This painting was done in Ft. Pierce as part of an invitational paint out. The last time I was in the neighborhood, this building was completely renovated. It wouldn’t be my choice as a painting subject anymore because all the character was removed.
The title is from that song by the B52’s – “Love Shack”. Of course being in Ft. Pierce it was probably more likely a Drug Shack.
In honor of “Uncle Phil” Algozzini who passed away recently at the age of 82. This portrait was done as part of the Hobe Sound Project a few years ago – the exhibit wouldn’t have been complete without him, just as Hobe Sound isn’t complete without him. His portrait is as colorful as he was. He was such a supportive person that he claimed he liked this painting, but it scared one of his nieces. Algozzini’s Hawaiian Shop is on Rt. 1 in Hobe Sound, FL.
One Lovely Blog Award
Very Inspiring Blogger Award
Recently, I was graciously given two beautiful awards by Trèsors De Luxe
THANK YOU!
The rules for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and One Lovely Blog Award are:
Thank the person who nominated you and link back to them in your post.
Share 7 things about yourself.
Nominate 15 bloggers you admire.
Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they’ve been nominated.
Rule breakage:
There are many things that I’d be happy to reveal about myself – someday.
There are also many bloggers that I admire, but don’t feel comfortable with the award rules.
So, perhaps I can’t accept these awards, but appreciate the spirit of them.
Thank you all for your lovely and inspiring blogs!
This is from Adams Ranch in Ft. Pierce, FL where the live oaks grow undisturbed. They are huge trees with far reaching limbs. A bit farther down this dirt road on the ranch is a picnic area with a giant tree house.
I’m getting ready to start a new commission and while taking stock, making sure there were plenty of pastels in the box and planning my approach this painting came to mind.
The new painting won’t have a path with dappled light but many of the colors will be the same, as well as the size.
Better get to work!:)
For the 2012 Sketchbook Project (I’ve put a link over there on the right for ArtHouse Coop) I wanted to do something different. It’s a great way to try out new things and experiment. There is a large portfolio in my supply closet with assorted handmade papers so it seemed a good place to start.
Some of the papers were crinkled up and colored with water colors – sort of dyed. The colors made a small palette of purple, green, blue and orange. Then of course there was white paper. One piece of paper was hand made mango paper – appropriate for my part of the world. My decision was that the sketchbook would be all about paper as a medium.
Although collage is not one of my mediums – it seemed the right thing to do.
and then there were two pages that are from a book of my husband’s – in honor of the mathematicians:
Can’t wait to figure out what to put into the 2013 sketchbook.
The Sketchbook Project is fun to do and I’ve just signed up for the 2013 project. In a nutshell – you sign up, pay for a blank sketchbook plus touring expenses and when you return it to the ArtHouse Coop it is cataloged and then goes on tour.
Here are some pages from my 2011 sketchbook – my theme was “Down my Road”, so these are all very local scenes.:
and last but not least because it is once again that great spot on the Loxahatchee River:
There were many more pages but this is enough to give you the gist of the sketchbook. The method that I used was fun. The first sketch is with watercolor crayon, then apply water, let that dry, use the marker pens to outline or do some fancy scribbling and then a final layer of gray or white on top for atmosphere.
I’ve scanned in the 2012 sketchbook but haven’t downsized the files yet. Will post soon.
Now I’m looking forward to the 2013 project and hope I don’t procrastinate as much as I usually do finding myself filling the book two days before it’s due.
The magnolias are blooming like crazy this year – or more than they have in the past – I tend to exaggerate. We have two trees in the yard. One in the front and one in the back.
They are the big trees with the big flowers. They smell great! Some magnolia trees in the neighborhood are dwarf trees with the big flower, which is nice because the flowers are lower. With the big tree it’s hard to even get a good photograph of the blooms because they are so high. However, once in awhile, if you can catch it at the right moment (the flowers peak on one day and then they’re done!) blooming on a lower branch you’ll be able to at least have a photograph to work from.
Hobe Sound Rose – Pastel on paper – no camera involved (except to photograph the painting, that is) – a rose that I grew and a pot that I made.
The inspiration to paint can come from so many places……….. and yet there are some days you say to yourself, why paint? Sometimes my inspiration is to just improve myself. Most of the time I’m overwhelmed with ideas and objects that inspire me and then the thought runs through my head that I might be insane. But that’s a whole nuther topic.
“Drawing as a means of expression is the justification of art over photography.” Andrew Loomis, Creative Illustration, 1947
How cool is that? We’re still discussing this today in 2012, yet some people have never even been made aware of it. It bothers me that there are so many people that judge good art by how close to a photograph the painting it is. Not to mention the hyperrealist or photorealist painters that have the goal of painstakingly reproducing a photograph. As if the photograph were the standard that paintings had to live up to.
Don’t misunderstand and think that I’m not in favor of photography because I love photography! It seems that over time artistic goals have sometimes become distorted.
Mr. Loomis was directing this to the art student (in the 1940’s!!!) and comparing original illustration to photography which he said couldn’t provide the expressiveness that the artist could. He doesn’t throw photography out the window but at that time guides the artist to understand they aren’t being replaced by a camera. Even though we now have the means to be more expressive with digital applications, the camera still can’t produce the surface and line quality nor the atmosphere and character that original art can.
So that is why you paint – to go beyond the photograph with your personal expression of the poetic landscape (or what ever your thing is). One good reason, anyway.
Sometimes it seems that things and/or thoughts are presented to you by some unseen spirit and you can’t help but think it must be meaningful. Kismet. Destiny. Some amazing global consciousness! Why else would all of these things come together at the same time?
Yes, I’m looking for answers and finding the ones that suit me but so are many other people which is validation enough for me. Because after all, I do need to justify my obsession and insanity.
Last week I painted this at Riverbend Park in Jupiter, FL. It was the first time there for me and I was surprised at how big the park actually is. There were many scenic views to choose from but since my pan head connection (the little foot that connects my palette to the tripod) was nowhere to be found, I had to make use of one of the picnic tables that had the added convenience of a chickee roof. (The things that are made out of palm fronds.)
When I first arrived there was a man fishing on the river bank and he had all his gear on what I considered prime real estate – the picnic table with the view. When I asked if we could share the table he was more than happy to accommodate, so problem solved.
However, not long after getting set up and ready to paint there were several more people that joined the painting group I was there with. They saw me and thought that was the place to be, so we literally moved him completely out. At first I felt bad, but he seemed to be enjoying the comradery and really, fishing/plein air painting, same thing.
The only down side was that two of the ladies set up in front of me, sort of obstructing my view, but you win some and you lose some. In the end, I won this little painting and I managed to get home before it rained!:)
Literary Agent
Barbies on Fire
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educational publishing specialist, author, editor, seeker of rabbit holes
Novelist of Literary Fiction
Just because you CAN read Moby Dick doesn't mean you should!
A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.
Julie Abery
Using All The Crayons 