Oil Painting, again

I have been working on some oil paintings lately, trying to get back the feel for that particular medium.  So far each has been entirely different than the next, but I am just stubborn enough to keep at it.   I was asked to join a group of painters who are trying to promote working in oils here on the island.  We meet once a week to paint together so it has kind of forced me to work in oil as well as in a group setting.  The feedback is great as I have struggled to adapt to the limitations as well as the opportunities that oils bring into play. 

Now if I could just remember how long this paint stays wet I wouldn't be smearing paint all over myself and my studio moving them around.

Near Jemez

16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

August on the Greenway

18 x 24 Oil on Canvas

Storm Over the Jetty

16 x 20 oil on canvas

Sunflower Jungle

SOLD!

16 x 20 Watercolor

For the orchid lovers

Since my own orchid plants are all on hospice care right now I thought I would just paint some orchids with actual blooms on them.... Here in Fernandina we have an amazing orchid grower/vendor that comes to the farmers market each Saturday.  I take photos of his tables a couple of times a month when if I have a camera with me at the market.  I have "stitched" together some of my favorite images from those photos to create this painting.   This is another of the supersize watercolors, 30" x 41 1/2 " on Artistico Fabriano 300lb watercolor paper.

Show Opening Invitation

Summer Equinox Show

These 4 paintings along with Yucca Blooms and Shade Garden posted previously in "Supersize Those Watercolors" are currently in the Summer Equinox show at First Coast Community Bank. 

Iris at Mun Gardens

22 x 30 Watercolor

Cummer Museum Nasturtiums

22 x 30 Watercolor

Water Lilies at Portland Chinese Gardens

22 x 30 Watercolor

Blush

24 x 18 Acrylic on Canvas

Portrait sketches

Portrait sketching with models at the Island Art Association is over until we start up again in the fall but we had a "show" of work done this past year on Saturday.  I started drawing with this group last fall and it re-awakened for me the joy of just taking charcoal or pencil to paper and having a good time with it.   I have also noticed an improvement in how I sketch in for my paintings so it has been a really useful tool as well as a good time.  Below are some of the sketches I did this past year in that group.

Mill Shapes Fernandina

Well I am happy to post the final photo for the mill shapes painting.  I can't seem to get a good photo of it so it loses the detail to some extent but hope you like it.

Mill shapes in progress

Over the years I have taken many photos of the two paper/pulp mills here on the island.  I have finally printed out some of the shots and am working on a painting that is my compilation of the shapes and patterns of the two sort of morphed into one.  I have been taking photos as I work on it so I can see where shapes have moved and changed as I gesso out some areas and remove or add elements.  This painting is acrylic on canvas and about 3' by 4' in size.  A few people have been interested in seeing the progress photos so I am posting what I have here. 

Super Size those watercolors....

Parrot Dance

30 x 41.5 Watercolor on 300 lb Artistico Fabriano Paper

Shade Garden

30 x 41.5 Watercolor on 300 lb Artistico Fabriano Paper

Yucca Blooms

30 x 41.5 watercolor on 300 lb Fabriano Artistico Paper

I have been experimenting with some extra large watercolor paper that I ordered.  The paper is 30 x 41 1/2 Artistico Fabriano and it has been a real challenge getting a feel for working that large in this medium.  So far I have three paintings done and each of them has been a little different for me in how I approached the work but they have all turned out kind of nice.  They are a bit challenging to get framed for a reasonable price but so far well worth the effort for the result.

Fairchild Gardens Birds

16 x 20 Watercolor



DeeDee's Bougainvillea

16 x 20 Watercolor

Plantation Oak

20 x 30 Acrylic on Canvas

This painting was in the Art of Trees show at the Corse Gallery