"Fall in the Air", Oil, 16 x 20"

Here's a painting that has been in the making for over a year... 

"Fall in the AIr", Oil, 16 x 20"

Plein air painting at Madam Brett Mill Park, Beacon

This was painted at Madam Brett Mill Park in Beacon. To the left there were nice falls, but these reflections in the water were "calling" me to be painted... 

"Untitled", Oil, 8 x 10"

Bear Mountain Bridge, Oil, 8 x 10"

I put aside my ocean/waves scenes for the plein air season (outdoor painting) which started a little while ago. I try to go as often as possible. It's challenging because on top of painting the scenery in a limited time you also have to deal with other elements: equipment, winds, sun, rain, terrain, bugs, wildlife, people who want to chat...   but it's the best way to learn how to see.

The conditions are changing fast and after 2 hours the initial scene looks completely different. So even though I limit my painting size to 8 x 10" I rarely finish a painting in one session. So if I feel the start has any potential, I may go back to the scene or try to finish it from memory and photographs (and the result is still not guaranteed :-). Otherwise I put it aside for a while (on the stack) and simply use it as a learning experience. Well... let me just stay that the "learning" stack is getting taller faster than the "finish" stack. You will probably not see those...

Here's one that I painted in the morning and finished in the studio from memory in the afternoon.

"Bear Mountain Bridge", Oil, 8 x 10"

Impasse, Oil, 10 x 10"

Here a couple of birds on the beach. I believe they are Royal terns.

Impasse, Oil, 10 x 10"

"Counting Waves II", oil, 16 x 20"

This is one of the first paintings from the seascapes series. I had to wait for it to dry before I made some corrections.

I really like the sand/mud color in the rolling wave. I believe the bird is a royal tern.

"Counting Waves II", oil, 16 x 20

"Rolling in from the Deep", Oil, 16 x 20"

More waves...

"Rolling in from the Deep", Oil, 16 x 20"

"Sunlight and Curl", Oil, 12 x 16"

These wave paintings force me to work on my brushstrokes more than ever before. Maybe because there is not much else going on... I need to find (simple) ways to represent the different textures in the water. I'm happy with the  textures in this one, but the brushwork lacks some finesse... I need (a lot) more practice... :-)

"Sunlight and Curl", Oil, 12 x 16

Closeup view 

"Double Break", Oil, 9 x 12"

I'm still having fun with these seascapes/waves. I have a hard time with the composition though. It's hard to work with "horizontal stripes" and make it interesting... so I concentrated more on the different textures, movements and reflections in the water.

"Double Break", Oil, 9 x 12"

Close up view

"Untitled 3", oil, 12 x 16"

Keep it simple! For some reason this comes to mind mostly when I paint water. It seems to work but I don't know why I don't react the same way with other subjects like skies, trees,...

On this one I was happy to find a simple way to paint the foam in between the two waves without too much labor.

"Untitled 3", oil, 12 x 16"

"Coming in Heavy", Oil, 9 x 12"

Having fun with another seascape... Any title suggestions?

"Coming in Heavy", Oil, 9 x 12"

"Diamonds in the Surf", Oil, 16 x 20"

It's no secret that I like to paint water, but I never had a chance to really paint the sea. A few weeks ago Ken and I went to Florida to visit friends for the weekend. I did sketches on the beach and came back with a bunch of reference pictures.

I don't remember the last time I've been so excited/inspired to paint from my reference pictures... so I'm starting a new series: Seascapes. You will see blue for a while :-)

"Diamond in the Surf", Oil, 16 x 20

Closeup view

Late Light

Here's another still life. You have probably guessed by now that cherries and oranges are my favorite fruits to paint. :-)

Late Light, Oil, 11 x 14"

Cherry Spill

This one may seem like "déjà vu"... it's a close up version of the painting "Standing Tall". I went for a stronger contrast between light and shadow... I like this one better.

Cherry Spill, Oil, 6 x 6"

Beacon Summer Rails

This is the view of the railroad in Beacon when you stand by the waterfall with your back to the round restaurant (old mill).

Beacon Summer Rails, Oil, 10 x 10"

The Falls at Beacon

This painting was started in plein air last August with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters (LHVPAP) group at Beacon falls. I recently finished it in the studio. Other than the limited access to a bathroom this is a great place to paint.

The Falls at Beacon, Oil, 8 x 10"

Our dog Maple, twice

Here are two paintings of our dog Maple. I thought the front legs were too short and the colors too subdued in the first painting (Maple III at the bottom) so I did second one (Maple IV at the top). I had a bit more perspective on Maple's body (the butt is smaller and recedes more), but now I don't notice much difference in her front legs, hmm... So I ended up with two (very) similar paintings because whatever I like in one painting, I tried to reproduced in the other one...

The question now is: which one is better? Ken prefers the first one (Maple III) because Maple stands out more and the overall colors. I prefer the second one (Maple IV) for her facial expression and the colors. Do you have a preference or is there not enough difference between the two paintings to make a choice?

Maple IV, Oil, 12 x 16"

Maple III, Oil, 12 x 16"

Standing Tall

Another still life... and this looks a bit brighter than the real thing. These two "pots" were quite a challenge, but I'm happy with this first trial.

Standing Tall, Oil, 12 x 9"

A Cherry on Top

Here's a little still life. It's been a while since I painted cherries and glass... it was fun.

A Cherry on Top, Oil, 6 x 6"

Les P'tits Amis: Cougar et Petit Phoque

Here are two Beanie Babies that are precious to my husband and me. We have had them since graduate school at University of Ottawa where we met. Initially "Petit phoque" (right) was Ken's and Cougar (left) was mine. Now there are inseparable and they bring us back a lot of great memories. So I decided to surprise my husband for his birthday with a painting of them. He loved it!

Les P'tits Amis, Oil, 6 x 6"

Sunny Morning in Beacon

I recently finished this painting that was started in plein air (outdoor) with the Lower Hudson Valley Plein Air Painters last summer. This building used to be a mill and is now converted into a restaurant. And it sits by the falls in Beacon. A lovely place to eat. The building is (supposed to be) round... I'll have to paint this one again next summer...

Sunny Morning in Beacon, Oil, 8 x 10"