Wipe Out!

Wipe Out!

8x10 oil on linen panel

#32

The title of this one, "Wipe Out", doesn't refer to the surfing term, it refers to what I should have done to this one!  The surfer, who is actually my daughter, became way too large in the piece, and the pier became tiny.  My mind wasn't into the painting time, and it took all of about 10 minutes.  I wasn't into the painting time.  But the mere fact of showing up to paint, whether I was into it or not, became the journey.  So, I didn't wipe it out, even though that is really what I should have done.  On to the next one!

More Wave Action

Lone Wave

8x10" oil on line panel

#32

We are on Topsail Island, North Carolina, with wonderful weather, great family time, wonderful beachy time.  I decided that I am going to work on water, since we are so surrounded by water here.  This was a 20 minute painting.  All I wanted to work on the wave action.  I think I should have made that central, without the background water.  I will work on more of these while we are here.  The colors in the waves are different according to the thickness of the wave, with the light going through it.  I am hoping to work on learning how to get the luminosity of the wave where it is the thinnest.  This will be an ongoing project.  

#31 - "Piggin' Out"

Piggin' Out

6"x6" oil on linen panel

#31

Keeping on with the farm theme, here is a Maine pig.  Don't suppose he is that much different that a California pig, or a Virginia pig.  He was quite the interesting guy, but more interested in eating than looking my way, other than a short glance.

I keep working on painting more, doing less, to say more.  If that makes no sense, here is a translation: I want to paint as much as possible.  By painting more, and getting better, I will be able to simplify the subject down as much as possible, to be able to show the most of the essence of the subject, rather than just a reproduction of the subject.  Now, you may think I've taken a step off the edge, or that my "little grey cells" (so says Hercule Poirot via Agatha Christie), have gone on vacation.  Could be.  I wouldn't completely rule it out.  But I know where I want to go with my painting, and what I want to say, which is a step in the right direction.  Hope you follow me on the journey. 

#30 - Strutting My Stuff

Chicken Stut

6x6" oil on linen panel

#30

Silly play on words, I know!  I photographed this chicken up in Maine, on an organic farm we visited.  I took some artistic license with her, to make her a bit more flamboyant.  I am headed off to the North Carolina beaches in a couple days, and I know exactly what I want to paint, for starters, when I get there!  So I will keep posting and keeping up, as best I can, in-between all that fun beach stuff!

#29 of 100 in 100

Time Warp

6x6" oil on linen panel

#29 

I am finding that many times painting small, on square panels is a big challenge for me.  I do it partly to do faster daily paintings, but I haven't always found it easy.  What I wanted to do, was paint the entire car, and the entire truck from yesterday's post.  I've also been making myself stick to larger brushes, usually #8 for the paintings.  I am finding that many times I lose the ability to put down in one or two strokes what I have in my mind, and then I end up with some mush going on!  Ahhh!  Keep on truckin' as they say.  Today I am headed in to work on the whole vehicle on the small panel.  Any suggestions or comments?  I fee like I need a little imput on these.  Thanks!

Picking Up the 100 in 100

Ready to Rumble

6x6 inch oil on linen panel

#28 of 100 in 100

Back in the swing.  After getting back from Maine, I have been catching up on things, and let my 100 in 100 challenge slide.  I'm back to it now, which does mean I had better get going to catch up!

This little one was done from a photo of a very cool restored truck that I found in Maine.  I asked the owner if I could photograph it, and he said he would pull it into a better spot for photos. He also told me it was a 1930's truck.   I am going to work on larger pieces from this, as well as other antique cars and trucks I have found.  I'm not an old car fancier, but I have become interested in antique trucks and some really old cars, to paint.  This owner had another old car, a 1920's car that looked like it could have been a bank robber's car.  That will be coming up tomorrow.  

I don't feel like I got what I was working towards on this one, so I will be doing it again.  Maybe again, and again, and again......!

Personal Flag-Waving ... Just a Tiny Bit

I am REALLY excited, and had to share, that right after I got home, I sold three (yup, 3!!) paintings through Art Quiver !! Art Quiver is a very nice online gallery I belong to.  Since it is run right here in Virginia, even closer, right out of Charlottesville, it makes it even better.  If you haven't ever visited their site, check it out.  They do a very nice job of creating a virtual gallery.