Nets out - 14x11"

This is a crummy photo but it's so windy outside, there was no way I could get a decent one (it's supposed to be like this for a few days). Anyway, I was also pleased to feel like I'm somewhat back on track as far as work goes so I thought I would post. I think I am still somewhat flu affected.........just weird little aches and pains and occasional feverish moments. I am very grateful that it's almost gone!

palmettos and fog - 11x14"

I made a good start on this, but..............I only took the photo because a fog bank came in quite quickly! I got to the beach at high tide before it was light and it was amazing. I had a wonderful three hours and did a couple of totally wretched small things (to remain forever unposted) and really felt the pure delight of painting again. Since I use this blog primarily as a journal rather than a marketing tool, you will probably notice more posts like this one rather than more formal photos of finished paintings that are about to be framed. Right now I really feel the need to just learn and experiment.

inland - 14x11" study on site

Not great but it was an enjoyable experience and that made me remember why I paint in the first place! I find that pressure (self-induced) to produce work suitable for framing on a regular basis can really stifle the ability to work at all.........when this happens I have to give myself permission to play and enjoy the work again. I began this morning at the beach but forgot my palette knives and then found that they were all I wanted to use. I drove inland after failing there and had much better luck.

stuck!!!

 

Wow, am I stuck at the moment! Things were going along fine until the flu sidetracked me and now that I am feeling better, nothing seems to be working at all. So, this is a drab little plein air thing I decided to post since I have not wiped it down like everything else this week. I don't often get stuck for this long so I am finding it incredibly frustrating. I think I'll go to the beach early tomorrow morning and try to unblock myself.

still life beginnings

I couldn't resist these roses at the grocery store yesterday so I got them. I still don't really understand the finer points of setting up a still life and have never really had the space for it so I tend to go simple.........controlling the light source is the biggest problem and the drastic change of light is what  stopped my work on this picture today. Where I paint inside has light from three directions (all but north) and it actually stays true for much of the day but then it gets really, really different!

january geranium study - 8x10"

Just a quick study today.............despite the warm weather we have had here recently, there is little color in the landscape. These geraniums I transplanted from the window boxes last fall are a bright spot. I am still feeling kind of crappy from the flu so I have been trying to get out to paint rather than working on anything complex indoors (the necessary focus is still eluding me anyway). 

getting there

 I am finally feeling a little better..............I had been working on this when the flu "hit" me. Went out plein air for two hours today to the Broad River - did a wiper for sure but it was wonderful to be out again after being sick for more than a week. The weather was beautiful and a pod of dolphins decided they would cheer me up while I was working. Every day is a little better but, boy, would I recommend a flu shot for anyone who hasn't gotten one yet!