Banyan Tree #1 6x8

I'm posting this as the finish, though after studying it while writing my post, I think the left side of the painting needs just a few small strikes of sunlight into that neutral mid tone to enhance the form of the trunk. I'll let it sit a while and it will tell me what it needs. We're going back to the same location this Thursday and I plan to stay with this subject. It's a good lesson in seeing the big picture in terms of design. This is just a small section of the trunk system of this massive Banyan tree. It happens that while I've been working this evening I listened to a inspirational PBS feature on Ansel Adams who was a fantastic artist with a camera.

Banyan Tree Watercolor 8x12

I've been studying my Banyan tree oil trying to 'see' the finish. Mostly everything is in shadow but the lights will define them and lead the eye. In order to not over do the oil painting, I embarked on a watercolor drawing to help me get a sense of all the shapes in the tree and shadows. Watercolor feels so carefree. I wonder why? I know. You all think I'm goofing off at the pool. You're right.

Banyan Tree block in 6x8

hour and a half in

At this point the colors are starting to work second stage and the pre mixes

The pattern

The Bully

I went out this morning with the Naples Outdoor painters to a private home with about 2 acres of lush tropical gardens. As I strolled about trying to choose a location I heard over and over, the complaint, "there's too much green" and, "I'm overwhelmed". And so was I. BUT, I decided on the banyan tree which had some sunlight on it, thus some contrast. I spent 20 minutes doing a value sketch to find shapes and place my darks. Then I did the premix, mapping out the colors so that when I started, I wouldn't run out of anything. This is making a huge difference for me. So much so that I wish I'd done it years ago. I worked for an hour and a half to get to this stage, where I decided to leave it while I plan the finish. It was 88 and humid and with sweat running down my neck, I rewarded my carefully planned and executed block in with a trip to the pool :) I wasn't able to get the photo right tonight but I will make up for it when I post the finish.

Cantaloupe Watercolor 8x10

Set Up

Initial block in

I have avoided painting cantaloupe because so many have done it so well. However, I tackled it today and although it needs more work, I'm posting it. Some of these daily painters just knock me out with their focus and ability to paint one beautiful piece after another. I'm trying to live up to my own expectations which is tougher than living up to anyone else's. Amen. Notice, I am using the kitchen ;) as it should be used.

Cloud Study 4x6

Florida might be the sunshine state but it is also the land of the cumulus cloud. This view, looking eastward from my studio toward a golf course, always has a dramatic sky. These three palmettos survived Hurricane Wilma amid a line of trees that was changed into toothpicks by a small tornado that ripped through this swale. I premixed my colors which I find helps me once I get going. I don't have to work through trial and error color mixtures.

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

Half a Pepper Watercolor 6x8

Just for fun I played with watercolors yesterday. I did some cropping on this piece because I think it's stronger that way and the cropping shows the color details. The magical look of watercolor comes from the way the white paper shows through the paint.

Edward Hopper fake 6x6

Copying a Master's work was the way students learned at some of the famous ateliers like Ecole des Beaux Artes. That link leads to a site about John Singer Sargent which is loaded with links to everything Sargent. Despite a good start here the devil was in the details as they say. There was a bit of a tilt to this when I photographed it so it looks a tad crooked on the left. It's not. This is my first fake. I kinda like it.

A Room In Brooklyn 1932

Edward Hopper Chillin' Flamingo Isle Sunday Afternoon 8x8

Here are some shots of work in progress. One is my fake Edward Hopper which I'm keeping in the fridge until it's complete. Hopefully I'll post the finish tomorrow and get this thing mailed up to Newport, Rhode Island for Spring Bull gallery's Fabulous Fakes and Forgeries show. The other shot is a painting in progress in the studio.

Chinese New Year Offering

I'm way late with the Chinese New Year theme but it's not really about that. This was supposed to be a "simple" drapery study using only ambient light ;) which turned out to be not about drapery at all. For those who paint from photos, take note here. Look how far you can push color in the shadows. It took me forever to learn that shadows aren't dark colorless holes.

