Sanibel Island Beach Day

'Surf Sounds' 4x12 pastel

Don't you wish you could be in one of those beach chairs with a good book just feeling the warm sun and listening to the gentle surf and the jingling of seashells as they wash ashore with the waves? That's a typical day at the beach on Sanibel Island. This little painting is another unusual format for me....at 4x12 it is like a panoramic shot of the beach.

Tawny Owl Pastel Painting

'Tawny Owl' 5x7 pastel

This little owl caught my eye and just begged to be painted. I haven't painted birds in awhile so he was a good start. Now I am not sure what I want to paint next! Usually something jumps out at me but it hasn't yet. Maybe I will consult my homework list to see if anything strikes me! Stay tuned.

Creighton Island...Check out this Slide Show!

I was browsing the web and came across a great slide show of our trip to Creighton Island by Diane Johnson, one of the artists on the trip. What a great review of the trip and a wonderful slideshow. Thanks Diane!! Check out the slide show on Diane's blog. Check out her wonderful work on her website too! Here is a photo of me at our 'show & tell' day. Makes me want to paint a marsh scene!!!

Arches National Park

'The Magic Hour' 11x14 pastel

This summer we visited one of our favorite National parks...Arches in Moab, Utah. It was late afternoon and we had just finished a hike to Delicate Arch...a 3 mile hike on slickrock... and we were tired and hungry and looking forward to some pizza in town. As we drove out of the park, the sun was lighting the rock formations an they looked like they were on fire. I couldn't resist taking photos out the car window. This painting is based on these photos.

Sanibel Island Pastel Painting

'A Passing Storm' 12x12 pastel

I have given myself an assignment....to do four different paintings of this same stretch of beach at different times of day and weather conditions. This is my stormy day scene. It was actually the tail end of a tropical storm...naturally while we were on the island for vacation! (I always get all the crazy weather on a trip) This painting is a square format at 12x12 which was interesting to paint. It's fun to try different formats.

A Sweet Treat

I have had these candies on my shelf for awhile just waiting for the time to paint them. I loved all the colors and shapes....but I'm afraid they've been on the shelf too long and they are no longer edible! I really would like to paint some more starlite mints...maybe some extra large ones this time! This one is 5x7.

Moody Marsh

'A Gray Day' 10x8 pastel

It was a gray day today here in Marietta so I thought it was appropriate to share this painting from the Creighton Island trip. It was a gray day and very windy. That was the day I painted seven marsh paintings of the changing sky. This is one of my favorites.

Cruise Ship Series...Life Boat Drill

'The Life Boat Drill' 8x10 pastel

I decided to step outside my comfort zone and try painting some figures. Last year on our cruise I took lots of reference photos of people around the ship. I thought it would make a fun series. Small problem with that idea...I don't paint people! But if I don't ever try and practice it will never happen so here is my attempt. I'd like to say I will do one paintng a week with a person or people. That would be a good goal for me. Tommorrow I am going to paint with Jayne and Holly. I think I'll work on some of my homework assignments.

Morning Coffee

'The First Cup' 6x6 pastel

Here is a daily paintng form last November. I had the nicest comment from a visitor who liked my painting of a coffee cup and newspaper so I thought I'd bring this one back. I always liked this one....maybe because of the good memories it conjures up.

Sunset over the Marsh

'Peaceful Evening' 12x24 pastel

This is one of those painitngs where the little blog photo doesn't do it justice. It is an odd size for me and also larger than I usually paint. In real life, it is very restful. This scene is from Creighton Island and it is the view of the marsh in front of our cabin. We were all sitting around the campfire one evening lamenting that the clouds prevented a sunset. At one point someone looked up and pointed out the red and pink clouds that had formed over the field. Everyone ran for their cameras and headed to the field...me included...but when I came out of my cabin I noticed these wonderful pink clouds over the marsh. The far marsh grasses were just glowing with color. It was a perfect moment of tranquility and beauty.

Grand Canyon Winter Storm

'Canyon Snow' 9x12 pastel

First let me wish all my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone has a wonderful and relaxing day. Today's painting is another homework assignment. For this we were to paint something moody. This scene is from one of my photos from a trip we took to the Grand Canyon in January 2006. We arrived at the canyon and pulled into our first overlook late one winter afternoon. The sky had been dark and threatening the whole ride from Monument Valley. I was afraid we wouldn't see any of the canyon. But as we walked up to the Canyon's edge, the sun was breaking through the dark clouds making a most beautiful and very moody sky. It did snow...for the next 24 hours! Luckily we had a cabin at the Bright Angel Lodge right on the rim...where we spent the next 3 days cozy and warm with our own private window out into the Grand Canyon.

