Sea Oats, Jekyll Island

Sea Oats, Jekyll Island / 6"x6" / oil on panel / ©2013 Cindy Greene

I'm beginning to mentally process some of the 1000 or so reference photos I took on our recent trip to the Southeast. Of course they are all loaded on the computer and sorted by day taken, but it takes so much time to go through them and pull out photos that need to become a painting soon. I will typically do this many times.

Here is a small painting I did this week from a couple of reference photos I took at Jekyll Island, Georgia. The brilliant sunlight gave a glow to the grasses as well as the shadows.

I have also been working on larger paintings in the studio. Usually I do these after painting one or two small studies. I finished one this week that I am quite pleased with — but it has to wait for now. Well, if you visit my new website, you'll see it on the front page. Let me know what you think!

September's Last Hurrah! — Little Corona Cove II

Little Corona Cove II, 12"x16", oil on canvas panel
©2013 Cindy Greene

I didn't really just slither off at the end of September without meeting my 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I painted 28 paintings in September, a few of which were either scraped off, or will go to the "maybe I can do something with this someday" pile.

I finished this painting on September 30, but wasn't able to photograph it for a couple of days. This is a very large painting for me — 12x16" — which I painted from a plein air study done at Little Corona Beach in Corona Del Mar, California. 

I'm relieved the 30-in-30 challenge is over — I loved the painting, but the stress of getting a painting done, photographed and posted has been more than I bargained for. Other artists have had the same reaction, I know. I hit up against that "only so many hours in the day" thing again.

So I'm going to clean up my studio (yes, please!) and perhaps my laptop as well, and make some plans for what I want to paint in October. I'll be posting less often of course, but plan to paint frequently. September was really great — thank you all for following me!

Summer Clouds

Summer Clouds, 5x7", oil on linen panel,
©2013 Cindy Greene

Tuesdays have been plein air days all summer and today my two painting buddies were not able to go. So I asked my husband if he'd like an outing (he's a photographer), and off we went to one of our favorite local spots, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands. It was a strange morning, weather-wise, very cloudy for late August. But what a beautiful morning it turned out to be. I shared this part of the marsh with a reclusive clapper rail, who had at least one photographer looking for him, as I guess they are fairly rare this time of year.

I'm very pleased with this painting — since the light was changing so rapidly, and the clouds clearing up, I got the color notes for the water in early, as well as the dark marsh areas. The pickleweed was fun, with all the reds and greens.

 

I finished this painting fairly quickly and started another of the incoming tide. You can see a bit of it below, along with Stuart who agreed to pose. Such a fun morning; it left both of us very satisfied. And hungry!

A New Favorite Edgar Payne

"Marinescape", 1918, Edgar Alwyn Payne, collection of Bowers Museum Santa Ana

I thought I'd share a new find. (No, I didn't paint this.)

Last Saturday we visited the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and saw the "Tsars' Cabinet" and "Gems of the Medicis" exhibits. We had great docent tour guides for both exhibits, and really enjoyed them. After a brief rest, we trooped to the nether regions of the museum, where they had hidden some of their collection of California paintings. A few are in a hallway, and thankfully there was a sign directing us upstairs to a conference room where the others were hidden.

I love this seascape by Edgar Payne — it is not his usual subject matter (very tall mountains, Breton boats, etc.), and I think that's part of why I enjoy it so much. Payne founded the Laguna Beach Art Association, and this painting is definitely part of his Laguna Beach days. I've spent some time painting in Laguna this summer and find the virtuosity of this wave so inspiring. Notice the reflection of the pinkish sky on the water, and how he sculpted the frothy part of the wave with light and shadow. Time to re-read his Composition of Outdoor Painting.

Treasure Island Cove

Treasure Island Cove, 8x10", oil on canvas panel, available here,
©2013 Cindy Greene

No, I wasn't standing on a rock in the ocean while painting this — the beach curves around enough that this was my view from the north end.  I'm so fortunate to live only an hour away from this beautiful spot, and to have friends to meet there to paint. A gorgeous morning with the subtle light of what we fondly call "the marine layer."

Grey Day at the TIdepool

Grey Day at the Tidepool, oil on canvas panel, 6x8", available here,
©2013 Cindy Greene

Yesterday was another wonderful day in Laguna Beach. Our painting group decided to go to the beach below the Montage Resort, also known as Treasure Island. Because of limited parking time, we were finished by 11:00 am, and the sun never came out.

But if you know me, you know that's just fine. While I love painting sunlight and shadow, the sea has so many colors and nuances when the marine layer is over us.

I have another painting that needs a few tweaks, and will post that tomorrow.

