last monday ...

(7x10)

You know you're in trouble when your post title is "Last Monday" ... Finished my assignment from last week, just like I finished my school assignments all my life: at the last minute.
In the larger one I was trying, as you know, to convey a sense of space, and I think it's successful (thought that middle ground area still confounds me), but the quick sketch below may be even more successful, atmospherically speaking.
I always feel that to be an "artist"--and this is why I call myself a "painter"--you have to think and have an idea and a plan, but for me anyway, there can be too much planning and thinking.

(4x6)

As in this little still life. I wanted to paint one of the beautiful (and big and comfortable) mugs my brother sent me from Asheville, NC, so I put it on the table and was about to start, then I thought I'd add something ... and something more ... I wish I'd left just the mug!

(6x8)

Looks like it'll be a nice, if hot, day for plein air. I really am looking forward to it. It's a great challenge, as well as a pleasure, so much so that whether you come home with a painting you're pleased with or not doesn't matter.

monday's class

(7x10)

The task in class Monday was to paint landscapes with a sense of depth, space. A frustrating exercise because while I've been told all the ways to accomplish that--warm in front, cool in back; color in front, muted color in back; details in front, none in back--it's still a hit-or-miss proposition for me. Which could be discouraging--I know what to do but can't do it?--or in a way encouraging--there's an element of producing a pleasing painting that doesn't have to do with what you know?

We did small studies first. These are mine, of Cape Henlopen, DE, and the Red Rocks in the BVI. (4x6)

I'm still futzing with my 7x10 of the Red Rocks: getting the "right" color for the middle-ground green hill has me painting and repainting--first it's too warm, then too blue; now it's too green. I know I won't be able to stand it much longer--nor will the paper. (I'll post the result, whatever it may be!)
(4x6)

Next Monday we'll be doing a little plein air painting--new frustrations!--courtesy of my classmate Elaine, who has invited us to paint at her house.

little peanut

(5x7)
This is supposed to be my Carlos, who died two years ago ... It doesn't really look like him, even the colors are off, but the pose is Carlos all over.
I find animals to be a difficult subject, especially tabbies like Carlos (and I don't even try for the texture of fur!), though, come to think of it, my all black cat, Smilla, presents her own problems.
Though it's small, this painting looks better from far away; maybe because I wasn't quite sure of the details.

vines and lilies

(7x9)
My trumpet vine has a few blooms on it--for the amount of foliage it produces, which is nearly terrifying, it doesn't bloom much.

I'm especially fond of trumpet- and bell- or cone-shaped flowers for painting: Canterbury bells, gloxinia, Easter lilies. I also have a few stella d'oros, which, against the blue-greens of the yard are a heart-stopping yellow-orange.
Every day I berate myself for not painting them ... but I've been busy with work (so busy I've temporarily suspended my wall painting) and other stuff too--you know, all the stuff that keeps you from painting, real and imaginary.

Yesterday I cut a few branches of trumpet vine and a couple of my not-so-numerous stella d'oros, along with a hybrid lily (a white one; I overdid the shadows on it here and so made it orange! Maybe I can add a wash of pink later) ... I knew that once I cut them I'd feel compelled to make the most of it.
So last night I finally began.
These should have a few more days in them.

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a lily." Chinese proverb

brilliant summer

 
Reflections on the boat hull.

 
(2x3)
 What I do to pass the time while Peter's getting the boat ready.

 
Over the weekend I also, finally, spent some time figuring out how to use the tripod for my Guerrilla Painter pochade box. Like many painters, I like "equipment," and I've had this 9x12 box for years but haven't used it much because I always had difficulty setting it up. Now that Peter showed me how it's supposed to work, it's a snap.
The last place I used it was in the Florida Keys, where Peter attached this sticker to it. It's perfect because I do love Pigeon Key.  

 

(9x12)

Now I have to get used to painting using this setup, which is awkward for me--you have to reach across, over the palette, to get to the paper (too bad the top doesn't swivel around, like the screen on a portable DVD player, for those of us who like to be closer to the paper).

Of course, it may be a good thing to have to extend my arm more fully ... less control, more energy?

