Afternoon Sail

 

What a peaceful afternoon I spent, painting sailboats as they glided across the water.  Soundless, except for the occasional crack of a sail, it was almost like watching toy boats in a pool, from my perch on the hill.  I was too busy to come here today, but came anyway.  There's nothing like a dose of Art Therapy to both inspire and calm my soul.  This has been a day well spent. Painting number 4532 in 4632 days. 

Sailing Dreams

 

What an honor to find this painting was awarded 2nd place at the Lake Quivira Paint Out!!  It was super fun painting here with BOTH my daughters for our first plein air event together. It had been 9 years since I had painted here, and I found myself drawn to the waterfront. Last time, there was a yacht race in progress, but today the water was still.  With those lovely sailboats waiting on shore, the wet ground reflected light as though they were on the water.  The painting unfolded naturally as I visited with my daughters, each finishing their own paintings. I'm looking forward to all of our painting time ahead. Painting number 5171 in 5171 days, and this painting is now showing at the Lake Quivira Clubhouse.

Lake Quivira Yacht Club

 

It has been years since I've painted here, and I love returning to Lake Quivira to paint!  The last time I was here, I remember painting a yacht race right off of the docks.  It was a lovely day to be near the water with ink and watercolor.  I can't wait for these paintings to hang in the clubhouse for the artist reception October 16th! Painting number 5159 in 5159 days. 

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Regatta

Any morning painting sailboats is a morning well spent!  The sky was so dramatic early, that I set up immediately at water's edge to capture it in oils. I had much of the scene in before the sailboats entered the water - so it was easy to position them as they set sail on the surface.  What a lovely morning to paint such a perfect summer scene!  Painting number 4296 in 4296 days. 

Race Day

Would you believe this is my very first time to Lake Jacomo?  Far enough away, it has never been on my radar - but it sure is now!  What a treat to paint in another Summit Art plein air event, this time at Lake Jacomo  - with a regatta in progress!  It was so fun capturing them in action!  Sketching quickly, I used my super fine Pitt pen for the line work, then dashed in the watercolors as they sailed out of my scene!  Quick and lose was the motto for today, as all of the sailboats were racing!  Painting number 4291 in 4291 days.  

Sailing Inked

What fun it is to capture the sailboats in motion with pen and ink!  This TWSBI Eco fountain pen delivers a smooth line and a little more ink than a few others that I have, which I love for a quick sketch!  It is loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink, and is probably mixed with a bit of their Cocoa Brown because I did not rinse the pen or between fillings!  Oops!  I was in a hurry, in my defense.  I'm working on several paintings to bring to a show down at Osage Beach, and this is one of them. Looking forward to more beautiful days on the lake!  Painting number 3097 in 3097 days. 

Sailboats Abstracted

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Sometimes, I simply must stretch my artistic legs in another direction!  Like visiting far off lands, I am completely out of my box on this one!  I don't think I've fired on any of these cylinders before - and it feels like total exploration.  I'm using some of my vast supplies of acrylics (which I hardly touch anymore) and canvases for this abstract style.  Mixing in mediums, layering color, dropping into place and cutting in paint with a knife - oh what fun it is to just play in the paint!  I felt rather lost in the process, and wonder if I've lost my mind!  Maybe!  Who knows what I'll do next?  Painting number 2735 in 2735 days. 

Fish Creek Marina

Painting by the water is SO peaceful!  The lapping of the waves against boat and dock are rhythmic, and time slips by without notice.  It is just me, my brush and my subject, and the occasional onlooker.  Sometimes, I'm so in the zone that when I turn to back up, I'm surprised to have an audience!  I laugh, we visit, and I return to the real world for a while. Painting number 2417 in 2417 days.

Fish Creek Marina - Alibi Dock

I love coming to a place like this to paint!  With so many boats docked, and the golden hour approaching, I jumped into the paint quickly!  Everyone is so friendly along the water, many stopping to visit while I worked.  One of those people happened to own one of the boats in this painting - and this painting went home with her!  Love when that happens!  Painting number 2412 in 2412 days.

Three Boats Sailing

A day spent at lake's edge, painting sailboats, is a day well spent.  The quiet sounds of the lake are the perfect backdrop for a little painting.  This one is miniature at 4x4 inches, and done in acrylic for speed of drying.  I still prefer oils in the field, but acrylics do have their place. Painting number 2165 in 2165 days.

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Weatherby Lake Race

It is thrilling to capture a yacht race in progress with pen and ink!  Today's pen, my newest TWSBI  Go with raven black ink by Levenger.  I LOVE this ink, the rich velvety blackness and the way it moves readily with a little water, put this ink at the top of my list!  And I have probably tried 20 different kinds of black ink!  This pen is serving me well, and at the very economical price, I could put one in each of my sketch bags!  So far, it has not clogged up, and works perfectly every time I put my hands on it.  I can be a very demanding artist of my tools, I simply don't have time to waste on second best of anything. As for sketching lakeside during a yacht race - it is the perfect "office du jour"!!  Painting number 2094 in 2094 days.

