Beachy Still Life

 "Sand Dollars and Floats"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

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I went to Toledo last week planning to paint still life, but I decided to take nothing with me. No props. Ok, yes, I took some of my favorite backdrop papers, but I wanted to paint whatever came my way. There was nothing at the studio, though! It was a blank canvas. 

Luckily, there's a bustling antique and beach-mobilia industry at the coast, and I was able to get my hands on some beautiful, simple stuff. Sand Dollars and floats.

Here's a progression for this piece:

Seal Rock: Getting Over My Issues.

 

 "Seal Rock"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

click to buy

I've had issues with Seal Rock in the past. Fog, Food poisoning....bad paintings....but Seal Rock is my husband's favorite beach on the Oregon coast, because the enormous yellow rock protects the beach from wind, keeping it warm enough to frolic on (in bathing suits, which no one would dare wear on the OR coast, except Jesse and Ellie, because they are extremely warm-blooded, and also crazy). To keep out of the wind, you have to climb down a nicely paved path just south of the rock itself, but for this painting, I set up a quarter mile down 101, at a viewpoint off the highway. I climbed over the guard rail and planted my easel and umbrella in the clifftop dirt. It was a great spot, and a not-too-windy day - considering - luckily I stayed upright long enough to sketch this in. I also enjoyed talking to the many photography enthusiasts who seemed to know the spot well.

Ah, Seal Rock. I may finally have figured out what my husband sees in you!

Early early.

 "Yaquina Head Lighthouse from Agate Beach"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

One of my favorite things to do at the coast is run on the beach. Early. The light is so spectacular at sunrise. Instead of running this morning, I dragged my gear out onto the beach (not a short hike), optimistically planted my umbrella in the sand, and began to paint. Well, the light - and the umbrella - didn't last long. But I got this down on canvas before I was forced to flee by the advancing sun.

After wading back through the rapidly drying sand, I retreated to town for coffee and breakfast!

 Painting with subject, taken well after I'd gotten the intial light/shadow realtionships down.

...And in case I haven't made you Oregon-coast-jealous enough: my lonely easel on the sunrise-washed beachscape: 

 

The Ocean Rocks, Yes It Does

 "Ocean Rocks"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas
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On my second day at the coast, I returned to Yaquina Head - site of this lovely lighthouse - to capture a scene I'd scoped out on my previous painting trip.

If you stand next to the lighthouse and look to your left, you see this:

 ...And if you stand there long enough without a jacket on, you get VERY COLD, like I am in this picture!

On A Beach. Ona Beach.

  "The Bridge to Ona Beach"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

$250

click to buy

After the excellent time I had painting the coast back in July, I was determined to return before the end of summer. And I did, last week!

 

I started out at Ona Beach, a lovely spot just south of Newport, where Beaver Creek meets the sea. Colorful kayakers crossed through my painting several times during the morning, and a group of boisterous kids built a campfire nearby, sending smoke signals across my view. Also there were clouds. Moving clouds. But how could I complain? I was in one of my favorite places on earth, doing the thing I love to do more than anything else. It was bliss - and a great way to warm up for plenty more coastal action.

The Sea, The Sea

 "Sea Chasm"

16 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

$350

Available Here

The Oregon coast offers incredible vistas just about everywhere you look - including down! I loved painting the color shifts in this swirling water, and the foamy highlights - so satisfying! 

Here's my start:

These lava cliffs are really a challenge to paint. What color are they anyway? I don't know! I had to make a decision and go with it, instead of chasing what I actually saw - which would have been an endless struggle, since I couldn't even name the colors I was seeing.

I like the way it turned out.

To The Lighthouse

"The Lighthouse at Yaquina Head"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

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I wanted to watch the sunset out at Yaquina Head last night, and it cost me seven bucks to get my car through the gate! A seven dollar sunset? And a drizzly one at that! 

This morning I was determined to get my seven dollars' worth (it was a 3 day parking pass), and boy did I!

Here's my work-in-progress:

 

Ok, I haven't really started yet, but setting up my easel, palette, and brushes sure feels like the progress of work to me! I suppose this photo is of the planning phase.

And here's everyone's favorite phase: the happy painter. Finito!

Out of the Fog

 "The Old Sailor"

14x11 inches, oil on canvas

$200

Available here

 A work-in-progress above, and a glimpse of my subject below:

Today at the Oregon coast started out foggy and stayed that way.  Luckily, I have connections - namely, Patti - knower of all things coast-painty. She suggested I try heading inland along the Yaquina Bay Road, and just as I happened upon a promising spot, who should pull up in her paint-mobile? Patti herself! And then she loaned me an umbrella!

...And she laughed heartily five minutes later while snapping this picture:

Good times.

Coasting!

"Cummins Creek Bridge"

8x10 inches, oil on canvas

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I'm in heaven this week, taking part in the Oregon Coast Paintout.  This is my second year joining in the fun. You can read about my exploits of 2013 here and here.