Red Flag Day

Red Flag Day, 5x7", oil on linen panel, ©2013 Cindy Greene

My painting buddies and I arrived at one of our favorite beaches early yesterday. The sand has been eroded by the large waves, so the available beach was much smaller than last time we were there. We got first choice of spots, though, since there was no one else there except a man with his metal detector. We'd been warned of the riptides and large waves, so we stayed back on the upper beach. By about 11:00, the beach was nearly full (the parking lot was), and the sun was out. So, so gorgeous. The poor lifeguard earned his keep by hopping off his stand to chase people away from the rocks.

I painted "Red Flag Day" early, before the sun came out. Many of the rocks in the tidepools are covered with algae or seaweed, and such a great color of yellow-green. To get the wave correct, I kept stopping and waiting for the next wave to come in to "see" the next stroke. Fortunately there were a lot of waves to help me out.

Debbie's great view of the tidepools

Jeanne painting the cove view.

We kept remarking about how many amazing colors were in the ocean after the sun came out. From a dark grey-blue at the horizon, to turquoise around the tidepools, to many colors of green near the beach — what a treat for the eyes. Here's a sample.

A bit of paradise on a July morning.

Joy at the Beach

Looking North, 10"x8", oil on canvas panel,
©2013 Cindy Greene

Each time I go out to paint plein air, I try to set a goal for myself. Something new to try, or a part of my painting that I feel needs attention. Last week I wanted to work on putting down intentional brush strokes and leaving them. The temptation to "noodle" the paint is great, especially when in an unfamiliar environment and you are trying to "get it right."

Above is the first painting I did that morning. The marine layer was pretty thick, but the blue sky was working hard to show itself high in the sky. I liked the white and grey clouds looking north toward Newport Beach, so chose to paint this with a vertical orientation to emphasize the sky. It was very subtle, but I'm pretty happy with the brushwork, as well as the colors of the rocks as the sun was trying to peek through.

The second painting of the day was posted yesterday, Little Corona Cove, and I think it's my favorite of the day. I am happy with the brushwork as well as the composition and colors. That doesn't happen often. I will probably use this study for a larger painting.

Little Corona Cove, 5"x7", oil on canvas panel, ©2013 Cindy Greene

This small wave study was fun. I had some time and some paint left on my palette. The beach was full of families and kids by that time, so I just looked straight out ahead of me and painted what was there.

Soft Waves, Small Rock 5x7", oil on canvas panel, ©2013 Cindy Greene

It's great to have painting buddies, especially when they are as fun and encouraging as mine. Jeanne, Debbie and I claimed our spot early in the middle of the beach, while Diane stayed up by the cliff.

Jeanne and Debbie lost in their painting

Diane's first day painting at the beach, and she did great!

Debbie's impromptu painting of the wedding at the tidepools

I mentioned before that a small wedding took place that morning by the tidepools. While it was fun to watch and share that fun, what happened after was even better. Debbie, who paints weddings regularly, grabbed a small panel and started sketching the wedding party before the rest of us knew what she was doing. She managed to get 80% of the painting finished before the wedding party packed up, and walked over to meet them and present them with the painting as a gift. (They weren't sure what she was selling at first!) They were stunned of course, and delighted. Debbie took their address, and promised to send them the painting when it was finished and dry. They had flown in from Colorado to be married at the beach, and really didn't need the burden of a wet painting in their luggage. We chatted briefly with the group, and they took off to celebrate. Meanwhile, we went back to our paintings and had such a lovely warm feeling of joy the rest of the day. Debbie's kindness was not really random, but such a part of her personality and love of giving to others. The rest of our little group received a gift that day as well as the bride and groom.

Nothing Gloomy About July

Little Corona Cove, 5"x7", oil on canvas panel,
©2013 Cindy Greene

I feel so fortunate to live where I do – only an hour or so away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. And I am having so much fun this summer visiting these beaches regularly with some like-minded painting friends. I love the overcast mornings as the "marine layer" plays tag with the sun. It can be challenging to catch the correct light, as often we have clouds/fog/mist/sun all within an hour or so.

Last week's paint-out was at Little Corona Beach. Wonderful small beach, with lots to paint (once you navigate the steep walk down to the sand). We even watched a wedding take place by the tidepools!

The small study above is looking south toward Laguna Beach, with the sun still mostly hidden behind the clouds. I'm loving the colors in the cliff, sand and rocks.

Next post, I'll share more of our Little Corona morning. Nothing gloomy here!

Burning Off - Laguna Beach Oil Painting

Burning Off, 9"x12", oil on linen canvas panel available here
©2013 Cindy Greene

This was painted a few weeks ago at South Crescent Bay in Laguna Beach. The sun finally burned off the marine layer, and it was a gorgeous day. I painted fast, and snapped photos as the light and sky changed. After staring at the original painting for weeks, I worked out the final touches and finished it this week. 

