Workshop on the Eastern Shore

Saturday I went to a plein air workshop on the Eastern Shore.  The workshop was lead by Carole Peirson.  What a wonderful day albeit hot!  We met at the home of a lady who lives on a farm.  There was a lot of things to paint: her beautiful house, the corn field, flower gardens, and there were really nice water views.  In the morning, Carole gave a demonstration.  We started painting around 11 or so (I didn't look at the clock all day!!).  I decided upon a water view and here is the result.  9x12 panel in oils.

Dead Tree

I've been out painting but not posting.  I got really disgusted with the quality of the photos I was getting.  So, I have been just painting!  Last weekend, I got a new camera.  So now, along with learning to paint, I'm learning how to use the camera.  It is a little more than a point and shoot and it has been a long time since I used a camera that had the ability to do more than take snapshots.

Anyway, here's one of my latest paintings.  It was painted at the end of 64th Street in Virginia Beach.  It is painted on a 9x12 linen panel in oils.

Phidias

The next statue was Phidias.  The flies were gone by this time!  (Thanks goodness!)  I tried adding this to the last post but my posting skills are as limited as my photography skills!  Also painted on a 9x12 linen panel.

Statues Again

Well, I certainly have been neglecting this blog lately.  I have been painting though!  Painting is much more fun than trying to photograph paintings and posting them to this blog!  But it is raining today so I thought I would catch up a bit.




The first one is the first one I painted after the previously posted paintings.  It is of Rubens.  This was the second time I had tried for this statue.  The first time flies were biting and I was not prepared.  I had never had any problems at the gardens before so I hadn't stocked up on bug spray.  The next time I went out to try and capture the statue the flies were still there but I was prepared!  I was so prepared I almost made myself sick.  Anyway here's the result from the second attempt.  It was painted on a 9x12 linen panel.

More Statues

I have been able to get out to the Botanical Gardens a couple of times in the past few weeks and decided to continue painting the statues in the statuary vista.  The first one is of Murillo painted on April 9th.

The second one is Crawford.  He was painted last Friday which was the 20th of April.

The third one is of Canova.  It was painted Saturday which was Earth Day and the Gardens were crowded!  I seemed to be distracted a lot of the time and it shows!  Also I was trying out  different brand of panel on this one.

They are all painted on a 9x12 linen coated panel.

City Lights

Here is the latest painting from the painting class.  The objective was to paint a night scene or an indoor scene.  I went through my photos.  I had night scenes but they weren't good for a painting.  So my husband and I went to downtown Norfolk and I started taking pictures.  I did't have a tripod and the only photo that turned out ok was the one that this was painted from.  It was painted on a 22"x28" stretched canvas

Two from the Botanical Gardens

I was able to get out to the Botanical Gardens this morning before the storms rolled in.  This is a statue of Titian by Moses Ezekiel.  There are a number of statues of artists along a grassy mall and all are deteriorating out in the elements.  This was painted on a 9x12 linen coated panel.  I went out today and forgot to bring my intended painting surface.  Luckily I had some panels in the car!


This next one was painted about two weeks ago.  It is a crabapple tree that was in bloom.  This tree is huge!  It is also painted on a 9x12 canvas panel.

The Good Old Days

The latest assignment in the painting class I am taking was to do an abstract based on some pottery shards.  I was very uncomfortable doing this project and felt I was floundering the whole time working on it.   The Good Old Days is what I called it because that's what is reminds me of, days of my youth.  We were supposed to add texture, which is not very visible in the photograph.  The bright yellow band is textured, painted in bright iridescent gold acrylic.  The patterned area is patterned antique tissue paper.  The bulk of the painting is in oils painted on a 18x24 stretched canvas.  I will probably paint on it a little more when I get the time but it is basically finished.

Gazebo

Last week, I was able to get out to the Botanical Gardens on a really lovely day.  I found a nice spot in front of the butterfly meadows that had a view of the gazebo .  Running parallel to my view was a fence that I relocated.  Behind me was a very large magnolia tree so I couldn't step back and evaluate my painting.  I noticed the fence's perspective was off when I got home and did a little correction, but much to my dismay, not enough.  Anyway, here is the result.  Painted on a 9x12 linen panel.

