Receding Tide

Here is another one that ​was incomplete for a few weeks until I decided to get things done! Again, it was a problem with the sky which I have now finished. I love how rocks reflect in the shallow water as the tide recedes. It is certainly fun to paint!

The Dune

I painted 98% of this painting a few weeks ago and had been meaning to fix a portion of the sky. I finally got around to it and it only took two minutes. I have no idea why I procrastinated so long, but I am glad that I finally finished it as I am happy with the result.

Clouds over Kiawah

A high school buddy of mine has a place on Kiawah Island and said I could use her photo of a marsh as a reference. I toned the paper with orange and allowed some of that to peek through. Still using the oil paper but I computer it down to 8 1/2 x 11. I know that isn't a standard size for paintings, but I accidentally bought some diploma frames (nonreturnable at this stage) and thought the oil paper paintings would fit in them perfectly. I am still using a palette knife, too.

8 1/2 x 11

Oil on Arches Oil Paper

 

 

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"The Barrier"

I played with my pastels recently and used a homemade surface with last weekend which was Art Spectrum pastel primer on Gatorboard.  I haven't found the best way to cut the gatorboard though.  It's more heavy duty than regular foam board.

"Tree on Right"

I have to do something about these titles.  Semi-abstract tree.  This is just a study of a portion of a future large painting I intend to paint ... eventually.

I am a fan of this French artist Alexandre Monestier.  You can see his work here: http://www.atelier-monestier.sitew.com/.  His father, Pascal Etchenic, is also a painter, and some of his work can be seen here:  http://www.galeriedecannes.com/gallery/artist_detail.php?artisteID=3.

When I first started painting (and not knowing anything about working with oil paints), I made some attempts to mimic their style.  It didn't work out very well.  Trust me.  However, I like this little semi-abstract tree.  I intend to paint a large landscape or seascape with flattened out colors as Monestier paints.

I think I had to learn to "construct" before I learned how to "deconstruct".

SOLD Zakynthos Cave

I've painted this once before, but it was in pastels and sold it to a repeat customer in Georgia.  Still playing with the palette knives and oils.  The palette knives are so much easier to clean!

6x6
Oil on Cradled Board

Pacific Spray - SOLD

It has been many years since I've played with palette knives, and it was quite fun to embark on this journey!
I used Galkyd product by Gamblin to speed up the drying. Hopefully it won't take too long.
8x10
Oil on Board

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Windy Calanque Journey

This may look familiar to you.  You haven't lost your mind.  Yes, you have seen it before.
I repainted the same scene for my Week 4 assignment in Karen Margulis' online class.
It's bigger this time around.
9x12
Pastel on Ampersand Pastelbord
We did a watercolor under painting.  I used blue watercolor underneath where the orange-ish cliff would be, and orange underneath where the blue water would be.  Fun exercise!

The new painting is immediately below (9x12), and the old painting (8x10) (sold) is underneath it.

Electric Marsh

I wish the vibrant colors would show up in the photo, darn it.

Tiajuana Estuary - SOLD

There is an estuary near the California/Mexico border. I made some changes to the shapes that appear to be trees in the distance. They actually are rows of houses, but I didn't want to get too fussy with it since the assignment is to limit the painting time to 30-45 minutes.

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Online Mentoring - Karen Margulis

Continuing with posting my 5x7 exercises from my mentoring session. This is from a reference photo along the coast of California. It actually was the first 5x7 I painted during this mentoring course. I did spend more than 30-45 minutes on it. I think it was more like an hour and 15 minutes because I was having so much fun!

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Blue Caves - SOLD

For the month of February, I am participating in an online mentoring program by Karen Margulis.  We have weekly assignments, but during the week, she suggests we do two things on a regular basis:  (1) small 5x7 studies in a limited time (30-45 min.), and (2) value studies.  These assignments are great as they will help me learn and get more and more comfortable with the pastels.

You get a lot for your money with the online mentoring with Karen.  I have only submitted one weekly assignment and her feedback is extremely thorough and helpful!  She does not skimp on advice.  I will post that painting later.  For now, here is one of my studies.

One of the first 5x7 studies:
Blue Caves
This reference photo came from wetcanvas.com and is in Greece.
I've never been, but would love to go one day.  The  reminded me of my Capri photos.

Idyllic Seclusion

Another one from the island of Capri.  In addition to visiting the famous Blue Grotto, we took a tour around the entire island of Capri in 2011 when we visited.  It was a pleasant surprise because I had no idea that was included.  Pastels lend themselves to the craggy rocks and colorful eroded areas.  I exaggerate the colors in Photoshop or Paintshop Pro, and use my Oil Painting app to blur.

Maine Tidal Marsh

I've never been to Maine, but loved a photo (copyright free) I found on wetcanvas.com.  Wetcanvas.com is an incredibly useful website where an artist may post their work, obtain Q&As as to their art ranging from sculpting to painting and a whole lot more.  Also, wetcanvas.com has a image reference section which includes (and certainly is not limited to) animals, still life subjects, street scenes, people, etc.  The great thing is that the images are copyright free and the owners of the images must accept that before posting them.  I used an image posted by user "Colin" who posted an awesome photo of a tidal marsh and river in Maine.  I painted it this morning and am still using that fun app "Frame Builder".

Painting:

Painting in Frame Builder frame:

Pink Callanques

I tried to paint this scene in oils not long after I returned from Marseille in July. I was a bit rusty as I had not painted for a while, wasn't happy and thus put it away. Here it is on my largest pastel to date: 8x10. 98% of the pastels I used were Terry Ludwig pastels with a sprinkling of some very soft Scminckes for some finishing touches in blue? I followed Karen Margulis' recommendation for doing an under painting with a dark blue hard pastel (Nupastel) and mineral spirits. The support is Ampersand Pastelboard. I'm happy with this one!

 

 

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A Pastel Adventure

I recently bought a set of Terry Ludwig pastels. It is quite different than oils so it takes some getting used to. That being said, I'm really enjoying the medium!  I have discovered some amazing pastelists: Karen Margulis, Marla Baggetta and Casey Klahn to just name a few.  I hope to study with each and everyone of them soon!

My first painting that I was satisfied with enough to post is "Capri Cove", a scene I have painted before in ACEOs.  "Ojai Path in Blue" is from a reference photo I took in Meditation Mount in Ojai, California from my first painting workshop with Elio Camacho.  "Variation" is an exercise (idea originating from Marla Baggetta's "100 Variations" using the contrasting colors of the red trees with the cool green in the foreground only allowing myself 30 minutes to paint.  It's a very good exercise, one which I intend to continue doing.

CAPRI COVE

OJAI PATH IN BLUE

VARIATION

ACEO - Capri Grotto Passage (acrylic) - SOLD

I returned to the acrylics for this one and was quite happy with the results.
I absolutely LOVE the colors!

CAPRI GROTTO PASSAGE - Acrylic on Hot-Pressed Watercolor Paper

ACEO - Capri Grotto Cliff (acrylic)

I really had fun with these last two from my vacation photos in Italy.
I take the photo and bump up the saturation in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, blur it out a bit.

Another good thing about ACEOs is that they provide a good study for a future big painting.
This one, for instance is a definite possibility.