Sunrise Dinghy

Sunrise Dinghy
Watercolor on paper, 7x9

Rainy days are my absolute favorite for painting in my studio, although not a fav for plein air work!  On this rainy day, I am painting from Kangaroo Lake reference photos I took while in Wisconsin.  I first used my plastic palette knife to lay down the drawing medium as a resist in all light spots.  After that dried, I came in with all of the main color blocks. also allowing that to dry.  Next, I rub the resist off with my rubber cement lifter.  I made this process a little more difficult, because I forgot to remove it for four days - when you should do it within the first day for easy removal.  Ah - such is life!  I am constantly distracted by my real life - and left this one sitting for a few days before pulling it back out today!  Luckily, it was my fabulous 300lb Arches paper, and I was still able to remove the resist.  I may not have been so fortunate with the 140lb.  Totally playing with color - I have stroked on compliments next to one another - to add that extra "pop".  This painting makes 619 in 619 days, and is Day 9 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Sailboat in Egg Harbor

Sailboat in Egg Harbor
Oil on panel, 6x12
Door County, Wisconsin

On our first morning in Egg Harbor, the waters were very calm.  I walked all around the water's edge, looking for my painting location and composing the perfect shots to paint one day.  This turned out to be the only calm water of the week - and I'm so glad I took advantage of the time.  This sailboat is actually one of two I painted in a much broader view of the harbor on that first morning.  All week long, I wanted a chance at painting these beautiful boats.  Each session took me in another direction, so here - at last - I have started a little work on boats.  The early morning light was amazing, just perfect for capturing the light and shadow of a late July day.  I am playing here with reflections, and colors - to create with paint the joy I felt while painting in such a beautiful location.  I am so thankful to have discovered a whole network of plein air artists.  Painting this way is so much more rewarding than painting in the studio.  This is painting number 207 in as many days.