Old Point Comfort

Last week I was able to get out to Fort Monroe.  Ft. Monroe was recently released from the military which makes for easier access for painting.  While there, I noticed lots of potential painting spots!   I did a painting of the lighthouse there.  This spot is known as Old Point Comfort, called such by the early settlers of Jamestown.  The lighthouse was built in 1803.  There are houses sitting very close to the lighthouse which I chose to ignore.  I wanted to concentrate on the lighthouse exclusively.  Anyway, it was the second painting of the day and I was tired!  It was painted on a 9x12 canvas board.

Cupcakes

Today is my sister's birthday so I painted her a painting.  She baked these cupcakes about three years ago and I snapped a photo of them.  So now she has a painting of the cupcakes she baked.  They are painted on a 8x10 stretched canvas.

Spring Break

This week has been spring break from my painting class.  It was nice for two days this week so I went out to paint.   On Wednesday, I went to the Botanical Gardens cause I figured that some of the flowers would be in bloom.  I wasn't disappointed; I found this bed of daffodils.
Painted on a 6x8 canvas sheet.









Yesterday it was windy with winds gusting up to 30mph.  I didn't want to stress my new easel so I went inland where the winds were supposed to be less.

I ended up next to the dismal swamp and the Dismal Swamp Canal which is part of the Intercoastal Waterway.  I hadn't been there since I was a child, which was a long time ago!  The winds were there as well but the easel did fine (it didn't get blown into the canal!).  This one was also painted on a 6x8 canvas sheet.

Work Still In Progress

I said that I would post a photo of the last painting as I worked on it.  Well, we were given more time to work on it.  So, I still haven't finished it!    Anyway, here's the painting as of last week.  We've been on spring break so I've been painting other stuff.  Back to school next week.

Work in Progress

I have been working on this still life for a while, since last Thursday.  OK, that doesn't seem long, but I have been to school three out of the past four days working on it.  I hope I will get it done in time but who knows?  The painting is on an 18x24 stretched canvas.  I will post a picture of it when it is finished.

Cearphilly Castle

This is one I did for a Christmas present, not this past Christmas, the one before.  Last month I was able to snap a photo of it.  The lighting wasn't very good and the original looks much better.  But, most of the paintings on this blog have really bad photos.  I guess I need to invest in a really good camera but I'd rather spend my money on art supplies!  The painting is from a photo taken a few years ago.  It was a very clear, very cold day.  I think it was painted on a 9x12 stretched canvas.

 

What Fish?

This is the latest still life from the painting class I am taking.  The object was to paint glass and glass reflections.  I had this glass cat with the fish in its belly and I thought it would make for a funny still life with an empty fish bowl.  I basically used thalo blue, grumbacher red, lemon yellow, and a little burnt sienna.  Oh and paynes gray for the fish fins.  It was a fun painting!  It was painted on a 12x12 stretched canvas.

Stone Bridge Again

Last month I went out to the stone bridge at the Botanical Gardens to try out my new easel I got for Christmas.  It was a nice, warm winter's day and I was almost able to get two paintings until the wind blew off my second canvas sheet.  I must find some other way to attach the sheets to the board besides removable tape!  I had watched a video by Scott Christensen and I wanted to try his use of grays.  It was a fun day!

It was painted on a 6x8 canvas sheet.

Mystic Still Life

Last month I re-started the painting class that I  withdrew from in 2009.  That is why not many posts last month.  This is a still life from that class.  The assignment was something shinny.  I chose two crystal balls.  One is a quartz crystal, not quite clear, and the other is a smokey quartz crystal, not quite clear.  It appears that the painting is not quite dry.
It is painted on a 12x12 stretched canvas.

Along Highway 158

I did this during the holidays when I couldn't get out to paint.  It is from a photograph that I took on my way back from Raleigh in November.  It was taken at a wayside along US158 in North Carolina.
It is painted on a 6x8 canvas sheet in oils.

New Father

This is a painting I did for my nephew as a Christmas present.  He is a new father.   I forgot to take a shot of it before I framed and wrapped it.  So I took the photo after he un-wrapped it. Needless to say, the photo isn't the best.  But, most of my photos do not truly represent the paintings.  It was painted on a 12x12 stretched canvas.

Backyard Marsh

Yesterday I decided to paint the marsh again, but a different view.  And I tried something different.  I used just three colors and white.  The colors I used were cadmium yellow pale, grumbacher red, and french ultramarine.  I was sorta pleased with the result but I wonder if a different red or blue might have given better results.  It was painted on a 9x12 canvas panel.

