Still Morning

6"x6" oil on board-click to bid

Sometimes I like a change, so got out a palette knife to do this one. This is a familiar scene I see so often when I walk around this place. There are trees everywhere and l love the skies here. I used a brush to do the sky the rest is the knife. I enjoyed it but the brush wins for me!

Marsh on the Mud

6'x8" oil on board

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Late afternoon sun always brings lovely light and color over the salt marsh... even the mud looks good with the spots of sunlight when the tide is out!! It is one of my favorite places.

It's been a few weeks since my last blogpost...the reason is my new art studio that my husband is building for me and I might add he is doing a fantastic job! I should be in and organised in a couple of weeks and no more disruption. I can't wait!

Evening Calm

6"x12" oil on board

$130
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A favorite place of mine! This Estuary not far from where I live often has a serene feeling about it late in the evening, hardly a blade of grass moves! I love the peacefulness.

March Morning

 10x8in Oil on canvasboard

$150

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I am happy to get another painting finished after being so busy moving house! It has been a long time. I'm back living in New Zealand after travelling for 10 months around Australia. It feels good to be back where I belong and to walk around the areas I love! This is one of them...the estuary sunbleached grasses!

Clear Summer Day

6"x6" Acrylic on board

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My first painting for 2017 at last! It has been a long time since I painted with acrylics... I thought I would be a good idea to get used to them again because we are moving to Australia and will be living in a caravan traveling around. I will use water soluble oils as well but they still take a while to dry. I still prefer oils and will miss them! The upside is I love the Australian landscape and will be able to paint more plein air!! This is about 10 minutes from where I live...a favorite spot of mine with Eucalyptus trees along the waters edge.

A Walk by the Pond

6x8 Oil on gessoboard

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Thought I would try something different today...a little abstract painted with a palette knife. I love the palette knife but have a lot to learn! I walk by this pond most days and the colors vary so much, I enjoyed it so I will be trying more of these! I am going on holiday so it will be next year before there will be any painting done. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your holidays!!

Morning Moments

10x8in Oil on Canvas Panel

$180 + shipping

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I  finally got back to painting again! It's been over a month since I did anything.
This is where I often walk in the mornings... the grasses often have a pink hue in the early morning light and it's very still, I love the feeling of peace here!!

Low Tide

6x8in Oil on Canvas Board

$100 +s/h
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Another one in this small Estuary series! I have had a really mucked up week...wiped one off and another went in the bin. I like to challenge myself and keep learning but this time it went to a new level of frustration! I haven't painted many rocks and I tried to create the atmosphere there was on this morning as well...probably too much to try in one painting. I'm not sure I have done too well but here it is!!!

Still Autumn Morning

6"x8" oil on canvasboard
$100+s/h

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This is the second in this Estuary series. Often there is lovely cool  light in the mornings....no wind, everything is still, it's my favorite time of the day!! It is a challenge to capture it on a small canvas, not as loose as I would like...good practice though and a study to use for a larger work later on!

Reed Reflections

6"x8" Oil on canvasboard

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The first of my Estuary paintings! I never get tired of seeing reeds and their reflections in the water, when it is still  it's almost like looking in a mirror... has a nice calming effect!!

Late Evening Softness

6"x8" Oil on gessoboard 
$100+$15s/h

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Another small one this week!  Some evenings we get these beautiful soft clouds over the hills, I love this particular view and the atmosphere. I painted a larger one of this scene a few years ago...it was nice to revisit!!

Works in Progress

Thought I would post a couple of  works in progress as I've not had time to paint any small ones this week. The image is dark because I had to take the photo inside.
These  paintings of the Estuary are going to be part of my exhibition at Quay Gallery in October. It is good to be painting landscapes again... such a lovely place with beautiful light.

It's been a long time since I have done large work...there is still quite a bit of work to be done before they are finished and there are another two or three after that.

Afternoon Light

 

6"x8" Oil on gessoboard
$100 +s/h
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I pass this scene most days and love the Eucalyptus trees and the afternoon light here...I haven't painted around this area for quite a while. This started out as a study for a larger one  but I'm pleased how it turned out so I have it on auction. Since I have been back from Colley Whisson's workshop I have been working on my values, it has been one of my weak points for a long time...I never get the darks dark enough!!

Palm-Dampier Beach

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$90+s/h
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I found this small palm tree close to the waters edge on the beach in Dampier when I was on holiday in Western Australia last year and I've been wanting to paint it for a while. I love the bright green fronds against the blue water!! Very tropical!

Spring Grasses

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

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I had time to do one more painting before I go on holiday...love the colors of the grass in the Estuary at this time of year, especially  the mornings! I will be away for two weeks, so won't be posting any paintings..... I hope to meet  up with an artist blog friend  Wendy Barrett in Perth Australia... then will be relaxing with my family in the warm sun over there...can't wait!!!

Olive Grove Sunrise

6"x8" oil on gessoboard

 

My last painting for the Art and Olive Festival!  I am disappointed with this image, for some reason it changes when  I upload it to my blog, I have no idea why, it looks fine in my photo program! I have tried so many times but failed to get it to look any better!!!

Summer Dune Grass

6"x6" Oil on gessoboard

$85 +s/h
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Daily Paintworks challenge this week is 'paint the grass'..it makes a nice change from still life and I haven't painted grass for a while! This was done from a photo I took last year when I was on holiday. I love painting dune grass...thanks for the challenge Carol!

Winter Harmony

8"x6" Oil on board

$85 +s/h
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Our first month of winter is nearly over!! We have had some nice days this last week and I have been walking around the Estuary in the mornings. It will always be one of my  favorite places...love the cool winter light!! 

Thistles- Winner

Congratulations Sharon Graves!!! You are the winner of this giveaway painting. I have sent you an email, so all you have to do is send me your address details and it will be on it's way to you! Thanks everyone for your support and signing up. It's been a lot of fun....and I will be doing it again so stay tuned!!!

Signs of Winter

Signs of Winter

8"x6" Oil on board

$85 + s/h
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This scene is part of the Estuary close to where I live. If you follow my blog you will know this is a favorite place of mine to paint! There are so many different views and I pretty much love them all! I have been wanting to share my painting process, but always forget to take the photos of each step. Leslie Saeta set us this task in the 30 day marketing challenge...so  here it is!!

My Painting Process

1. I  begin  my paintings by blocking in shapes to establish my composition...keeping it simple, no details, just shapes and values to see where my darks and lights will be.

2.  I then lay in areas of color to each of the value planes paying attention to the temperature relationships between the planes. Next I start using intermediate values, making sure the shifts are subtle. Once they are all working I can add details and highlights to the tree and grass in the foreground.

A good book to help you approach this is  Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John Carlson.