Plein Air Lite

Geisha On Holiday

15x8, Oil/Linen Panel

Eden Compton and I painted today in the Island City of Wilton Manors.. so named because its boundaries are defined by waterways. It is a nice little urban community that flies its Rainbow Flags proudly. I was drawn to this vibrantly colored restaurant, Simply Delish, with its white Putti on the eyebrow.. what's not to love? When Ken dropped by with Starbucks for Eden and me, they both pointed out the figure I had quickly blocked in looked like a geisha... That is all I needed to hear to go at it in full force and with a smile on my face! Brilliant vision from those two...

Sweet Treat

30x10, Oil/Linen

From the moment I downloaded my reference photo that contained this subject matter, I knew it had Kim English all over it. The trick became how to make it mine, even with with the obvious nod to the master. I stumbled and kicked with my first go around largely because I wanted to change the light hues to a more golden light and wound up with some muted nothingness. I left it stewing for a few weeks and came back to it yesterday, treating what lay beneath as an underpainting. It became quite a game of push-pull with the values and tones as the painting eventually developed a life and identity of its own.

Downtown Canal

15x8, Oil/Linen Panel

This canal located on a downtown road less traveled will be providing us with several paintings just waiting to happen. Here is my view of the stationary boat parade looking down the tree lined canal. I have started making my panels using quarter inch Birch and oil primed linen that I wash with a warm orange glaze. This new surface with its underpainting is helping me to loosen up my brushwork and allows for varying thicknesses of paint while keeping some of the underpainting visible. I am finding that different surfaces can make subtle changes in the way my paint behaves and allows for new possibilities... change is good!

Jupiter Lighthouse

6.75x10, Oil/Linen Panel

I met my friend Eden up at the Jupiter Lighthouse, Friday morning for a change of scenery. Surprisingly, there aren't that many lighthouses here in South Florida, especially not with the character this one has being perched up on a hill. We set a time limit for our paintings since the morning became a hot and sunny preview to Summer. Eden really caught the mood of the day with her painting of one of the docks looking across the inlet. Take a look at it here...

Deering Estate Paint Out

Gray Deering

16x8, Oil/Canvas Panel

Deering Estate Cattails

18x18, Oil/Canvas

Under Cover

It was a gray and rainy weekend for the Deering Estate en Plein Air. Fortunately, Saturday was only overcast all day. I was able to do the Cattail painting while searching for color amidst all the muted grayness of the field. On Sunday, we were all seeking shelter and cover to stay dry. I did Gray Deering as my attempt to portray the mood of the estate on such a day.

Deering Estate Cattails was awarded The Judges Recognition, for which I will receive a Pochade Box.... that will come in handy since you can never have too many easels!

Bromeliad

12x12. Oil/Canvas

I recently bought a new camera and have found myself taking lots of photos zooming in on different plants, leaves, seed pods, etc... Some of them I have found to be extremely beautiful in their cropped compositions. I suspect my efforts inspired me yesterday in my plein air outing. I stood next to this beautiful and vibrant Bromeliad. looking straight down and into its center...

Shift Change...

Private Collection

10x7, Oil/Canvas Panel

Went back to the Hillsboro Lighthouse this morning to catch the sunrise again. I got there in time to see the crescent moon on its way to rest. The weather prediction was for a mostly cloudy morning... I had visions of a moody painting with a slice of the sunrise peaking through at the horizon... but they were wrong. Instead I had to paint this typically beautiful, serene, South Florida Spring morning... oh well....

Himmarshee Court Palm

20x10, Oil/Linen Panel

Friday's sunrise painting invigorated me so much that I tried to get out Saturday Morning to catch it once again. Unfortunately, laying my head back on my pillow prevented me from making it on time! I did, however make it here next to Himmarshee Court to catch the early morning light as it illuminated this palm tree at the edge of the canal.

Catching the Sunrise...

Hillsboro Sunrise

12x12, Oil/Canvas Panel

Ellen Weiss & Eden Compton

Friday morning, two of my fellow painters and I went to the Hillsboro Inlet to catch the sunrise. Even though the sun rose a little further north of the lighthouse than I expected, it made for a serene glow, yet an energizing painting experience. A great way to start the day!

Portrait

18x18, Oil/Canvas

Collection Dr. Anthony Del Nuovo

I just completed this portrait commission working from reference photos we took outdoors. Anthony and I spent an enjoyable two mornings together to catch the sunlight effects we were looking for. For his portrait, I wanted the backlighting of the morning sun to reflect off the pages of his open book to illuminate his face and his deep set blue eyes. This time spent together gave me valuable information about his features and personality which helped me to capture his character as well as a likeness.