Floating Colors

"Floating Colors"

9 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

Available here

I love painting these glass floats! Especially all the crazy things that happen in their cast shadows. This colorful composition, painted under halogen lights in my home studio, is a far cry from the muted, window-lit compositions I came up with when I painted these floats on the coast!

(You can read all about my last painting trip to the coast here.)

Float On!

"Float On"

12 x 9 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

These glass floats are an Oregon coast antique shop staple. I didn't head to my Toledo residency with these in mind to paint - in fact, I thought I'd be painting fish all week - but that was not in the cards, as I'll tell you much more about tomorrow.

Here's how this painting developed. I sketched in the underpainting with a mix of Cadmium yellow and red, dulled with a tiny bit of Ultramarine blue. I like the warmth peeking through, even though the dominant colors of the piece are cool coastal blues and greens. 

Beachy Still Life

 "Sand Dollars and Floats"

8 x 8 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

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:

A Coastal Retreat

 "The Last Raspberries"

12 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

$500

Available here

Honest, I did not intend to be out of touch for the past week! But what a glorious week it was....

I rented a studio in Toledo, Oregon, and painted up a storm. It was a perfect little place: a renovated, historic building from the 1880's, which used to house the Justice of the Peace for this tiny coastal town. It's owned by Michael Gibbons, an artist who paints amazing Northwest landscapes. The light in the studio is sublime, and I think you'll see the evidence in all my work from the week!

Here's my block-in for this piece:

 And here's the approach to the studio:

Skylights, north-facing windows, peace and quiet. Lack of wifi kept me from blogging, but really, isn't an enforced internet break what we all need sometimes?

The weather was typical Oregon coast October: windy, windier, rainy, and chilly. I was perfectly satisfied to stay inside and focus on still life, painting my beach-walk finds and some antique store treasures. Stay tuned for much much more!

One More From the Coast

 "Yaquina Bay Boats"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

 $350

Click to buy

I saved the best for last, location-wise, on this trip to the coast. I love the fishing boats in Newport harbor, but the best light (and fewest tourists) are in the early morning. Which I've had to discover by trial and error. Lots of walking around thinking about painting and not doing it. Picking a perfect painting spot seems to be more a matter of serendipity than science. Why can't someone just come along and tell me exactly where to stand?

When I showed up to paint these boats, serendipity was on my side. I parked my car, wandered directly out onto the boardwalk, and saw my painting in front of me. Sometimes you find yourself in the right place at the right time.

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
Sold

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.

On the Boardwalk

"The Sea Hunt and the Heidi Sue"

12 x 16 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

My final morning on the coast, I knew exactly what I wanted to paint: more boats! Newport's historic bayfront is a great place to find them. I set up on the sunny boardwalk around 8 am, loving the morning light and the clear reflections on the water.

 

The boardwalk is a busy spot, and many people stopped to chat with me while I worked. Combined with coffee, the warm sun, and the sounds of the harbor, it made for a truly idyllic painting outing.

 I know I'll be back soon!

A Newport Nocturne

"Sunset Bridge, Newport"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

I don't mean to brag, but Thursday was an incredible painting day. First, I painted the lighthouse, then I painted the swirling water, (then I took a rest), and THEN I went back for more!

Just a little more...it was getting dark fast. And cold. And people kept pulling over to investigate what I was doing by the side of the road, which is fine, but it's a little unnerving with the headlights and all.

 

I'm definitely in love with Newport.

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

Sold

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

Sold

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!

Escape From the Beach

 "Luna Sea Fish House, Yachats, Oregon"

11 x 14 inches, oil on canvas

$300

click to buy

After my Seal Rock Sunday debacle, I was ready to press the proverbial Reset button Monday morning. I loved my last cityscape outing, and Yachats is such a sweet little town. Painting there was just what I needed. That, and clam chowder for breakfast.

When I pulled into the parking lot of Luna Sea Fish House, I instantly saw a painting. Such great, vibrant colors on the shopfronts. Such lovely morning light.

 I managed to finish up and vacate their lot in advance of the lunch crowd, and while wandering around I saw this:

 "La de da." City motto? Love.

Just around the corner, I set up my easel on Ocean View Drive. I let a teeny bit of the Pacific sneak back into my painting, but kept it firmly in the background, enjoying the neon signs that flickered in the Underground Bar's windows.

"Ocean View Drive, Yachats, Oregon"

12 x 12 inches, oil on canvas

Sold

Then I headed back to the valley. 20 miles inland, it was already broiling hot, and only got more so as I approached home.

Life's a Beach

 "Rocky Creek Vista"

approx. 12 x 9 inches

oil on Arches oil Paper

Sold

 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!