Windy Beach

"Windy Beach" - Puerto Rico

6 x 12 acrylic on canvas

Available through DPW gallery/auction

This month we visit Puerto Rico in the VPO. Lots to see as you roam around, beaches & ocean or cities & colorful houses. I'm having fun this month simply touring the island - I had to remind myself to stop and focus on painting! Click here for the link to the original location in Google.

I love a beach scene done in these 6x12 sizes. Just a slice of the beach & water - it seems to fit naturally in the size ratio. In this particular one, it was the palm tree that grabbed my eye. That and the clouds - loved the clouds.

I have a few more screen shots of this location that I will try to paint. In fact, I just found one while I was testing my link in Google. 

Shore Grass - SOLD

"Shore Grass" - New Jersey

6x12 acrylic on canvas

Available through DPW gallery/auction

This is one of the paintings I did recently in my Slice of Life series. This 6x12 painting captures the shore, with waves, clouds & a good amount of shore grass. I really enjoyed painting this one - but I had to keep reminding myself not to mess too much with the clouds! It's so easy to get carried way with things sometimes.

Of course, once I was done with the clouds, then it was the waves I had to fuss with. And if that wasn't enough to fuss with, then it was the grass blades! But actually, I didn't get carried away at all with this one. And all in all, it was done in a couple of hours. Seriously, 2 hours from start to finish - I love when a painting comes together so fluidly.

I will be putting some of the paintings from my recent show up for auction so watch for additional slices! And by the way, my auctions have free shipping within the US - from now until the end of the year!

On the Cliff - SOLD

"On the Cliff" - Monterey Peninsula

6x12 acrylic on canvas

Available through DPW gallery/auction

This is another painting for the VPO visit to the Monterey Peninsula in California. The original Google map view can be seen here.

This is one of those paintings that basically paints itself. I saw the scene in Google and knew instantly that I had to paint it. I wound up doing it in a single sitting, about 3 hours tops. I never understand why some paintings are like that - I just knew what colors, what shapes, and what to do. And I am very pleased with the final piece.

Even though the VPO will take us somewhere else in the world tomorrow morning, I will be roaming this area of California for more of these scenes. I do love to paint life at the ocean!

On The Rocks

"On the Rocks" - Monterey Peninsula

9x12 acrylic on canvas

Available through DPW gallery/auction

This month the VPO is visiting the Monterey Peninsula in California. It's a beautiful area of the country & state - I have visited it in the past, and it was a highlight for me on my trip. The original Google map view can be seen here.

You may not be aware, but I have a fascination with rocks. All rocks, all sizes, all colors. In the Adirondacks, I am lucky to have an abundant of beautiful stones to see & collect. Quartz, ore, fool's gold just to name a few. It seems I can't go down by the lake & walk the shoreline without spotting a new "pretty stone" to take home and add to my collection.

I have always loved the history of how rocks developed, the various types (sedentary, metamorphosis, etc). Even as a child I use to read up on them (and volcanos) as I loved the idea that the rocks in my yards were probably hundreds of years old! 

So when the VPO location was posted, I headed right to the beach. And I went rock hunting. Found this collection at the Carmel River State Beach. And believe it or not, I can remember some 40 years ago, sitting on the rocks on the beach and wondering what life would be like as I grew up. Now I can sit on this beach again, virtually, and simply smile. 

It was a true pleasure to do this visit, and this painting.

Santa Monica - SOLD

"Santa Monica"

9x12 acrylic on canvas panel

Available through DPW gallery/auction

Day 11 of 365 days

This was previously painted in early 2013 for a challenge. The photograph was large, showing many homes & beach - but I decided to make a portrait painting of the area. Just some of the homes in the front and the pier and rides in the background. Shapes of color is how this one was painted. Most people tell me they love the blue & pink home in the front -- but I'm pretty fond of those rides out on the pier!

30 in 30 days - Day 26 - Coastal Lighthouse

Acrylic on 9x12 stretched canvas

Available through DPW gallery/auction

The lone coastal lighthouse sits at the edge of the coastline, surf crashing against the land & stone. Sea gulls flying in looking for food - can you hear their squawk? This is another card-inspired painting - and this also has iridescent gold in it (random spots, but especially on the outlines of the gulls. I always liked doing seascapes, but haven't in a while. Might be something I delve into again soon.

By The Coast - SOLD

Acrylic on 9x12 canvas sheet

Available through DPW gallery/auction

This was done back in January of 2010 and I liked how the house sits, off to the side, but near the coastline. You can actually see the wave breaks coming into shore. Can't you just imagine being in that house, the sound of the ocean always in the background. Or sitting out on maybe the front porch, watching the waves, the ocean, smelling the salt scent of the water, maybe hearing the gulls calling out.

I had quite a bit of fun putting the tall grasses in the foreground - good old fan brush! And I like their sort of whimsical feel in comparison to the more direct lines of the house. The vertical lines of the grass is offset by the horizontal lines of the house, horizon & sky. I think maybe it gives the whole scene a sense of balance.

Relaxation

Acrylic on 9x12 canvas sheet

Available through DPW gallery/auction

How do you relax? What is the one thing you can do, or think of, that will help you to relax? For me, it's a hammock. Whether it's strung from 2 trees while on a beach, or 2 trees down at the edge of the lake, or even on a hammock stand in the middle of a manicured yard -- I find laying down in a hammock the most relaxing sensation. 

I was once taught that to aid sleep & relaxation, you should picture the item that most comforts, or relaxes, you while you drift off to sleep. It will allow your heart rate to calm down from a busy day, and also give your mind the necessary sanctuary it needs to wind down.

Some nights are more difficult than others to find that "sanctuary" place, and I may struggle with various thoughts from the course of the day. Sometimes I can think of an art piece I am on, but not one that I am struggling with. Sometimes I will think of a project at work - but I find thinking of work when I'm trying to relax not very helpful. I can think of my family, or the dog, or my husband - and again, some days yes, some days no.

But one thing I can always rely on is to think back to laying in that hammock, slowly rocking, and just sighing that sigh of relief. When you can shake off all the thoughts, all the what if's, all the worries - and just indulge in the moment of relaxation. 

This painting is my submission for DPW's challenge on "laying down." I combined the splendor of a sunset (which is always a wonder to me) with the sanctuary of the hammock to create a painting that symbolizes the state of relaxation. 

Waterfront Property - SOLD

Acrylic on 9x12 canvas sheet

Available through DPW gallery/auction 

I did this as a birthday present for a very good friend of mine, only to discover that the size (12x6) is not available in ready made mats. I had wanted to give it to her, matted but not framed, but don't have the time available to wait for the custom mats. I will have to start doing my own matts, but again, a little short on time & didn't want my first cut mat to be done for a present. (my last cut mat was back in college!)

So.....

Ran to Michaels this morning and bought 4 6x6 gallery-wrapped square canvas's -- with 2 inch sides. And then, repainted the beach scene on the 4 canvas's. I had to extend the image to the right since I had the additional canvas pieces. Total size now is 24 x 6, and all sides on all canvas's are painted.

I am quite pleased with both renditions of this beach scene. I will give her the 4-part, which allows her to stand them, or frame them, or hang them unframed. I haven't done one of this style painting in a while -- I forgot how versatile they are. The 4 parts can be hung close together, like I show them, or evenly spaced apart as well. Since the scene continues on all 4 sides of each canvas, nothing will be look "unfinished" when it is hung.

Please excuse any glare on these photos - as I took the photos after the finish was applied. 

Since I am giving the 4-part version as a gift, the original 12 x6 version (which I think looks just as nice) will go up for sale on my DPW gallery.