My Daily Painting...Giant Sunflower

'A Sunny Face' 5x7

This week I wanted to participate on Wet Canvas' Weekly Drawing Event. Someone is the host for the week and posts 16 photos and participants choose a photo and post their efforts in the forum. I can never resist a sunflower so here is my effort. It is 5x7, pastel on LaCarte paper. Tomorrow I have a commission to work on...a Muskie fish. I have to do some research on that!!!

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My Daily Painting ...The Red Hibiscus

'The Red Hibiscus' pastel 6x6

I needed a break from painting cats and I felt like using some bright colors. This red hibiscus flower did the trick. I took several photos of this bush near our cottage on Sanibel. This is my second red hibiscus painting. The first is hanging in my bedroom. I will be offering this painting for sale for $65 on ebay or you can email me if you are interested in purchasing it. kemstudios@yahoo.com

A Low Country Egret

I was excited to get back to the beach to see some shore birds and I wasn't disappointed. On our first morning we got up before the sun, had our coffee and walked out to the beach for the sunrise. It was actually cloudy and the sky was dark. But when the sun tried to peek through it got quite dramatic. This Snowy Egret wading in the surf took time to pose for me!

This painting is available for sale for $125. Contact me at kemstudios@yahoo.com

Plein Air Marsh, Hunting Island South Carolina

'Afternoon Marsh' 9x12

This painting was done on location at the Marsh Boardwalk on Hunting Island. Holly and Jayne asked if I wouldn't mind doing a 'paint along'. They were curious to see how I approach a painting. So we all set up under the shelter and chose our scene. The idea was that I would paint some and they would use the same technique and colors. It was a challenge because I had to remember to slow down enough so they could see what I was doing. The end result.....all three paintings looked different and I think they were happy about the whole experience. They actually thought they were learning something but truthfully it was me who was learning. I realized that I have no clue how I go about painting. I just get into a zone and something takes over. I don't know if I could explain why I chose a certain color or where I put a color. Interestingly enough when I got home I just happened to read an article about Susan Ogilvie. She at one point had the same realization. When she decided to figure out Why she painted the way she did...she felt that her paintings improved. I am trying to do this but I will make more of an effort.

Low Country Dunes

It was fun to be painting plein air on the beach again although we probably stayed an hour too long. It got very hot and the sun was brutal. But I managed to do three paintings out there so I was happy. What a great experience painting to the sound of the waves and the calls of the hundreds of shore birds on the sand bar nearby. I know I will enjoy painting from my photos of this beach even more because of my time spent painting outdoors. These were amazing dunes! We were at Harbor Island, South Carolina near Beaufort and right next to Hunting Island State Park. I will be posting more from our trip so stay tuned!

Painting South Carolina's Low Country

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Harbor Island South Carolina. Where do I even begin! It was a perfect get-away and painting trip. I went with two of my painting friends Jayne and Holly and we had the Best time!! We had perfect weather. We stayed at a great location in a beautiful part of the country. We tooks hundreds of pictures, we painted, talked, ate out.....it was simply wonderful and we can't wait for our next adventure. Here is a shot of my easel and two of my plein air beach paintings. The dunes were amazing....lots of color and vegetation. The beach was practically deserted except for a guy doing bird counts...there were hundred of gulls, terns, sand pipers...dunes, birds. marshes...sounds like heaven to me! I'll be posting some clos-ups of my plein air paintings next.

Palm Tree Mode

I'm getting into Palm Tree Mode now that my trip to the beach is tomoorrow! OK, so maybe no coconut palms in South Carolina...but I'll take any beach scenery! This is an ACEO I currently have for sale on Ebay. It's just 2 1/2 x 3 1/2. They are a lot of fun to paint!

Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy!

'Tiny Sweets' 2.5 x 3.5

I sold my salt water taffy painting last week and that was bittersweet. It was one of those that I had become attached to. I just happened to have another box of taffy handy (you can get it at Cracker Barrel now so it's easy to indulge my sweet tooth) I thought why not do a series on taffy. Maybe even order different kinds online..you know for reference material only! I am having fun with these little art cards. I like to paint tiny!

Sweet Strawberries

'Sweet and Juicy' 6x6

Here's another one from today....I'm on a roll! I bought some strawberries to paint on Friday and luckily didn't eat them all yet. We bought some chocolate to make chocolate covered strawberries with the rest....I'll try to paint them too. I like to paint food! I think I'll take my camera to the grocery store to get some fun reference photos!

Painting a Marsh...Practice

I'm headed to the South Carolina Low Country this week and I can't wait. I thought I should try some practice marshes before I go. We plan on doing plein air painting and so far it looks like the weather should cooperate. This scene is actually from the porch of the visitor center on the way to St. George Island, Florida. It's my weekly 'canson' practice.

Moon Snail Study

We found many moon snail shells on the beaches of St. George Island. I set these two up in my tray of sand to get some shell painting practice. This one is 9x12 on dark brown art spectrum paper. I have this thought about painting strawberries next. I bought some strawberries and set up some still life arrangements this morning when the light was nice. I think I may try to paint them next....or should I start my boats??? So many things I want to paint!

Painting a Great Blue Heron

'Blue Reflections' 9x12

I had to get back to the water and paint another Great Blue. I am gearing up for our trip to the South Carolina Low Country next week. We hope to see shore birds and shells and marshes....some of my favorite things to paint. I can't wait to go!

