Jersey Shore

Sunflower and Garret

6x10 watercolor

We are leaving Atlantic City today after a fabulous week in our 31st floor digs on the Jersey Shore. I think I might be a Jersey girl at heart. Who knew?
I did this little study toward a future painting of my garret which is the last window at the top right.

our awesome aerie

Monhegan- View from the Garret

"View from The Garret"

6x10 watercolor

I began this sketch the day I checked into my garret. It was an overcast day so there isn't much contrast. 
This week I'm in Atlantic City on the 31st floor of the Flagship Hotel. Love the sound of the ocean and the wind. Don and I have been keeping the sliding doors ajar all night so we can enjoy it. 

Monhegan Panorama

"Monhegan Study"

5x9 watercolor

Spending a few glorious days on Monhegan Island with my painter friend Bobbi Heath.
We ate a fabulous meal at the Island Inn where not only did they allow us to split an entree, they plated it separately as well and we walked home enjoying the spectacular starry sky, which is so much more dramatic way out here.
I did this little study of Manana and the harbor from the sitting area just outside my top floor 'garret' at Monhegan house. I have always wanted a garret! Life is good ;)

the garret 

More Morning Glories #3 of 30 in 30

Morning Glories

8x8 watercolor on Arches

This is my third painting for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge. My greatest pleasure during the amazing summer of 2014 has been the incredible weather with low humidity, temperatures consistently in the 75-80 range, and hardly any mosquitos.  WHAT?!
Next to that, which was pretty big for me, I've been loving sitting on my deck enjoying our little slice of oceanside nirvana and painting. Our 'Heavenly Blue' Morning Glories are in full bloom and I cannot get enough of this beautiful shade of blue. 
The painting is much lighter and cleaner than I can reproduce in this photo. Back at it again tomorrow.

Morning Glories

"Morning Glories"

6x12 watercolor

My second painting in Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge is this tower of morning glories which I grow on trellises inside ceramic pots on my deck. The 'heavenly blue' shade of these flowers is almost impossible to paint, but I tried. I so love sitting on my deck painting these gorgeous flowers! This has been a perfect summer and I hope this is a trend in the weather.

Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30

After Andrew Wyeth's painting "Her Room"

6x10 sketchbook watercolor

Leslie Saeta has thrown out another 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and I am jumping onto the bandwagon.

The challenge is to paint A LOT and I could use some motivation and some discipline in focusing.

This is my interpretation of an Andrew Wyeth painting, entitled 'Her Room'. There's something kind of lonely in the stark and melancholy mood of his paintings, set by his muted palette.  

It was a challenge in itself to try and match his color. 

As Leslie will remind everyone, this is about having fun and sharpening one's skills not about the count. So, I'm in.

Interpreting Water with Collage

"Water"

6x6 paper collage 

My interpretation of "water", for the September, Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge is a collage of the ocean, beginning with the sandy shoreline, made from Color Aid paper. 

I've had this exquisite block of paper since I went to New England School of Art many moons ago and have barely used it because its chronological array of colors and hues is breathtakingly beautiful. 

A reason to save it forever, right? 

No.