Even though my paintings are getting larger these days, I still enjoy working on smaller accent paintings. Still I paint what I am drawn to…ocean related. These are all 12×12″ except for the Octopus which is 14″. The shell paintings are a series of three, sold together for 295.00. I also think that the shells would make nice images printed on fabric for pillows.
“Nearly Home” is a 24×48″ gallery wrap just completed. I was inspired by another painting I had completed recently. I cannot post the other one yet because it is a gift.
My goal was to use fluid and broad strokes and keep the landscape more impressionistic. Even though there are a lot of paint strokes, they are not entirely random. Making each stroke finite and not working into it and blending takes a lot of self control.
Details of some of the brush strokes.
Over the holidays, I painted this 30×48″ scene. I wanted to do an abstract painting originally but the more I worked on it, the more fantasy was added. After a few days, this emerged: a small landscape of the reflections on the water and the glow of the lights in the little house. It is called “Silent Night” and I hope the feeling it gives you is a positive one. The moon at the end of December was another inspiration that was incorporated.
Enjoy!
detail of house
This commission took a lot more time in the studio because of the size and also the client’s directives. Originally, they wanted an “Abstract Expression” of their favorite place in the Abacos, Hopetown. They sent various photos of the famous lighthouse and their navy blue yacht and instructed me to use lots of texture and bright colors. Abstract is an odd term and I had to explain to them that if they wanted the lighthouse and boat and all the elements of a LANDSCAPE, it would be far less “abstract”. My brush strokes were quite loose and bold, mixing palette knife and large brushes, mixing custom colors to go with their rug in the room that they will hang this painting in, adding more texture and complimentary colors, enhancing the sunrise…etc. I finally went with my style of expressionistic painting to complete the landscape.
“Hopetown Paradise” is 48×36″
Photos sent by customer as reference: ( I also used some of my photography from several trips that I took a decade ago. I have actually been to Hopetown three times to shoot weddings. Such a cool island.)
This commission was done for a client who wanted some paintings on the wall on their stairwell. I had done this series several years ago but then recently they repainted their home so the colors needed to be updated. Also, since the original paintings were done, they hired me to add 3 additional paintings for the bottom part of the tall staircase. There is a break between the top four paintings and the 3 bottom paintings (underwater scene, see past blog post below). I added a lot more colors to the older four paintings, added clouds and more reflections.
This is the older versions. Making the changes meant that all areas of the painting were affected. Actually nearly painting from scratch…
“Morning at Turtle Bay” 40×30′ was painted in a larger size from a similar painting that I did after visiting St. Kitts earlier in the year. (“Nevis in the Distance” See below). I had taken photos while painting on this idyllic beach. It was a windy day so the sailboats that would have been sailing that day came around the tip of the island to anchor and wait for the wind to die down. The first sailboat still had one sail up still while getting in position. There was a little dock and we swam in the shallow water. Paradise.
Of course on this second painting from my photograph, I changes a few things and tried to make the water reflect less wind in the cove. This painting will go on my wall at home.
Then, after completing the larger 40×30″ scene, I wanted to explore the idea again to learn and be bolder with my new ideas. My husband remarked that he didn’t understand why I painted two of the same painting. I wanted to change the time of day like it was a summer evening with the moon lighting up the sky. I also wanted to try making the colors more brilliant and colorful. These two new paintings really made me happy while painting it and I am assuming that the happy feeling transcends to whomever purchases the painting.
“Twilight Sail” 40×30″
Nevis in the Distance is 24×30 was done earlier in the year and was my inspiration for the two new larger paintings.
“All You Need” is a smaller landscape 24×20″ and done from the same photos I shot while on that beautiful beach.
“Sand Bank Bay” 24×24 is from a Str Kitts trip two years ago. Sand Bank Bay is on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island and near the most southernly points. Available for purchase.
“Palm Reflections with Bridge” was painted to reflect a scene form a boat on the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville. It is 48×24″ and would look great in a living room with taller ceilings. I had done a series of a half dozen similar paintings in the series “Palm Reflections”. Most were more abstract and I wanted this one to bear more reflections and details.
This is a decor idea.
Details: As you can see, the brush strokes are deliberate and gestural.
“Having Lunch in the Cabana” is 30×15″ and a nice size for many areas of a home. This original acrylic painting on canvas was made up form memories of my trips to the West Indies. There is something challenging and yet freeing to work form memories alone.
detail
This was the first painting I worked on when I finally got back into my studio at home. I must admit that working in my studio with air conditioning and music playing is my preference even though plein air does allow an artist to really see differently. Probably its best to do some of each.
I called this painting “Outside Inside Outside” because of the fact that I was looking from the outside of Kate’s kitchen window with the shutters opened, into the kitchen where lunch was being prepared and then out the north window at the palms on the other side. SO glorious how the tropical breeze blew right through the house. No bugs except some lizards and perfect weather. The orange metal roof and tropical flowers all around.
As you can see, I again started with the entire painting loosely brushed in with brown glazes and then other colors layered over the original brown textures. I liked how the browns peeked through between the wooden shingles.
If you haven’t already done so, please send my blog link to your friends. You never know if my Island Art would go perfectly in their home. I appreciate you.
Turtle Bay is on the very southern tip of the island of St. Kitts. We were cordially invited to spend the day painting at a new friend’s home on the beach. The island of Nevis is visible in the distance. We swam and enjoyed some rum punches with the family and painted all day. The day got quite windy and the sailboats started coming around the island to anchor. The first boat still had one sail up while they anchored so I took some photos for reference that day. SO glad I did because I really liked the composition.
Again I started with a mixture of browns to sketch in the scene with brushed washes. When that dried, I was able to add some other tints for the basis of the design. I also added the little dock that was just outside of the shot but on other photographs.
In my work, I am trying to explore the feelings I have from an experience and inspiration so adding bright colors and more abstract tendencies work well. My paintings are more in the category of impressionism/expressionism.
Painting is available and would look great with beach decor.