I like the result of the late morning sun on the rocks and cliff, and the remnants of clouds still hanging over the horizon. I'm looking forward to returning soon. (And yes, those birds were there!)

You First!

"You First!", 9x12", oil on canvas panel, ©©2013 Cindy Greene

I watched these children a few weeks ago, when I was painting at Laguna Beach. It was a gorgeous day and obviously spring break for some families. The water was cold of course, but that didn't deter them, and they eventually did get wet. I snapped some photos of them and I've been thinking about painting them ever since.

The emotional tug for me here is that these two remind me of my brother Michael and me. When we were very young, our parents would load us in the car in the pre-dawn hours and drive across the desert to the beach. We would have a wonderful time for a few hours, and then would spend a few miserable days coping with the inevitable sunburn. The smell of Coppertone is forever ingrained in my mind — I've never been able to use it; it just reminds me of being sunburned. 

I'm finding that I'm pulled to painting certain subjects, and then I realize later what the tug was about. Do you ever have that happen?

Blown Away

Blown Away, 5"x7", oil on canvas panel, ©2013 Cindy Greene
available here

As I mentioned in my long posts about our Cambria trip, I painted a few small paintings at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. This is the first one I did, from the Bluff Trail looking north to Moonstone Beach. The clouds were blowing in and out, and I was trying to capture the essence of the scene very quickly, especially the hills in the background. 

This was definitely the most challenging plein air experience I've had, what with the 35mph winds and icy fingers. There were a few friendly dogs and walkers, but they weren't a problem. I think there are a few grains of sand embedded into the paint — but that just adds to the authenticity, don't you think?

Keyhole Rock in Laguna Beach

Keyhole Rock, 8x10", oil on canvas panel, available here

A couple of friends invited me to join them yesterday morning in Laguna Beach, at the Montage Hotel, for a plein air painting session. There is a public park and bluff area in front of the hotel and it is gorgeous. I'm surprised we were the only painters there. We quickly set up and chose our painting views. I knew I had to paint fast and loose, since I had about two hours before I had to leave. 

I had my own "studio"

I've seen several paintings of Keyhole Rock, so it was interesting to start my own. Sometimes I feel the painting has a life of its own, and I'm just there to facilitate things. (Then there are all the other times...)

I completed about 90% of the painting at the beach, and made a few corrections and finishing touches today. 

This is on a Panelli Telati panel from Italy, which is a cotton canvas on a hardboard panel. I really like the very fine canvas texture, and they are light to carry for plein air work. I still love the Ampersand Gessobords, but am enjoying this as a change.

Debbie & Jeanne painting their Keyhole Rock paintings from the upper path

Thanks, Debbie & Jeanne — it was great!

South Crescent Bay

Rocks at South Crescent Bay, 6x8", oil on linen on board

Last Thursday I spent a wonderful day in Laguna Beach with Kim VanDerHoek and our March plein air class. We were on a spectacular small beach with many painting opportunities. My goal was to choose a simple, strong composition, and not get caught up in the overall view and distractions.

These rocks are looking south, and I eliminated almost all of the bluff. I originally had some sand at the bottom, but it did not really add to the composition and I like it much better without it. As usual, the sun, fog, clouds, tide, shadows and general scene changed every few minutes, and the gorgeous weather and spring break brought in quite a few kids and families. It's very challenging to focus on the painting when there is so much going on (and I'm easily distracted anyway). 

About 10:00 am, a marine mammal rescue center released four rehabilitated seals right in front of us. That was a fun distraction, and it was great to see them dive right into the waves. You really never know what you're going to get when you go outside to paint!

Late morning, after the fog and seals, before many people showed up

Plein Air in Laguna Beach, and other frogs

Laguna Morning, 5"x7", oil on panel,
©2013 Cindy Greene

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First off,  I am very happy with this painting. There, I said it.

My husband and I have a saying, "If you have to eat frogs, eat the biggest one first." This has morphed into "Anything I don't want to do, or am procrastinating, or am even nervous about, is a frog. Okay, I'll eat it first." This has been a week of frog-eating. 

Thursday morning was my last scheduled plein air class with Kim VanDerHoek. We were going to Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, and the day was promising. But painting at Heisler Park is a sort of mecca to plein air painters, the ultimate gorgeous seaside spot. What if I really made a mess of it? Therefore, it became a frog.

I'm happy to say that the fog lifted, I had a great time, I'm happy with the painting, and all is well. 

Ribbetttt!!