Memories of Maine Series Sunrise on East Pond

Memories of Maine Series
'Sunrise on East Pond'
6 X 12 Oil

When I was in Maine, I loved to get up before
everyone else and sneak out to sit on the dock and
watch the sun come up. This is from photos and
memories of my last day there, and it was the
most splendid sunrise of all.

If you would like to see more of my work, please
go to my website. Thank you!

Landscape Commission - Step 5

Almost finished! Have some glazing I want to do once this is dry, then will see if any more bright spots have to be attended to. So much fun to paint the wildflowers, but I really had to restrain myself - especially since my client sent me a different picture of them at their peak, which was nothing but a gorgeous riot of color (future painting...).
I've really appreciated your comments along the way. Working with this limited palette (prussian blue, alizarin crimson and cadmium lemon) was a challenge, but so educational in terms of mixing the different colors. Even though I have worked with limited palettes before (the Zorn palette...), I really learned a lot from this one. I was truly amazed at the range of colors I was able to mix. You really don't need any other colors but the prmaries and white!

Landscape CommissionWork In Progress - Stage 2

This is the second stage of the landscape painting I am working on. In this phase of work I am blocking thin layers of color in, keeping them the same value (lightness or darkness) as the underpainting.
I also start to do some refining, without getting into a lot of detail. I shifted the fence over to the left because I felt it was too centered. Think this works much better.
At the end of my painting session, I take a palette knife and lightly skim over the painted surface to remove any thick spots of paint. I want to keep this layer thin, and save the thicker, more textured paint for later on in the process.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Landscape CommissionStep 1 - Underpainting

This is a landscape commission I have started working on recently that is of a log cabin in Wyoming. The light will be filtering in through the trees on the left, creating some great sunny areas as well as deep shadows. In the foreground grasses, there are many summer wildflowers, which I am am really looking forward to painting!

There is a rocky run-off area that starts just off center at the bottom of the canvas, and curves slightly left before disappearing. The fireplace is stone. It's a gorgeous place, and holds lots of happy family memories for the owners.

There may be a glimpse of a log cabin workshop behind the left side of the cabin - checking with my client to see if they want that there (my notes were taken months ago, and are not clear in that area :( )

I thought it would be interesting to post my process in steps. This is the underpainting, which maps out the dark and light areas. Doing this first helps nail down composition as well as the values and is very helpful when starting to block in color. In this particular painting, my underpainting is more detailed than I would normally have because I want the client to get a good idea what this will look like at the onset.

See you when the next step is complete!

Day Lily Farm

'Day Lily Farm'
8 X 10 Oil on archival canvas board
$175.00 plus $10.00 shipping
Contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing this painting

This Summer, the group that I paint with outdoors went to this Day Lily Farm in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. I never saw so many different colors and varieties of day lilies. The home and the barn were made of this rich, brown stone - it was difficult to settle down and find just one location to paint. I decided on this view of the house, greenhouse and outbuilding because of the flowers growing amongst them, and also because I really liked the ladder leaning up against the tree.

Gourd Study I

'Gourd Study'
8 X 8 Oil on stretched canvas
$120.00 plus $10.00 shipping
Contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing this painting

I had some really interesting gourds growing in my garden this Summer, and have anxiously been waiting to paint them. Here's one of the bumpy little fellows that I chose to paint first.

My Peeps (Work In Progress) 11 X 14 Oil

This is a painting in progress. Was standing along the Yellow Breeches one day doing some plein air painting when this mother duck and her babies came paddling by. I was so glad that I had brought my camera with me! Want to add more color and reflective qualities to the water, and do a little more work on the ducklings.

Summer Hay

'Summer Hay'
6 X 8 Oil on archival canvas board
$165.00 plus $6.00 shipping
Contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing this painting

This has been such an idyllic summer. The colors seem more intense, the air seems so clear, and with all of the rain we have had, green rules the landscape! I wonder if I am just appreciating it more because I've been able to spend more time this summer plein air painting? Here's my work from yesterday - bales of hay sitting out among all the different shades of green.