Catamaran and Clouds

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I painted this while sitting in a beach chair looking out across Noyac Bay. Life is good.

A Duck Happening

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I so loved painting this. I thoroughly enjoyed the shadows and white whites, the reflections and quirky little duck shapes. They are so funny, nervous wrecks running away from me and my camera!

Rose Hips

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The latest Daily Paintworks Challenge required priming the painting surface with a bright color and celebrating the arrival of autumn. I started with a background of lime green and cut some rose hips from my garden to welcome in the new season. When I "googled" rose hips to check the spelling, I was surprised to find out that they are edible. In fact, rose hips, which are the seed pods of roses, make a delicious hot tea.  Hmmmm.

Peach Roses

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For years, I painted from photographs, primarily because the actual time I had to paint was scarce and intermittent. Yup, I was raising my family! But now, with an empty nest, I have stretches of uninterrupted time and so I've set a personal goal to paint from life - indoors and out. Here's a little still life I painted in the studio today.

Warm Welcome

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I've decided to do a little series of paintings featuring the architectural gems in Sag Harbor. This house, which is a retail space now, sits up high on Main Street. When the sun is setting in summer, it lights up the entry way of this old beauty - making for a very warm welcome.

Open Roses

            

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These roses were cut from my garden today. There is something lovely about late season blooms. They look like they had to struggle to appear. Even on their very first day, they are somehow weaker and more fragile than their early season predecessors who unfurled firmly and in full color confidence. These late bloomers fall open as if gasping, having made it just in time to see another day. They make me happy and sad. Happy because they assure me that a handful of warm sunny days lie ahead, and sad that it is only a handful.

Crown Jewel

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This is the tippy top of my town's municipal building. To my mind, it is the crown jewel of Sag Harbor. It is visible from the bridge when you drive into town, and you can see it from virtually any spot along Main Street if you look up!

A Cup of Flower

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I was not in the mood for a cup of coffee this morning. I decided on a cup of flower.

Garden 'Bud'dies"

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     Here's another plein aire piece that I painted using only three colors - red, yellow and blue. I painted this on an overcast day, and while that made it more comfortable for me physically, it made it a little more difficult for me as an artist. The very definite darks and lights that a sunny day naturally creates with highlights and shadow were missing. So the variations in the greens were subtle and especially challenging. The silver lining of this cloudy day was that it made drawing attention to the focus of the painting, the little zinnia buddies - easier than usual.  This painting outside stuff is teaching me lots. I am going to keep at it with a very new respect for plein aire painters!

Orange Zinnias

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     I am in love with zinnias. They are a great flower to paint!  They don't wilt under the hot lights and can last overnight if I don't finish in one painting session. I also love the fact that I grew these colorful babies from seed.

Stand-art Oil

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The challenge this week - to paint what you paint with. Here is my entry, and I must admit I am very satisfied.  I especially like the movement of the brushstrokes and color variation. I really paid attention to temperature and I'm sure that added to the overall success. Thanks for looking. You can see other artists' entries by clicking on the "Daily Paintworks Challenge," icon on this blog.

Allow Myself to Introduce Myself

                
     This is my submission to the weekly painting challenge sponsored by Daily Paint Works - yes, a self-portrait. You need a lot, and I mean a lot, of self-love to stare at yourself in a mirror for a few hours while trying to paint a convincing portrait of yourself. I decided early into it to add a slight smile to my countenance, it served as a facelift of sorts. And so, with a wink and a nod to Austin Powers, I say, "Allow myself to introduce myself!"   Click here to see other artists' self-portraits                             

Grey Morning at Hook Pond

                                                                              

     Stepped out of my comfort zone yesterday and painted out of doors with other artists! This is very, very big for me. As a certifiably certified perfectionist, I only want people to see the artwork when it is done... never in process. So this was big - as I have already stated.
     The group of artists belong to the Artist Alliance of Easthampton NY. They are a great bunch and we met at Hook Pond. While the sun never actually stuck its head out all morning, at least it did not rain. Ironically, when I packed up my paints earlier in the day to set out on my new plein aire adventure, I threw in a tube of grey - not a regular in my palette. As the title of this painting implies...  grabbing the grey turned out to be a perfect idea!

Alone Time?

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     This little painting is my submission to the weekly challenge hosted by Daily Paint Works. Must say, I found the background a bit tough going. I am happy with the finished piece, and especially like her  bag and shoes.

Sea Dog Run

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         This little guy wore me out chasing him around the beach with my camera last summer - hence the title!  It was worth the effort, though, because I got quite a few good shots of him. This is my first dog painting - and it was quite fun. I might paint another - perhaps this old dog has learned a new trick! (Had to go there.)