Sequoia in Fall

Sunday I went back to paint the Sequoia at the Botanical Gardens.  I love that tree!  Most of the deciduous foliage has disappeared.   Winter is coming!  I'm not looking forward to it.  I may go back in the Spring and paint it again!  it was painted on a 9x12 canvas board.

Adam

Well, I don't do portraits very often, but I attempted a portrait for a friend of my husband.  Very challenging!  This is third portrait I have done in the past three years.  It is painted on a 12x12 stretched canvas.  Haha, and I'm about to start another one for a Christmas present!  I am going to try and paint many of my Christmas presents.  Hopefully people won't mind!

First Plein Air Knife Painting

Friday, while most people were braving the malls, I went to the Botanical Gardens to paint.  I am really going to have to start Christmas shopping sometime soon!   But not while there is a nice day to paint!!!  I thought that there would not be many people there, but I was wrong.  I thought I would try the skills I learned in one of the workshops I took and tried painting with the knife on location.  This was quite difficult!  And the results weren't the best (but a fun time!).  But anyway, here it is.  It is painted on a 9x12 canvas panel.

First Knife painting

This past weekend, at the Art of the Carolinas, I took a knife workshop.  This is the result.  I have never been attracted to knife paintings before, and I am still not.  But the painting was very fun to do and maybe I will do some more!  This painting was painted in about 45 mins!  on a 9x12 canvas panel.

A Long View

Here's the first one I did at the Pinkum Garden event that was put on by the Charles Taylor Center in Hampton.  The Pinkum Gardens are private and are located in Carrolton near the James River Bridge.  The sun was really sparkling on the water which I didn't quite capture. Those brown marks in the water is an old pier.  This event was October 8th of this past year.  It was an enjoyable time as they all are!  It was painted on a 9x12 canvas panel.

Art of the Carolinas

This week I have had the pleasure of attending the Art of the Carolinas in Raleigh.  The workshops began Thursday and the trade shop began Friday.  What a time I have had!  I signed up for six workshops and already have attended five of them.  The last one is tomorrow and Monday I head for home.  I have been exposed to many new techniques and I am anxious to play around with them at home.  The photo shows the workshop I attended tonight, "The Cape Cod Underpainting Method" instructed by Mike Rooney (in the hat).  I actually took three of the workshops from Mike.  I have my last workshop tomorrow.   The workshops began Thursday and the trade show began Friday.  The trade show is amazing.  It is difficult to refrain from spending because the prices are unbelievable.  I will certainly try to attend next year!

Fountain With Palm

This is yesterday's painting from a trip to the Botanical Gardens.  Yesterday's trip was intended to be studies of simpler objects but I ended up painting this fountain.  This is one of my first attempts at painting with a knife other than a few stabs here and there.  Haha, it looks like August's earthquake re-arranged the right side of the fountain base!  This painting is a combination of brushes and knife.  It was painted on a 9x12 canvas sheet.

Tomorrow I am off to Raleigh for four days at the Art of the Carolinas!  I am excited and hopeful of gaining many new painting techniques.  I signed up for six oil related workshops.  I will be returning next Monday ready to test my new skills!

Autumn

Yesterday it was a really beautiful day so I found a few hours and went to the Botanical Gardens to paint.  I found a nice spot next to the lake and this picture is the result.  It was panted on a 9x12 canvas sheet  oils.

Across the Marsh

Yesterday is was too windy for the Botanical Gardens so I set up in my backyard in the mist of some trees. I did have a view of the marsh and of the neighbor's backyard across the marsh through the trees.  (The marsh is mostly in my yard.)  This was painted on a 11x14 unbleached canvas sheet, panted area about 11x13.5.

Cotton Field

Yesterday while driving back home from a visit to my daughter's house in the farmlands of Suffolk, I spied a cotton field that I thought might make a nice painting.  I figured I better get back there quickly before the cotton was picked so today I went back and painted it.   It is painted on a 9x12 linen covered panel in oils.

This was one of the most fun times I have had painting plein air.  I know the painting isn't the best but it was so fun, it is the only plein air painting that I have framed and hung!  --a memento of a really great day!

Healing Garden

This is a painting that I did at the Botanical Gardens about two weeks ago.  It needed some touch-ups so that is what I have been doing today.  All of the paintings that I posted today were plein air paintings that needed touching up.  Usually I do that sooner but not on these.  The area painted is the Healing Garden.  It is painted on a 9x12 stretched canvas.

Foot Bridge

This was painted at the Botanical Gardens last week.  I did some touch-ups in the studio today.  It was painted on an 8x10 canvas sheet.

