Gaviota Painting

Very late post but back in August I painted this scene of a favorite surf spot for a friends birthday.  I used a picture he posted on Instagram, and here is the original picture he took on the left, and my painting on the right.  I was very pleased with it, and so was he!

Painting again!

Work in Progress

I Sold A Painting to A Stranger!

I Sold A Painting to A Stranger!

Lots of my artwork hangs on walls in my own home and in the homes of friends and family but I had never sold a painting to a stranger until this past Christmas season when this little painting was purchased by a very nice couple.  Isn't that nice?

This one needs some more work...I'm kind of stuck with how to jazz it up.  I just keep staring at it...
I have not been very productive in the art department lately.  Every time I start something I think "this is it, I'll break my rut," but then...I don't.  I'm joining in Paint Party Friday.  It's been forever since I've linked up and I've missed the interaction and inspiration!

Santa Cruz Island aka Fluid no.3

I've finally finished my first commission.  As you know if you read here often, I was worried about the dark colors in the painting before and the fact that it didn't match it's mate so well.  I didn't want the dark colors to look like a stormy sea so I played up the sunset colors and finally I am happy with the way it came out....and so is it's new owner. 

BEFORE:


AFTER:


TOGETHER: 

 Obi photobombed:

 

I'm looking forward to my next project, feel some Hungarian flowers coming but it's been a crazy week around here, fires AND earthquakes.  My kids have experienced fires (unfortunately) but this was their first earthquake.  It was a relatively little one but they didn't understand it was an earthquake and froze in place, especially after I yelled at them to follow me outside.  My yelling scared them more than the earthquake that they didn't know was an earthquake!  I need to work out our emergency plans!

Next week is the last week of school and I am looking forward to summer, even though the kids being home with me makes my life much more complicated.  They have a few camps planned and I am hoping work slows down so we can have some fun around our beautiful town.

 

Progress Santa Cruz Island

 I've been working on my first commission (and first sale!)  It's quite a change for this late in life, self taught artist to paint something for any other reason than fun and personal fulfillment.  I try not to remember my "customer" but it's hard not to get a little nervous wondering if the painting will live up to expectations.

After my first painting session

Continuing to add color

This is where I am now (below.)  I've added a lot more color and movement to the water.  My worry now is that it is getting to far away from it's mate, they are intended to be hung together.



Besides the color variations (which is more subtle in person than in these pictures,) I worry that the water looks flat in the other painting now...but I hesitate to go back and mess with it. 



 What do you think?
Is it OK if they are not matchy/matchy.   I wasn't given any direction but they will hang together so I want a cohesive look. Is it enough that they are tied together because they are two ocean paintings?
 

Santa Cruz Island WIP

A little more than a year ago the prompt at Illustration Friday was 'fluid' so I painted the ocean.
I was happy with the painting and decide to do a trio of ocean inspired paintings.

The first Fluid is a close shoreline view. The second, Fluid no. 2, which I painted about a month later was a mid view of a crashing wave. I had in mind that Fluid no. 3 would be a far off view, such as the way Santa Cruz Island looks from the mainland, but I took several detours into Hungarian folk art, drawing with colored pens, journaling, and experimenting with watercolors. That third canvas stayed white as snow...hidden in a closet.

My dear friend L's brother, who is decorating a new home, took Fluid and Fluid no. 2 home and asked me to paint Fluid no 3. for him.  I sold three paintings!  (my first three!)

So here it is, a work in progress.  Santa Cruz Island at sunset.



 

Some lovely roses from my garden for inspiration.

 



I'm sharing at Sunday Sketches and Artists in Blogland. 
Click on the lovely links above and check out all the talented artists!

The Tree

Years ago one of the first paintings I felt good enough to give away as a gift, and I mean a real gift wrapped and presented at a birthday party, was this Cypress tree I painted for A's birthday.  If you are from Santa Barbara you would instantly recognize it as the tree at the end of the bluff of the Wilcox Property (Douglas Family Preserve) which is an open space and off leash dog walking area not far from my house.

 

Like most people around here, especially if you live in this part of town, I have a relationship with this tree.  I have sat under it.  I have run past it as I turn around and head for home.  Sometimes I even tag it because it's just the half way point of a 5 mile run from my front door.  Lots of people have climbed it, but not me...as I find climbing a tree at the edge of a cliff a little too scary. 

Mostly I've just admired it and painted it and stood next to it.

