Hawaiian Tea Set

In March, which seems so long ago now, I was going through a shop in Honolulu and saw this beautiful tea set. Since I always carry a little sketch book, I asked permission to sketch and photograph the set and here are the results. I liked the fact that instead of regular tea cups, you have almost a tumbler for your tea. Do you like it?

Last month, our tulips were beautiful and I thought, can warm weather and sunshine be far behind? Well, the answer turned out to be yes, it's way, behind and doesn't look like the word warm will be in the forecast soon. I had planned to paint in the yard and do clusters of roses which are now in bloom but I'm thinking maybe roses in a still life, indoors with a cup of tea? Some plein air painter I am, maybe tomorrow.

This is a small painting I did using a limited palette. It looks lighter on the monitor but you can get an idea of less is more using just red, yellow and blue. In my studio, I often to do small studies mixing colors. When painting plein air weight is important so taking just a few tubes of color works for me. There's also no stress when you're confident you can mix many colors from the few tubes of paint. This works for me, there are artists who will drag almost their entire studio outside. Choose what makes you happy and just paint.

This painting was done in Fall City, WA which is south of Seattle. The original painting has a little more depth in color but you get the idea of the area. I was attending a workshop by Todd Williams, and as we walked across the farm, this little house was sitting there waiting to be painted. I also took many photo's and did many sketches so I will have quite a few good memories as I paint from sketches and photo's of the area. Hope you enjoy it.

This little painting, "Idle Evening" is one of my earlier plein air pieces. This was down by the Ballard Locks that provides a number of possible paintings regardless the direction you're looking. I enjoy charting the progress from one painting to the next. Something is always learned and added into your next work. Guess there is something to be said for brush milage eh?

Lavender

This is a little painting I did and enjoyed every moment of the process. I absolutely love lavender.

The aroma is calming and you'll find it in and around my house in the form of plants, soaps and of course lotions. Anyone for a cup of Earl Grey with lavender?

I tried to minimize the number of brush strokes in this work as well as the ones done with my palette knife. Sometimes less is really more.

Comments?

"Fall Colors" is the second painting accepted in the art show, Live Arts Bothell which takes place later this month. This was a plein air piece done in LaConner, WA. which is about an hours drive north of Seattle. You can become a little spoiled painting here in the Northwest. Once you've decided your venue, just drive in any one of the four directions and without leaving the state you will have mountains, desert, lakes, ocean and depending on the season lots of snow. You don't need a plane or passport, what more could a person want I ask? This is a painter's Eden. Well, at least mine.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you another day.

A Place to Ponder

This little painting is one of two pieces excepted in a juried show "Live Arts Bothell" which opens with a patron party on June 25th. It's really rewarding to have your work acknowledged. I'll share the other painting tomorrow.

Yes, water of some sort seems to find it's way into my work.

Tacking

This is one of the paintings from a series I did on sail boats. I've always been fascinated with working boats, unusual since I was raised in Pittsburgh, PA and never grew up around the water. However. after receiving an invitation from a friend to spend an evening on the timing boat for the sail boat races, part of my heart has been captured. Thank you Jeannie. I did a fair amount of sketches while on board and took many photo's. My first attempts yielded either mast tops or, water. Finally got it timed to include the boats and all without getting seasick!

Forgot to add the painting!

My goal for the summer is to do more small paintings, solving problems in composition and color. While I love to travel, my plan is to work in my neighborhood, starting with my own yard which is quite beautiful. We have flowers, a view of Lake Washington and the Cascades and at times a view of Mt. Rainier and let's not forget the Koi pond. I plan to start this project soon and look for your feedback. Meanwhile, I'm posting a painting done at home. While enjoying a cup of coffee one morning, I noticed a space between the flower pots. After trying several objects, my little sail boat model seemed to be a perfect fit. A few pencil sketches later, I started the work in oil.

At the moment, I can truly relate to Alice in Wonderland. What made me start a blog and where in the world will this take me? Hopefully I'll feel better in the morning and get an organized plan to add sensible and interesting things. Meanwhile, you can look into my pochade box, (one of many) and see the colors I enjoy using outside.

Meanwhile...I'm going to find some chocolate.