I arrived yesterday after lunch, ready to get down to business! It was windy, but warm, and I worked for about four hours before packing up my gear and heading back to town.

"Neptune Beach"

11x14 inches, oil on canvas

$200

Click to buy

Below you see my set up for this painting. Neptune beach is a great spot, just South of Yachats, on the central coast.

I ended the day with a PB&J and this exquisite view:

 

Maybe tomorrow I'll be fast enough to capture the sunset in paint!

Life's a Beach

 "Rocky Creek Vista"

approx. 12 x 9 inches

oil on Arches oil Paper

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 My second day at the Sandgren Coast Paintout was a total bust - if I can call a first visit to an amazing beach, an entire day spent watching the changing light and tides, sun, good company, and a little random exploration a bust - just because my painting didn't turn out.

Bad painting, great day.

You can see my start below, on the right side in the middle. 

You can also see Erik Sandgren painting away, Patti McNutt striding in all geared up and ready for anything, the first living crustaceans I've seen outside of an aquarium (or a kitchen), and my granny hat.

I took a break for some random exploring. These shots are from Depoe Bay, a place where "Fine Art" and "Thomas Kincade" are not synonymous. (Click on the image to see what I mean). Bonus: Gluten Free clam chowder? So Oregon.

 

In Seal Rock, I just couldn't pass this enormous sign advertising BEARS without stopping. I think I met Ronald Reagan there, too.

So, a great day, but not on the painting front. Not to worry - I redeem myself tomorrow!

My first Oregon Coast Paintout!

"The Cliffs at Rocky Creek"

8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas

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Well. A warning: this post is going to be long! The only thing that irks me more than overlong blog posts are bloggers who split days into multiple posts.  So here you will get my entire first day at Erik Sandgren's legendary, famous, long-lived, and beloved Oregon Coast Paintout.

First, I packed. And, since my family was joining me for the weekend, there was a lot to pack! On the left you see the essentials: art stuff!

We got to our cute beachfront cottage in time to have Patti over for dinner - she'd already been there almost a week, painting up and down the coast!

The next morning, I groaned my way out of bed for a run I knew I wouldn't regret. Four miles on a deserted beach, leaping over tidepools, following my own footprints back home. 

After a quick shower and some even quicker shoving down of food, I kissed my mom, husband, and daughter goodbye and set off for my first encounter with this legendary Paintout.

Rocky Creek State Wayside was the location of the day. A seemingly-unassuming pit-stop along US 101, when explored further, offered many gorgeous vistas - not to mention picnic tables upon which to stand while painting! The bathroom was more than appreciated by all, as well,

but even better than that were the multiple spots so sheltered from the wind that I found myself shedding layers as the morning went on.

The Oregon Coast is cold. The highs over the past weekend at my house in Eugene, a mere 75 minutes from the coast, were in the 90's. At the coast, we were hoping for 70's. And not too much wind.

In the afternoon, we had an informal critique with Erik. If you were in college with me, and you actually read my blog, I love you! (but no... no one does). If you did, you'd remember me as a fan of a good critique. I absolutely love talking about art-in-progress. And there was some lovely stuff happening this day - in all different media!

artists pictured: upper right Renee Nelson, bottom center Leland John, bottom right Za Vue.

 After lunch, and the critique, I moved on to a less precarious painting spot on the beach head. I did a quick sketch of the ocean and then another of Erik and his wife Katherine painting together on the cliff edge as the day came to a close. 

 

"Artists at Rocky Creek" 

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As I was introduced to more artists throughout the day, (Thanks again, Patti!),  I realized that a large group were staying right across the street from us in Waldport! Of course, they demanded that I join them for a glass of wine that evening, and I was more than willing to comply. These are people that I've been hoping to meet for some time: L-R David Talaski, Za Vue, and Quin Sweetman. Loved meeting you all!

Ready to book your hotel room for July 2014? Just wait until you see my post about the rest of the weekend. Amazing. Summer is fun.

"Beach Ball" beach shore coast sea ocean pool vacation house childs room nursery decor

 

6 x 6"

oil on canvas

$100

Purchase from my Etsy shop

This is actually Beach Ball no. 2 for me. Number one was way back in 2008, and I've thought about repeating it a few times since, but I had gotten rid of the beach ball! Ellie recently scored a couple of these at a birthday party. I love all the colors in the shadows, plus it was an opportunity to bust out my tubes of exotic blue that I rarely get to use on more natural subjects.

"Rocky Shore" Plein Air landscape ocean beach painting of the Oregon Coast

 

9 x 12"

oil on canvas

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Sorry for dropping off the face of the blogosphere like that! We spent the past few days having a very relaxing and unplugged vacation at the coast. Took our little one to the aquarium, found out that I love running on sand, ate my weight in cheese, read some books, you know, vacation! And I painted this, outdoors - en plein air, as they say - and I didn't die! I didn't even have any strange characters approach me (my greatest fear), though I suspect my picture was snapped once or twice. My feet got cold, and I packed it in. It was great!