Painting White without White!

'The Colander Girls' 8x10 pastel

The title for this painting came to me in the middle of the night. I usually have just descriptions for a title but I thought this was funny (at least it was at 2am!) This is one of our homework assignments. We had to paint something white without actually using any white pastels. That's a fun challenge and I really enjoyed painting these eggs.

A Big Marsh Painting

'A Break in the Clouds' 26x19 pastel

I finally got the chance to paint from my Creighton Island photos and I decided to go large for me. This is on a full sheet of brown Art Spectrum. I documented the painting as a work in progress and posted it below as a slide show. I apologize for skimping on the photos while I did the marsh grasses....but I forgot to stop and take photos!

Work in Progress Slide Show!

Sanibel Island Beach

'Sanibel Summer' 11x14 pastel

It's been awhile since I painted a Sanibel Island scene. I always enjoy painting the beach especially one of my favorites! This is the beach in front of theWaterside Inn. How nice it is to walk out of your cottage or motel room right out onto the beach!

South Carolina Low Country Marsh

'Another Quiet Morning' 8x10 pastel

I am anxious to paint a larger marsh painting or to try one in oils. Maybe Sunday will be a good day to try one. This is the painting I did for the demo at our open studio sale last weekend. It is on Pastelbord which I am really enjoying. I am also enjoying the new computer I got this week! My computer was older and so slow sometimes and my monitor had to be at least 10 years old...a big old dinosaur. But I didn't want to get a flat panel because my cat Ceara liked to lay on top of it. But I finally gave in. She did try to jump up on the new monitor but I caught her mid-jump. I hope she forgives me but I am loving this 22 inch widescreen!

Autumn in the Woods

'Forest Light' 12x9 pastel

Here is my first completed homework assignment for the holiday break. I painted this scene on black paper. It was a piece of Unison sanded paper that really seemed to eat up the pastels. Other than that I liked it. Next time I will do an underpainting so I won't need as much pastel.

Poppies & Lavender

'Lavender's Edge' 12x16 pastel

A few summer's ago we took a wonderful trip out to the Pacific Northwest. We visited national parks from the Oregon and Washington Coast to the North Cascades and Mount Ranier....it was amazing! Unfortunately that was before I painted so my reference photos from the trip are very few. One of the stops we made was to the Purple Haze Lavender farm in Sequim Washington. I would love to go back and paint those fields of lavender!

Siamese Cat in the Window

'The Window Seat' 5x7 pastel

I couldn't resist another Siamese cat painting. I did a larger version of the cat in this window with a different pose. The light on him from the window is just too much fun to pass up!

Old Barn North Georgia Mountains

'Autumn Drive' 12x16 pastel

On Sunday my husband & I took a drive in his Miata up into the Georgia Mountains. He wanted to drive the curvy roads and I wanted fall scenery photos. We had a great day though it was a little chilly riding with the top down! Here is a painting from one of the photos I took. It's an old barn somewhere near Ellijay Georgia. I have a few more scenes I'd like to paint.

Stormy Skies over the Marsh

'Stormy Skies' 5x7 pastel

Here is another painting I did of the marsh on Creighton Island on that windy day. It seemed like the sky color changed constantly and at one point it actually looked greenish so this little painting documents the 'green' sky.

Sky Study Pastel Painting

'Cloud Study #1' 11x14 pastel

Here is another one of the 30 minute paintings I did last week. I just love painting clouds so this was a fun study. Holly just gave me a cd of cloud photos she took in Key West last month. I can't wait to look at them and try painting some of her clouds!

Monarch Butterfly Miniature Painting

This little painting was sold today at our Open Studio sale. Thank you Marsha! Our sale was a wonderful experience and a great success. Thank you to everyone who came by and visited and purchased our artwork. Holly, Jayne and I had great time visiting with everyone and sharing our art. We hope that our paintings bring you all much pleasure. I will post some photos of the sale in tomorrow's post.

Creighton Island Marsh

'Morning View' 8x10 pastel

This is the view from our cabin on Creighton Island. The last full day the sun was out in the morning so I finally had the chance to paint a Blue Sky painting. It's just amazing how the colors of the marsh would change with the different light. I really can't wait to get back to painting after our sale this weekend!