Rocky Mountain High

'Rocky Mountain High' 16x20

Titles don't come easily to me...and even though this one may be overdone, it's just popped into my head. I started this last night at class and finished it today. I promised my good friends Cindy & Bob a painting last year and we finally decided to do a scene from their vacations to Colorado. So after watching hours of family photos, we narrowed it down to 3 choices. But I decided I didn't like any of them for a painting so I found this reference photo on Wetcanvas of a trail in the Rocky Mountain National Park. I know it's not Breckenridge...but to me it represents being outside in the Colorado Mountains. I even put them in the painting! I hope they like it. On a technical note....my challenge here was how to make a big empty foreground interesting. I tried to do it with colors and shapes that lead to the path which then leads to the hikers. I hope I succeeded.

Cedar Key Florida

I don't always post everything I paint and I don't always get to paint every day, but since I am now a part of the Daily Painters blog, I am really trying hard to paint something everyday. Not all will be winners but all are good learning experiences. This is my weekly 'canson' practice. I like to try a painting on canson because it is so much of a challenge for me. This is from a photo I took on a boat tour of the islands surrounding Cedar Key. What a fun place to visit...and lots to paint! This one is 9x12. Today I will try to finish something I started at class last night...a Colorado landscape. Check back later for updates!

Just One Sunflower

'Just One Sunflower' 6x6

I knew I didn't have much time to paint today so I wanted to do something quick just to get dusty. I chose a sunflower and I cropped one of my photos from the sunflower festival to get this view. Tonight Jayne and I are going to our first SE Pastel Society meeting and tomorrow night is pastel class so it will be a busy week! I do hope to start on my Bar Harbor Boat painting..I am just working out the details.

The Sunflower Festival...updated

As promised I am posting an update of the Sunflower Festival painting. I softened the top edges of the trees and fixed the woman's shirt. I have more photos from the festival and soon I will attempt another one...perhaps a view of the field with the scare crow. Now I am starting to work on a painting that I think will take me longer...it has a lot of details. Stay tuned!

The Morning Walk...Sanibel

'The Morning Walk' 12x16

I really can identify with this painting. One of my favorite things to do whenever I am near a beach is to wake up early, get my coffee and camera and walk for miles...or so it seems. I look for shells or any other treasure that the tide brings in.I hope I can continue to do this for many years to come. I took a photo of these two ladies on Sanibel Island as they took their morning walk. It was so peaceful and they seemed so relaxed and content as they shared the morning together.

A Few Tiny Paintings

'Seashore Memories' each one 2 1/2 x 3 1/2

I cut my scrap paper into little 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 pieces so I could do some little paintings in my spare time. Yesterday I did three of them. They are so much fun to do! And it's a challenge to see what can fit in such a small space.

Herbie the Gull

'Herbie the Gull' 9x12

Today's painting is a Laughing Gull named Herbie. I thought he looked like a Herbie anyway. I haven't painted a sea gull in awhile and I thought it would be a fun little exercise. He's not really right in the middle because it seems I cut off some of the right edge when I took the photo.

Shells for Sooz

'Shells for Sooz' 6x6

My favorite place to hang out online is the wetcanvas pastels forum. I visit there several times a day when I am home just to catch up on what's happening with my pastel friends around the world as well as learn from them. On Monday I opened up wetcanvas to read that one of the forum's guides had passed away. Even though I never met Sooz, I am saddened by her passing. She was a funny, warm and welcoming person who made everyone feel like a part of the community. She will be greatly missed. There is a thread started for us to post paintings to dedicate to Sooz. This little shell painting is for her. She always had nice things to say about my beach and shell paintings so Sooz...this one is for you!

Low Country Here We Come!

So I wasn't very prolific over the weekend! But I did start a little painting. I went to visit family in North Carolina and we went out on the houseboat...in the rain.....and LaCarte paper doesn't like the rain so I had to put my painting away. It's just a tiny one at 4x4 and yes it is dark, but that's how they start out. It's only my first layer. Hopefully I'll get to work on it tomorrow. Next I have some great sea gulls I want to paint...unless something else strikes me. I have also been busy working on a trip plan for a painting get-away for Jayne, Holly and I. Sherry can't make it this time so hopefully the next trip she'll join us. We are headed to the South Carolina Low Country this time. We like the idea of seeing the salt marshes, birds, ocean and shells. Not to mention eating good seafood! This time we'll have a corkscrew that actually opens the wine! Oh....I suppose we'll try to paint...we'll bring our gear at least! We go the weekend of the 21st so be on the lookout for a trip report!

Moab Utah in Winter

'Winter Colors' 19x27

It's amazing how you can develop the ability to see color. I say this because a year and a half ago when I had just started with pastels, I went on a winter trip to the Southwest. In Moab, Utah I took a photography tour with a local photographer and pastel artist, JC Borders. The weather was awful for photography that day...a very dull, flat light. But JC was excited because he said the conditions would allow us to see the subtle winter colors of the desert. So we went to several locations and took photos...JC pointing out the plants and their colors. I confess....I couldn't see the colors!! It was all a washed out peachy color to me! But I went along with it. (maybe the wacky weed would have helped! lol) I haven't really attempted a painting from that trip until now and guess what? I see the colors!!!!! I hope I was able to take a dull looking photo and make it into an interesting painting. I won't do anymore to it until I can bring it back to class. But whether or not it is a successful painting...it is meaningful to me because it shows me how I am learning and growing as an artist.