30 in 30

Ball Jar

6x6 oil on panel

 

This is my first of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge.  My theme was still life using the various objects I picked up in yard sales and thrift stores.  This is an antique canning jar with Gala apples. There are more than 800 artists from all over the world participating this time.  It is going to be fun.

http://lesliesaeta.blogspot.com/

 

This is my block-in

Sky Holes

Sky Holes

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

I did this for DPW challenge "paint the sky holes".  Whenever there is a challenge posted that interests me I give it a try.  I also challenged myself to stay loose and painterly.  I had to walk away and wash my brushes to keep from over working.

 

This field is on Plum Island in the Parker River wildlife preserve.  I have taken many reference photos but haven't painted there plein aire yet, I am afraid of the green headed flies.

Early Fall

Early Fall

6x12 pastel on art spectrum suede

$150

 

In New England late August is considered early fall, June is late spring so summer consist of July.  All the rest of the months we call winter.

 

I read a post by Richard McKinley.  He did a drawing to establish values and then coated it with clear gesso.  I thought I would give it a tr,y unfortunately I did my drawing with pastel pencils and the gesso dissolved most of it. When the gesso dried it left ridges so I sanded it down.  I liked doing the pastel with the structure underneath.

High Tide on Small Point

High Tide on Small Point

5.25x11 pastel

$150

 

This began as an experiment.  I loved plein air painting but I didn't love my paintings.  I struggled all day with an unfamiliar surface and very soft pastels. I decided that I needed to do studies to familiarize myself with the surfaces.  I know now that I like Mi Teintes Touch.  I prefer a grainy paper to a sueded one.

 

I also missed using harder pastels.  This was done entirely with gireault and nupastels.  It felt like coming home!  I did a few small value thumbnails and referred only to them for this painting and did not pull out my reference photo even though I was tempted to just have a peek. I think I will work this way more often.

The Marsh at Essex

The Marsh at Essex

9x12 pastel on pastelboard

 

This was my second painting of the day at the PSNH paint-out.  I tried pastelboard for the first time.  As with many pastel surfaces, the first layer did not go on smoothly and resisted blending.  Many layers later things were going fine. This was such a great experience - there are so many more colors that the camera just doesn't see even though I had to wait for the tide to come back in. 

 

I plan to experiment with a variety of grounds so that next time I can get started with a familiar surface. I think I will try Uart next.

Spahgetti Squash

Spaghetti Squash

8x8 oil on panel

$175

 

My Aunt gave me this spaghetti squash from her garden.  I thought I should paint it before I ate it.

 

Oil sketch

I didn't have my raw umber handy so I used burnt umber.  I liked it and will use it again.

 

Block - in, I tried thin transparent colors.  Sometimes I would like to stop at this loose stage.

Maple Ridge

Maple Ridge

5x7 oil on panel

My mother lives in a place called Maple Ridge. These are oak trees bordering her yard.  I did this for the DPW challenge, "Intimate landscape".  This may not be intimate enough but it was for me - I usually include the sky.

Essex Marsh

 

Essex Marsh

9x12 pastel

Plein air at the PSNH meeting at Cox Reservation

 

Plein air is just plain fun!  We arrived in time to find a shady spot with a great view.  There was no shortage of beautiful views!  Being new to paint-outs I brought way too much stuff and didn't use half of it. I managed to stay out of the poison ivy, for the most part. I hoped to travel around and check out other artist's paintings and set ups, my French easel is way too heavy but I pretty much only had time to paint. I enjoyed watching the colors change and the tide go out and come back in.

The Bay

The Bay

9x12 Pastel

 

The Pastel Society of NH was planning a paint-out for their August meeting.  I never went to a paint-out so I wasn't sure what to bring.  Everything?  I did not have much luck culling my pastel collection.  I packed up the day before and did this pastel as a dry run.  I worked out of my pack and made a list of things I forgot, my golden section grid, a paint brush and paper towels.  With map in hand I was all set to go.

Orange and Espresso

Orange and Espresso

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

I finished my peony series.  Some are sold and some will go to the Sullivan Framing anniversary show in October. I will post them later.  I did this little study to loosen up this morning.  My plan for the 30 in 30 challenge is to paint the still life objects that I have collected and neglected.

 

I am getting ready for a paint out with the PSNH, last night I organized my pastels but found it hard to decide which colors should be included.  I may spend the afternoon working on a pastel landscape or maybe I will just clean the studio. 

 

I have included the block in for this piece.  I used a large old bristle brush and I liked the way it kept things simple.

 

 

 

 

 

Small Point, Maine

Small Point, Maine

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

This was done from a photo I took in Phipsburg, Maine. I love the salt marshes.

Lagoon Beach

"Lagoon Beach"

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

Painted en plein air from the deck of my little vacation cabin in Maine.

 

Portland across the Bay

 

Portland across the Bay

5x7 oil on panel

en plein air

$150

 

This was done on my week long stay on the coast of Maine.  It was so clear you could see across Casco Bay to Portland.

Rocky Coast of Maine

Rocky Coast of Maine

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

I spent a wonderful week on the coast of Maine in a spot that has been a favorite of my family for years. I painted every morning on the deck of my cabin.

Still Life with Ocean

 

Still Life with Ocean

6x6 oil on panel

$150

 

Painted on the deck of the Sou'Wester overlooking the ocean.

Before the Storm

Before the Storm

5x7 oil on panel

$150

 

We spent a wonderful week on the coast of Maine.  It only rained one morning.  This is the view from our cabin.

View from the Sou'Wester

"View from the Sou'Wester"

6x6 oil on RayMar panel

$150

 

I spent a wonderful week on the coast of Maine.  This was the view from my cabin.  I set my easel up on the deck and painted plein air.

Casco Bay

 

Casco Bay

11x14 oil on panel

$200

 

I re-worked this morning's post and now I'm happy.

Casco

 

 

Casco 11x14 oil on panel

Not finished yet.  The foreground grass is taking to much attention away from the trees and reflections. When it is dry I will change this a bit. I thought I would look at it for a while on blogger because sometimes that gives me a new perspective.