Osprey Obsession

Our Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge is COLOR.
How can you go wrong? 
This is my interpretation.
I photographed an Osprey nest from my jetski and made this painting from it!

Soaring

'Soaring' 

6x6 oil on panel
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I snapped a few shots of these seagulls wheeling and diving gracefully above the Vince Lombardi Rest Area on one of our drive by's. I cropped the ones I wanted to paint and focused on giving the composition a sense of movement. I've also been sketching pelicans, which are most interesting birds. Teradactyl-like, they cruise over the Gulf in the late afternoon and are fantastic divers. Meanwhile, gale winds and low temps here in Southwest Florida today, are keeping all but the most intrepid beach goers away from the shore. 

Beach Sunset

I go to the beach later in the afternoon and I always wait for the sun to set which is a big deal here. The West coast of Florida is like an Island where the sun sets into the Gulf of Mexico. People start showing up with their coolers and dinners and beach chairs around 5 o'clock and everyone settles in for the show. Here's a little sketch from the beach last Wednesday and a shot of the star of the show.

Beach Umbrella

6x6 oil on RayMar panel $100 plus $10 S&H

 

I tried to generate a PayPal Buy Now button but there was one hitch that I couldn't resolve so email me if you are interested in this sunny beach scene. We're supposed to leave for Naples this Saturday but the forecast calls for snow Friday and Saturday so there may be a delay. Southern Florida is trending towards cold winters last year and this. Already the growers there are in crisis. So, when I go over to the beach I'll be wearing my fleece. I know, I know it's doesn't snow but...whatever ;) I'll take the barbs.

Palmettos

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 The plan today was to go out to the Everglades and paint with another artist/blogger but, it's raining so we bagged it and will try for another day. Last night, in anticipation, I decided to paint some palm trees just for practice.  I kept my  brushwork really loose combining lessons I've learned from Carol Marine and Colin Page. Two of the BEST whose edges and brushwork make their paintings exciting no matter what the subject.

3rd Street South Impatiens Study 6x8

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The Subject

My setup

Thursday is Naples Outdoor Painters day. I've met some nice people. Lotsa Massachusetts gals here. Snowbirds. Today's location was right in the heart of Third Street South and I crammed myself into a corner by a busy restaurant to tackle this complex scene. Usually I avoid locations like this. Too busy. Can't focus or concentrate. This time I was with one other sistah friend who set up near me. We both went to work and the time just flew by. No one was overly chatty and despite the fact that delivery trucks were passing 5 feet from my knees I was really in the zone. That doesn't mean that the painting is exactly what I hoped for but, I finished it. I'd like to try this again a bit larger using this reference. It's way overworked but today was mile stone for me in plein air painting. For those of you who know me well, notice my car is right next to me. You know that's all that really matters ;)

Palmetto Palm watercolor study

Here in Naples it's getting hotter and yesterday, around three o'clock, I took myself to the beach. I broke out the watercolors and did a little study of these Palmettos standing guard. I also noticed that the seagull swarm starts just before sunset. Hundreds of gulls fly in and land on the beach. I left about 7:20, the sun still up, and headed for Publix to do some grocery shopping at the perfect time. Everyone else is home having supper :D