Day 8: Stormy Weather

Day 8 Sketch: Graphite on paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weather has been very stormy here on the Oregon coast. We have had three high wind and heavy rain storms come through in the past three days with more to come. There are landslides, sinkholes, major flooding and closures on Highway 101, the main road here on the coast. I still get out for a daily walk but the torrential rain and high winds mean I spend most of my time indoors. Needless to say, getting out to paint or sketch is not only not practical but potentially dangerous!

I am actually enjoying the break from painting outdoors and am taking time to think long and hard about my work and where I want to go with it. I have decided that I want my studies to support my growth toward being able to paint what I envision and feel when painting outdoors. That might seem challenging during the bad weather we are experiencing at the moment but fortunately, I have a lot of interesting driftwood and rocks I have picked up here and there on my beach walks. I plan to make a lot of sketches of them this year.

Today's sketch is just that, a bit of driftwood. I love how driftwood has many twists and turns. It is often smooth and worn from being tossed around by the waves. It is challenging to make the sketch three dimensional as it flows between various planes and angles. It will be an interesting exercise to sketch these.

Here is a picture I took on the beach yesterday. It looks like it is in black and white but, at the moment, this is exactly how gray the beach looks during these storms.

-Renee

Sketching Up a Storm

While out on my morning walk around town, I swung by the beach and took a look at the stormy sea. It was so beautiful, and relatively warm, that I couldn't resist. I had to go out sketching. I decided to pack a very stripped down version of my sketching supplies.

I knew it would probably be wet out there even if it wasn't raining at the time. I decided to go for the watercolor sketchbook, water pens, water soluble graphite pencils, a couple of small brushes, and white gouache. I optimistically threw in some gray-toned paper taped to a clipboard just in case. The gray-toned paper is one of my favorite papers for sketching waves with graphite and white gouache. I put the the gouache tube in a small jar thinking that I could use the lid to hold the paint and the jar for water.

I also added an umbrella. I never carry an umbrella. They aren't used here very much. When the rain is going sideways, which happens most of the time, the umbrella doesn't really work that well. I knew that there would be driftwood piles I could shelter from the wind and the umbrella might keep my sketch dry if it started to rain.

I decided to get my exercise and walk to the north end, about a mile or more up the beach. The wind was from the south, southwest and warm. It didn't start raining until I got unpacked and nestled in between some driftwood logs on the rocks above the waves. There was a driftwood pile shielding me from the wind so I was just fine. The umbrella was keeping my sketch mostly dry. 

Then the wind shifted. First it shifted to the west where it came directly at me, then it swung to the north. I no longer had the driftwood pile blocking the wind and the rain started blowing sideways.

Did I get the sketch? Yes I did! However, the temperature started dropping so I headed back with a rather soggy sketchbook.

I took a hasty picture of the sketchbook when I got home. The graphite had pooled into grainy bits and the sketch melted into the block-in so that all the lovely gesture and smaller waves were pretty much lost. Not all is a wash though! I will use it for a block-in foundation sketch tomorrow and try finishing is using water-soluble colored pencils. Here it is:

Day 3 Sketch

After the hike home, I dried out, cleaned up, and made a nice hot mug of tea. Ahhh, I love this time of the year. I must admit, it is my favorite time to paint and sketch the sea.

Before I go, this blog gets posted both here and on my website. I haven't found anything that allows me to share video on my website blog but I know blogger does. Here is a bonus video I took while out sketching!

-Renee

Sticks and Stones

I like to keep a handful of sketchbooks going. This wasn't exactly planned, it sort of evolved. I noticed that I liked to do certain kinds of sketches in certain kinds of sketchbooks. They are all different in size and format. I started naming the books only recently. I am a huge fan and reader of James Gurney's blog and he names his sketchbooks based on the first word or phrase in the first sketch of the book. I liked that idea and adapted it for my sketchbooks. It helps to keep them a bit more organized. My names are also based on the first sketch in the book but not any words or phrases since I don't do so much lettering. The titles are more descriptive of the sketch. As it turns out, the contents of the sketchbooks loosely follow the title. For example in "Jamming", there are a lot of sketches made at musical events. As a musician and as the spouse of a musician, I tend to go to many musical events a year. Flip through "Jamming" and you will find sketches of musicians and audience members.