I can--now that I know how to work the tripod--tilt the box so the bottom is angled and I'm closer to the paper.

After this little test painting, my arm was tired!

A poem I received via email from Poets.org: one of my favorite poets on one of my favorite subjects.

Summer Song
by William Carlos Williams


Wanderer moon
smiling a
faintly ironical smile
at this
brilliant, dew-moistened
summer morning,—
a detached
sleepily indifferent
smile, a
wanderer's smile,—
if I should
buy a shirt
your color and
put on a necktie
sky-blue
where would they carry me?



 BTW: Someone asked how I "manipulated" the piling reflection photo. Simple: using the Picasa photo storing and editing software, in the "effects" box, I chose "tint" and selected a color. Done and done.

Manipulated reflection of a piling.

Some Cape May fishing boats. Took a little boat ride late yesterday afternoon; there was no one on the water.
Getting ready to go out and fish now ... More boats, and paintings of boats I hope, to come!

crafty interlude

My friend Shelby's friend--and now my friend--Freddie made the most beautiful embellished mirrors using shells, not bought shells, but shells and bits she found along the Delaware bay. Her creations are gorgeous--very "encrusted"--they have a wonderful accretive abandon; in mine, I'm afraid, I was too cautious about not covering over the bits I liked! I wonder if I had ever realized before how stunning the subtle greys, creams, and browns of our local shells are. I wish I had taken some photos of Freddie's creations; you'll have to settle for now with this photo of my first attempt to follow in her footsteps. I added beach glass and pebbles, which maybe are a bit too much--but, like Freddie, added whelk egg casings, and, as a nod to my cat, Smilla, a seagull feather!
Freddie also, and perhaps primarily, makes amazing, unique (gulp) jewelry! I now have four of her necklaces and as many pairs of earrings ... I plan to do a post showing them as soon as I can. Wait until you see her stuff--you'll be smitten, as I am.

fort zachary taylor state park

(6x8)
My best friend from high school, Robin, will be turning fifty next month, on the first day of summer, the happiest day of the year.
Robin lived in Key West for many years and I visited every year. Robin and I are ritualistic sorts and in Key West a never-missed ritual was to ride bikes to the waterfront market, stock up on cheeses, bread, and beer, then spend the day at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, reading, talking, eating and drinking; sitting in the sun or the shade of the cypresses, and swimming.
This is not my first attempt to paint scenes from the park ... I want to give them, when I get some good ones, to Robin as a memento for her birthday. I think I have to try again.
Judging for their website, the fort, like much of the Key West waterfront has suffered from a lot of sprucing up ... I miss dilapidated old Key West! Now that I'm old and dilapidated too it's an especial affront. I'm sure Robin (now living in Wisconsin) would agree.

(6x8)

A frame made from boards from an old Key West house that Robin gave me as a housewarming; it's hanging at the entrance to my art room.

another virtual paintout scene: prague

(8x10)
This month's Virtual Paintout location is the Czech Republic. Of all the places I've virtually visited for VP, I found the street scenes of Prague the most appealing to date.
I actually have several scenes I'd like to paint, but I've been too busy engaging in not-unproductive diversionary tactics: painting the art room, clearing out the closet and sorting through papers, paints and palettes; choosing colors to fill two new palettes ... (next project: sand and varnish the art room floor).
If it weren't for trying to avoid doing other even-less-appealing things, I'd never get anything done!

Virtual Paintout: Prague

(4x6)
Sometimes the paper's just not big enough!
I found a lot of great street scenes in Prague using Google's Streetview that I hope to paint ... But I just noticed when I came home today, after being away for a few days, that there's one beautiful iris blooming in my yard waiting to be painted.

more irises

(7x10)
Didn't have time to paint yesterday (though I did get a coat of primer on the dining room!), but in the evening I looked at my vase of nearly-dead irises and made this quick study.
I see though that last night's rain has perked up the irises in the yard, so I may have another chance.

back to school

(12x16)
Yesterday I brought some irises from my yard to my class with Marie Natale (I'm hoping to get in a few refresher classes before summer activities fully consume my life). She had us paint the setup--there were a couple of colored-glass bottles too, which I left out--1)without drawing, 2) using a triad, and 3) "inviting," as she says, the colors to run into one another, which necessitated keeping it all pretty wet.
I always have trouble sticking strictly to a triad; here, cobalt, magenta, and new gamboge. I didn't manage it here, but it is a helpful jumping off point: when you only have the three colors to chose from, I think you can paint with a little more abandon?

