Santa Barbara trip

 Up from the Beach

5x7

watercolor and pencil on paper

 Hazy Afternoon

5x7

watercolor and pencil on paper

 Looking to the Hills

5x7

watercolor and pencil on paper

 Onion on Lynn's Table

5x7

Caran D'Ache on paper

:) sign at the head of the beach at UCSB

I recently had the pleasure of spending a week in Santa Barbara visiting with my daughter, her husband and their dog.  Of course spending time at the beach was a priority and I had to capture a few of the scenes in watercolor, which is my first love.  Also I've been using Caran D'Ache crayons which are water soluble and can be used back and forth drawing and painting.  They're lots of fun and both those, a small set of watercolors and pad of paper are perfect companions on a trip,  particularly when you get abandoned by your offspring who has to work but you get to play!   First of course, you need to get past the warning sign at the beach!
Meanwhile I'm getting ready for a group show at the Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington which goes up June 30 and will go through the summer.  Opening reception is July 13 6-8pm and closing is September 8.  Their summer hours are Tues and Sat afternoons.  I'll be putting in my paintings from my week with MassArt and some prints from my class with Adria Arch.

monoprints and a still life

 Still Life on Table

oil on paper

11x14

 Seascape I

oil on paper-monoprint

8.5x11

 Seascape II 

oil on paper-monoprint

8.5x11

Seascape III

oil on paper-monoprint

8.5x11

I've been doing my homework assignment of 20 gelatin prints where I paint a landscape on the plate then print.  I've gotten a little obsessed with one seascape from Eastport and have made 8 prints.  Here are the three most successful.  The other painting is oil on 300 lb watercolor paper.  I saw a demo a few weeks back where the artist first drew the still life then used oils thinned with Galkyd to paint into the drawing.  She would go back and forth creating several layers and allowing the pencil drawing to take equal part in the image she was working on.  Here's my attempt with objects on my table by the front window.  I liked doing it but didn't work as large or free as I had hoped.  Another time!  Meanwhile, off to California to see my daughter and son-in-law and their dog Lolo.  Slim chance of sunshine but the beach and mountains are still there.  And the wine, I hope up in St. Inez Vallery!

gelatin print recipe and new painting

Here's the recipe for making a gelatin print that I got at the workshop and we used there: Click on the recipe to enlarge and be able to read:

I had a chance to paint a scene from one of my visits to Riverside, CA.  My daughter took me to the beautiful botanic garden at UC Riverside and we had a lovely day.  Here's to the memory of that day in the sun.

Italian Cypress

18x22

oil on canvas

very beginning monoprinting

I had a most enjoyable day today learning how to use a gelatin plate for monoprinting from Linda Germain.  Here are a few of my "beginnings."  Linda made the plates and we used Speedball ink.  I'll be using a commercial plate made by Gelli Art and look forward to much more "R&D."  Too dreary for plein air anyway!

revisiting paintings

Tidal Rocks

12x12 oil on board
sold

I decided to revisit this painting which was done as a small 6x8 sketch on the coast in Falmouth Maine this fall.  This larger version is 12x12 to conform to the regulations of the small works salon in Cambridge that I submitted it to. I had fun resizing and redoing the composition though I think a rectangular format works better for a landscape in general.  Keep your fingers crossed for me-I'll find out  on the 17th.

Tide's Out

14x18 oil on canvas

$350.

This is a painting of the rocks along the shore at Bois Bubert island off the Maine coast that was painted a few years ago.  It's been a favorite of mine and was a joy to paint and frame.  It was just accepted in a show "Seaward: Life and Work Along New England's Coast," at nourish, a restaurant in Lexington, MA.  The show ends May 31.  I'm very excited and hope to connect with other area artists-especially over the wonderful appetizers at the reception Tuesday!

Memories of Bennington

Morning Sun

12 x 12 acrylic on canvas
sold

I'd been wanting to paint this lovely scene since I saw it while driving out of Bennington College this summer.  It was early morning and we were headed out painting but I couldn't resist snapping a photo.  I entered this in the Concord Art Association's holiday show also.

Meanwhile my class with Adria Arch has ended but I hope to continue with her this winter in her studio and learn more about being intuitive in the painting process. 

Plein air-ing in my neighborhood!

Trees and Shadows

12 x 12 oil on canvas

sold

I just loved this tree!  Most days I walk the path near it with Cally and have been intrigued by the long shadows and colors now that fall is here.  So, I bravely set up my easel and painted.  Some wiping happened once I got back home, but I had a lovely time and will submit this to the Concord Art Association's holiday show today.  Thanks for the tip, Bobbi Heath, about joining up there!