It's Been a Long Time

Needing a major surgery,  I couldn't even think about announcing my absence.  It felt too whiney.

Not posting is a major faux pas, I apologize.

But I am back now dusting off the studio and easing into the groove.

I am happy to say that there has been another sale in my absence which is encouraging.

June on the Roan
Oil  6" x 8"

Roan Mountain lies along the North Carolina/Tennessee border.  At an elevation of about 6000 feet, wild rhododendron gardens bloom in profusion in June.

The Palms

Spending most of my time in the Blue Ridge Mountains, make palm trees a rare sight.  I took the opportunity of my stay in Jacksonville Beach to study these trees.

The Palms
Pastel  6 x 8 

Trying to put the Pastels Down

Despite working on the dozen pastels brought back from Florida, I can't finish them.  Just when I think they are done, I see something else that would be an improvement.  I've been taken photos as I work just to make sure I'm not kidding myself.  Today's got very minor changes, just a darker blue sky to add a little punch.   The vast space of the beach in it's simpleness is the subject of this painting.

Afternoon Clouds
Pastel 6 x 9

Spring Memories

The golden grimes apple tree in my yard is glorious in the springtime.  Yet another pastel from the series done in April.

Spring Revelations

Pastel 5 x 7 

Still in Florida, at least on the Easel

Instead of consigning this plein air sketch to the scrap heap, I decided to redo it.  It's the first one done on my recent trip. It's hard to strike the right palette and light the first day out.  I especially like the violet reflected light on the receding wave.  Low tide leaves pools of many shapes and depths on the beach.

As the Waves Recede
Pastel 5 x 8

Beaches, Beaches, Beaches

Never imaging it would take this long to put the finishing touches on the Spring beach pastel work, I am still working away.  Not sure this is a good process, maybe too much fussing, I think I am learning to see the subtler modifications that improve the work.  However, I've also learned that the truth takes its own time to reveal itself.

On the Move
Pastel 6 x 8

Florida Revisited

Putting finishing touches on plein air pastels.   Done at sunrise I was interested in the atmospheric effects of the light through the clouds, as well as depicting the dazzling sun.

Maybe Rain
Pastel 6 x  8

It's difficult working at sunrise, conditions are changing rapidly and starting in the half-dark makes seeing colors difficult.  Returning to the same location many days in a row is helpful.

Quiet Light
Pastel 5 x 7

I wanted to experiment with showing the afterimage of the sun, as I sometimes see it after looking directly at it.