Monday, March 31, 2014

The Song Of Water

The Song Of Water
Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

I continue with my water series from our trip to Holbox Island, Yucatan, Mexico.  One day we had a very heavy rain.  That evening and the whole next day there were huge puddles on all of the sand streets.  This made for a challenging walk back to the hotel in the semi-dark after dinner!  I mentioned in a previous post that there are no cars on the island and that the streets are sand.  I would have thought that the water would just seep right trough the sand, but the drainage seemed to be an issue.  Anyway, the rain also created incredible color and wave changes in the water, of course during the storm, but the next day as well. 

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Light and Life

Light and Life
Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

As I said yesterday, I loved all of the changing colors and light in the ocean.  I realize that if you lived by water like this, you would have a never ending, constantly changing visual display right in front of you!

This title is complements of fellow blogger Steven Dunn.  He commented on a palm tree that I posted last week that the piece had such "light and life."  That got me to thinking that isn't that really what we paint, the light and life in front of us.  Thank you Steven.  If you don't know him, he has such an interesting blog!


Saturday, March 29, 2014

Tropical Sea

Tropical Sea
Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

One of the things that's fun, but time consuming, after a trip is the photo editing.  I take a lot of pictures when we travel.  Some are specifically for future studio reference and some are vacation pleasure shots.  As I was editing I was amazed at how many pictures I'd taken of just the water, different times of day, different weather conditions.  I loved the plein air piece I posted a few days ago, Down By The Seaside, and thought that all of those photos could become a series.  So, the next few posts will be the water that I fell in love with and couldn't stop photoing and now painting!!


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Tropical Palm

Tropical Palm
plein air oil
8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h

This is the last of my Holbox Island, Yucatan, Mexico plein air pieces.  What drew me to this shadow was that it was so curved and the tree was so straight.  This palm drove me nuts all week.  My vision of palm trees is beautiful, exotically curved trunks.  I kept thinking that this one was just too vertical.  But, if that's my biggest worry, and I'm painting on a beach...that's the life!

All week while we were in Holbox Island there was an International Mural Painting contest being held.  It was great fun to see the progress and completion of the art work!







Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Down By The Seaside

Down by The Seaside
plein air Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h


So, as you've seen, I just enjoyed my time on the beach looking at the palm trees, which became a painting.  I looked at the colors of the frond shadows, that became a painting.  I loved the constantly changing colors of the water...so, that, too, became a plein air painting!




Because there were so many fishermen on the beach, the birds were also a constant 
source of entertainment!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Frond Shadow

Frond Shadow
Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
I loved the way the palm fronds created almost abstract shadows on the sand.  After laying on the beach, reading and continually looking at the shadows, I realized that a painting was right there in front of me!


I have 2 plein air set ups.  This is an 8" x 10" Open Box M.  I use this when we fly somewhere.  (I have another larger set-up for car trips.)  For this trip we each had 2 carry ons:  a small suitcase with our clothes and I had a day pack (on the back of the beach chair), with my painting supplies.  I use a tripod that telescopes quite small, a limited palette (6 colors + white) of water based oils, canvas paper which I pre-cut to 6 x 8 1/2 (so I have a little room for tape), and a 6" x 8" Raymar panel carrier which normally holds 12 panels, but I've cut it down to hold 8 (that takes up less room and the water based oils dry fairly quickly.)  I include a TSA information sheet with the paints.  There is not a problem flying with paints in your carryon.  Paints are not liquids, they are like toothpaste, and they are not toxic.  I take 4 brushes and throw in a few paper towels to get me started.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Balmy Breeze

Balmy Breeze
Oil  8" x 6"
$100.00 + $10. s/h
My husband and I recently got back from 3 weeks in the Yucatan peninsula.  Our first week was spent with our daughter on Holbox Island, 7 miles off the northern coast of Yucatan.  Holbox is accessible only by ferry.  The roads are sand, there are no cars, just delivery trucks.  The taxis are 3 wheeled motorcycle type vehicles.  Like most beaches, it's beautiful, blue, colorful, relaxing, fun!  We had a wonderful time.  We went for walks, read, swam, sat under the palms on the beach, ate great seafood, and I painted.


How great is it to paint on a beach!


The roads are all sand.