I did this small study after noticing the buildings across the harbor and how the morning sky was reflected in the glass. It was an interesting exercise as I hadn't painted anything like this before which forced me to think quite differently about what I was trying to capture. Size is 8" x 10", oil on canvas.
Moving to a new location, it has taken me a while to start assimilating some of what I have seen around me into my paintings. Most mornings, if there looks to be an interesting cloud formation, I will get up just as it is getting light and go down to the nearby dock where I can take in the dawning of the day. This view across the harbor shown here, just as it is getting light is one of the first images that stayed in my mind and one that I really wanted to paint. I saw the three buildings and their reflections in the water as an abstract pattern, and this was the impetus for the painting. It has been some time since I have painting any large buildings such as these so I kept the painting small to start with. But the view does contain plenty of subject matter so I think will work well as a larger painting too. Size is 10" x 8", oil on canvas.
Okay, so it is not quite winter yet - at least not around here where we are having an Indian summer! These Turnstones were seen last year when we were staying down on the Eastern Shore and I have always enjoyed watching them. They are plump-looking birds with slightly small heads and stubby legs which allow them to easily turn over things such as stones (where they get their name), shells, seaweed etc looking for whatever they can find to eat underneath.
I also saw them in the Bahamas where I tempted them closer with crumbs of whole-wheat crackers sprinkled on rocks a few meters away from where we sat - then they were very tame but usually one can't get that close to them. I think I prefer them in their more subtle winter plumage as they have quite different markings in summer. Both these studies were done in my sketchbook, each sized around 6" x 9".
