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".
Ghost crabs were often seen as we walked along the shore. Most quickly disappeared into their burrows as we approached but some were caught out when we got between them and their holes dug in the sand. Then they usually would freeze and we could get a much closer look at them.
Occasionally, we would come across much larger specimens that simply stood their ground, pincers raised and at the ready! Two of those crabs are pictured here. Both done in watercolor on Canson paper, each around 6" x 9".
I saw these Eastern Sycamore trees lined up next to the path on a bright and sunny day in a nearby park so tried to capture the scene in watercolor. Size is 7" x 5" for this study.
I finally managed to finish this one! There may be a little more work to do later but for now, I'll put it away so that I can come back in a week or so with a fresh eye and see if there is anything more I want to do to it (there usually is!). Size is 15" x 22", watercolor on Arches paper.
After a final pass, I think that I am about finished with the logs. Looking for something else to do after spending so long on the woodpile, I begin adding texture and various scuff marks to the siding behind, and also some smaller details around the window. The tree gets more washes and I begin to add branches although I haven't finished with that either! I'm hoping another session or two will see this one done as I have other work I want to get on with.