"Driftwood" holds sketches from nature, mostly of the beach, and many of, well, driftwood.

"Green Fork Farm" is a newer one. It is bound with watercolor paper. I have my experimental sketches of watercolor paint, pencil, and gouache in this one. The first sketch one of the many I did at our local Farmer's Market this summer.

In the back of the photo is the sketchbook I started in art school, hence the title, "And so it begins." I like the larger format but I don't use it as often as it isn't quite as portable as the smaller sizes. This sketchbook is nearly full.

Finally, the smaller sketchbook open to the first sketch, which was yesterday's Day 1 sketch, doesn't have its title painted on yet. It is a sketchbook I am trying out for the workshop I will be teaching next month. It is a Strathmore Mixed Media. It doesn't have as heavy as a paper as the watercolor sketchbook does but it is definitely heavier than the regular sketchbook paper. It seems to be holding up to the use of water pens and ink.

Day 1's sketch is of a piece of driftwood and I used graphite and water soluble graphite by ArtGraf. The sketch was interrupted in progress so is not very finished. That is OK, I got enough in.

Here is Day 2:

Day 2 sketch, graphite on paper. 363 more days to go!

I want to use this newest sketchbook to work on two natural forms that are found in abundance here, sticks and stones. Of course, that will be the name of this sketchbook! Both of these sketches were done indoors due to the current weather conditions. I suspect tomorrow's sketch will also be indoors as we have a high wind warning for gusts of 65 mph. Hopefully the power will hold.

The weather and a few other events have kept me from painting outside for way too long. I can't wait to get back to it at the first opportunity.

Thankfully, there is plenty to keep me out of mischief in the studio!

-Renee

Living the Sketchy Life

It is hard to believe that fall is winding down and the winter solstice will be here in a couple of weeks! What happened to fall? It seems a bit of a blur to me due to not only being busy with music, art, and daily living, but having several life events thrown into the mix. Life is like that, as we all know.

Painting has slowed down a bit but still continues, as does drawing, however, I am picking up the pace in both again, even as the holiday season is upon us!

A month or so ago my mate and I went to the "Seeing Nature" art exhibit at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon. This is a collection of landscape masterworks from the Paul G. Allen family collection. I was very excited to go see this and it did not disappoint.
We were allowed to take non-flash pictures so I took a few. I spent most of the time with my nose as close as they would allow to the painting. All the paintings were covered with clear plexi-glass so, as you can see, some of them have glare and reflections. My two favorite paintings from the exhibit were the following:

Thomas Moran, Grand Canyon of Arizona at Sunset, 1909, oil on canvas

The picture doesn't even come close to how exquisite I found this. I spent most of my time in front of this one and the following.

Thomas Cole, Ruins in the Campagna di Roma, Morning, 1842, oil on panel.

This was equally exquisite and I would be hard pressed to choose between the two of them! There were several others that I enjoyed as well. If you are in the Portland Oregon area, I highly recommend seeing this exhibit. I thought it worth the price of admission.

Finally, to end on a personally exciting note, I will be teaching a workshop at our local art center here in Manzanita, Oregon next month! I had the opportunity to teach a sketching workshop last month in Bend, Oregon. While I have taught several workshops in the past, it was the first time I taught an art workshop. I had a lot of fun and certainly learned a lot. I decided that teaching a sketching workshop here in my own town would be a wonderful opportunity to spread the joy of art and for me to learn and grow. Info on the workshop can be found here.

While I sketch nearly everyday, I still feel the need to develop a daily sketch habit. I have experienced how effective frequent sketching is. Sometimes it is too easy to ignore the continuing development of drawing skills through sketching and drawing in favor of painting. Since I sincerely believe that good drawing skills are fundamental to good painting and good art, it is time to put my beliefs into action and step up to a daily drawing/sketching habit. With that in mind, I started a personal challenge today, and I am officially beginning a year long sketch-a-day project. Believe me, committing to this publicly makes me all kinds of nervous, as I know that all kinds of obstacles will be gleefully laid in my path. I will take it, well, one day at a time!