Scenic View

The view is from sitting in the chairs!  This painting started off as a plein air from a plein air event in Carrolton, Virginia.  It was the second painting of the day and I was not able to finish.  I started on it yesterday and spent way too much time on it, considering the resulting painting.  I'm not pleased with this one either.  So, practice, practice, practice!!  It was painted on a 9x12 canvas panel.

Fern Glade

Yesterday I went back to the Botanical Gardens.  It was very breezy so I looked for a spot in the trees.  After walking around for about an hour, I settled on this scene in the Fern Glade.  While painting, my easel almost collapsed twice.  I was able to catch everything without too much mess.  (I caught the palette in my hands.  The mess was on me!  The paint under my fingernails was difficult to remove!)  Well, the painting turned out about as good as my hands did.  It looks a little better in person, but not much!  I was not happy with this one.  Painted on an 8x10 canvas sheet.

Reflections

I did this painting for the October landscape challenge at Wet Canvas.  This was my first challenge anywhere and enjoyed painting it.  I usually only paint my own photographs or paint on location.  This was from a reference photo posted in the October landscape challenge.  It is painted on a 11x14 stretched canvas in oils.

Stone Bridge

This is yesterday's painting at the Botanical Gardens.  Leaving this scene while going back to the car, I spotted some nice scenes that I am going to try and paint today.  This was painted on an 8.5x11 canvas sheet, mountable to an 8x10 board (in oils, as usual).

Sequoia in Virginia?

Today was the last warm day for a while so I packed up and went back to the Botanical Gardens for another painting.  Yesterday I had come across a really beautiful tree with a red trunk that I thought was some type of cypress or cedar.  The tag beneath the tree identified it as a sequoia sempervirens, coastal redwood.  And I thought they all were in California!  This one is a baby, probably about 70 to 80 years old and almost as tall as the largest trees in the immediate area.  The Botanical Gardens were built in the thirties as part of a pubic works project and the sequoia was probably introduced then.
This painting is painted on a 9x12 hardwood board.

Spatterdock

Today I went out to the botanical Gardens.  This time I found a nice park bench and decided to paint sitting for a change.  The plants breaking the surface are spatterdock.  The bench faced a nice view.  I tried out a new canvas pad that is primed with what appears to be clear gesso.  The cloth is unbleached and makes for a nice tone to paint on.  the pad is 11x14 and if mounted, will probably be 9x12.

This is my cart with all my stuff that I cart around while I scope out a good painting spot.  I really love this cart!

The Fork

Today it stopped raining enough for me to slip in a quick painting.  And, I found another water view.  It too is painted on a 11x14 sheet of canvas to be mounted to a size of 9x12.  It was very soggy there!  I think it is soggy everywhere!  We have the biggest mushrooms growing that I have ever seen!

Rain

Rain, rain go away,
come again another day.
Oil and water don't mix!

Normally I don't wish rain away, but we have had enough lately!  I want to go outside and paint!!  I have an umbrella for my painting but not for me.

Yesterday's painting

I set up in the backyard yesterday and painted this small painting of the trunk of a crepe myrtle.  It was painted on a 5x7 canvas panel.  I as trying to paint small with big brushes.  After I painted the shadows, the sun disappeared which made it difficult to finish.

Waterview again

Today I made it out to the Botanical Gardens intending to paint trees.  I found this beautiful view and couldn't resist!  It was quite an overcast day.  I tried out a new painting surface.  I bought a canvas pad, primed canvas in sheets, and taped one to a board.  I figured if I get a decent painting, I can glue it to a board.  Space saver!  The pad is 11x14, convertible to 9x12 when mounted.

Change

Today, I went back to the Botanical Gardens.  I found a nice spot in the picnic area with a view of the causeway along the lake.  The first picture is of my setup.  I use the cart to pull my easel and bag of stuff around while looking for a nice spot to paint.

I could see the beginnings of fall.  There was a yellow tint to some of the trees.  I'm sure going to miss summer.

I painted for about two hours.  The painting is 9x12 luann gessoed board.

Plein air - Waterfall

Yesterday I went to the Botanical Gardens to paint.  After wandering around with cart in tow, I found a small waterfall I decided to paint.  The pinestraw along the bank of the stream (not to mention the rest of the painting) was very frustrating and I still am not pleased with the result.  I spent three hours in the Gardens.  The painting is on a 9x12 stretched canvas.