Doors Project

A group of bloggers is doing a Doors Project today. After laboriously, copying and pasting 30 plus links to the other bloggers, they disappeared which was traumatic. So, please check out Frank Gardner to see the other participants. Sorry 'bout that.

My Old Studio Door in The Codman Building, Rockland, MA

Red Door Parrsboro, NS

WomenCrafts, Provincetown, MA

Cottage at Second Beach, Parrsboro, NS

Pink Cottage, Marshfield, MA

Abandoned Farmhouse East Bridgewater, MA

The Old Post Office in East Bridgewater, MA

Julie Heller Gallery, Provincetown, MA

Colin's Rubber Duckie

I've painted this before but I think I'm going to lose it as a prop when my baby nephew Colin comes to visit me and realizes that he left it here. This is a teeny 2x3 inches. If you want to see some fabulous tiny paintings that look huge check out Joyce Washor.

Beach House 6x8

In reality this is more than a 'beach house'. It's a mansion actually, as are most of the beach houses here in Naples,Florida. I resolved the awkward angles by working out the foreground. Again, I'm not able to get a really good photo of this. What do you think ? This painting is listed on eBay as item number 170199655887. I have to figure out how to create the link.

Beach House detail

I'm posting this detail of an almost finished painting because there is a design flaw in another part of the painting that needs to be fixed. The flaw is that there are several angles that converge too abruptly as well as a few shapes in the foliage (grrrr) that repeat themselves too statically. Part of the problem is that I didn't stop to figure out where I was going off and kept painting. WRONG ;) I think I know what I have to do to get out of it with the painting intact. I'll post the before and after when I finish it and you can decide. There will be some for whom the detail was the whole painting and they might not see the need to add anything ;)

Wipe Out

Each painting is a maybe until it becomes clear that it's working. Sometimes it just doesn't work though. I'm posting this partially resolved painting which I wiped out twice and was going to wipe again BUT as Scarlet O'Hara said, "tomorrow's another day". We'll see.

Stained Glass Lamp 6x6

Ok. Simple is outta here. Maybe I just can't fathom it. I bought this sweet little stained glass lamp at Christmas Tree Shops, a chain that started in New England and is now a destination for everyone who visits the area. Lots of cheap stuff. For the most part I stay away from the place, because it's too easy to drop $50 on knicky knacky stuff that I don't need (like more props) but they advertised these and I ran over and bought 2. Also, my husband is out of town for a week and I've been using the stove for a taboret, which is how it should be used.

Tangerines on Blue 6x8

I finally have this ready to post. Of course, while setting up my tangerines with the Keeping it Simple, idea in mind, I instead put the tangerines and slices on a dark blue fabric with lighter blues and oranges woven into it. What was I thinking?

Cherries Jubilee 3x5

I wanted to call this post, the ones that get away. Instead of keeping it simple (sound familiar?) I added the glass bowl to the setup. Usually I find glass fun to paint and fairly 'easy' but hanging the bowl off the edge like I did gave me problems getting the elipses right. I learned long ago that the paintings speak to others differently than they do to me. I have expectations, which is this case were not met. Doesn't mean someone else won't like it.

Bicycle Path 6x8

I cleaned up the pavement and added the grass on the left side then asked my husband what he thought about it. He said, 'it's done. Don't do anymore." What do you think?

Bicycle Path Study 6x8

While I was painting this I made each stroke count. Like a golf game, which I don't play but I get the 'less is more' concept. I wiped out my figures first and painted the hats and their backs to have my lightest lights up there from the start. I need to reinstate some warmer darks in the pavement. Too much glare there takes away from the figures. Also have to tweak the figure in the foreground. I am off to the SW Florida Art Show in Bonita Springs for a break from studio painting.