The Boat Shed

A few weeks ago, one of the regulars in the watercolor class brought in a photograph of three boats that were stored in/near a shed. There were several more boats in the background. I am not sure how it happened, but apparently the class decided it would be fun if everyone painted it! Since I was not there that day, I just received the photo in an email and was told about the 'assignment.'

UGH! I am not a boat painter - here were LOTS of boats - and I am trying to simplify - here were LOTS of boats!

But, even though I am only on the sub list, I am part of the class and want to 'play by the rules.' So I would tackle this project.

The first thing I did was print out the photo. The nice thing about painting is that each of us can choose to interpret an assignment in the way that works for each individual. We are NOT compelled to copy the picture.

How could I simplify? Maybe just paint one of the many boats... I cut the photo in half. That's better.

I did my sketch and thought it might be okay. As I began painting, I got into the rhythm of it and began to think of the boating that my husband and I had done. At one point we had an old dinghy much like this one and I remember it leaning against a tree in our backyard in the 'off' season.

I painted the boat and the shed. When I got to the background, I decided to throw in some color (not paint any "things") and then I added a yellow sky. I knew it wasn't finished, but wanted to just look at it for awhile to see what else I might do.

I took it to class the following week - it looked like this.

One of the questions asked in class was "Where is the horizon?" It needs to be defined. It also needed more definition on the keel and the lower corner of the boat. I added some additional darks and a few other tweaks here and there. Voila - it looks like this!

"The Boat Shed"  matted 16x20 watercolor  $150

This painting is currently hanging in Miller Hall at Trinity Cathedral. Drop by and see several other artists' works also!

The Chalice

A few weeks ago I attended a one day workshop entitled "Artistic Breakthrough - taking your art to the next level." It seemed like a good idea, except that I had just completed the marine chart with the challenging small, acrylic paintings (see my last post) and felt like I needed a break from 'breakthrough/challenge.'

At that point, I was not quite sure what 'the next level' would be.

The workshop information invited us to use any medium. Hmmm, it would be good - and feel familiar - to reconnect with my watercolors or pastels. Since I regularly substitute in a watercolor class, I chose to spend this day with my somewhat neglected pastels.

We had lots of choices as to what we would paint that morning. It's been a long time since I used the pastels, so I decided to paint the still life set up as a warm-up exercise. The set up was a tarnished silver goblet... and a few other things. I am into simplifying, so I focused only on the goblet.

I had such a great time - the drawing just flowed! And then, I began to add the color. I love the pastels at this stage. Layers of color, changing and glowing...it was like magic for me.

I have tweaked it a bit since then - and continue to look at it from across the room. Recently, I stuck it in a gold frame and I love it. It's no longer just a goblet for me - it's a chalice.

"The Chalice"     9x12 pastel     $225  

Jimmy Buffett and Me

For years I have enjoyed listening to Jimmy Buffett - I love his music and his laid back style. It evokes wonderful memories of sailing trips in the Caribbean, warm breezes, a bit of rum...you get the idea.

So, when I was asked by Brad Fout, of LeHatchery Gallery in Easton to work with him on a special project involving Jimmy Buffett, I said "Yes!"

I went to talk to Brad to find out more about the project - LeHatchery is donating a framed marine chart that has Jimmy Buffett's signature on it to the Bryan Brothers Foundation for their annual auction. Brad told me that he has always loved my crabs (St Michaels Art League Banner Project - see examples in posts - Feb 1, 2016 & Feb 5, 2015) and asked if I would be willing to paint one on the chart. It sounded like a fun project.

We discussed other "Chesapeake Bay" things that might also be painted on the chart to enhance it. Now both of us are getting more excited about the possibilities.

Then I discovered that the chart paper was water resistant! Hmmm, I am a watercolor painter. Now, this is a challenge...I left with a strip of the paper from the bottom of the chart so that I could try out my watercolors.

Of course, they wouldn't work. After experimenting with acrylics, begging a friend to 'teach me to paint with oils,' and consulting other artists, I got down to work practicing...  I began with a gesso base (which I toned light blue) and then used acrylics - which seemed most like the watercolors I am used to.

