The Beach - Sunsets and a Storm

Last summer while at my favorite beach I took a series a photographs of the sun setting. I stood in the same spot and watched the colors change before my eyes. It was as relaxing as watching the sun set on the Santa Monica Pier out west.

Well, this summer I decided to capture those sunsets on canvas. All 3 pieces are 24x36". The first, Sunset- Northern Neck was well received at my August 5th art show. It was purchased as a gift for someone who had recently purchased a home there.

The second will be delivered Labor Day weekend to someone who is an avid photographer and who has enjoyed this sunset most of his life.

Lastly, there's the abstract storm of the same place.

For those of you who enjoy abstracts, this one is still available.

I’ve got my head in the clouds…


One of the artists who have remained in my Top 10 is the painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Yes, I love his use of color and brilliant compositions but most of all it’s his turbulent skies. On overcast days I often look up and say that it’s a sky made by Rubens. Still, I have avoided painting clouds like the plague…until this summer .

It started with two photographs taken with my ‘handheld device (a.k.a cell phone) from the passenger seat on the way to and from my favorite beach. The first is a swirly mess that is part smoke and part clouds, the second was a dramatic sky that I captured while riding across the Harry Nice Bridge.

I loved what I was able to do in the first work, titled Leaving Virginia. (Based on the the photo taken with my cellular phone).

11x14"

Then I recalled the dramatic clouds that I photographed at Bettystown Beach in Ireland in March 2009. So I painted 2 versions. One of which now hangs in the home of art collectors in Chicago; the other is still ‘up for grabs’- for now.

20x20"

15x30"

This photo was taken while I waited at a stop light to change …because I found it inspiring, glad that I didn’t have to explain that to a police officer.

And someone that had seen a couple of my clouds paintings sent this and offered a commission…wish me luck!

Another that is very dear to me is the painting of The Ambassador Bridge from the Detroit River.

I have wanted to capture this scene for years because I had fond memories of boating on the Detroit river and seeing what I remember as the Canada Dry sign light up in red script lights. Well, after lots of research and consulting with 4 other Detroiters, I found out that the red sign that I had stored into my weak memory bank was actually for Canadian Club-the whiskey…yes, we all laughed about that but I did include the sign in the painting. The goal in that work was to create a dramatic sun setting with clouds and I was pleased with the result. In fact, another version is in the works-a larger canvas where one can see the Canadian Club clearer…and the clouds, of course.

How the creative process works for me…

Well, there's me:

I have the critics:

” Mommy I love it, can I buy it?’

“Mommy, that doesn’t look like your picture”

“Mommy, that line is uneven”







Then there’s the constant companion:

…yeah, I know-I used to hate cats! But he’s just a little person trapped in a fur coat.

Then there’s “I’m staying out of it!” :

  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
It all works out in the end!

Something about California...

The series started with San Fran but I felt the need to create at least one piece from Los Angeles.  I lived there and have lots of colorful memories of that great place. So I finished San Fran with these 2 pieces:

 

                                                           and moved on to No U Turn, from L.A.