Day 5 - 30/30 Challenge - Dune Walk, Sunken Meadow

Dune Walk, Sunken Meadow

watercolor, 6"x6", $35

A Labor Day weekend walk at Sunken Meadow State Park on a increasingly overcast day. The dunes, the tidal creek, the Sound. It seemed as though there was a painting around every corner – every curve in the path.

This is Day 5 of the Leslie Saeta 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. This is the fifth time she has issued the challenge and there are more than 1000 artists participating this time. It's not a contest but an exercise.
My discovery the first time through was that it's about the doing. It's about getting your idea painted or drawn. It doesn't HAVE to be perfect and you don't need to spend hours. It IS an important way to grow as an artist. It's about problem solving and it's a commitment - like going to work is a commitment. 

Please follow me here on my blog and see what others are doing on Leslie's site. Feel free to share with your friends and check out my Etsy site and Facebook page as well (links to the right).

Day 3 - 30/30 Challenge - Sea Cliff Beach Sunset

Summer Sunset, Sea Cliff Beach

watercolor, 6"x6", $35

One summer evening in July some friends and I grabbed a bottle of wine, some cheese and fruit and enjoyed each other's company with some laughs and a wonderful sunset.  

I think a lot about why we insist on painting sunsets. It is nearly impossible to capture on paper or canvas the spectrum of color, luminescence and majesty. The light and shadow, reflections and subtleties change constantly. It's even difficult to accurately capture one in a photograph – for one thing, the scale is always wrong.

Still, we keep trying. But while we're trying, enjoy the magnificence with some friends whenever you can.

Day 1 - 30/30 Challenge - Summer Day, Oyster Bay

Summer Day, Oyster Bay

Watercolor, 6"x6" $35

SOLD!

I'm a little late posting, but here's Day1 of the Leslie Saeta 30/30 Challenge. More than 1000 artists are participating this time. 

The clouds were so pretty that day - there was even a bit of pink in the sky. Warm/cool, warm/cool.

I did a similar pastel of this plein air back in July.

Here's the plein air:

More tomorrow - or should I say later today!

Paintings Make Great Gifts! The 2014 Edition

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to Long Island paintings I have available for sale. This is actually Part 3, Parts 1 & 2 were posted last December. (You can see them here & here.)

My Lighthouse

Painted last July plein air.  Matted. Frame NOT included

Watercolor, 7.5" x 9.5"

$250

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Big Duck 2

One of my favorite unique Long Island places - The Big Duck

Watercolor, 13.5" x 10", Mat only. Frame NOT included.

$300

______________________________________________________________

In Memorium

Painted plein air.

Watercolor, 14" x 10.5", Matted

$350

______________________________________________________________

Blue Sky, Red Roof

Love that blue blue sky & the red roofs of so many buildings by the sea.

Watercolor, 13.5" x 10", Matted

$350

Day 10 - 30/30 Challenge - Dune Path, Sunken Meadow

Dune Path, Sunken Meadow, watercolor, 10.5" w x 7" h

Another busy day! Today we met at The Art Guild for some clean up and prep for our re-opening show on September 20 (reception & open house Sunday September 21, 3-6 pm). There were lots of things to put in order and so I had to really squeeze in a painting today!

This watercolor is painted from a bunch of photos I took on a very quick walk at Sunken Meadow State Park a couple of weeks ago. This dune over looks the Long Island Sound to the north and Stony Brook to the east. To the right of this area of dunes is a lovely tidal marsh and on the other side of the creek there are walking trails covering acres of wooded hills. I think it's interesting that sometimes blue in the sky is sky and sometimes it's how we represent clouds on an overcast day.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 8 - 30/30 Challenge - Rowboat

Rowboat, Sunken Meadow, watercolor and ink marker, 5x8" NFS

Today I went down to the beach to read my book and do a painting for today, and realized that I forgot my sketchbook and paints. Later, I finished up a sketch that I started last week at Sunken Meadow State Park. I liked the shape of this rescue boat and amount of blues in the scene. The blue-purple-grey sky, the prussian blue of the sound and the Connecticut coast, the purple-blue shadow and the shot of sky-to-turquoise blue inside the rowboat. I certain I didn't capture it accurately, but those colors are embedded in my memory.

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 6 - 30/30 Challenge - Cup of Beer

Cup of Beer at the Beach, watercolor, 5x8, in my watercolor sketchbook, NFS

Summer is quickly disappearing and a day at the beach is a treasured thing. As I read a book I noticed this cup of beer on a "neighbor's" mini-picnic table. It was so golden, and captured the feel of the day perfectly!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Day 4 - 30/30 Challenge - Ocean Waves

Ocean Waves, Robert Moses Beach, 9x12", pastel on mi-teintes paper

I forgot I did this! This is one of the paintings I worked on ahead of time. I did it plein air in pastel on mi-teintes paper at Robert Moses Beach State Park. This was a couple of days after a hurricane passed far south and east. Though I wasn't there for the truly gigantic waves, they were still impressive – breaking far out from the shoreline, crashing at the sand bar and cresting again before hitting the beach. Beautiful!

Though many of these paintings won't be for sale right away, I'd like to direct you to my Etsy page where I'm having a little sale. Please consider purchasing a painting because, a. Christmas is coming, and these little 6x6s really make nice gifts, and/or b. the mermaid needs to buy some picture frames for the big solo show and selling a couple of these little guys would be a BIG help!

I'd also like to suggest that you sign up on the right side of this page for emails (not every day), and the follow button to get notifications when this blog is updated (for this month nearly every day, most times, not so much).

