Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Celebration- Day 30 of 30 Day Challenge

8x8 Oil on Stretched Canvas



This is day 30 of my September 30 day challenge.  It has been a great challenge and a great experience.  I've learned a lot about myself, my style, commitment and creating routines.  When you work full time, painting can easily take a back seat, yet when I paint I am far better in all areas of life.  Lately, I've been drawn to the color orange.  We see oranges and yellows everywhere in New England in late September and early October.  It is a happy color and always cheers me up.  October begins tomorrow and I have a new set of brushes,  a stack of new boards and replenishment in paints.  Full speed ahead!

Monday, September 29, 2014

Apple Picking Season

8 x 8 Oil on Stretched Canvas



Fall in New England means apple picking season.  When our kids were young, planning the drive to the orchards to pick bags of crisp apples while eating cinnamon doughnuts was a must.  While I "picked" these from our local farm stand this year,  I remembered all of those great memories from their younger years.  

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Moored

6x6 Oil on Panel



Very few boats are left in the harbor.  Soon there will be non moored.  I Liked this little sailboat resting covered in the sunlight. Another beautiful fall day is beginning here near Boston.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Autumn

6x6 Oil on Ampersand Panel



It is a glorious New England fall day.  Nearly 80 degrees of warm sun and breezes.  We got to go to a field hockey game this morning and then home to new supplies.  This 30 in 30 day challenge is nearly complete and I am looking forward to the next.  Pumpkins seem to be prevalent as subjects- and why not!  They are wonderfully shaped, bright and cheery in color and just generally fun.  More to come.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Late Bloomer


6x6 Oil on Panel



There are a few blooms left on the deck during this first week of autumn.  I love geraniums.  They always make me smile.  I think I'll keep this one close in January.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Walk in the Park


6x8 Oil on Panel



Day 23 do my 30 day challenge and I do believe I am hitting my stride.  Setting aside odd bits of time to paint is becoming the norm.  I am finding more and more subjects interesting.  Approaching the start is no longer difficult.  All in all 'a walk in the park'!

Monday, September 22, 2014

Clouds Overhead


8x10 Oil on Panel



A cloudy beach day in Florida.  Few people but mild weather, great breeze.  I love this kind of day- or any day near the ocean!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Stormy weather


8x8 Oil on Museum Quality Panel



I caught a photo on a very gray beach day and loved the way the gray skies played off the water with the rains far out to sea.  

Friday, September 19, 2014

Breakfast

6x6 Oil on Panel



I am learning a great deal from this 30 day painting challenge that I have taken on.  This is Day 19 and I have only missed one day!  I painted this one early this morning.  I find that I now think about what I am seeing. Differently.  I am constantly catching things that I want to try to paint.  I had my melon on a bright blue placemat this morning and just couldn't resist.  I am also more likely to try things.  Each painting isn't quite so precious when you know you can try again tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after.  Sometimes you will win-and sometimes you will learn.  This morning I count as a win.  I am happy coming to work. I have already put some play into my day. Amazing!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Truro Cottages

6x6 Oil on Panel



I took some photos a couple of years ago of scenes near P-town and I returned to this one this morning.  

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Barn Study


























12 x 12 Oil on Stretched Canvas




I find myself returning to these familiar sights of Ohio. Very calming.

Monday, September 15, 2014

And One More

8x8 Oil on Cradled Panel



As part of the 30 day challenge I am attempting, I decided last week to stick with what was fun for me right now. I am enjoying looking at and working on these little landscapes from photos I took last fall near Concord, MA.  I think the reds in the foliage caught my eye initially, and I still like capturing the interplay of the contrasts.  

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Cool Days

6x6 Oil on museum Panel



The temperatures in New England have dropped 25 degrees in the past week and it feels like fall. Cool, breezy, sunny days remind me of trips with the kids to pick apples and pumpkins.  

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Back on track


6x6 oil on panel



missed a day of the 30 day challenge yesterday- but back on track today.  I moved my studio this morning - quite the task but I'll have a bit more room to play moving forward.  We had some lemons and limes on the counter last night.  The limes were sacrificed to a good cause... But not before a photo!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Determination


This one is just pure grit and determination.  Late and tired.  Not great- just paint and persistence.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Back to the Beach. - Day 10


6x6 Oil on Panel.         Day 10
Even though the temperature has dropped significantly this week in Boston, it is still easy to remember that just a couple of weeks ago we were still sitting in a beach chair reading in New England.  Just some fun with paint tonite. 

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Cloudy Morning on Ft. Lauderdale Beach

8 x 12 Oil on Panel



Sometimes if you get to the beach early on a cloudy morning you have the place to yourself.  A few walkers near the water and a nice breeze and you.  Perfect!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Under the Wire


6x6 Oil on Museum Panel



Painting every day is difficult. I had a full day of stressful activity at work today, left late, home for dinner with my girls.  No energy.  I didn't see how I could go upstairs and paint.  But I did.  late tonight I just had to paint.  Here is another little bit of autumn- coming very soon here.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Homeland





6 x 6 Oil on Panel




I am thinking a lot about family these days- the places where we come from and where we end up.  We make a lot of choices in life.  Early in our marriage, we decided to try Boston, leaving northwest Ohio and Pennsylvania for a different part of the country- different in lots of ways.  It has been a wonderful place to live- full of great sights and experiences.  But you never really leave home.  I snapped some photos while at home in August.  This is the type of barn I might see in my hometown of Oregon, Ohio.  Lots of green flat fields and friendly people.  Great food and great fun.  I always breathe deeply when I return to carry it with me as I head 'home'.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Strolling





















8x8 on museum quality panel



Another little landscape anticipating autum ahead in New England.  I'll need to turn from swimming and sunning to hiking and biking.  That's the great thing about the change in seasons - you need to be a bit flexible, adjust your attitude and activities - and buy some great sweaters!  

Friday, September 5, 2014

Autumn Ahead


6x6 Oil on panel



I worried a bit that I hadn't really settled on a theme prior to this challenge.  Now, I think one may be emergIng.  I tend to paint the places I love- those where I live or spend time with family and friends.  I live in the Boston area- rich with history and scenery, architecture, seaside spaces, rolling farmland, city life.  Very diverse.  When we travel, it is to be with family in Ohio or to Florida or Pennsylvania.  Lots of ground to cover.  This is a spot near Concord, MA that I captured in a photo last fall.  I'll work on a few of these over the next month.  Fall is on the way in all of its colorful splendor soon.  Something to look forward to.  Plein air fun ahead!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Duck, NC


Day 4-  Last summer we travelled with family to North Carolina.  I had never been to the Outer Banks-interesting place.  I took a photo of this red brick lighthouse and thought I'd play with it a bit last night.  I think next time I will crop it closer and change the composition.  One reason I like daily painting exercises - you paint fast and learn along the way.    

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Harwich Wharf


8 x 8 Oil on Stretched Canvas




The harbor area in Harwich, MA has lots of great sights and subjects.  This is a little house/cafe at the corner of a harbor full of great boats. Lots of room to set up and paint.   Hope to return there soon.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Friends


6x6 Oil on panel.        Day 2
I am playing with boats a bit.  These two were nestled in together,like good friends having a conversation.  

Monday, September 1, 2014

Day 1 - 30 DayChallenge with Leslie Saeta

I have taken a large leap to commit to painting 30 small pieces this month.  Yikes!   Well, here goes!  These are some small sail boats on Lake Wequaquet on Cape Cod.  In the fall, on Labor Day, they pull them in to store for the fall.  They are a great reminder of warmer days.