November 30, 2007 first layer of pastel

Today Sanford Gifford and Thomas Moran joined me in the studio. Can you tell? I am really trying to push the foreground mass forward and have a kind of magic light in the background.
This painting is beginning to go through that awkward adolescence as it and I figure which way to go. I am now debating with placing a rock and shrubs in the very front (note the lines.) I have also decided to place a piece of mankind in the painting.. a road winding through the mountain. The studio can be a lot of fun (and work and torment) for these reasons. Invention...it's just me and the painting and what ever inspiration I cook up.

November 30, 2007 Metamorphosis of a painting- underpainting-final

It didn't pass the value test so I worked on it again. Now it is better. It feels like the Shenandoah's soft old mountains, rather than the west's craggy sharp ones. Now I look at it and say , "ahhh." That's a good start for an under- painting. I like the HUGE mass of a mountain in the front!

November 29, 2007 Metamorphosis of a painting

Three days of under- painting later I think I finally have it. Time for a complete value check and then on to the juicy pastels. So far this is only watercolor.

November 29, 2007 Sunrise at Target

Took my early morning walk at Starbucks today and the sky made it all worth it. This time I had my camera. Snapped the photo and ran back to my studio with my drink in hand. Skies have such mood.

November 28, 2007 Oaks at Sunrise

This morning I took a walk at sunrise. I couldn't find my camera so I decided to play the memory game. The oaks were a delicious red bronze, pink touched the leaves and yellow sky peaked through the now bare branches. It is really hard to remember and paint. I guess I should do more of those so I can get better at it!

November 27, 2007 Shenandoah underpainting

Metamorphosis of a painting- bottom was first and top is second all are watercolor so far 28x48

November 27, 2007 Starry Night

Ok, this painting needs an explanation. This is my first copy of another artist's work. I have always loved Vincent's work, but he simply wasn't an artist I looked to for inspiration. So, 2 weeks ago a young artist (5 years old, in one of my art classes), Hugh, gets inspired to copy the reproduction of this painting. That too is another long story from which I will spare you. Hugh does a magnificent painting which will be part of his group's "museum." After that, on his daily visits, he asks me, "What did you do in your studio this morning? Did you paint a Starry Night?" Finally knowing that children have insights we can be blinded to, I, too did a Starry Night. Now I need to figure out how to make it my own. That will come on another day. Now at least today when Hugh asks me I can honestly say, "yes.",

November 26,2007 Great Falls

Today was a studio day. Finished this plein air piece from summer and began a HUGE Shenandoah mountain one. It is probably 4' x 3'!!! My biggest so far. I am working from the painting done on site posted on Novemeber 21st.

November 25, 2007 The Channel

Another Cape May painting. I like the clouds in this one. Painting in the car isn't that bad after all.

November 24, 2007 Marsh at Wildwood

Today I worked "en plein car." It's freezing down here and the wind is so strong. So I set my studio in the front seat of my car and was happy as a clam. I liked the violets and bronze colors in the trees and brush.

November 23, 2007 Red Oaks Early Morning

This morning when I awoke the sky was pink and the red oaks out my window were blazing deep bronzey magenta. Wow! Rush to the studio...get to work!
Now I am off to Cape May to visit my husband's family. I will try to post there, but I am not sure of internet service.

November 22, 2007 Burning Bush

Happy Thanksgiving! Paul is planting bulbs in the backyard so I decided to come outside and do a small painting here. The goal is simply to do it, not labor over it, since we have to be off to my sister's house to help prepare dinner. I began with watercolor and decide to just stop.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I sure am thankful I can paint everyday!

November 21, 2007

My trip to the Shenandoah mountains was incredible: warm and the beauty was intense!
Who would think it could be 70 degrees now as last week they had 6 inches of snow! I spent all day hiking and painting. This is the painting I did at the top of Stoneyman. The view was as clear as one could ever expect. The Red Oaks and Yellow Poplars are all aglow, bronze and gold. I love this place! The painting is actually much more intense than in this photo. I will try to retake the photo tomorrow (outdoors.)

November 20, 2007 Road to Lewes

Should it matter that my framer (with a scrunched up nose) told me yesterday that I am getting more representational and less abstract? Yes, it bothered me. But I guess when I think about it, yes, I long for abstraction within reality. I also want, more importantly, a painting that has emotion. Therefore, I went straight to clouds. Using a photo from this summer, remembering my friend Turner, I got to work. Hmmmm. I'll look at it tomorrow.
On another note today I will go to the Shendandoah to do sketches for later paintings. I do not know if I will have an internet connection. So I may post late. Toodles.

November 19, 2007

Marsh haze....this is one...then I began another one with a different palette, all warm. I will post it tomorrow, I am off to the framer.

November 18, 2007

Chincoteague Island is another of my favorite places. For this one I had a photo and another painting, but the light is memory only.

November 17, 2007 Potomac morning, cold

Potomac is still one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Turner came with me. He had a subtle presence.

November 16, 2007 Study

This time I decided to work like the tonalists, I admire, do. I did an under- painting with burnt sienna, simply wiping away the unwanted paint and allowing the ghost image to appear. Next I began with the sky and picked places to make depth without any real color. I will go back into it tomorrow and work the color.

November 15, 2007 Sweet Peas

On this rainy blustery day I decided to begin my day (5:30 with acorns pounding my windows) with a little painting about sunlight. How far can I push the colors and still remain "real?"