Get more info on the 30/30 challenge go to Leslie Saeta's blog by clicking here.

Opening Reception - Annual Lighthouse Show - Open 'til July 20

It was a perfect evening in late June. A delightful walk along the boardwalk with my mom, music, wine, gentle breezes and wonderful artwork. (I love the march of the clouds in the picture above.)

Obligatory shots of the artist and her work. 

(After School Activities, Monhegan Schoolhouse, watercolor.)

(Click for information about this painting.)

Do I look sweaty? I feel sweaty. It's always hot in that building on opening night.

(In Memorium, watercolor)

There's so much to see - paintings are downstairs and there are two rooms of photography upstairs. Don't miss this wonderful show – at the Fire Island Lighthouse, on display until July 20. And don't forget, all the art is for sale and a portion goes to the Lighthouse Preservation Society (and the balance goes to an artist who probably needs the sale too!).

Looking back at the lighthouse as we leave.

Gorgeous clouds and sky and dunes.

The photo doesn't do this justice. We like to pretend that the clouds are faraway snow-capped mountains with the sun behind just turning their peaks crimson and gold as it sets.

Does anyone other than us make those imaginary landscapes?

The show is open 'til July 20 (Did I mention that?) and I highly recommend spending the day at Robert Moses State Park, walking the beach or the boardwalk, seeing the show, climbing the tower, walking into Kismet to The Inn or The Out and having lunch, or relaxing with a book on the beach. 

Need more info? Go to the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society for directions, hours and more. 

Day 2 - 30/30 Challenge - Snowy Owl

Snowy Owl

Pastel on mi teintes paper, $35

SOLD!

These beautiful birds usually inhabit the tundras of the Arctic, but in the winter they move south to find food (mice, voles, small birds) more easily. Some years only a handful of owls are spotted along the beaches and dunes of Long Island and some years there seems to be a plague of them. This is one of those plague years.
If you've never seen a snowy owl in person, it's not terribly hard to find them - just look for the photographers.
If there is even a whisper of a snowy owl at Jones Beach, there will be 25-40 photographers each with $10K worth of camera equipment combing the dunes. Once the celebrowl is found, they stake out at "decent" (questionable) distance and spend the rest of the day – 'til the sun sets – as slo-mo paparazzi. The silliest thing I've ever seen. The owl turns his head, stretches a wing, or moves a talon and the perfectly synchronized whir of shutters can be heard 50 yards away.
It begs the question: Exactly how many photographs does anyone need of a snowy owl? Every day. All winter. 100s of thousands of photos. Of the same owl, by 35 photographers, all standing in the same spot. Is there a big market for snowy owl pictures? Who knew?

I do go to see the owls, and pay my respects to the beautiful birds. I stay pretty far away, watching through my binoculars, take a couple of pix that I know won't be magazine quality, and hope that the photographers aren't stressing it out to much. Then I go and look for the harbor seals playing in the bay and ruddy turnstones running alone the boardwalk, loons and brants and the occasional peregrine falcon.

I often stay to see the spectacular winter sunset and (sometimes) the moon coming up. 

The golden grasses, white sand, cold greenish blue ocean and purply eastern sky make the winter beach anything but drab and boring.

Paintings For Sale - Long Island Part 2

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to the Long Island paintings I have available for sale in my Etsy shop. The eleven paintings in this collage,  are approx 6"x6", in various media, starting at $35 each. Part 3 to come!
(If you've seen something that's not posted here, please contact me.)

Visit my Etsy Shop to purchase any of these paintings

Autumn, Uplands Farm

Corn and Oysters, North Fork Farmstand

Early Evening, Orient Village

SOLD!

Rottcamp's Farm, Tractor

Moonrise at Sunset, Fire Island Lighthouse

SOLD!

Evening Thunderstorm, Sod Farm

Winter Walk, Jessup's Neck

Elderfields, Port Washington

Greenhouse, Bailey Arboretum

Kayaks, End of the Season SOLD!

Little Red Maple

Paintings For Sale - Long Island Part 1

I can safely say that there is no one more appreciative than an artist, when buyers Shop Local and/or Shop Small Business. After all, most artists ARE small businesses and purchases directly effect their lives.

I'm dedicating this blog post to Long Island paintings I have available for sale. Part 2 to come!
(If you've seen something that's not posted here, please contact me.)

Sunset, Centre Island Beach

Oil Pastels, 16.5"w x 12.5"h (mat included)

$350 (Free Shipping)

_______________________________________________________________

Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset

Oil Pastels, 10w x 14.75h (mat included)

$300 (Free Shipping)

_______________________________________________________________

Yellow Farmstand in Winter, Orient Harbor

Watercolor, 15.75x10.75 (mat included)
$300 (includes shipping)

_______________________________________________________________

Red Barn, Cutchogue

Watercolor, 16"w x10.5"h (mat included)
$350 (includes shipping)

_______________________________________________________________

Evening at the Boatyard, Greenport

Watercolor,  11.5"w x 14"h
$300 (includes shipping)

_______________________________________________________________

Moonrise, Orient

Pastel,  16"h x 21"w (mat included)
$400 (includes shipping)
_______________________________________________________________

After the Blizzard, Bayville

Watercolor,  14"w x 10"h (mat included)
$300 (includes shipping)

_______________________________________________________________


Winter Vineyard

Pastel,  9"h x 12"w
SOLD

The Sundial

Watercolor,  8.75"w x 13"h (mat included)
SOLD
_______________________________________________________________

Wild Daffodils

Watercolor and colored pencil,  13.5"w x 10.125"h 

$300 (includes shipping)