13 of 30 - Dogs and Cars - Wanderlust

Wanderlust

Oil on Linen on board

8x10"

To Purchase

This is more of a camper than a car, but I've been wanting to paint it for a while!  It sort of fits with my general theme of dramatic light...and hopefully no one has noticed I took a few days off from the challenge;)   This camper belongs to a gentleman who stopped by the workshop I took with Colin Page last year around this time on beautiful Balboa Island.   He enjoyed seeing the artists at work, and if I remember correctly he was selling postcards and such on his journey up and down the coast.  He sure has a unique and delightfully decorated mode of transportation!

On another note, I will be teaching a Workshop this April 16th and 17th in Thousand Oaks, focusing on Composition and Confident Brush Strokes.

We will be working on simplifying what we see through several value exercises and, making our brush strokes count!

Learn more here

Summerland Roofs

Summerland Roofs

8x10"

Oil on linen on board

DPW

I painted this one up in Summerland a few months back with my friend Shannon Celia (you can check out her great Seascapes on her website) There's a lot of pretty homes and buildings in that area, but this day I zeroed in on something that looked a little more like a shack.  I always look for subjects with a little character and wanted to explore cropping in on these buildings with the way they were intersecting and I liked the dramatic shadows the sun created.

Here's a painting on the area where we were standing to paint.

 Shade for Lunch

6x8"

Oil on Linen on Board
DPW

SOLD

It was right by the freeway off ramp, but with some shade it still made for an enjoyable paint out. 
What's the most difficult thing you deal with if you paint outdoors?

Hot Coco

Hot Coco

Oil on Linen on board

8x8"

DPW

Thrilled to paint my Artist friend Leigh Spark's dog Coco!  Doesn't she look like so much fun to paint - sweet thing?

Here's my second version:

Makes me want to paint more dogs:-)

A Walk to the Beach

A Walk to the Beach

10x10"

Oil on Linen on Board

DPW

Excited to be displaying some of my paintings at the "En Plein Air Gallery" in Carpinteria this next month!  It's a small treasure of a gallery owned by artist Leigh Sparks and located in this quaint small sea-side town south of Santa Barbara.

I will post more of the paintings I've had a chance to do locally in the coming days!

The address is 963 Linden Ave, Carpinteria, California 93013, if you'd like to come and see them in person! or see me painting around town:-)

Daily Commute

 Daily Commute

6x8"

Oil on linen on board

DPW

Feels like a month since I last posted...and it is:-)  I've been painting, but also doing some rewarding volunteering with a focus on our kids.   And that's all in between Open Studio Events and getting ready for other exhibits.

I loved the forced perspective of this view...picture snapped on Balboa Island by the ferries going back and forth every few minutes.

I'm looking forward to posting some more of what I've been working on!

Afternoon Stroll

Afternoon Stroll

12x12"

Oil on Linen on board

DPW

The painting on top here is the Final version of the painting I started on location 2 years ago.  As with anything painted plein air it has a certain freshness to it that I love.  I just wasn't thoroughly happy with the foreground rock formation:-)  Worked on it the other day and even though neither of the photos probably captures the exact color temperature I feel that I resolved a few things...and it only took me 2 years?!:-)

And whether it's an improvement...only you cant tell.

I have a lot more paintings sitting around my studio these days, waiting for that final critical step...

Barn Treasures

Barn Treasures

8x10"

Oil on linen on board

Got to paint by this old barn of Las Virgenes last year, through a call to a park ranger on the property.  It's a beautiful old barn and when peaking in we ( my painting friend Lyn and I), found a sign from a restaurant that was once open in Malibu....so many stories to be found!

When it comes to the painting...Shadows are an interesting challenge and I worked on the shadows to make them less severe and cut-out looking, which I think helped:-)

Edge of Afternoon

8x10"

Oil on linen on panel

Used to be Thurman's Place

Used to be Thurman's Place

8x10"

oil on linen on panel

sold

I'm catching up and posting some paintings that somehow slipped through the cracks.

 

Life is filled with some wonderful coincidences.   One day this past fall my friend Shannon and I decided to go to Hidden Valley to paint.  It's this jewel of a valley tucked away, from suburbia, with horse stables and old farms - this being one of them...

On this day we precariously parked ourselves on the side of the road to paint the morning light on this barn when I thought I saw the owner in his pajamas on the property, changing something by an electrical box.   I quickly ran over and asked him if he wouldn't mind if we set up to paint inside his fence, and to our delight he said yes!  It was warm and there were a ton of red little bugs crawling around in the very dried out grass, but we were so happy to be a little further from the cars zooming by.

A couple of months later I have my open studio and my sister-in-law is telling us about this property she's looking at in Hidden Valley.   And as she describes the location it's starting to sound very familiar to me.  When I show her the painting and describe Thurman to her, we realize it is indeed the same property she was looking at...?!... The owner she met was always - in his pajamas...

