Showing posts with label sunset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunset. Show all posts

Friday, May 11, 2012

Melting into Night

Melting into Night - oil on gessoed panel - 12 x 12"
Here was a wonderful moody sunset. The thing I really like about it is the reflections of the trees in the water. They shimmer and look like they are melting.

I've read that if you want to sell your paintings, you should tell the story of each painting and how you came to paint it, because people love stories. Well, I really hope you will put your own story on my paintings. Does this remind you of anything? Can you smell the air? Hear the night insects starting their songs? How do you feel when you look at it? Do you sense a presence here? Is there a memory that you've almost forgotten...

See more of my art on my website. To leave a comment, click here.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Coming Home

Coming Home - oil on canvas panel - 5" x 7"

It's getting dark. Return to the harbor, to safety... Another boat, returning. They always leave and return with their sails lowered.

This was the preparatory study for my last painting. It is Richmond Marina, along the San Francisco Bay Trail. I walk past this harbor almost every day.


If you would like to buy this painting click here for a Paypal button. Of course, you can also use a credit card if you prefer. Shipping is FREE. If you would like to see my other paintings, click to view my website. And there is also the Facebook page.





Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The Return


The Return - oil on canvas - 6" x 12"
This is the completed painting from my previous post about slurpy paint. I love the symbolism of boats as vessels that carry us safely through life.

If you would like to see my other paintings, click to view my website. And there is also the Facebook page.

What are your thoughts about boats? Do they have any special meaning to you?

Monday, March 5, 2012

Reaching...

Reaching...  8" x 8" - oil on linen panel

This was the most beautiful sky. And here we have pampas grass trying to reach it! It was such a wonderful cool evening.
I hope you get out and enjoy your evening.

Click here to buy using Paypal or a credit card. $200.00 and shipped for free! See my other work on my website. 


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Coastal Pine at Dusk

...Coastal Pine at Dusk...
6" x 6" - oil on museum quality panel

Okay, this is just a tree. So, why did I want to paint it? Well, the sky behind it gives a feeling that the tree is singing, or is joyful. See the vibrations. See how it has its branches lifted up... And, it's just beautiful! 

You may view my other artwork at my website
This painting is available, unframed, for only $75.00 by clicking here  Shipping is free to US and Canada.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Tranquil Evening

...Tranquil Evening...
5" x 7" - oil on Gessobord panel

I painted this one transparently, like a watercolor. There is a small amount of white in the water and distant hills. The white of the foreground is just the white of the panel showing through. It actually was hard to paint, even though I have done a lot of watercolors. 

There is something about the combination of blue and yellow: so clean and fresh, yet cheerful and tranquil.  I hope that is how you feel looking at it! A great way to end the day!

You may buy this painting, unframed, for $75, using Paypal or a credit card, by clicking here. Shipping is free!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

As the Sun Sets behind Mt. Tam...

...As the Sun Sets Behind Mt. Tam...
6" x 6" - oil on museum quality panel

Here is a scene from the Richmond Marina. I was inspired to paint this because of that strip of water in the middle that is positively glowing! I love the huge skies here! The sunsets and sunrises are wonderful. In the background is the ship, SS Red Oak Victory, which was build right here at the Kaiser Shipyards during WW II. It is a museum now.

Feedburner did not pick up my last blog post, I have no idea why. I have signed-on with Mail Chimp so that, hopefully, this and future posts will be delivered to your email box. If you want to see the last post, please click to read this on the internet, and it is there. I expect to be posting more frequently in the future.

 Also, people have asked if my work is for sale, and how they can buy it, so click on my gallery at Daily Paintworks on the blog sidebar or my Website, and there is a link with a Paypal button. My small works are very reasonably priced, unframed. And the shipping is free! (in the US)




Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Slurpy Paint and Five Brushes

Returning--oil painting in progress
Here is an unfinished painting. I am posting it because I had so much fun painting the sky! Most books and articles on painting don't talk about the kinesthetic aspects of painting, but it is the fun part! And the surface appearance is a huge part of the total energy of the artwork. (Yes, they do emit an energy... )

As you can see, there was some painting done before I got to the sky, but I'll save that for a future post.

Now, for the sky! I pre-mixed all the colors from the dark blue-gray to the bright orange, and added enough Liquin to give the paint a slurpy consistency. Then, using soft, rounded, flat brushes (sable filberts) with a different brush for each color, I started with the darkest color using a light touch. These clouds swoosh across the sky, so I used swooshing motions with the brush.

Above is a close-up. I felt like a conductor leading a sympthony, using a whole handful of brushes and letting the strokes swoosh like the motion of the wind--not doing too much blending, because it would muddy the paint. But keeping it light and smooth, so the glow underneath would show through. Just enjoying the feeling of each stroke as the brush glided across the surface. Yeah, slurpy!


Now, back to painting... That water is going to be difficult!


Friday, June 3, 2011

Across the Carquinez Strait

Carquinez Nocturne
oil on linen panel - 8" x 10"


There's nothing like darkness to simplify a scene and add a sense of mystery. This is the view from a "scenic overlook." It was a nice little park along the road, and I had been there several times in daylight. Well it seemed like a perfect spot for a nocturne (night painting): just a few simple shapes and the sky--quick, easy.

Ha, what was I thinking? First, the sky was changing really fast. It got dark very fast. Then a police car came into the park: just checking I guess, he cruised through and left. I decided to leave. I finished it at home. But, I am really pleased with this one. The darkness and subdued color makes the lights shine. James McNeill Whistler, one of my favorite artists, is famous for his nocturnes.

It reminds me of flying at night. I always try to get a window seat because I like to watch the sparkling lights below. It's like a "Welcome Home."

This is my third painting for the Crockett Paint Out. Now, I'll be framing them all.
I hope you have a good weekend!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Low Tide

...Low Tide...
oil on canvas - 6" x 12" 
Here we have stillness, and glowing light, and San Francisco Bay. And each sunset is wonderful! The distant mountain is Mt. Tamalpais, or Mt Tam, as it's called locally. The second little hill is an island. It looks like I painted this with only two colors, but I actually used about five! (Limited palette) I used a lot of layers, and it was interesting to see how it developed, as it changed with each new layer! Reminder to self:  Take photos of each layer and post them...

Oscar is happy that I put down a "placeholder" for him so he knows where to sleep!
Actually, this is an empty frame that I use to view works-in-progress in the studio. I never just lay paintings flat on the floor, and now you know why!

Sunday, February 27, 2011

After the Thunder

...After the Thunder... 
oil on linen - 12" x 16"

I was just amazed by this sunset! The rain was ending, but still sprinkling. As the light of the sunset became red, it illuminated even the fog on the ground. I was sitting on a deck, attempting to do a plein air watercolor. (In the rain, ha!) Anyway, the photos survived, so this painting is from them. I started this painting in Deborah Paris's Painting Skies class, but added about 6 layers of glazes and scumbles after the class was over!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Blue Ridge Mountains II

...Blue Ridge Mountains II...
oil on canvas on board - 6" x 8"

Another misty sunset in the mountains. I used Grumbacher Copal Medium in this and really didn't like the effect this time. (It was fine when I was painting the red tulip, go figure.) But this time, every brushstroke seemed to lift the paint underneath.

Click here to buy $75 + shipping, unframed.