Row Your Boat

Had lots of fun painting this one! Love using the knife and use it I did...even for his visor!

Plum Study No. 4 !

Here is a favorite quote from a favorite artist Richard Schmid " It often takes two to do a good painting - one to paint it and another to rap the painter smartly with a hammer before he or she can ruin it."

Well , that said I will tell you this was my 4th plum. The first one was a beauty. My son Anton came into the studio and remarked on it, said the colors were right on. He's 17, so always tells me how it is, no sugar coating with Anton. He was right; it was lovely. So of course I had to mess with it and ruin it I did! So today I painted my plum. However, It's still not as nice as the first one.  :)       

Original oil painting: Beautifully Abstract

I love abstract art work. I love how an artist takes a reference from a landscape or still life and makes an abstract painting from it. I started doing that with this painting. Well so much for trying. You can see where I ended up! I think one reason I am so in love with doing these seascapes is that the water, sky, sand and rocks really are abstract features within realism. Well then again isn't everything?  However, to take realism, turn it into abstraction in a beautiful way...hmmm that's my question.

Perfect Landing

I remember a book from years ago titled " Johnathon Livingston Seagull"? I'm pretty sure that was it. I never did read it. What was it about? Was the sea gull's name Johnathon? Maybe that's what they are called somewhere other then NJ. We just call them seagulls. They are really very pretty birds and fun to watch. As long as your not eating on the beach! 

Seascape with Jetty and Distant Pier

OK, I know I have to work on my picture taking. Sometimes I get it right, but most times I don't. It's a new camera. That's it...blame it on the camera! Maybe there is too much light? I think tomorrow needs to be devoted to better photography. :-)  

Landscape Painting: Perched at the Belmar Marina

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Something about the way the birds are perched all in a row attracted me. I love the way they do that. They look as if they are really posing for your camera. You think?      

Landscape Painting: Beach Day

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Another beautiful day at the beach!

Landscape Painting: On the Rocks

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I am on the beach theme! After being there for a week it was hard to leave. This painting was done from a refrence photo taken years ago. I think it was either early spring or fall. It was cold, that I remember.    

Landscape painting: Stormy Thursday

This painting was more difficult then the first one. The water would not stop moving! The Sun was in and out, in and out. It was in more then out, of course until I cleaned up all my paints! Then the sun came out in all her glory and it was beautiful! Would have made a nice painting. :)   

Landscape: Jersey Shore Umbrella's

 

This is the beach umbrella rental stand at the entrance to the beach I'm staying at. I have been on vacation with family and friends all week and did not get in as much painting as I had wanted. This is my first plein air sketch. Not sure why I have never painted en plein air before.  It was fun, but very different. It reminded me of camping verses staying in a hotel! Lots of movement and stuff going on around me but not as distracting as I thought it would be. It took me about 1 1/2 hours so the sun was not a problem, except for it beating down on my head and frying my brain! A note for next time; wear a HAT not a visor. This scene has major editing done to it. After they removed two umbrellas and a chair while I was sketching in I knew I was in trouble, so wipe out, do over and keep it simple I did!         

Still Life Cherry Study

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I know the stems on these cherries are a little odd. They really did look like this, a bit shriveled and in strange positions. I think they were in the fridge too long.  

Still Life Tomato Study

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They have finally arrived! the most delicious tomatoes from my garden, oops! I mean my husbands garden. I'm not allowed a garden because it would be full of weeds! 

Still Life Painting: Yellow Flower in Glass Jar

 I love the brightness of this painting. Orange is a great color and yellow...together they are just beautiful! I'm crazy about that combo. Can't say Orange or yellow are my favorites because like my kids...I don't have a favorite but love them all!

Still Life: What a Pair

I know my clever title can't be so clever, but it did crack me up. :) I should get out more.  

Still Life: Orange Flowers and Apricots

Ohhh....how I love the color orange. I think it's my favorite, except for all the other colors. And with blue...ya just can't go wrong. I painted this from an old reference photo I had found. I wish I still had the vase, but I got rid of a lot of stuff on a studio cleaning binge. I'm ready for another, however I think I'll be a bit more careful on what I throw out.   

Landscape painting: Red Field

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This painting is from some photo's I took last night. The sun was low and I loved how it made the dirt so red. The tree and field are from one place and the buildings are from another. I added the buildings to break up all the stripes.

Still Life Painting: Little Green with Red Buds

This is such a funny little vase. I collect vintage pottery and this is one of my favorites. It's so cute. I have not seen another like it when I go to flea markets. Painting it was fun. I suppose because I love it so much. The flowers are from my husband's red bud tree...shush...don't tell him I was out clipping his branches. 

Lanscape painting: Small White Barn

Landscape painting: East Windsor Farm No. 2

Landscape painting: Red Barn in Field