Ever Day in May 2013: Day 1—Something bubbly

It has been such a long since I have done any watercolor sketches so the Every Day in May challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity to get back into it. The last time I did the EDinMay challenge was in 2011.
I absolutely love kombucha (a delicious bubbly fermented drink) but it is crazy expensive. I have started making my own. I have at 2 gallon jug fermenting on top of the refrigerator. When it is ready I bottle it, add some fresh ginger, a little lemon and pomegarnate juice and it is delicious!!!

My ongoing oil painting journey...

Still cold and gray here in Maine. Such a contrast to the colors I mix on my palette which is a good balance for what I see out the windows. Bright colors just make me happy. 

One of the most important things I have learnined is not using black paint, but creating the darkest darks by using Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson and Phthalo Green.

Down East Sunrise

10" x 10" oil on deep wood panel 

Great Blue Heron

10" x 10" oil on deep wood panel

Paint and paint and paint...

Starting to paint for the show—a low budget event! All paintings are done with supplies that I already have—oil paints and canvases. Many of the canvases have a deep profile so I am painting the sides—no need to frame.

"For the Birds"

6 indvidual paintings. All 6 x 6 oils on deep profile stretched canvas

Full Moon Over Casco Bay

8 x 8 oil on deep profile canvas

For the love of dogs...and cats

I am starting to paint for real...ugh, that pesky impending show.

I love painting and drawing animals and periodically do pet portraits, so I am creating a wall space for commissions.

All paintngs for this show are being done with supplies I already have—paint, boards, panels and canvases. I have only had to fill in with white paint and a few new brushes...I hope...

Moosey

5 x 7 oil on cradled wood panel

Frenchie

6 x 6 oil on cradled wood panel

Jazzy

6 x 6 oil on cradled wood panel

Scout

6 x 6 oil on cradled wood panel

Snowy Egret

A quick paint sketch using the paints left on my palette before packing it all up to travel back to Maine. Still paint left...I wonder if I have time for another...

Snowy Egret

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

Jazzy

Possibly my last small painting study while here with my family in California. Tomorrow, I travel back to Maine to start painting for real for the show later this year. This is my sweet 16 year old cat Jazzy who is so well-loved at Bay Mountain Farm where she sleeps comfortably in the dog's bed in front of the woodstove.

"The Crouch"

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

Flower studies

I am still in California visiting my family. I find a little time each day to work on these small paintings hoping to hon my painting skills. When I get back to cold snowy Maine I will need to start seriously painting for the show.

I found flowers to be quite hard...I struggled...

Sunflowers

 5 x 7 oil on canvas

Rose Bouquet

6 x 6 oil on board

California dreamin' on such a winter's day

I am still here in California helping my family with my dear old dad. In between helping my mom around the house I manage to paint a bit. Lately my painitngs are being influenced by my current surroundings and childhood memories. 

Growing up on the coast of California, the Brown Pelican was a wonderful sight to behold skimming across the waves catching fish.

Brown Pelican I

6 x 6 oil on board

 Brown Pelican II

6 x 6 oil on board

Small oil study—My dear old dad

A quick painting last night of my father. 

6 x 6 oil on board

Small oil studies—Jan 30 & 31

I'm in California with my family helping to care for my dear old dad, so not much time for painting. I did manage to sneak in a few quick studies in over the past two days, but I am having a little trouble staying focused...

 Maine Island Trail

6 x 6 oil on board

 Belted Galloway 

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

 Endangered Plover

6 x 6 oil on board

Scarborough Marsh

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

Oil studies—Days 8 & 9

Full Moon over Portland Harbor

8 x 8 oil on canvas panel

Stella

6 x 8 oil on canvas panel (a gift)

Sophie

4 x 5 oil on canvas panel

(10 minute oil sketch with leftover paint on palette)

Oil studies—Day 7

Not very productive the past few days, but I try not to let it get me down. Like all things creative it comes and goes.

 Chickadee

6 x 6 oil on board

Mussels for Dinner

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel

Small oil studies—Days 5 & 6

Continuing on my painting journey, averaging about two small studies a day...

 Puffin

6 x 6 oil on canvas panel

 Seagull

4 x 5 oil on canvas panel

 Sunset 

6 x 6 oil on board

Nina's Farm

4 x 5 oil on canvas panel

More small studies

I am continuing on my oil painting journey with my small studies using a limited palette (3 colors + white), small panels found around the house (thank god there are lots) and well used brushes. 

Day 3

 Trundy Point Maine

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

 Yarmouth Island Maine

5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

Day 4

Moonrise Georgetown Maine

                                                              5 x 7 oil on canvas panel

 

Nina's Farm

3 x 5 oil on canvas panel

Practice, practice, practice

I am having an art show at a cafe here in Maine in October. Of course, I am already in a panic because I haven't really oil painted in over a year...and more importantly, I have never had a show and it is scary!!!

I have decided to spend the next several weeks doing quick (60-90 minute) studies on canvas panels, not the highest quality oil paint and less expensive brushes. All these supplies I have had for years so this was a great opportunity to get brush mileage with very little investment. I am using a limited palette of Cadmium Yellow Light, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White. 

Day One

Sunset over Back Cove 

5 x 7 oil on panel

Staring at Me

5 x 7 oil on panel

View from Crescent Beach

5 x 7 oil on panel

Day Two

 Sunrise in Cape Elizabeth

5 x 7 oil on panel

 Cape Elizabeth marsh

5 x 7 oil on panel

Daddy-O

I have spent the past three weeks visiting my family south of San Francisco. My parents have been married for 61years and have lived in the same California ranch house for 56. My 86 year old dad isn't doing so well so we are all gathering around to help the patriarch. It clearly takes a village so sketching has taken a backseat to the caring for my dad.

The other night, while he held my hand, I did a quick sketch on pre-painted paper and finished it after he had gone to sleep. We take it one day at a time...

Happy New Year everyone.

More dogs for Christmas

These two cute dogs were rescued and now live in a loving home. A Christmas gift from a mother to her daughter who rescued them.

RIP sweet Hazel

I don't oil paint much anymore, though I do really enjoy it. It just seems more complicated than other mediums. So when I still get periodic requests for dog portraits, I get the opportunity to create with wonderful buttery oil paint. So in between a commercial project I did this portrait of Hazel for someone to give as a Christmas gift. I would go from the oil palette and the easel to InDesign on my computer and back again. The dog portrait is done...brochure is not...

Get back to work!!!

Howard the cat......a digital debut

Over the years I have experimented with digital drawing. I never had success with a Wacom tablet and ended up returning it. But when my iPad mini arrived on Monday, I couldn't resist trying the Procreate drawing app. Holding the iPad mini in my left hand I grabbed a stylus and quickly sketched Howard. I then decided to try posting from my new beloved iPad mini. It worked!

New Orleans holiday

I had never been to New Orleans and was lucky enough to recently spend four wonderful days sketching in the French Quarter. Such amazingly colorful people, musicians everywhere, interesting architecture and delicious food. I enjoyed filling my folding sketchbook with all that I saw and experienced.