 

This past week we had some fierce winds.  They lasted a few days but one night was so windy that I was woken up several times during the night hearing wind and the crashes of pots falling over and gates banging.  I knew we'd lose some trees around town but I was hoping it might be one of the trees on my street that blocks my ocean view!

 

I was so sad to hear the Cypress fell.

 

The dog and I went to visit and say goodbye.  Poor tree.

 

A very different view without that tree.

 

 

 

Kauai Sky

I tried something a little different this week.  I gave myself one hour and only 4 colors while painting.  This is a view of the sunset sky in Kauai.  Painted from memory and my vacation photos.  Normally when I paint California scenes I use Cerulean Blue, Hookers Green and Titanium White to create my water and sky.  When I paint Kauai ocean and sky and I can't get the right colors using my "California palette."  Here I used Cobalt Blue, Naphthol Crimson, Yellow Light Hansa and Titanium White.   I was tempted to add something else...but I tend to over mix and use too many colors and end up with mud.  I'm very open to constructive criticism and advise and tips.  :)

 

Painting in the living room instead of at my art desk these days

I ruined my manicure (OPI Into the Night)

Sharing on Illustration Friday and Paint Party Friday.

Happy Friday!! 

 

Flowers! Flowers!

It's Friday and I'm ready for a weekend! 
My husband and my grandmother share a birthday (she'll be 91!) so there will be some celebrating.  And I am still feeling great and relieved to be on the other side of the doldrums...and creative again!

I have been enjoying a return to acrylics and canvas lately.  This is a painting inspired by something on the bathroom wall (of all places!) at my yoga studio.  I've had the idea of painting this for about 3 years and finally got around to it.  I'm really pleased with it.

Acrylic on cavas 16X20

 

Plumeria still blooming

I never get tired of flowers.

Happy Friday! 

Illustration Friday - Water

I'm happy to finally participate in Illustration Friday again.  I haven't been feeling the prompt words lately but this week is 'water' and I have no trouble with painting the ocean over and over again.  I love the color a wave becomes just before it breaks and wanted to capture that here.

Green Wave.  Acrylic on canvas.  11X14.

 

I used this picture to paint from.  Taken yesterday.

The Fog Lifts

Living near the ocean you get used to the fog.  All of us lucky enough to live in coastal neighborhoods will tell you we don't mind the fog but the truth is, we are all just waiting for the fog to lift!  Here is a view of the Santa Cruz Island as the fog lifts. 

 

 

Happy PPF and happy birthday to me.  Yes, it's a shameless plug for birthday wishes.  :)

Finally, I have had a very challenging time photographing my art lately.  I have a great digital camera, a tri-pod and still not happy with the results.  For instance, the dark corner on the bottom right of the top photo and the way the white edges look pink.  Also, there are lots of brush stroke details lost in the photo.  Any suggestions and tips would be most welcome!

Current (and lifelong) Obsession

For the duration of the Olympics I have had my art supplies in the living room and I've been painting and drawing while watching TV.  My little art desk was looking dusty and sad so I cleaned it up and moved back in.  Here's what I have been working on lately...my current (and lifelong) obsession with Hungarian folk art.

all clean

sketchbook

watercolor and pen

acrylic on canvas pad

sketching a vignette from my mom's china cabinet

practice, practice

watercolor and pen

watercolor and pen

inspiration from the real thing

A Puppy and A Doggy





Hello Oberon who is 13 weeks old today and often wet and muddy.  In this picture you can see his "flaw," the black spot that we found out about the day before he came home to us.  We had no plans to show or breed him and we think his spot is charming even if it is considered a fault. 

I was extra busy last week painting special pictures for two special girls this week.

I painted an owl for H and then this fluffy white doggy for M's 7th birthday.



Acrylic on canvas, 12" X 14"



Linking up to Hello Monday.

An Owl

Acrylic on canvas, 12" X 14"

I painted this owl for H's 9th birthday.  Her family, besides being very dear friends, are some of my greatest supporters.  Six of my painting hang from walls in their home.  Seeing H's reaction when she opened her gift was priceless and the best compliment!

Paradise Island


Paradise Island for Creative Tuesdays.  I'm happy to participate in a new link up for the first time!  I did this painting after my first visit to the paradise island of Kauai.  Kauai is the only Hawaiian island with rivers you can kayak. 

Hanalei River, acrylic on canvas

It was really fun to look for this spot when we went back to Kauai this year...although I used some creative license to change it up for a more pleasing composition.