I tried lots of different ideas and placed the figures around the chart in various places. Yesterday, I finally began painting on the actual chart and completed it!

Here are close ups of my paintings...

And of course, I know you want to see this...!

FYI - the auction is this coming Saturday, April 9th at the Oaks in Royal Oak. For more information about the event or to buy tickets, call 410-819-3780 or email info@shorekids.org.

Star Wars...

My children grew up with the original Star Wars movies. We had little plastic creatures all over the house. These imaginative toys gave my son, in particular, many hours of pleasure as he reenacted movie scenes.

One of the characters I remember fondly was the Jawa. Jawas were little brown hooded figures with beady eyes. I don't remember whether they were good guys or bad guys, just that they were really cute.

Recently, when we were on vacation, I was on the balcony of our condo and I looked over at the pool - there were two Jawas!

I added the eyes so you could see what my imagination saw...

Actually, they were new umbrellas that had not been opened to provide poolside shade yet that morning... It was such a fun surprise!

I love it when I see something like this - an actual 'thing' that takes on a suggested something else. It's a little like lying on your back and watching the clouds become different shapes. We know they are actually clouds, but we see other things there - usually for just a moment.

And, yeah, later in the day the umbrellas were opened...the magic disappeared.

The new kiddie pool - Part 2

I could probably keep sketching the fun at the new pool for a whole blog year...don't worry, that's not going to happen! But, here are a couple more sketches.

There is something wonderful about little kids in hats. They are just too cute and always make me smile.

Lucy walked around with her girlie bikini, hat, sunglasses and purse - a little lady. She loved the pool as much as her little brother, but acted more sophisticated, of course.

There were some large jets of water along the side that she liked to put play in.

And she also spent some time sitting on the side. I didn't see any tea parties, but it wouldn't have surprised me to see her pouring and serving tea with proper teacups and saucers.

I can still hear all the giggles and laughter. What treasured moments!

The new kiddie pool...

For the past several years we have been escaping the snow and cold temperatures in January and February by going to Puerto Rico. It's guaranteed to be sunny with temps in the 80s...ahhh, and so relaxing.

What a lovely surprise this year to find that the place where we stay has reconstructed the children's swimming pool! The very unremarkable rectangle of shallow water has been replaced by an imaginative walk-in pool with a 'mushroom' fountain in the 'deep end' (maybe 2-3 feet deep) and water jets all around the pool.

It has been such fun watching the little kids discover all it has to offer and to listen to their squeals of delight. One of highlights for me was watching this little one year old boy. He was fascinated by the water jets.

Then he discovered that if he put his foot on them, they disappeared!

When he moved his foot again, they came back! He had so much fun laughing at the water and then stepping on it and making it go away.

It's my Valentine treat for us all... enjoy!

And a message for those of you who follow this blog - for some reason, Google is requiring people to sign in again to receive notification when I have posted something new. I do not understand the technical part of this, but apparently some internal changes were made and the email addresses were erased! So, please use the tab to your right and sign in again - you certainly don't want to miss any future postings!  THANK YOU for following along!

What's 'Mikey' Doing this year?

Yikes! How can it be February already? It's time to think about banners ...

For the past six years, the St Michaels Art League has been sponsoring the banner program. All our members are encouraged to create a banner which will hang on the poles along Talbot Street. It's a fun project, it gives SMAL good visibility and it's great fun to see my artwork displayed on our main street from April through November each year.

The general theme of this program is "Celebrate St Michaels" - so anything goes, as long as it is locally related. For several of the years I have painted a cartoon-like crab figure who has done a variety of things: waved various flags, raised a mug of beer and encouraged people to eat oysters, hung lanterns in the trees (celebrating St Michaels 200th birthday - a local myth), and steered a boat.

An artist friend had named the crab "Mikey" - I guess because he's from St Michaels. Each year she asks me, "What is Mikey going to do this year?"

Well, if you have ever walked the streets of our small village in the summer, one of the things you will see is tourists (and locals) eating ice cream. There are now several shops to stop for such a treat. It's fun to see how happy people seem to be when they are licking a cone. How can you not smile?

So, here's 2016 Mikey...

Look for Mikey hanging on a pole in April! Watch out for dripping ice cream...