Field of Sunflowers

'Sunflower Festival' 11x14 pastel

Here is the second 30 minute painting I did in class this week. I'm so glad I got four done in class that night because all of my free time this week has been devoted to getting ready for our Open Studio sale this Saturday. If you are in the area Saturday please plan on stopping by. I'd be happy to email you a flyer if you send me an email.

I have updated my Pet Portrait blog if you'd like to see my recent cat & dog paintings in one place. I do have some time available for a few pet portrait commissions before the holidays.

Dune Flowers Pastel Painting

'Dune Flowers' 14x11 pastel

We had our last pastel class until after the New Year. That's a big break! But we do have homework and of course as I finish each assignment I will post the results. Last night we did four 30 minute paintings. That was a lot of fun but exhausting too. It was great practice to really pare down and put in what's important. I painted on 11x14 Wallis paper and that was different for me since I usally paint no larger than 8x10 for the 30 minute studies. The painting of the Dune Flowers is one of my efforts. It's from a favorite old photo I took at the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge a few years ago.

Edge of the Marsh Plein Air

'Edge of the Marsh' 8x10 pastel

This is a view from the point or causeway of Creighton Island looking back to the shoreline. It was so windy out on the point that day that I knew my little travel easel wouldn't do the job so I put down a vinyle tablecloth and sat on the ground to paint. I actually did two of my favorites here including this one. It was wild and windy!!! A real plein air experience.

Creighton Buoys Plein Air

'Creighton Buoys #1' 10x8 pastel

I am planning to paint a series of the many buoys I came across on Creighton Island. I painted these one afternoon after lunch. Jayne & I hung them up near our cabin and we had a great time. This will be a fun series for me since I am fascinated by the many shapes and colors of buoys!

Paintings from my Creighton Island Adventure

Here they are, all 27 of them! It took me all morning on Sunday to unpack them and photograph them...I even put a few in frames just for fun. Overall I am pleased with what I did on the trip. My goal was to play with colors and methods of painting and I did do that. I really tried to capture the many moods of the marsh and the weather cooperated for that....a week of blue skies would have been boring! I loved the moody grey skies and was challenged to interpret the marsh on those windy days. I will be posting the paintings individually over the next few weeks.

Field Study Plein Air

'In the Field' 5x7 pastel

One of the areas we liked to paint on Creighton Island was the big field behind our camp. It is very pastoral with huge moss covered live oak trees and cattle and our donkey friends grazing. I chose to focus on this log surrounded by beautifully colored grasses. I didn't have much luck with the trees but I think they might require bigger paper and my biggest paper size was 8x10. I will tackle the trees now that I am home.

First Place for Aspens in the Snow!

I was thrilled to find out that my painting 'Aspens in the Snow' took first place in the Art Alliance of Georgia's juried exhibition. My other painting 'Siamese at Rest' which was also in the show had a red dot when I arrived at the opening! That was bittersweet because I was hoping it wouldn't sell. I am glad someone will enjoy it though. What an end to an already fantastic week! Now I have to get ready for our open studio sale which is this Saturday. Lots to do!

Windy Marsh Plein Air

'Windy Marsh' 7x5 pastel

Here is one of my Creighton Island Plein Air paintings. I haven't even unloaded them all yet but I wanted to post a sample. I think I did around 25 or so paintings...I had so much fun! This painting shows the view from my cabin. At the beginning of the week we had cold and very, very windy conditions. Too windy for the little easel I bought. So Jayne and I set up on our porch somewhat sheltered from the wind and painted all day. I did seven that day alone...all of the same view of the marsh. I was wonderful to immerse myself in the scene and try to capture the moodiness of that cloudy, windy day.

Back from Creighton Island!

What an amazing week I had out on Creighton Island. I have so much to share! Imagine spending a week on your own deserted island with nothing to do but explore and paint! It was truly a magical experience and I can't wait to tell all about it. Today I have another busy day though...I am going to a local art store's big sale...Marsha will be doing demos all day...then tonight is the opening of the Art Alliance of Georgia's juried exhibition where I have two paintings accepted. So, hopefully I will get back on track and photograph my new paintings so I can share them here. It's good to be back! This is just one photo of about 1700 that I took! Jayne is painting in the background and that is my palm tree painting.