Such a small world:-))))

Day 25 - DIY BubbleBath

"DIY BubbleBath"

8x10"

Oil on Linen on Board

DPW

Not sure if anyone has noticed...?!, but I haven't quite kept up with posting every day for the 30 paintings in 30 Days challenge that Leslie Saeta hosts.  I love the daily routine it creates, but this time around I just had to go a little easy on myself and leave time to work on larger work as well.  So - still painting, just not posting it all and partially taking part is still a great thing to do, and better than not painting regularly for sure!

I've been looking into Plein Air Events for this year, hoping to at least do one and this is the list I've come up with so far - Please let me know if you know of a great event that I've missed!

PLEIN AIR EVENTS 2015

February 14-22, 2015 Maui, Hawaii

2015 Schedule of Events - Maui Plein Air Painting...

mauipleinairpainting.org/2015-schedule-of-events   

View the full 2015 Schedule of Events for the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational event! Maui beaches + outdoor painting + artists and observers = Must see!

May1-11, 2015, Florida

Forgotten Coast en Plein Air 2015, America's Great...

www.pleinairfl.com   

Nationally recognized plein air artists have been selected to capture the allure of the Florida's Forgotten Coast with paint and canvas. Artists will be painting on ...

May 12-16, 2015   Wayne, Pennsylvania

Plein Air Festival 2015

http://waynepleinair.org/index.htm SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: PRESS: JUROR: PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP: ... Member of the Plein Air Painters of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and California Art ...

Apply Jan 1-March 1

May 14-17, 2015

Carmel-by-the-Sea Plein Air Juried Painting Competition...

www.carmelartfestivalcalifornia.com

... 2015 Carmel-by-the-Sea Plein Air Juried ... Carmel Art Festival in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, 93921. In 2015, ... Gallery Events: Carmel Art ...

June 10-14, Ontario

Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival | painting competition...

www.fingerlakespleinair.com   

Deadline January 30^th

June 14

http://www.paintsanclemente.com/

June 14-22……register by June 1^st…?

June 15-20, 2015, MD

http://www.easelsinfrederick.org

"Easels in Frederick" Plein Air Event. Begining June 18, 2013 artists painted en plein air (in open air) throughout Frederick County, MD. For more information:

June 16th-19th

Los Gatos Plein Air 2015 lgpleinair.org    The deadline for applying is February 1, 2015.

Los Gatos Plein Air 2015. Los Gatos Plein Air 2015 is a fine art exhibition and sale that will be held in Los Gatos, California on ... 2015. Events of Los Gatos Plein Air

July 19-25, 2015

DOOR COUNTY PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL July 19-25, 2015

www.doorcountypleinair.com   

Door County Plein Air Festival event presented by Peninsula School of Art, July 20-26, 2014

July 27-August 1, 2015, Alameda, CA

http://www.frankbettecenter.org/plein-air-paintout.html

Plein Air Paintout - deadline to apply for 2015 is April 27. 

http://onlinejuriedshows.com/Default.aspx?OJSID=388

September 7–12, 2015

Mendocino Plein Air. - Mendocino Art Center, Art Center,...

www.mendocinoartcenter.org/pleinair   

A Plein Air Festival on Northern California's ... 2015. The festival includes plein air painting, ... All events are free and open to the public, ...

September 14th-19th

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS :: Sonoma Plein Air Festival

www.sonomapleinair.com/events.html   

Stay tuned for information about Sonoma Plein Air Festival 2015, September 14th-19th! Artists, the application process opens Jan 27, ...

September 6^th-13^th, 2015, Washington

http://www.paintthepeninsula.org/

September 30-October 4th

Plein Air At The Lost Coast - Plein Air Event

www.pleinairatthelostcoast.com  September 30-October 4th

Plein Air at the Lost Coast Plein Air Event ... 2015. Shelter Cove, CA. Advance registration may be made by mail or phone or you may register at the time of your arrival at the event. 

For advance registration, please complete the form below and mail with your check for $65. 

 

Day 14 - Sunlit Pines

Sunlit Pines

8x10"

Oil on linen board

These pines are making me pine for the many trees on the Swedish island where I grew up.  In Sweden there are 2 distinct types of pine-trees.  The Christmas type variety, called "gran".  And this variety which is called "tall".   Making me a little home-sick...

Day 13 - A Restful Stop in Ojai

A Restful Stop

8x10"

Oil on Linen on board

$275

Had the pleasure of painting with Dan LaVigne and Dan Schultz in Ojai today!  This year is getting off to a fun start with all these paint-outs with friends.  Always great to see how different each artist's take is and what subject matters we all choose.

Here's a great clip on YouTube about how we each have a unique voice and to embrace it!

It starts with Walt Disney quoting Robert Henri and ends with 4 Amazing Disney Artists painting a tree 4 ways.  It's great!!