I enjoyed this exercise: not drawing removed the anxiety I would normally have trying to capture all the ins-and-outs of an iris. Instead, I just tried for shapes and colors. Naturally, there are things I would change--and I think I will add one or maybe two flowers leaning over into the empty space at the right.
It was also strange painting this size--I've become accustomed to a 5x7 or 7x10 size, so easy to "complete"--and on Arches paper (i'm trying to use the paper I have and pulled this block out of the closet). I usually use Fabriano, which I find so ... amenable--the paint just floats over it; with the Arches, I really had to use more paint and more water and force it onto the paper!

I wish I had thought to bring a camera: my classmates, Elaine and Dolores, did beautiful paintings with glowing color!
No class next week.

As I painted I kept trying to think of Hazel Soan (you'll remember the great paintings Cathy did in a workshop with Hazel!): she says that the subject of a watercolor is always the watercolor itself, not the thing you're painting.

(12x16)
This is the two-year-old unfinished painting that was on my block ... I ran out energy contemplating finishing off the fence. I think I may just stick a hedge in there and call it done.

p.s. Renovations continue with new drywall in the kitchen and dining room this past weekend. You wouldn't believe the dust sanding spackle creates; it gets everywhere--and gets tracked everywhere! Now I understand why Peter's so adamant about his workmen removing their shoes when they come in the house! My evening project this week is to get the rooms painted. Sticking with white for the kitchen but trying out yellow in the dining room--I can't wait to see how it turns out.

(4x6)

(4x6)
A little more playing around trying to absorb Charles Reid's advice.
I had some time to paint this weekend--and lilacs (another perennial challenge) blooming in the yard--but I also had utter chaos at home this weekend as Peter and Paco installed a hardwood floor in my guest room; in the days and weeks ahead they'll be putting down a hardwood floor in my room and totally renovating the bathroom--new walls, floor, fixtures, window.

Almost the entire contents of my downstairs are now piled in the living room, which I know is temporary, but still makes me anxious: I do like order. When I feel the anxiety I go into the guestroom and look at the floor.

One of the women who sends me work will be going on maternity leave to have her first child soon; I painted this card and envelope to wish her well.

charles reid dvd

(5x7 hot press)
Last night I watched the first disk of Charles Reid's new DVD, which I read about on Rhonda's blog, and couldn't resist painting along.
It amazes me how right after I watch a demo I can implement certain ideas from the demo, but then, later, I just revert back to what I always do!
These are from Reid's lessons on local color, greens, and edges.

(11x15 sheet)

the year of unburdening

(4x6 hot press)
I missed the magnolia blossoms and have nearly missed out on my irises. Actually I've been avoiding them because I find them so very difficult. The picture at the end shows my first go, which I thought suffered from too much drawing and fussy concern about the color.
In response, I did the freehand painting above, and then painted over my first one, below.
Not perfect, but definitely more fun. (4x6 hot press)

Since I turned fifty in December 09 I've been in the hospital twice, never having been hospitalized in all the previous years. It's not "serious" but it is worrying, primarily in how it's impacted my sense of myself. What do you know, I'm not indestructible! The realization's been a blow but, after a few weeks of sulking and thinking and avoiding thinking by painting walls, I'm ready to stop focusing on my newly discovered frailties and rededicate myself to the idea of myself as a fortunate (and healthy) person.
The rest of this fiftieth year is going to one of unburdening, materially and emotionally: I'm casting off for fifty-one.

last daffs

(7x11)
I've been busy painting rooms and "spring cleaning," which has resulted in a big mess everywhere that's not conducive to painting.
I completely missed out on the chance to paint my magnolia tree this year: the blooms came and went.
The last of my daffodils are starting to wilt so yesterday I tried ... I may get another day or two out of them. Then, I hope, I'll have some irises.

(11x15)