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Five Boats Inked

My first drawing on site at the yacht race at Weatherby Lake is so exciting!  With the quick movement of the sailboats, I sketch furiously, trying to capture that motion in action!  As the yachts came back around, I picked up another sheet of paper, and inked as fast as I could, until they were very small one the distance.  One more pass, and I had all I needed from these beauties. A day spent on the lake painting is a day well spent!  Painting number 2079 in 2079 days, and this one has a new home!

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Yacht Race Day

There is something SO peaceful about setting up my easel lakeside, with the sailboats gliding over the surface of the water.  The yacht races are a favorite subject matter, especially for this Midwest girl!  There is nothing like painting and sketching quickly, trying to capture all that movement while it lasts!  The color on Weatherby Lake is perfect for painting today, with gorgeous weather to match!  Each nice day is a gift as we head deeper into fall. Painting number 2078 in 2078 days.

Storm in Ephraim

Set up on the beach of a friend's home in Ephraim, I watched the approaching clouds with interest.  Mist rolled in like the waves, clouds changed colors and formations.  As it became clear the storm was not dissipating, I passed over the oils for my inks. I have never captured clouds with ink before!  Loving the challenge, I started with my lines, lightly laying them into the sky, which really means I was afraid of messing them up!  Moving the ink with my water brush pen, I manipulated the clouds to represent what was before me.  It was SO fun!!  To darken, I simply dropped in more ink, getting the feel of the day.  THAT is the plein air experience!  Painting number 2013 in 2013 days!.

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Race Day

This is the first time I've been able to capture a regata in progress!  I arrived on site just as they were ready to go, so I set up quickly.  As these first two sailboats made their turn, I painted fast and furious to get those values and hues in!  I did not take a reference photo.  In fact, it never occurred to me until I saw some of the other artists looking at their phones.  I guess I've gotten so used to painting from life that I don't even think of changing my process.  The benefit is that I walk away with a fresh painting that isn't overworked and cluttered with the details of a photo.  Just another super fun adventure in plein air!  Painting number 1715 in 1715 days.

Oil on panel, 14x11
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Regata

What a beautiful afternoon for capturing the regatta on Weatherby Lake!  The cloudless sky quickly turned to stormy - and this was the color change in the heavens!  So beautiful, I had to turn my easel to get it!  This one has a new home!  Painting number 1712 in 1712 days!

Sailboats in Sister Bay

The sailboats along the coast of Door County call me in like a siren call.  I'm drawn to them, and can hardly pass by without painting them.  Living in the Midwest, I don't have the opportunity to paint these beauties, so I must seize the moments when I can!  I'm playing with the color a bit, injecting a little blue in a sunset where there was very little.  This is larger at 20x16, so it is important to step back often for the full view.  I think I'll let this one rest for now, and look with fresh eyes in the morning!  Painting number 1685 in 1685 days.

oil on panel, 16x20
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Sister Bay Marina Inked

On a day of rain, this artist seeks shelter for my work.  Using a water soluble ink pen makes me vulnerable to the bleeding of the ink.  I have even had one sketch blur into obscurity when the cotton paper absorbed too much moisture from the atmosphere!  From a gazebo in the water front park, I had a great view of the marina, and started my drawing.  Several other artists grouped under this shelter, looking out into the harbor for inspiration.  Once complete, I closed the sketchbook to protect it from further moisture.  Painting number 1665 in 1665 days.

Sister Bay Reflections

Arriving early for the quick paint in Sister Bay, I had no idea what my painting location would be.  The vintage cottages called you me, as did the rhythmic lake, but the reflections of the boats reeled me in.  My intended painting surface was awol, so I decided on a smaller size. An artist friend of mine let me buy a frame to match it, as the stars aligned!  I started with an ink sketch, moving to the paint. Once again, standing in full sun, I talked and visited as I worked, the colors unfolding before me.  I really enjoyed this scene even though my boats kept pulling out!  I had to lay that color in fast when I realized they were on the move!  Just another quick paint adventure!  Painting number 1663 in 1663 days. 

oil on panel, 12x9
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Lakeside Sailing

The light was simply amazing as I opened my paints, and it only improved from there.  Standing in a sliver of shade, I followed my drawing with paint.  Taking the time to sketch first solidifies the lines and values in a way that jumping into paint does not.  It makes the work easy since I've thought through the painting first.  I also like to observe my scene thoroughly before I pick up the pen.  Once the paint was flying, so many colors reflected off the surface of the water!  It was fun to keep up with them in paint!  I never tire of painting by the water.  Painting number 1651 in 1651 days.