I have been inspired by several of my artist friends who have also committed, and are proceeding to create a painting, sketch, or drawing a day. If anyone wants to join me, let me know! No rules as to amount of time or how big or how finished the sketch is and no pressure or guilt allowed when tripping over those obstacles. I will share today's sketch tomorrow. I am not sure at this time whether or not I will share them all and probably won't share them everyday. I will do my best to share often.

-Renee

A trip to Whistler, B.C.

We recently had one fun trip this summer with dear friends to Whistler, B.C. in Canada. I took along my painting gear of course! We have been there several times before and it is one of our favorite places to go hang out with our friends. 
We have usually stayed in Whistler during the late summer months. This is the first time we have been there in early fall. The leaves are changing color on the trees and the cool mornings and evenings with warm afternoons it just about perfect. The crowds aren't too bad either, considering.

Mornings find the four of us doing our own thing. The guys tended to go off to coffee shops to do a bit of journal writing. One friend likes to do her morning reading and meditation, and I, well I head out to paint of course!

We gather at lunch and then head out together on various activities such as hiking, biking, or taking in the new Squamish Lil'wat cultural centre.

Due to various reasons, my mate and I were not able to stay as long as we had hoped, however, I was able to get out two mornings to paint. I could easily spend a few weeks painting there!

The first morning I spent more time than I had wanted to hiking around with my paint pack trying to find a spot I had in mind. The last time we were in Whistler was before the winter Olympics were held there and things have changed a bit.

I finally found a spot that fit what I had in mind along Fitzsimmons Creek. Here is a picture of the spot and the painting:

I haven't really done any painting of a river or creek before and I found the rapids a bit challenging. Much different than the ocean waves I am accustomed to. I love the color of the water in this area. Much of it is glacier run off and has that characteristic milky turquoise quality to it.

The next morning I had to take a break. It has been such a busy summer and the need to rest a bit more is starting to catch up with us. The final morning ( I know sad isn't it?) I hiked out to a spot on Lost Lake. I had scoped it out the afternoon before. I arrived nice and early and didn't account for one fairly important thing. I was facing due east. As soon as the sun climbed up over the impressive mountains, I was blinded. I had to wait for about a half an hour before I could see anything such as color and detail. Eventually, the beauty I was hoping to capture popped out as the sun climbed higher. I think the light would have been better for what I had in mind in the afternoon but I had to take what I could get.  Here is the spot and the painting:

The first picture of Lost Lake shows the light when I was finishing up. It was much warmer than the earlier light when most of the forested mountains were in shadow. I was painting the cool morning light when the colors looked very different. On this painting, I feel that I did not quite get the correct value of the foreground water. It needs to be darker. I admit that I was torn between trying to capture the deep reflections and the lovely glacier water color and I think it shows. I really need to go back and do several paintings at that spot, not to mention all the other spots I missed.

I thoroughly enjoyed not only painting the change of scenery, but painting in this beautiful area of Canada.

-Renee

Three Wave Studies

I have been busy with not only drawing and painting, but working in our community garden, playing music, working in my little yard, sewing, and a whole host of other things. Summer has been overflowing! Thankfully, at least in my eyes, Summer is winding down and fading into Autumn. I think Autumn and Spring are fairly tied for the title of my favorite season. Spring has my birthday in her favor so it might be a bit weighted toward that season.

I have given myself permission to take a break from sharing every little study, drawing, and painting. I felt I needed a bit of time to flounder around and try a few new-to-me things without having to post every little triumph and many failures. Every once in a while though, I make another wave study and I am sharing the last three I have done.