November 14, 2007 Potomac Morning

I began this one on the river, days ago. Today in the studio I knew just what to do to make it work. This one reminds me of Monet's Giverney beauties, not anywhere as gorgeous, but it has that quality of light with violets. Violets can be the real joiners in a landscape; sort of the gregarious souls that make everyone feel good at a party. On these foggy mornings violet and her subtle cousins (pinks and grays) ARE the color of the atmosphere.

November 13, 2007

This one still needs more work. Began last night and continued this morning. More later....
Need to go to that Turner show again!
Went to hear YoYo Ma last night and so many images were moving in my head. I think I painted at least 20 paintings at that concert. Thanks Irene!

November 12, 2007 Maine Z

Turner is back. I decided to use some of my Maine plein air work and photos to create this 'study.' My concept was the Maine z waters at dawn: create distance and grandeur. I underpainted in burnt sienna (oil.) Push the warm front and cool back. Subtle drama. Let's try another.

November 11, 2007 Walkin' the Dog

Pressed for time, I decided to paint at the field adjacent to my home. The shadows were low so I grabbed my backpack and ran to what I deemed a "good location.". My goal was to capture to feel of a Sunday's fading light. Some satisfaction.
On another note... I have been feeling troubled by what another artist (whom I admire) wrote me. She said, "I am not a big fan of just plein air paintings. To me so many of them are just average paintings, but because they are done outside they are often thought of as finished paintings." Then I though of what Cezanne said about Monet. As you know Cezanne was a 'thinking man's painter' and he referred to Monet as "just an eye, but oh, what an eye." Hmmmm. I guess that brings me back to thinking. I guess my dailies and multitude of plein air paintings vary. Some are just studies for later work, some are just "stored visual memory for later", and occasionally I get a gem. More than anything this painting a day is to keep me on track, no excuses, don't mess with me workout. I will continue my studio work... but those too vary: some are average and occasionally some are gems. I guess my only real goal is to up the ratio in my favor...more gems, less dogs for the kennel. Maybe tomorrow I'll begin a new Turner-inspired biggie, since all I can see is his work buzzing around in my head anyway!

If anyone is out there reading this...weigh in on my dilemma.

November 10, 2007

Turner is back again. I took one of my "too dark"river studies from this summer and gave it "Turner morning light." It was fun.

November 9, 2007

This afternoon I went to the Turner show. It was awesome. Feeling inspired, I rushed home through the rain to work in the studio. As I waited in traffic I snapped a picture of Key Bridge. I decided I would turn it into a "Turner sunset."

November 8, 2007

Ok, so these blueberry fields are really getting to me. This is caterpillar hill in Maine. I worked to keep big shapes in front and contrast/edges in the focal point. It is a small board 6x8 approx. therefore, the details simply can't happen. Good.

November 7, 2007 Potomac River

Potomac river again ... autumn, late afternoon light.

November 6, 2007 GM field study

Ok , so now I have done 5 of these GM field studies. Am I closer to knowing the color palette? No

November 5, 2007 Campobello Island

Finally, I finished the Indian paintbrush field. Well at least I think so.

November 4/5, 2007 Winter's Coming

All of a sudden I had an idea. I was in bed and I couldn't sleep. Winter... Prime Hook Refuge, my favorite time of day. All I had was my memory, but I could feel it. I had one big board left, 15x20. Kinzo (my cat muse) came and joined me in the studio. Sometimes you just know what to do. Can you feel the cold? But it's so nice, quiet and serene. Makes me want a fire in the fireplace.
I can see now that painting full-time is a gift. Before, when I worked at school full-time I was always so absorbed with my work with children and my left over energy went to painting. Now, I think about painting round the clock. I have so many ideas and not enough time. I constantly watch everything and paint it in my head. I don't have to get in the zone, because "the zone" is always there. It's like I never get out. I had begun this painting a day blog to keep me honest and never let anything fill moments when I should be painting. It's good, don't get me wrong, it's just that it's like it's not needed for that purpose because the painting habit is like a sponge - a very absorbent sweet sponge.
It makes me think what an awesome husband I have who is willing to be broke for a while as I follow my dreams.
Enough of my blabbing..........

Novemeber 4, 2007

Paul and I went out to the Shenandoah mountains today. It was a cool, crisp, day with a low cloud ceiling. The early morning sun was gorgeous. The light fought its way through the clouds. A combination of the sun angle and the peak colors made the sight amazing. I couldn't wait to go home and paint. First we did 2 different hikes...then the studio. Ahhhh. I began with the idea of another split complementary, but the lure of the colors took over. So much for planning.
I just realized that today is my one month blog anniversary! Yeah!

November 3, 2007

Ok, so now it is freezing in the morning. The light coming through the trees on beach drive was amazing, so I froze.

November 2, 2007 The River

Back to the river, only this time it was late afternoon light. Complements set the stage: the main actors- blue skies and golden trees. gave another amazing performance.

November 1, 2007 Morning of the Summer Solstice, special light

After I finished the field I kept going. All of a sudden I knew just what to do to finish this one. I began this in Maine. I love that place! A special thank you to the Mary for introducing me to my favorite place! Another thank you to the whole Taylor- Moncavage family for allowing me to stay at their homes while I paint in Maine!
I have been worrying lately that my work is becoming too "realistic" rather than the pieces of emotion that I strive to make. Today when making this one the "astonishment" returned. I get an ahhhh feeling when I see it. Good.

November 1, 2007 Private Time

Ok, so I started to feel better this afternoon and what was the first thing I wanted to do? Paint, of course! This one I began and abandoned when I was in Maine. I was so frustrated. So, today in the studio I took it apart and reorganized according to split complementary color plan - orange red to violet/blue and blue green. I decided to tell a story with the mom and daughter on a Sunday afternoon. Memories.