Siesta Key Scenes

Time For Fun
Oil on panel, 10x8

Siesta Key, Florida is a fun, scenic place.  I was having breakfast at Lelu's and I snapped a few pictures of colorful buildings that I would like to paint.  This Surf Shop is my third painting in a series of Siesta Key scenes.  I am lucky to live so close to such a popular tourist area.

Studying Birds

Soaking In The Sun
Oil on panel, 7x5

I spend a lot of time looking at birds at the beach.  These little plovers run around quickly and are hard to sketch.  I was able to photograph this one while it paused in the morning sunshine.

Painting On A Rainy Day

September Showers
Oil on panel, 7x5

This is a plein air study done at Nokomis Beach in Nokomis, Florida.  I tried to paint on the beach, but it started raining.  I dragged all my stuff back to a sheltered area and started again.  The clouds were moving quickly and it started raining hard.  I could see showers over the water.  A large flock of terns and seagulls huddled in the sand.

Plein Air Painting Season

The Softness of Morning
Oil on panel, 10x8

My first plein air painting of the season.  It has been too hot to paint outside since June.  I thought I would be rusty but I was able to pick right up and do what I do.  This was painted at Nokomis Beach in Nokomis, Florida at 8:30 in the morning.  I found a quiet place to stand in a shaded area and looked to the south.  September is a good month to paint outside because we still have some dramatic clouds but it is less humid.  I like having clouds in a seascape - makes for a more interesting composition.