Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Grand Pine

There were plenty of places to capture my attention while visiting New Hampshire in August and Lake Massabesic has always been one of my favorite places for landscapes. Grand old pines are abundant there and appear in several of my earlier paintings.

Grand Pine, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Having been away from my easel for three days had a surprising effect on my painting. I never realized how missing a day or two can break the flow of progress. The little, seemingly insignificant things learned in one painting need to be practiced in the next several paintings to become second nature. Although my goal is to paint every day, I can't always predict when my employer will call on me for extra help.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Sebastian Inlet Boardwalk

I really wanted this painting to stand out with color. I looked beyond the obvious for undertones and painted color freely. It was really fun to paint. There is some reflection from the wet paint and I'll probably need to get a polarizing filter for my camera.
Sebastian Inlet Boardwalk, 5 x 7 in, oil on canvas panel

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Stony Brook Marsh

I began this painting using a different technique with a complementary undercolor and tried limiting my palette for color mixing. Although I was out of my comfort zone I learned a few things and am glad I took the challenge.
This is just a slice of a beautiful marsh in Stony Brook, NY, where my niece had her wedding several years ago.
Stony Brook Marsh, 5 x 7 in, oil on canvas panel

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Three Cows Grazing

On a large hill in New Hampshire, just north of the White Mountains, I came upon a group of grazing cows with open farm land in the distance. They looked at me with curiosity just for a moment as I stopped to take their picture.
Three Cows Grazing, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Driving By Pennsylvania

While on a road trip from New Hampshire to Florida, I grabbed every chance to capture beautiful landscapes with my camera. On this particular morning, the sun had just risen as we were driving on the highway through Pennsylvania.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Old House On The Hill

Today, I am beginning a series of landscapes. The first in this series is from a photograph I took many years ago while on a camping trip in Colebrook, NH. The view from the long climb up to the site was often breathtaking. I've kept the photo hoping to one day paint the old house in the distance that was long since vacant and was beginning to sag from years of wind and weather and winter.
Old House On the Hill, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Sunday, September 20, 2015

I Ching Shell

I really pushed outside of my comfort zone on this painting. I resisted the urge to smooth out the painterly quality and get the colors to be exact to what I was seeing. It was a good exercise for me. As for the subject matter, I've found great wisdom in I Ching or Book of Changes. These coins have been tossed many times for insight and reflection.
I Ching Shell, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Saturday, September 19, 2015

New Boston River Flow

Several birthdays ago I went on a field trip with my sister to take photos of landscapes to paint. One of my favorite spots was the river that runs through New Boston, NH. I've painted a large and detailed painting of the river, but wanted to paint another view for this blog using my developing looser style. It's a great place to fish too.
New Boston River Flow, 5 x 7 in, oil on canvas panel

Friday, September 18, 2015

Aloe In Blue Bowl

Three small aloe plants, plucked from the yard and put in a small blue bowl. I planted these last year to add to a group of small decorative items in our spare bedroom and despite the little vessel they have survived and thrived. There are reds and blues and blue/greens and reflections of the bark against the leaves that I tried to capture. I used a larger brush, longer brush strokes to keep it loose.
Aloe In Blue Bowl, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Farmer Joe Doll

When I didn't have time to paint, it seems I always knew exactly what subject I'd choose. Now that I'm making time to paint nearly every day, I'm a bit overwhelmed with the variety and often just draw a blank. I made "Farmer Joe" when I was a kiddo. He's always been a favorite and I've kept him for decades! His hair is made from a tea-dyed, stretched out cotton ball and his "American Gothic" expression makes me laugh. He just needed to be painted!
I'm consciously trying to loosen up on my style. My well worn habits are like gullies in the road and bit hard to get out and stay out of. But I'm working at it!!!
Farmer Joe Doll, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

The Caneww

On her daily hunt for lizards and other minor beasts, Canewwy captured a bumble bee. She was trying to stay awake to keep her eye on her just-barely-alive prize. She looks sweet despite her evil ways.
The Caneww, 5 x 7 in, Oil on canvas panel

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Canal View

This the view of the canal behind my house in Barefoot Bay, FL. Unedited, it would have included a community baseball park with all the fencing. I took quite a bit of artistic license with it. Being the first entry into my Daily Easel paintings, I found myself using the same tight style...part of the journey, I suppose.
Canal View, 5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

My Daily Easel

I recall very clearly my first art instructor in college telling us to keep a daily sketchbook. What a burden! At the end of the semester, I rushed to get a dozen or so sketches down on paper to submit. Needless to say, that wasn't what she was looking for. Skip ahead to today and my "if only" is that I wish I had learned the lesson she tried to teach. Doing anything daily will improve skill, comfort, creativity and exploration.

If you string all of my painting years together, I've been painting for a handful of years. But in truth, it has been a few decades of sporadic painting. Not for a lack of want but for want of an income in the traditional, go to a "real job" sense. My subject matter and mediums have run the gamut. I've certainly grown as an artist and have been honored to be in juried shows and art associations. I have shown my work in galleries and won some awards. And yet for me, something has been missing from my work.

The daily painting movement has been around for years and now I've caught the bug. By painting a small painting every possible day, I intend to find that something that's been lacking. To continually grow and redefine myself as an artist. Instead of reigning in my painting style to fit what I think it should be so my work will be liked, wherever those ideas came from, to developing a loose and free-er style. To do this I am willing risk having days that elate me with daring successes and others that result in wiping my canvas clean only to try something else.

I intend to paint until I am no longer able. So along those lines, beginning today, I'll paint and post a new painting each day for as many days as is possible for me to paint (while still working a "real" job.) I'm going to enjoy this! I hope to inspire other like-minded souls to join the movement and have fun painting again.