The Zorn Palette

"Zorn Sunset" 

6x6 oil on panel

SOLD

Anders Zorn was a Swedish painter who sometimes used a palette limited to Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black and White. With these colors he was able to create paintings with a seeming full range of color, with black acting as blue.
He was an international success and painted portraits of three U.S. Presidents. 
This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was to use the Zorn palette.
I decided to choose a simple subject and mix my colors ahead. This amazing array of colors is the result.

Flag Reflections

Flag Reflections

6x6 oil on panel

The most important consideration when you begin a painting is composition or design. 

I was most interested in the shapes of the piers and the shapes of the reflections in the water. There was another boat docked across from this one and after struggling with it, I just eliminated it. Problem solved, and the composition is stronger without it anyway. Think about things like that when you are composing your picture.

What a beautiful summer it has been! Hopefully, it will continue for quite some time. We aren't ready to make the transition.

Also, stay tuned for information about my color mixing workshop!

Parrsboro

"Cape Blomidin"

6x6 oil on board

I painted two in a row of this view from our little cottage on the Bay of Fundy. 

I love the simple shapes and composition as the tide rapidly returns, erasing the sandbars. 

You'll notice a slightly warmer tone when I post the second one as the light was changing more toward the "golden hour". 

I have been traveling and visiting friends and family this summer. I've visited Monhegan Island, Block Island, Provincetown and of course, I love spending the summer in my backyard oasis here in Marshfield by the sea, watching my birds and bunnies and hanging out in my pool :D

Yes, it's a kiddie pool, but that's all I need.

Daisy

"Daisy"
6x6 oil on panel

Our subject this month is Daisy.

She is a newborn preemie and first grand child born to our fellow GJWP homie, Pamela Copeman's daughter, Emily and her husband Nick. 

Despite her premature birth she is making progress and each milestone is a big one. 

We are going to create a print of all of our "Daisy" paintings and gift it to baby Daisy and her parents.

Love you baby Daisy!

Jetty Study

"Rocks and Waves"
6x6 oil on panel
$125

On my painting retreat I spent most of one day out on the back shore on the open ocean side of the "secret" hideaway, first painting the rocky island in the morning light and then turning toward this view later in the afternoon. 
I tried to keep a linear design in the rocks and just suggest the water and spray swirling around me. 
I was not going to include any houses until the light caught this house's red metal roof and gave it a lovely purple glow that seemed to add to the painting.
Glorious, is how I'd describe being out on the rocks painting all day. Nothing better!

MSW "Bush" Painter

Lily Pads 6x6 

oil on panel

It's fun simplifying these lily pads into abstract paintings. The more I paint this scene the more familiar and comfortable I am with it. I could see going really large with these.

I bought this rolling tote at Michaels for half price and I really like it. It has four wheels. Spins as well as caddies, has pockets on three sides and a spacious compartment with a couple of removable zipper pouches which can be secured with plastic snap hooks. 
I stuffed some palmetto fronds into it to create some shade while I sat on the bank and painted. I felt like I was on a Safari.
My legs are covered with fire ant bites because I forgot the "stick" that goes with my Coulter easel and had to sit. Should have put the towel under my legs instead of just under my butt. WHATEVER! The show must go on.
I am really enjoying painting the chaotic scene in the lily pond and have been lazy about posting my progress, but I will share in a more timely fashion. Maybe.

Von Liebig Classes

Garlic

6x6 oil on panel

Eight brave souls took on the the world of values, shape and color in my first class of the season at the Von Liebig Center for the arts, last Friday, and we all had fun. I discovered that many of them are going to be repeat students so I'm going to have to stay on my toes!
This is my demo and yes, the edges of the shadows should be a tad lighter ;)
My next class is scheduled for January 30th and you can book it here.

Winter Sky

"Winter Sky, Brant Rock"

6x6 oil on panel

This time of year brings dramatic dark skies and glowing early sunsets. It's this particular combination that makes an old fashioned and quite ordinary cottage look amazing! I love how the shadows carve out the abstract shapes in the picture. I've been very busy doing some commissions which I am unable to post lest the 'surprise' factor be jeopardized. 
Wishing everyone love and blessings and a Merry Christmas.

Try This at Home

"Old Glory"

6x6 oil on panel

I am on what's known as a 'stay-cation'. There is no place I'd rather be than home during the summer, and this particular summer is one of the best ones, weather wise, that we've seen in a while. 

YES! Perfect New England summer!

I've been spending my days on our deck under a shady umbrella, painting. First up were my mother's little garden gnomes who live with me now. She loved for me to refresh them for her and of course they had a lot more panache after a meeting with me and my brush.

But, our sweet little shed, the purple trim painted by my husband, has been calling to me and yesterday I answered the call. Actually, the flag is my favorite part.

Mama's Garden Gnomes in progress

Rockland Harbor Jetty

Sunset Sparkle

6x6 oil on panel

What else can I say here?

Wheeling Gulls

Wheeling gulls

 6x6 oil on panel

I've been paintings birds and working in a 

 sketchbook/watercolor journal of sorts which 

is a new thing for me. 

More of those paintings to come.

Palms

Everglades Palms

6x6 oil on panel

Had a sweet day painting by the Marco Island bridge yesterday. This is just a sketch of the shoreline at the edge of the Everglades.

It was a bit overcast and windy which is my favorite kind of Florida weather! 

Travel

"Italian Ice Vendor"

6x6 oil on panel

This month's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge is "travel", which can be pretty broadly interpreted as you can see by my painting of an Italian Ice vendor at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester. I went over to the beach one night after class while I was at the PKR workshop because many famous Cape Ann painters painted there and I wanted to see it.  That is the travel part ;)
There are huge rocks in the water and there were several of these little carts sprinkled around the beach so I walked on the rocks, waded in the water and took many photos for future reference. There was a storm brewing and I loved the combination of the strong sunlit grass and cart against the dark sky.

Gulf Sunset

"Gulf Sunset"

6x6 oil

Our theme for June's Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge was the ee cummings poem, "For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always our self we find in the sea", and who doesn't love the sea? 
When I'm in Naples, Florida I'm an afternoon kind of beach girl because it's not as hot then ;)  
"Squadrons" of pelicans glide along the beach and suddenly plummet into the Gulf of Mexico to feed. Pelicans are most entertaining and I love watching them as the sun sets into the water. 
This is as close as I was able to get to the colors in the actual painting which took on a life of it's own and turned out to be a palette knife painting. There's a tiny touch of glare but it couldn't be avoided with this kind of surface. I'm really happy with this one.