"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