Missing Maui

Missing Maui

6x8, soft pastel

Over the years we've often travelled...ESPECIALLY during this time of year.  Mid-January through mid-February in Idaho always seems to be dark, often cloudy, and dreary.  Otherwise, the weather here is absolutely ideal.   This year, we decided to stay home since we've been busy with projects... and of course the last couple weeks have been cloudy...yikes!  I keep kicking my heels together silently repeating "there's no place like Maui...there's no place like Maui".   I open my eyes and darn it...I'm still here!  I'm really missing Maui.

Beach Bum 2

Beach Bum 2

8x6, soft pastel

I finished the remake of Beach Bum today. This is one of my favorite boat scenes. I can just imagine being on the beach on a warm sunny summer day...especially helpful today where it's cold and rainy outside.  I'm afraid it's going to be some time before I walk the beach again.

Work in Progress

This week I've spent time plein air painting and taking photos for an upcomimg cityscape series.  So today I headed back into the studio to start a couple paintings.  One is a redo of Beach Bum which recently sold.  I wanted to keep it in my seascape series.   The other is the fifth in a series of quilt based paintings.  Both of these are in the "ugly" stage...no more than 1/2 way through the process.  I believe the quilt one is a bit larger than usual...somewhere around 8x10 so it definitely has a ways to go!   Oh well....no rush.

Feeding the Birds

Feeding the Birds

5x9, soft pastel

The Gulf Coast is a beautiful place...especially at sunrise.  On this particular morning I captured a photo of a couple on the beach just as heavy fog was lifting.  It was a mystical sight.   He, walking their dog and she, throwing breadcrumbs to the birds.  The sight of the birds hovering above them was amazing.

Beach Bum

Beach Bum

8x6, soft pastel

Today marks the first day of the 30 in 30 Challenge.  This year I'm living by a motto (I don't usually do this...but the time came in my life to hunker down and be an art student with the intent to learn all I could about painting with soft pastels).  Soooo, the motto I'm living by is to "Be Courageous".   I guess that will be my theme for this challenge.  I'll be painting at least one painting a day and will focus on trying new things...new subject matter, new techniques etc. They may not be the best I can do because of the time crunch...but it's going to be fun to try and loosen my style which is not an easy thing to do.  So, let the games begin!