Gated

"Gated"

!2" x 16" Oil on Stretched Canvas

On a recent trip to North Carolina, we came across this lovely bridge.  We turned to cross it, only to find severe resistance in the form of an electronic gate, so the title "Gated".  Whoever created this lovely spot gets a big thank you for putting it close to the road so the idle traveler can enjoy the serene beauty.  The only trouble I had painting this was trying to capture the contrast of cool light and bright sunshine.

Have a wonderful Thursday,

Cindy

"Bench Press"

"Bench Press"

12" x 16", oil on canvas board

I remember the day that the source photo for this painting was taken.  It was hot, not scenic, and the sun was almost directly overhead.  I snapped pictures randomly while my husband fished unaware of my sneaky shots of him.  

I love the strong composition of this painting, the ratio of dark, light, and midtone values.

Have a great day,

Cindy

"Bench Press" Day Two

Still working on this, but I finally got the proportion and perspective .....

"Bench Press"

Cindy

......getting it right

One of my biggest challenges in painting is getting the subject right.  Define right...well, initially it is proportion and perspective.  These are the hardest things for me, and I struggle throughout the painting to get them right and keep them that way.  Below is an example of my pretty constant battle, his hand is too big, and should be level with his shoulder, but WHOA, it isn't. I have wiped this section out three times....now I see that his upper arm is too short.  Why do I continue to fight this problem?  Because that's what we do, right fellow painters?

You are seeing this mess by my invitation, I hope it makes you smile!

Have a good day,

Cindy

Commission from Granddaughter

This painting is a special request from a special girl, my granddaughter:

"Panda Beary"

12": x 16" Oil on Board

Have a great day,

Cindy

"Party Lites"

Done.  I don't know where the name for this one came from.  It just feels right.

"Party Lights"

24" x 30", Oil on stretched canvas.

The big change to the finished painting was the addition of large clouds.  My instructor suggested them, and she was right.  We dug through her source photos of clouds until we found the right one, and I loosely painted it in.  What a difference!  See yesterday's post to compare with and without the large cloud.  And, thanks, Joyce, that's why I study with you!

Have a great day,

Cindy

Party Lites

In process, and slow going, trying to keep it loose.  I painted out some of the houses in the background because they weren't loose enough.  "Loose" is a lot harder than you think.

 

 

"Party Lites"

24" x 30", oil on stretched canvas

Hope you have a wonderful day,

Cindy



 





"Pelican Dance"

Finished, finally.  You are probably tired of seeing this in all it's various stages, but it's done now, so here is the final:

"Pelican Dance"

12" x 16", oil on stretched canvas.

The photographs I used for this painting were taken on Anna Maria Island, Fl..  There is a pier where people fish, and a fish cleaning station nearby.  These pelicans, and dozens of others, wait patiently for someone to toss them fish scraps.  As soon as an arm goes up for the throw, the birds begin dancing and aligning themselves for the best possible opportunity to catch those scraps.

Now, for my next painting.........always looking forward to the next one by golly!

Have a great day,

Cindy

Day Five

All that is left to do is the water, all those lovely reflections, and a few touches here and there.

Have a very pleasant evening,
Cindy

As I paint...

As I work on a painting, I pause and take digital photographs.  These photos help me keep the drawing correct.  It's way too easy to forget to stop, step back, and look.  Other tricks I use to check my work include turning it upside down, or looking at it in a mirror.  The pictures below show clearly how valuable it is to stop and check your work while in the process of painting:

Can you see the difference?  In the top one, the front pelican's beak is too short,  It's not so obvious, and I could have continued on happy in my ignorance.  Thank goodness, I stopped and checked.
This is day four in the still incomplete "Pelican Dance".

For the first time in several days, the sun is shinning, so I am off to get more source photographs.  So excited to see shadows!

Make today wonderful,
Cindy.

Day Three, "Pelican Dance"

Still in process.....lots of color being applied, while making a deliberate effort not to overwork the details....it's tricky.  The lower pelican has a lot of pink and purple in his body, I guess I'm sneaking up on him.

Pelican Dance, incomplete

Have a great weekend,

Cindy

Workin' on it, workin' on it,

This week, I returned to painting classes at "The Studio" with artist Joyce Hall.  I have really missed being there, and when I looked around, I was quickly reminded how little I actually know about oil painting, and even about getting angles and proportions correct.  She makes it look so easy, as do several of the other students. I eventually get my subject on the canvas, but it's never easy.  I guess I'm a "plodder", just plodding along til it's as right as I can make it.

