Dockside Sunrise

Dockside Sunrise

12x16, soft pastel

Back to my boat theme.  With this piece, I had to do quite a bit by memory.  Two years ago I painted a smaller version of this scene en plein air.   But, I made a rooky plein air mistake and didn't take a photograph of the scene before leaving the lake.  So, I had to recall some of the details that I had missed when I painted the first piece.   I was drawn to this particular scene because I loved how the sunlight from the early morning sunrise lit the tips of the kayaks casting jagged sunlight onto the waters below.  It was a gorgeous September morning at Redfish Lake.  One I will always remember.

Peaceful Morning

Peaceful Morning

12x16, soft pastel

Day 5 of 30...this is the finished larger piece.  No oil painting today...just enjoying this one for a bit then on to the next larger piece!

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.

Sunset Sail

Sunset Sail 

7x5, soft pastel

Sticking with my nautical them this week...one more boat.  This is such a beautiful scene.  I love the colors of the sunset...the warm glow of the setting sun and its reflection on the water.

Little Red

Little Red

5x7, soft pastel

It's always a little more stressful painting detail...so on this piece, I really got tired of it after 4 hours or so. There was a lot of teeny tiny details since this is only a 5x7painting. Normally if I do a "detail" painting I give myself a couple days to complete it so I don't burn out. But then, those are not very "painterly" either which is a style I'm trying to achieve.  Not so with this one though.  Since this is a 30 in 30 painting, I needed to finish today...so it's not my best work...but hey, today, it's good enough.  

Feeling A Little Dinghy

Feeling A Little Dinghy

5x7, soft pastel

Today is day 24 of the 30 day challenge...and by now, I'm feeling a bit dinghy.  Only six more days to go...so I will press on.  I love the bright orange colors of this little boat and the overall composition.  The water is so calm you can see the larger boats moored directly behind it.  I love reflections!

Cozy Cove

Cozy Cove

7x5, soft pastel 

I love sailboats.  Not that I've ever been sailing....or even stepped foot in one.  But, I love them all the same.  They're beautiful in full sail or moored for the evening in a cozy cove.

Today is day 22 of the 30in30 Challenge.  I'm barely keeping up with the laundry and cleaning...thank God my husband is good at getting the groceries and cooking.  Not that I've been painting all day long...but some days it sure feels like it.  Oh well...getting lots of practice!

P.S. Technically I just met the challenge with today's painting (I started in mid-Aug.)...but I'll forge ahead and complete the whole month of Sept.  Why not..right?