chincotegue plein air-underpainting

This is the underpainting of the marshes I see off my deck here in Chinocteague. I am here painting at my favorite place in the world for the Chincoteague Plein Air Festival. I love this event as it is so relaxed, with no competition. I booked myself into my favorite hotel with my favorite view. I intend to just paint from my balcony the whole time and yes that is allowed!!!! How fun!
I decided to post this watercolor underpainting. It's large for my plein air size-21"x21". I like the underpainting and it makes me reticent to dive in and add more. I did it late yesterday so I am letting it rest and allowing me to think before moving forward. "Incrementally" will be the key.
Tomorrow I will post a series of my 6"x6" sky studies.

Open Studio

Open Studio is tomorrow and Sunday. All are invited. Please email me for directions if you did not receive a postcard.
I have been working my buns off to get ready. Here a couple paintings I found in my archives that will be for sale tomorrow.
Now it is time to go to sleep.

August 22, 2008 Blue Marsh

7x9, pastel on board, $90.
Back to the marsh. It was one of those challenging days. With winds whipping at 15-20 miles an hour it was hard just to keep my easel, umbrella, hat and me from blowing away. In the distance the puffy clouds raced across the horizon. Still, the air temperature is perfect-80 degrees and the water is just 2 degrees less. Time to go to the beach. Ta-ta.

August 20, 2008 Marsh Pathway

4.5x 14 pastel on board
It's hard to get a handle on a whole new landscape. It's like I am searching to feel the land. The grasses are so green with an orange glow.

June 15, 2008 Serenity

8x8, pastel on marble dust board
Dominant color how can it influence the entire painting?......How does it make the mood? With that in mind I approached a familiar scene in a different way.

January 28, 2008 Marsh near Kent Island

4x4 watercolor on wallis, $50.
Today has been hard. I began painting early since I have so much "show stuff" to do, but at this point I am frustrated. I have scraped two and so this is a small watercolor from yesterday's "en plein car" work near Kent Island.

December 1, 2007

This one is taken from the painting I did in November. I changed the palette and made a daybreak scene. Time for bed now.

November 25, 2007 The Channel

Another Cape May painting. I like the clouds in this one. Painting in the car isn't that bad after all.

November 24, 2007 Marsh at Wildwood

Today I worked "en plein car." It's freezing down here and the wind is so strong. So I set my studio in the front seat of my car and was happy as a clam. I liked the violets and bronze colors in the trees and brush.

November 19, 2007

Marsh haze....this is one...then I began another one with a different palette, all warm. I will post it tomorrow, I am off to the framer.

November 4/5, 2007 Winter's Coming

All of a sudden I had an idea. I was in bed and I couldn't sleep. Winter... Prime Hook Refuge, my favorite time of day. All I had was my memory, but I could feel it. I had one big board left, 15x20. Kinzo (my cat muse) came and joined me in the studio. Sometimes you just know what to do. Can you feel the cold? But it's so nice, quiet and serene. Makes me want a fire in the fireplace.
I can see now that painting full-time is a gift. Before, when I worked at school full-time I was always so absorbed with my work with children and my left over energy went to painting. Now, I think about painting round the clock. I have so many ideas and not enough time. I constantly watch everything and paint it in my head. I don't have to get in the zone, because "the zone" is always there. It's like I never get out. I had begun this painting a day blog to keep me honest and never let anything fill moments when I should be painting. It's good, don't get me wrong, it's just that it's like it's not needed for that purpose because the painting habit is like a sponge - a very absorbent sweet sponge.
It makes me think what an awesome husband I have who is willing to be broke for a while as I follow my dreams.
Enough of my blabbing..........

November 1, 2007 Morning of the Summer Solstice, special light

After I finished the field I kept going. All of a sudden I knew just what to do to finish this one. I began this in Maine. I love that place! A special thank you to the Mary for introducing me to my favorite place! Another thank you to the whole Taylor- Moncavage family for allowing me to stay at their homes while I paint in Maine!
I have been worrying lately that my work is becoming too "realistic" rather than the pieces of emotion that I strive to make. Today when making this one the "astonishment" returned. I get an ahhhh feeling when I see it. Good.