Tree Study

Repose
oil on panel, 7x5

Painting on a cloudy day is usually a challenge.  The sun was shining when I started my plein air session in the morning.  I finished one small painting of a tree by the water, and then I turned and saw another view that I liked.  After I started "Repose" the clouds were coming in.  There was still enough light to have some soft shadows on the tree and the ground, and some reflections in the water.  The range of colors was limited, but I had some contrast to work with.  I like painting a fairly strong contrast between the darkest dark and the lightest light.  I named it "Repose" because it was a very quiet, peaceful afternoon.

Lovers Key State Park

The Silent Hour
Oil on panel, 14x11

On the path to the beach at Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers, Florida, there is a boardwalk next to a mangrove swamp.  I set up my easel on the boardwalk and tilted my umbrella to give my painting some shade.  It was early in the morning, and very quiet.  Herons flew across the water as I painted.  Some rested in the mangroves.  After a while, beachgoers started to walk past me.  Most of them stopped to look.  I have gotten used to painting in front of people, but I still find it hard to paint and answer questions at the same time.  I admire the plein air teachers who can do a demo and talk at the same time.

Three Sailboats Revisited

In Between
Oil on canvas, 16x12

Sometimes I use a small, plein air study for a larger, studio painting.  I never want to merely make a larger copy.  Instead, I try to use the study for inspiration, and also use my imagination while I make a new and different piece.  In this studio painting, I added a lot of texture and layers.  In some ways, it is very similar to the original study, but it has even more of an impressionistic, painterly feeling.

Here is the original 8x10 plein air painting: