Annie and I took a walk on the beach a few weeks back when we had a miraculous sun break. It's been a very wet spring in the Pacific Northwest!
The day we went to LaConner was a typical northwest day with weather changing by the hour. Bright beautiful sun with intense color in the shadows and crisp light bouncing off all the wet surfaces.....to overcast with wind blowing the dark clouds across the landscape.
We went to the tulip festival in LaConner Washington this spring......but the tulips were all gone except for one field crowded with tourists and tour buses!.....we didn't even stop there but went on to explore the town and surrounding area. These kites were flying over the one remaining field of yellow tulips.
I did two peony paintings ......a pair of .....no ...a perfect pair of passionate, pink, peony paintings........=]..........you get the picture.....
Every year our tree peonies are spectacular......and every year I attempt to paint them.....usually in watercolor......their true color is an impossible red....unmixable!!!.....(well.....I'm sure Richard Shmid could do it)........This year I got so frustrated trying to paint them in oil I finally resorted to using a palette knife and paint squeezed straight from the tube. Checking out my work the next day I thought " I need to try this palette knife stuff some more"......but I'm not sure that it will work as well if I'm not MAD...
watercolor from 08
one from 07
I've been hoping for some good reference photos of seagulls in flight and my hope was answered a few weeks ago when Ann and I went camping up at Deception Pass by Anacordes. We found a great spot and went for a hike down the beach towards the bridge that spans the narrows of Deception Pass. These seagulls were hovering in the pressure created by the wind coming over these rocks . I'm working on a 16x32 oil painting using this sketch and reference photos. I will be posting my progress as we go along....
There is this wonderful garden with a beautiful water feature right by Pioneer Square in Seattle that was constructed by The United Postal Service for an anniversary, not sure which one...I took a few pictures and notes while Annie and I were out wandering the streets a few weeks ago. Here is the resultant sketch and painting..... sold
After that we went to a great restaurant called Marsalas and had boiled crayfish and beer...=]
We have been getting so much rain here in the Pacific Northwest!...and it is still pretty chilly....The blossoms are out on the apple trees but I'm not sure if the bees will be out to pollinate......but it seems nature always finds a way.....I love spring!!
This old truck sits in the field by the driveway of the farm right next to the Knowles Studio where I work. I have been watching it weather away, outside my window for several years now, thinking I should paint it some day......Well....the day arrived...For some unknown reason I was inspired to paint the old truck. I took my easel outside and did the pencil drawing, took some color notes and photos and this is the result.
The sketch was 12x16, but since I didn't have a canvas that size I painted it on a 16x20 and added the foreground.....what the heck...
I found this old silver teapot up in the attic and set up a still life. The flowers are faux from Wal Mart and look like it in this study.....sort of lifeless....I see a lot of areas for improvement in this piece.....but that's what it's all about!.....practice, brush miles, and working out challenges on canvas with brush and paint!...sold
I have been working on several projects but it has been a few days so I will just post this little still life I did a few weeks ago. I purchased this bottle of wine for my still life set up because I liked the label. It is called Gnarly Head, referring to the Old Vine Zinfandel grapes used to make it. Turns out it is pretty good with roast beef...
I ran across a photo I took almost twenty years ago of a trip up the Washington Coast when I was fairly new to this area. I can still remember hopping out of the car at every turn in the road and taking pictures of everything....I was so amazed and excited by the beauty surrounding me in my new home state....I still love Washington state and now I have the privilege of spending time painting that beauty every day!
My day trip to Fort Flagler for some plein air painting paid off in a lot of good reference material for studio painting as well. I took the photo for this painting out the window of my truck as I was exploring some rural roads off the beaten track.
The field sketch.
I set this up in my new still life cubicle.....then put a florescent light low to the side....then painted it late at night...
Working on my yellows......somehow a difficult color for me. The biggest challenge was the transparency and luminous light in the cut lemon.
I have set up my own still life "cubicle" with lighting and all , based on what we were using in Darrells class. So now I am experimenting with compositions. This Amaryllis bloomed magnificently and I had to try and paint it. The blossoms were so heavy they wouldn't stand up! Not sure I like this composition but I am happy with the execution....
This is the last painting I did in Darrell Andersons painting class. I worked it over in the studio and brought out a lot more contrast. I also set up a similar still life "cubical" in the studio where I plan on composing more S.L. paintings...for those rainy days.....I'll get a picture of it for you...
I sold this commission painting of Kells Irish Pub in Seattle to a guy with the last name of Flanigan on Saint Patricks Day!!........No kidding!!
My painting "Seattle Sailboat" will be on the cover of 48 Degree North sailing magazine for the month of April! Check it out at http://www.48north.com/ (in April)...=]
Another painting from Lagoon Beach on the way to Marrowstone Island. I painted this one in the studio from the pictures and sketches done on location.
My friend Alexa agreed to sit for me so I can practice my portrait painting. She is a good model but I think I need some more practice... sold
