Incoming Tide

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I can't tell a lie. I intended this to be a painting of low tide. In fact, I had checked the tide charts and got down to this little rocky beach in time, (or so I thought,) to capture the rocks and interest of sea grass and shoreline at dead low tide. Mother Nature had other ideas, however, and sent that tide in faster than usual, or so it felt.  Anyway, I was happy to get the sea grass in before it was completely covered with water since I considered it to be a big part of the composition.

View towards Jessup's Neck

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This was one of those days when I was determined to get a painting done. I had gone to The Hampton's Classic earlier in the day, hoping to paint some horses waiting to show. I grew frustrated, however,  not able to find a stable where there was good light and tethered horses. All about me were horses trotting or galloping or jumping. Not one was standing still, so I packed up my paints and headed to the beach. There I was dazzled by the brightness of the day and the bigness of the clouds. I got my painting done. While it is true that clouds can move quickly, they definitely don't move as fast as horses.

Long Walk Back

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I find that I am better able to see color and pinpoint value on cloudy, grey days.  Furthermore, and for whatever reason, I am more drawn to painting the mood and mystery of these quiet days than I am to the brightness and glare of sunny ones.

Long Beach Life Guard

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Forgot to post this one. I painted it way back in July on probably one of the hottest days of the summer. This local life guard kept watch in the shade of an umbrella. Capturing the color and value of the shade on her figure juxtaposed to the bright sun all about her was the main challenge of this plein aire piece.

Rocks and Reflections

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I started this painting at high tide, but as you can see, by the time I finished it was low. This is a new way to gauge how long I've been out painting!

Water Works

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I love watching people at the beach. It seems sun, sand, and sea release the little kid in everyone. This painting is about the delight and freedom we feel at the shore.

Hat to Hat Talk

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I worked from a photograph for this painting and for some reason, was having trouble determining the values. I think it was because the sky appeared "bright" in the photo but was actually "darker" than the skin tones and clothing. It was a feature on iPhoto that helped me get some clarity. I used the black and white "effect" to eliminate the color and that helped me...  get the picture!

Holding On

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     This is one of my older pieces. I painted it the summer before my oldest daughter was going off to college.  In fact, this is not actually my daughter and me, but in feeling, it very much is. I remember being aware of the big world that awaited her, so beautiful and so alluring, but so unfamiliar and scary. I recalled all the times that I could hold her steady, help her out and keep her safe simply by extending my hand. I was very aware that the time for letting go was fast approaching. I remember deciding that until it arrived, I was going to enjoy holding on.

Circle Beach September

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I set out just after lunch to this quiet little beach near my house. I really expected not to be interrupted while I painted there, it being September and all. Most people leave at summer's end. Boy was I wrong, the interruptions were simply unbelievable! The first one came just a few minutes after I started painting.

You can see them there... two baby deer... spots and all, splashing and running all over the place.  Not long after that, a couple of trumpet swans flew above my head with their whooshing sounds and flapping wings. And as if that wasn't enough...

then their whole entire family dropped by. It is a wonder I got a thing done!

Sunhat Sisters

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It looked so nice, I painted it twice. I had so much interest in this piece when I painted it last spring that I decided to give it another go.  The first version was 11"x14". This one is a bit smaller.

Rocky Sea

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So, I tackled the rocks, again... a different day and a slightly different angle. It so happens that these rocks are located along a busy road just outside Sag Harbor. I never knew I had so many friends in town... a lot of honking and waving. So sweet.

Hazy, Hot and Humid

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So this is another landscape completed just after taking the plein aire workshop with artist Ben Fenske as offered through The Hampton Studio of Fine Art here in Sag Harbor. Fenske recommended that I do small paintings/studies for a while and then try larger canvases. Even so, I feel like the 6"x6" size is a little too small for the great outdoors - even if the goal is just a study.  My plan is to go a bit bigger, maybe an 8"x8" (that's the size of the painting I posted yesterday, and it seemed to work better.)

Waterfront

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I am just getting around to posting some of the paintings I did during a landscape painting workshop I took a few weeks ago. The instructor was artist Ben Fenske, a graduate of The Florence Academy of Art, and an avid landscape and portrait painter... not to mention an awesome guy. The first thing Fenske pointed out to me, was that my landscape paintings lacked depth. He was right. The painting above is one I did after a little instruction from the master. It's got some depth and atmosphere. I was pleased, and so was he!

Sisters in Sunhats

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Painting sunhats in the sunlight is one of my most favorite things to do. When they happen to be on the heads of my two little nieces, even better. This painting will be up for auction at the Art in the Garden fundraiser for the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Bridgehampton's Catholic Church, in July.

Before the Crash

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Whenever I see men lined up like this, I always wonder what the heck they are talking about. My guess is, that if they are talking at all here, they are talking about business. But just in case I am wrong and they are in fact talking about the majesty of Mother Nature, then "crash" here refers to the wave! I love a good double entendre!

The Lookout

I am so drawn to the power of women when they are looking out for their children. This woman's children happen to be swimming in the surf and I can feel her holding them in her vision. She's standing firm, her eyes glued and she's not budging until they are safe and (in this case) out of the sound.

Water Run

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Getting ready for my summer art shows is getting me very excited to return to the beach - such a beautiful place to spend wonderful days with family and friends. I plan to take my paints and easel with me, too!

Net Working

I am beginning to paint for my gallery shows which are scheduled for later this summer. I am back to painting figures and beach scenes, as this is what people have come to expect. The works are bigger than the daily 6"x6" panels I've been painting and posting of late, and they are based on photographs. I must admit, I am definitely back in my comfort zone. However, I feel that this past year of "almost" daily painting, the challenge of still life alla prima and stretching myself with plein aire work has brought a looseness and spontaneity to this work even though I am using photographs.

Jessup's Neck

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I took myself out for a walk again. Nearly the end of February, and I was able to paint at the beach for hours in just a sweatshirt... unbelievable. I actually walked up the beach for a good 45 minutes before I found the perfect spot. I wanted to share with you my plein aire painting setup which has made getting out there so easy. I posted an image below and am sharing the link - Art Box and Panel from artist James Coulter - where you can purchase one if you are interested. I love it!

February Seascape #1

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Today I finally did it. I took my easel to the beach. I have been wanting to do that - envisioning myself doing that for a very long time. Resistance, fear of exposure, fear of standing out there alone, kept me safely tucked inside my studio, until today. I was inspired and got the final push from Roos Schuring , a plein aire painter from the Netherlands, whom I met via her blog and facebook. She wrote me yesterday and told me to take my easel for a walk... and so I did. Hooray!