Day 16 - Evening sky from my window

Eastern Sky

Watercolor and Pitt pen in my sketchbook.

While I was doing some other work, I happened to look up to see this lovely eastern sky at about 3:30 pm  - early evening in January.

Day 3 - Short Walk in Bayville

I'm trying to combine a couple of things - a little exercise, a little painting - at least while the weather is rather mild for January in New York.
I took a short walk in town, down along West Shore road to the bridge and the marina and was treated to another gorgeous sunset! I can't ever do it justice. Golden and orange, rosy to purples and blues and greys. I also really enjoyed the ambient noise - the water lapping, the gulls calling, the thunk thunk thunk of cars crossing the drawbridge behind me, little birds saying their goodnights and finding a warm place to cozy up for the night.

January Sunset at the Marina

watercolor, 6"x6"

Enjoying some Downton Abbey now...have a great night!

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 7 - 30/30 Challenge - Orient Point Lighthouse, Sunset - DONE

Orient Point Lighthouse, Sunset, pastel, 12x14.5"

I think this is FINISHED!  And honestly, this snapshot doesn't do it any justice. The purples are so much more vibrant. But such is the problem with blues and violets. Because of where blue and purple are on the spectrum, digital (RGB) cameras have a really hard time getting the color true. Eventually I'll photo in better light and make the adjustments in Photoshop to demonstrate.

On to the next!

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 5 - 30/30 Challenge - Orient Lighthouse Progress

Orient Lighthouse, Sunset, pastel, unfinished

Under the heading of "Yes, you've seen this before." The painting of Orient Point Lighthouse is coming along nicely. I would say this is about 60% done in this picture. The rocks and the lighthouse, need to be more clear - some more definition. I've already done more with the sky than is in this picture. I'll post the final tomorrow.

My goal in this 30/30 Challenge is not necessarily to paint 30 finished pieces in 30 days, but to paint every day for 30 days. With a solo show coming in November and some other life changes, this time around, just painting everyday will be enough to get a substantial bit of work done.

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 3 – 30/30 Challenge, Round 4. Orient Lighthouse

So as promised – not a finished painting. I've been at work on this painting of a sunset at Orient Lighthouse (Coffee Pot) for a couple of days. I had a smaller version of this from another 30/30 Challenge, but fortunately it sold! So, because I'm trying to round-out some paintings for the November solo show, I decided to to a larger, more substantial one.

This is about 12" w x 10" h on a really nice black paper I bought several years ago and I can't remember what it is - maybe Strathmore? I don't recall if it's specifically a pastel paper, but it holds the pastel very nicely and can tolerate some wetting.

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. 

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)

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Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset

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

$300 (Free Shipping)

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Yellow Farmstand in Winter, Orient Harbor

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

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Red Barn, Cutchogue

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

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Evening at the Boatyard, Greenport

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

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Moonrise, Orient

Pastel,  16"h x 21"w (mat included)
$400 (includes shipping)
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After the Blizzard, Bayville

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

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Winter Vineyard

Pastel,  9"h x 12"w
SOLD

The Sundial

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

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

$300 (includes shipping)

Day 2 of the 30/30 Marketing Your Art Challenge

Day two of the 30/30MYAC is to put a piece of your older work up for sale on your website or blog.
Being new new new to blogging, here comes my learning curve!

The first thing to do is to get Paypal linked up. I've found that it's fairly straightforward. For those who don't know how, I can now explain. First have a Paypal account. Once you are there, go to the Merchant Services Tab and voila! there are your choices! Plug in your price, the shipping, etc and it will generate a code that you just cut/paste in under the image of the painting! SO easy right? You can save buttons, have the button shut off if the item is sold, etc. Brilliant. Here's the tricky bit - paste the code they give you into the html area (in blogger - that's just above on the left). I had already placed the photo and written the caption, so I just c/p under all the other stuff there.  Ah ha! Look! SO amazing!

I've chosen to bring a little attention to this oil pastel painting Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset. It's a close-up of the walkway between the keeper's house & the lighthouse itself. It's sunset and the sky is so bright and the windows just glow. The painting itself is 10w x 14.75h (and I'll include the matt). Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Fire Island Lighthouse, Sunset   Susan Herbst