but the fact that I wake up each morning and can't wait to get into the studio says it all.  I even dream about painting...How weird :-)

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Bouquet



9 x 12 Oil on Gessobord

We had out-of-town company recently and to make their guest room cheerful and inviting, I got a bouquet of flowers. They served their purpose, and I got to paint them after they left.  I have a lot of respect for artists who paint such beautiful florals now.  This was not an easy painting for me.  As a matter of fact, there were a number of times I wanted to toss it out the window...and then stomp on it.  As I've said before, it is what it is (that's getting to be my mantra).  I stuck with it and am happy with the results....Mostly because it's a done deal :-) 

Monday, June 2, 2014

Two Shelley's




OK, so here are two perspectives by two Shelleys.  My cousin, the watercolorist, is really Rachel but has always been called Shelley.  As I said in a previous post, Shelley is the impetus for my art adventure.  She just sent me this photo of the initial sketch she did while on the road, so I thought I'd post hers and mine together.  She works in watercolor and is quite accomplished.  I painted mine in oil from the photo she took in Atlantic City.  I'm enjoying her trip from my couch :-)  I've painted two of her images so far and am looking forward to more.