Day 11 of 30 - Balboa Island "Early on the Dock

Early on the Dock

8x10

Oil on Linen on Board
$275

This past Friday, I was fortunate enough to get in an actual Plein Air Painting day.  And lucky enough to have my good friend and painting buddy Shannon Celia brave the early hour (leaving at 5:30AM) to come paint as well!  We drove down to Newport beach where we also met up with Kim VanDerHoek on Balboa Island.   Each of us got a painting done before having a nice lunch and getting to talk shop at Picante Martin's Mexican Restaurant.  Check out both Kim's and Shannon's websites to learn more about their work!

I am so grateful for the artists and friends I make on the journey!!  It is at least half the fun of painting for me.

On this particular day I was interested in doing something based on an unusual view and composition, cropping in to get more of an abstract feel.  I also started with my most delicate color and I liked the direction it took for the most part.  

It's such a great challenge to paint water, and reflections, along with all the movement of the water, and the sky reflecting in the water surface.
 There is a lot going on!   
What I noticed is that I tend to lay in all my brushstrokes to describe the water horizontally, and that makes it look really busy.   As I'm always working on getting better at simplifying.....I'm now thinking it's better to save those horizontal strokes for describing just the surface of the water and keep most of the reflections as shapes, just like I saw Wyllis Heaton do the other night in his demo.

 I get a little caught up with all the edges to soon and this new way would keep it more unified and not so broken up.  Something I will get even more conscious of next time I try it:-)

Happy Painting!

Day 7 of 30 - Starting with the Sun

Starting with the Sun

8x10

Oil on Linen on board

So after watching Wyllis Heaton's Demo (see yesterday's post)  I decided that I would start this one with the lightest and purest colors, and go from there.  I'm fairly happy with how the Sun-light through the trees worked out and the simplification of the building!  Might still work on the sky...it needs some help:-)

Olawalu Memories

8x10

Oil on linen on board

This is a fun commissioned piece I did, that almost painted itself:-)   Treasured family-time in Hawaii.   It goes to show that a painting can capture a memory for safe keeping far longer than any photo!   And it's unique and original.

Happy Painting!

Today I go off to take a 3-day workshop with William Wray.   One of my favorite artists - Very exciting!!

The Colors of Hard Work

The Colors of Hard Work

12x12"

Oil on Linen on Board

To Purchase

This past week I had the opportunity to paint in Down Town Los Angeles for the first ever Los Angeles Plein Air Festival.   Talk about a different kind of Plein Air experience:-)   

The city is full of beauty.  The Colors of the Toy district are just up my alley!   And whether your audience is made up by sophisticated collectors, kids and homeless or intoxicated onlookers.   Art can always serve as a connecting point bringing endless fascination, opinions and shared joy.

9.21.14 - Eyes on "Rice"

Eyes on Rice

12x16"

Oil on Linen on board

Spent some time at the Thousand Oaks Arts Festival yesterday and worked on this painting.  A view I captured this spring, of a restaurant in Ventura that have since moved.  Had fun doing it upside down with all that was going on in that window...and I can't resist that color combination:-)

One week left of 30 in 30...

9.9.14 - And that's not a Tatoo. - Favorite things

And That's not a Tatoo

8x10"

Oil on Linen on board

This was an interesting one...I can still see adjustments I would like to do, but I had a lot of fun working on getting a little experimental and pushing the colors of the skin tones as I've seen so many artists do successfully...I'm a work in progress working on bigger brush strokes, not blending everything and being painterly about it all, there's a lot to think about when you're painting faces...:)

This is our oldest son, who has been into animals of all sizes since he was real little and has shown a knack for lizzard catching.

9.8.14 - More of More Mesa

More of More Mesa

12x12"

Oil on Linen on Board

To Purchase

This is a larger studio version of one of my favorite plein air studies, which just sold - which was great! - although a little bitter sweet...   Fortunately I got a chance to paint one to keep before I let it go:-)

9.4.14 - Favorite Beach

Wedding Season

12x12"

Oil on Linen on Board

This is looking south on one of my favorite Southern California beaches, El Matador.   When I took this picture during there were a slew of photographers and even a wedding party there taking pictures and I knew I would have to paint that light.

9.3.14 - Treasured Moments

Treasured Moments

(or my husband's choice for a title - Time Sight)

6x8

Oil on linen on board

We got to spend some special time with family on the Cape this summer and the kids got to hang out and spend some very treasured moments with Grandpa.   I did as well, as I was doing my usual lurking around with my camera...lol... always visually composing the world around me for the next painting.   Grandpa was a really good sport about it:-)

 

Painting faces I'm learning that it helps to keep transitions softer, at least as I get started, and here I wiped off some paint to help facilitate that.   Painting on these linen Raymar Panels makes it such a smooth and easy process and I love the way the paint both glides on and can be wiped off easily!