Above, one pelican is mostly done, and the other is just blocked in.  The water and reflections will be put in last.

I hope you had a wonderful day,
Cindy



  

"Bits"

Sometimes, when I find a really complex subject I want to paint, I just go for it in a rush, doing the best I can to capture the feel as much as the subject....here is "Bits", 8" x 16", oil on stretched canvas:

Enjoy your day,
Cindy

Old Truck

I painted this from a photo we took near Rodeo, New Mexico.  We were forced off the interstate due to a dust storm, and ended up at "Rusty's RV Park".....after unhooking the car, and setting up, we were thrilled to follow a dirt road into a beautiful mountain range.  There were scattered "settlers", and this was one of many fields we saw along the way.

"Old Truck" is a 12" x 16" oil on stretched canvas.

Hope your weekend was great, and that you are all ready for the week ahead,
Cindy

"Don't Make Me Come Over There!"

"Don't Make Me Come Over There!"

11" x 14" Oil on Stretched Canvas

Finished up the snowy egret this morning....smiles all around, love him, love the water, it's great when a painting paints itself...

I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday!

Cindy

Still Working.....

This snowy egret makes me laugh, he seems to be saying, "DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE!"  And, those big yellow feet, oh my gosh, he's a hoot!

Lots of work still to do, eyes, shadows, water, so here's the preview:

Keep safe this holiday weekend, lots of folks on the road,

Cindy

Loved Every Minute

We are so excited to be heading home to loved ones much missed....but oh so sad to be leaving our Florida friends. 

There was an art show and sale:

There were good bye dinners, 

good bye last time to the pool,

and good bye group hugs....

I'll see you all again.....

Cindy

"Guard Duty" Finished

Finished "Guard Duty".  Loved painting him, , really, he makes me smile.

"Guard Duty", 12" x 16"

Oil on stretched canvas

Also making me smile lately is the group of talented artists that I'm painting with (I know it's "with whom I am painting", but who talks like that?).  We encourage and critique each other, and it sure makes a wonderful difference.  Thank you to all the artists at Sun and Fun for all the knowledge,and techniques generously shared, and mostly, the camaraderie and friendship.

Have a great day,
Cindy

 

Guard Duty

In process, and not the best picture.

"Guard Duty"

Oil on stretched canvas, 12" x 16"

Keep Warm!  Snuggle 

Cindy

"Shore Birds"

"Shore Birds"

8" x 10", oil on stretched canvas...

Yeahee!  Finally, an internet connection!

This painting is NOT my original composition, but one provided in a workshop I took recently.

Enjoy your day, make it what you want it to be

Cindy

"All Ashore"

"All Shore"

8" x 10" Acrylic on Canvas

Finished another one - this painting had serious compositional ills, which you may have noticed when I posted the in-process version (below).  The boat was completely disconnected from the rest of the picture, not making the swinging, swooping composition I desired.  I extended the oar, darkened it, and added shore line debris....much better.  I also lightened and softened the rocks and water, which pushed them into the background.  So much happier with it.  

I hope you are brilliant today!

Cindy

"The Library"

This abstract started out in a one day workshop, with clear directions from the teaching artist on how to start, and then, to take off in any direction we chose.  As I sketched and then painted from my inspiration source, I began to remember all those luscious days when all I had to do was read.

"The Library"

9" x 12" Watercolor on Arches 140 lb.

I loved to read, and I remember the  library, and the sense of wonderment I felt there...all those books, from story books in grade school, to tales of mysterious packages arriving at Nancy Drew's house in jr. high, and later,  tropical places, palm trees, windswept beaches, exotic ladies in vibrant clothes, dancing to music I could almost hear....Biographies of people, ordinary and important, doing things I dreamed about.  My painting began to reflect my thoughts.

This was really a memorable experience, Thank you to Judy for leading the way

Cindy

All Kinds of Things going on....

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have been diligently working on my goals:

Acrylic in process:

Abstract watercolor in process:

Rudimentary start on an oil:

And finally, my only complete item, graphite on paper:

"The Egg and I", 4" x 6"

We are in Sarasota for a little while, opportunities for art education, classes, and workshops abound, and as you can see, I may have gotten a little excited and signed up for too many.  It's fun, and lots of work.  

I hope you have a wonderful day,

Cindy