Water, Water Everywhere

The Richard Stravitz Gallery in Virginia Beach has a new exhibit starting August 8th entitled WATER WATER EVERYWHERE in support of the volunteer Virginia Beach Rescue Squad. One could assume it's themed about the Beach but it's not totally true.

So my project today is...."Chuck what are you gonna take"? Well best start with one they asked for......the obvious. This painting speaks to the obvious beach but it's draw is perhaps more about it's size at 66x60.

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

 

851 OUR BEACH 66x60 oil on linen (8-9-13) 

Coincidentally almost a birthday painting to the exhibit....kinda cool! 

SOMETHING NEW

968 REDHEAD 20x20 oil on linen (7-20-15)

SOMETHING NOT SO OBVIOUS

 964 RED REEDS & BLUE AIR 60x48 oil on linen (6-1-15)

 SOMETHING TO GO WITH A BIG ONE

965 BLUE IRIS & MORNING MIST 30x30 oil on linen (6-6-15)

SOMETHING THEY HAVE

888 MORNING PROMISE 20x20 oil on linen (2-8-14)

&

893 SPRING WATERS 24x24 oil on linen (3-5-14)

&

919 SUNLIGHT & LILY PADS 44x40 oil on linen (8-25-15)

SOMETHING I LIKE TO PAINT

963 SUMMER MIST 56x48 oil on linen (5-18-15)

&

966 SUMMER SHOWERS 20X20 oil on linen (7-13-15)

&

967 OCEAN HEAT 20x20 oil on linen (7-15-15)

SOMETHING TO STOP WITH

427 PRECIOUS 14X11 oil on linen (12-31-10) 

&

425 CATCH ME IF YOU CAN 14x11 oil on linen (12-26-10)

All that's left is to find a small rental truck. One of the problems with big work it requires more than the family SUV to lug around. 

A redheaded beach toddler

Sunday: I decided to pick up my brushes and do some honest work for a change. There's a group show next month about water. I picked this little redheaded toddler and his mom playing in the sand as an add-on to my beach collection. After awhile you collect a few themed paintings like this that if put together tell a story. Have to look at that when I get a chance. 

9:15am time to start - this, like the last few will be a 20x20 linen canvas.

END OF DAY

968-1

 968-1 Redhead detail

Mom pretty much took the whole day and some parts turned out to be a challenge and a half !  I was tired by the time I got to the little redhead and really had to push to finish the transition outline edges on both.

Monday: I'm ready to go a second round with a fresh eye - and today the painting is dry thanks to mixing in Griffin alkyd white with my normal oils.

8:32am time to paint!

END OF DAY & COMPLETED PAINTING

968 REDHEAD & BEACH PLASTIC 20x20 oil on linen (7-20-15)

I pulled another one of three kids playing in the surf when looking for this one - in this case the little redhead was hard to beat. There's still time for the three amigos.....might try that between getting ready for the group show.

Three Amigos - girls in pink

REDHEAD is already available as a Giclee on Fine Art America  and my website under "Available Paintings".

More water and Friday is here again

Tuesday saw the start of another 20x20 seascape. The reference was from a beach trip a few years ago and as an extra topping I changed the mood dramatically by adding morning heat from the rising sun. However, the reference reminds me this collection is more about indirect light than an eye popping sun.

 REFERENCE

END OF DAY

967 - 1 The camera doesn't love it like the eye - looks harsh.

My foreground wave was problematic from the start. Scraping it off was impossible. The heavy paint application dried within hours thanks to Griffin alkyd titanium white and Neo Megilp. Not sure how I feel about that, but when mixed, it does help regular oil colours set up quick - add Neo Megilp and it's even faster.

Wednesday 6:52am - early, but was time to fix it!

COMPLETED PAINTING

 967 OCEAN HEAT 20x20 oil on linen (7-15-15)

Perhaps a tad darker on the photo but the wave feels more true for the extra time spent on it.

Tonight is Crossroads bi-monthly opening night where a lot of art enthusiasts gather to enjoy themselves for a few hours. My little part is mostly framed Giclees now with a few originals mixed in and called The Private Collection Giclee. That will be a bit of a change from the past. The publisher did a wonderful job so I'm sure most won't notice the change.......except perhaps the prices;=)

If your in the area stop by 6 to 9 pm 2016 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, Va. 23230 804.278.8950

OCEAN HEAT is already available as a Giclee on Fine Art America  and my website under "Available Paintings".

Gotta get back to it!

July, like last month, seems like a speeding train with no stops to change. However, I am in the mood to jump off for awhile and smell the paint fumes again!

9:35 It's been awhile so 20x20 is a good starting point. I'll pick up where I left off on my air collection and see what happens. Plus I need some water paintings for a group show at the beach later this month. 

END OF DAY

966 Summer Showers 20x20 oil on linen (7-13-15)

I like the warm morning summer light in this painting. This Virginia beach view catches the morning sun rises and in the evening captures wonderfully reflected sun on the clouds. It could easily be an endless painting subject for any artist.

SUMMER SHOWERS is already available as a Giclee on Fine Art America  and my website under "Available Paintings".

The Private Collection Giclee

Good news, my new Giclee website is up and running!!

Many thanks to the FASO team for doing such a wonderful job modifying one of their enhanced templates to fit my needs. I'm sure as time moves on it will see many more modifications, but for now it's perfect!

Yesterday I did a (12) photo-merge on one of my favorite James River paintings #691. Never really managed a good photo before so yesterday was my chance to make it right.

 A NEW ADDITION TO THE GICLEE COLLECTION

 691 THE JAMES 40x44 oil on linen (7-17-12)