Wave Study #86 is painted with my full palette, which is nonetheless a limited palette of a cool and warm of red and yellow, ultramarine blue, plus a warm white. I also tone my canvases with Burnt Sienna. Here is #86:

© 2015 R.L. Delight, Wave Study #86, 6"x8", oil on canvas panel, plein air.

It was one of those beautiful misty mornings where the sun was just starting to burn it off. I love the colors that pop out with gray skies. They can be both subtle and startlingly intense.

Starting with Wave Study #87, I decided to use just black and white paint for a few studies. I am not sure how many I will do in just black and white but I am finding it not only educational, but fun. To be specific, I am using Gamblin's Chromatic Black (a combination of alizarin permanent and viridian), and Gamblin's Warm White. I rather like Warm White over the Titanium White. My subject matter here on the Northern Oregon Coast tends to be on the chilly side. Warm White gives a subtle warmth to the painting. Here is  Wave Study #87:

© 2015, R.L. Delight, Wave Study #87, 8"x10", oil on canvas, plein air.

Using black and white forces me to focus on value of course. I start out with paint laid out in a 5-value range and add in between values as needed. I really am enjoying the process.

Finally, here is Wave Study #88, also painted with black and white:

© 2015, R.L. Delight, Wave Study #88, 8"x10", oil on canvas, plein air.

This was painted this morning and I took the picture on site so there is a tiny bit of glare on the photo in the upper right. Today was a lovely sunny fall-ish kind of day. Very bright, with the sun beginning to slide to lower angles. I love the quality of the fall light on the coast. It has a lovely red gold cast that only occurs this time of the year.

Here is a parting shot of today's office. You can see the black and white progression of paint on the palette along with the splotch of Burnt Sienna that was used to tone and draw a rough sketch-in to start.

View from the "office"

Summer is nearly over but there is plenty more adventures and painting ahead!

Happy painting,

-Renee

Bad Year for Tomatoes

© 2015, R. L. Delight, Bad Year for Tomatoes (WIP), 12"x16", oil on linen

I have a backlog of posts for the past couple of months. Instead of cramming them all into one giant post, I will be making several posts. After a long, hot (for here), dry summer, we are finally getting rain. Rain is something we are rarely short of on the Northern Oregon coast but this year was different. The Pacific Northwest has been very dry and is burning with wildfire. Hopefully the rains have decreased the fires. I have read that it will take a lot of rain to put them out. With rain, comes the opportunity to spend time inside, catching up on the blog, and other neglected tasks.

The Word and Image Show happened this weekend. It was a wonderful evening of literature and art. The link gives a bit of a description. Above is my entry and response. I was paired with a wonderful local author, Gail Balden. All artists and writers submitted 3 pieces of work and were paired randomly a month or so ago. We were given packets with our partners submissions and had to choose one to respond to and be inspired by in our work. It was a tough choice for me! I spent time reading and letting it sit, with thoughts and images flowing through my mind until one of the essays came forward to be painted. The essay I chose was called, "Bad Year for Tomatoes" by Gail Balden, and can be found here if you would like to read it. Please do! Her website can also be found here.

I am so fortunate to live a few minute's walk from a wild 7 mile stretch of beach. I get a lot of thinking done on my morning walks. It was on one of these walks that I decided that I needed some letters to include in the still life portion of my set up. I could have just gathered some papers together and pretended they were letters but I decided I wanted real ones. I turned to my FaceBook page and sent out a request for hand written letters. I asked that they be from a distance, at least 100 miles away from me, and that the letters be about the beauty in their lives. I received several responses and was blown away by the heart felt sincerity and eloquence of the letters. I felt moved and truly blessed.

Perhaps it cannot be seen in the painting, but those letters definitely had an influence in the final work. The deadline came up fast. It was barely enough time for me to get what I needed to get on canvas. I am not a fast worker. I did get it to an acceptable point. It is not quite finished. There are a few areas that need to be tweaked before I will call it done.

I will be posting more this week. I have been painting wave studies as well as working on drawing and landscape studies. This winter I should have a lot of reference material to draw from to create a few larger paintings. I am looking forward to it!

So, where is the beauty in your life?

-Renee