Day 14: Breathing Space

Breathing Space, 5"x7", oil on panel, © 2017 R.L. Delight

Today was one of those time crunch days. Grocery shopping in the morning, painting as fast as I can, then a quick dinner and out to a community event. As much as my introverted soul loves being alone in the studio or out painting on the beach (usually up on the rocks behind a driftwood pile), I feel it is also important to participate now and then in my community.

This is more or less finished but I know that I will be refining a few things. The waves behind are still sort of roughed in. As I was looking at the painting after I returned home this evening, I thought I would make a few other changes as well.

This painting is partly from a still life set up and partly from imagination. The idea for this came to me while struggling with yesterday's subject. It is a start on an idea I have had for a while.

It is late for me and I need to go rest for tomorrow. I close with a picture of the still life set up.

Hope you enjoy a breathing space of your own!

-Renee

Elements #13: Wood, Cloth, Metal, String

Elements #13: Wood, Cloth, Metal, String, 7"x5", oil on gessobord, © R.L. Delight

Today started out promising. The sun was shining, winds calm. I decided to get out and paint again. I put on my 6 toasty layers, grabbed my gear and headed out the door. I decided to go to nearby Nehalem Bay State Park. When I got to the park, the sun had disappeared, and a stiff breeze had sprung up which was coming right off the water. The cold, damp cut right to the bone and made my chest hurt. I decided to head back to the studio. With time running out, I decided to try my hand at painting this simple model boat. Well, I can tell my heart wasn't in it even though I did try my best. The good thing that came out of it all was an idea for the next painting. That is always a good thing!

Off for another cup of hot tea!

-Renee

Day 12: Elements #12: Waves

Elements #12: Waves, plein air, 8"x10", oil on canvas, © 2017 R.L. Delight

Winter on the Northern Oregon Coast is often cold, damp, and gray, however, when the sun is out it is stunning. Today was one of those days. The sun this time of the year is low in the sky and the light becomes pearlescent. I spent a beautiful afternoon painting waves on the beach in the afternoon sun. I was nice a toasty in my six layers of clothing! The tide was going out and the waves just sparkled.

I am experimenting and changing things up to push my knowledge along. I used a few things I have been trying out on all those studio pieces in this plein air painting.

I need to try it again and push it again, and re-evaluate. This month I am focused mostly on just getting back to regular painting. Next month, with these challenges finished, I plan to go deeper. It is also time to work on a body of work I have been thinking about for a while now.

Next month the garden starts up again and the house renovation continues little by little. The band I am part of is recording our third album! Life is busy but I continue to paint and draw...

-Renee

Day 11: Afternoon Light on Neahkahnie

Afternoon Light on Neahkahnie, 6"x8", plein air, oil on canvas panel, © 2017 R.L. Delight

We awoke this morning to...more snow! We aren't getting anything near the snow totals the rest of Oregon is but our roads on the coast can be hazardous on a good day, let alone adding snow and ice, in addition to the king tides washing over the highways. I had resigned myself to painting another still life when the sun came out and the snow quickly melted. I had a strong urge to get out of the studio and go paint. It is still cold though, and the wind off the ocean brings a lot of moisture. Combine the two and you have a recipe for hypothermia. I decided to paint from the car and drove down to my home beach. The sky and clouds were stunning and Neahkahnie Mountain would glow for a few seconds when the sun came out.

I rarely work from the car, in fact, it has been a few years and we have a new car. I brought towels to cover everything up and I decided to use a solvent free gel instead of terps. I have used the gel before. I struggled with being in the car. I felt cramped and I kept getting paint on the areas I couldn't cover. The gel seemed to melt everything together so I know I was probably using too much. The canvas seemed particularly hard to get paint to stick and the paint felt stiff and unresponsive. In spite of all of that, and after a few swear words were uttered, I managed to get this painting. Not my best or favorite but I have enough information to make a proper painting of it if I choose to. It felt good to get out of the studio and paint plein air again.

We shall see what tomorrow's weather will bring...

-Renee

Day 10: Elements #10: Wood, Clay, Feather

Elements #10: Wood, Clay, Feather, 5"x7", oil on panel, © 2017 R.L. Delight

It is late and I need to get to bed so this will be a short post! I experimented with several different elements in this painting. Probably not the best idea as it can get overwhelming. In spite of running out of time and energy, I am having a lot of fun pushing my comfort zone. I will say that this is definitely not my style. It feels way to fussy and overblown for my tastes. I did enjoy getting all the lovely colors in the Lusterware teapot. The photo doesn't really do it justice.

All that being said, I am learning a lot, which is the whole point of doing these studies this month. We have another Winter storm warning for tomorrow so it looks like I will be in the studio again.

Stay warm!

-Renee

Day 9: Elements # 9: Wood, Glass, Stone

Elements #9: Wood, Glass, Stone, 5"x7", oil on gessobord, @ 2017 R.L. Delight

We woke to big fluffy snowflakes thudding to the ground this morning followed by hail and then torrential rain. I decided another day in the studio sounded just fine after all!

I have been reading A History of American Tonalism: 1880-1920,  by David A. Cleveland. It is a huge and heavy tome of a book. I periodically check it out from our local library. I have to use a lap table to hold it while I read and I have yet to make it through before having to return it. I always learn something new though. My favorite tonalists are the Harrison brothers, Alexander and Birge. I particularly like Birge Harrison's work.

Today I was inspired by a painting by Emil Carlsen. I decided to try out a few ideas and techniques on this little still life painting. I didn't quite hit what I was after but I like the direction it is taking me. I will keep working at it.

I will admit I have a reason for spending the time indoors working on the Elements line of still life paintings. They contain elements of the objects I like to paint plein air. The glass is standing in for the water. I am finding that I am learning a lot by being able to slow down and really study both the objects and techniques. I am looking forward to applying what I am learning out in the field.

What paintings inspire you?

-Renee

Elements #8: Seaweed, Wood, Iron

Elements #8: Seaweed, Wood, Iron, 5"x7", studio,oil on gessobord, R.L. Delight

Today was spent in the other part of my creative life, music. My mate and I spent the day with our bandmates recording our next CD! I did this quick painting before we left to meet my challenge requirements. It was good to get it done.

The rain has returned and no more ice! As much as I have been enjoying painting these still lifes, I am ready to head out somewhere to paint en plein air. We shall see what the weather holds tomorrow.

-Renee