Magical moments in Rockport.

When Frozen was my grand daughter's favorite movie, she insisted on wearing either her Elsa or Anna outfit no matter where  we went. So when hiking around Rockport and Halibut Point one day, she dressed like a princess. When she walked out to the end of the path, she became captivated by the ocean and the beautiful view. I loved the composition, the juxtaposition of the blues, and the wonder she experienced  as a young impressionable girl. I hope she continues to love nature and remain in awe of it as she grows.

I blocked in the underpainting using transparent oxide red. Once values were established, I began blocking in large masses. I used the rocks to lead the viewer to the focal point. The warmth of the rocks complimented the sun illuminating the figure. I reserved the most detail for the focal point-the dress and figure, a little looser in the vegetation and rocks and let the water and sky remain fairly loose as the backdrop to the scene. 

I love to  preserve special moments in a painting as I feel it conveys much more of a feeling of time and place than a photo can.

 

A Little Beach Babe

8x10 oil

I recently attended a 1/2 day workshop where we began with an acrylic underpainting.

I had not tried acrylic as an underpainting before, but was pleased with the fast drying quality and the ability to quickly lay down the drawing and values without the colors then mixing with the oils. This underpainting was done with transparent red oxide. The scene was kept simple so it could be accomplished in one brief session. I was pleased with the results and plan to explore this further.

Romancing Capitola

Taking a break in Capitola 30x40 oil painting

After a co worker of my daughter's saw my paintings at her house in Aptos, she asked if I would create a painting of her with her husband as a surprise for their anniversary. I said I would. She texted me a photo to use.
At first I thought the shadows on the rocks were off, but when I enlarged the area I realized they were mussels, not shadows. The photo wasn't too clear, so I enlarged it and then delved into my photos of Capitola so I could get the background area as accurate as possible. The pastel colored homes along the beachfront are iconic as well as the pier and stream. The stream cuts through the beach to flow under a bridge between the yellow restaurant on the right and the pastel homes to it's left. Although the bridge isn't in the photo or painting, I  know it's an important landmark for the downtown. The small stream leading back toward that area is put in to ensure the bridge is acknowledged, although not seen.
I had never painted with florescent colors so had to order the paint. Creating shadows with the new paint were a challenge.  I tested out colors on a canvas pad trying shadows with blues and violets and until I determined what looked right.  Initially I was going to omit the bike on the lower right, but in the end decided to put it in. First, it confirms there are two riders, and second, it leads the viewer into the painting with a diagonal.  Eliminating most of the bicycle's detail prevents the  viewer from lingering there. Since the canvas was so large, I made the birds on the beach in the far left and the mussels prominent details. They are a big part of the sensory experience when visiting this beach. The gulls are always present, moving about in large groups, soaring, then resting and repeating the cycle all day long. The outgoing tide exposes the rocks many treasures then hides them again until the next tide cycle.
When I felt the painting was complete, I texted a photo for approval before shipping. She texted me back:
"IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT! I keep getting my phone to look at your artwork. Honestly, I've looked at about 20 times since you texted. It's breathtaking!"
The painting was challenging. It was large and both a landscape and informal portrait all in one. My daughter visited while I was working on it and told me the figures looked just like them.  I was encouraged. When I got the text, I was both relieved and very happy. The painting now resides in CA.

Remembering special moments

Grandfather's precious Moment 18x24 Oil

A friend of a friend referred Sarah to me. Sarah lives in Manhatten and was looking to commemorate a special moment between her father in law and her new baby. The grandfather met his new grandson at the family's vacation home in VT. Sarah had a photo of the two and wanted a painting setting it in their back yard at their VT home. Shortly after the photo was taken, the grandfather passed away. Sarah wanted to preserve the moment for her husband and son. She asked if I could combine some photos to set them in the yard with the family Burmese mountain dog. I looked forward to the challenge.  I did some preliminary sketches for her approval and she was excited with the ideas I showed her. 

The most difficult part was establishing a perspective that looked like the figures belonged in the setting; establishing the perspective and the light source. I removed boxes from the photos that were in the yard from unpacking adirondack chairs and included 2 chairs in the setting to give a sense of the scene she had described to me. Spending 24 years visiting my daughter and son when they lived in VT gave me a solid sense of what it felt like to sit surrounded by mountains and expansive views. I positioned the red leash to make a connection between the family and the landscape. The adirondack chairs provided a nice sunlit focal point to lead the viewer back into the landscape after pausing to take in the figures. The green expanse is warmed up to emphasize the feeling of the midday sun.
Update:
Just received this message from NYC-where this painting now resides, 
"Hi Ellen,
I gave the painting to my husband a bit early, and it brought him to tears. It is a very special piece that will hang in our home for a lifetime. Thank you for perfectly bringing the vision to life. It means so much to us.
Happy Holidays-"
I wondered if it would make it til Christmas.🥰

Plein air painting

"On the Rocks"  9x12  oil/2016

 New England weather isn't always cooperative for plein air painting. Some days, however, are perfect and 4th of July was one of those days. There was a clear blue sky, little wind, and it was warm and sunny. We were heading up to North Woodstock, NH for fireworks so decided to go up early and do a little painting. With no clouds, I sought out a spot where there would be shade and shadow patterns. There is access there  to the Pemigewassit River with all of it's  massive rocks, birches and water patterns; just what I wanted. I set up to paint and my husband went over to sit on a rock and read while he waited for me. When I glanced over and saw him sitting there, I knew he would be my subject that day. The colors and composition worked really well without too many modifications. After a quick thumbnail, I worked fast blocking in the value patterns. I knew I would have to settle on a light pattern since the sun angle would be moving and changing while I worked.  I jotted that into my sketchbook. It was a really busy spot with a lot of people swimming in the river. I decided to leave them all out, although many of them came over to chat and watch me paint. So many young kids stood around me that I almost felt like I was back in my classroom giving a demo again. I spent two hours painting and then packed up to leave. My friend, who was downstream painting, came up and we discovered we had both been painting Stu that day. My friend's  painting was from the opposite bank, showing Stu from the back and in the distance. I plan to go back and paint the river another time. I love doing figures in the landscape, but don't often have a "model" willing to sit still for me. For me, getting outdoors to paint is really special and plein air is my favorite kind of painting. I love it!