Sea and Sky II

8"x10"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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Another plein air painting from Florida. This one was made near sunset.

Sea and Sky

6"x6"
Oil on Panel

with Palette Knife

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Here is a new plein air painting from Florida's Gulf Coast. This one focuses on the color relationships between the sky and the shore. I was intrigued how some of the shadow colors on the shore matched the deeper shades in the clouds. I'm glad I got up early to capture this painting. By the time I finished, a storm front was blowing in.

Plein Air Painter’s Tip: 

Some of you pros may already know this, but today I discovered a handy painting hack. If you're using a french easel, you can position your canvas in such a way so you can use the top of the easel lid to act as a guide for your horizon line. See how the horizon line runs right across the top of the easel lid in the action shot below.

Sandcastle

12"x12" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

NFS

Seven Days on 30-A: Day 7

Our final day on the beach—and the final painting of this series. Our family loves to build sandcastles. The previous day's storm made perfect conditions for sandcastle building on the beach. This painting is of the kids attempting the most epic sandcastle yet. 

Changing Tides

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Seven Days on 30-A: Day 5

I am always amazed at how different each day is on the beach. Today the waves were stronger. The higher tides carved interesting shapes on the shore. This painting is of the newly carved beach with a mother carefully watching her children as they play in the stronger currents.

Seaside Play

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Seven Days on 30-A: Day 4

Today, we traveled over to Seaside. Seaside is one of several planned communities on 30-A. The movie "The Truman Show" was filmed there. In addition to Seaside's beautiful architecture, the town also has a marvelous outdoor amphitheater. We went there to watch a dramatic spoof on Cinderella. My painting of the evening's performance was quite a challenge. I have never tried to paint an impression of so  many people in plein-air. But it was a lot of fun. 

Kids loved walking by to take a peek.

I also had the pleasure of speaking with a local art student form Panama City. 

Dune Lake

9"x12" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Seven Days on 30-A: Day 3

On day 3, we ventured out for a nature walk at Camp Hellen. I spent the morning by a rare dune lake. It was so quiet and peaceful. My only companion was a Mullet skipping about the water. If you ever get a chance to get away from the beaches and explore the state parks, you will be in for a real treat. There is so much beauty to enjoy besides the beaches.

Holiday

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Seven Days on 30-A: Day 2

On day two, the sea was calm and beach-goers were enjoying the beach to the fullest—grouped in islands of tents, umbrellas and chairs. The waves were mild and the colors were brilliant. Facing east was particularly colorful. The sun was lighting up the high-rise condos a few miles down the coast. It was a beautiful day full of colorful fun and sun.

Evening Haze

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Seven Days on 30-A: Day 1

Hello Beach! We arrived at the beach house in the mid afternoon. Our luggage still in the car, we took off our shoes and walked on the soft, white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast. We smelled the sea air, felt the warm breeze on our faces and gazed at the beauty of the ocean. The afternoon light was beginning to turn the sea into a dazzling display of light. After a hurried unloading and quick-change, we came back out to play. For me, playing meant painting the changing colors of the hazy afternoon light. It was as refreshing to my soul as splashing in the ocean waves—which I also did with my family.

Lazy Days

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 11.

One third of the challenge is behind me. Time to relax and take a break, at least in my artist’s mind, in these cozy adirondacks on the gulf. 

Sunset on 30-A

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: January—Day 4.

When we visit the beautiful beaches along Florida's 30-A, I never get tired of watching the spectacular sunsets.

Gulf View

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge: September—Day 16.

Today's painting reminisces our trip to the Gulf, on Florida's beautiful white beaches.  Over the half-way point in the 30 Days challenge, I thought I'd celebrate by painting a serene scene of relaxation. Ironically, this one took more work than any other painting for this challenge so far. But, in the end, the lasting impression was worth the effort.

Evening Tide

6"x6" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

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Fresh Catch Series #2

Today's painting is of the evening tide in the Gulf of Mexico. There is very little surf in the gulf. Sometimes, it is so calm that it seems as if someone simply turned off the "surf machine." By evening, the sea does manage to muster up some waves. Watch for a future painting of the morning tide to compliment this piece.

Windward Breeze

8"x10" Oil on Gessoed Panel

with Palette Knife

SOLD

Fresh Catch Series #1

This is the first installment of my new costal-inspired painting series called "Fresh Catch." Today's fresh catch is a plein-air painting of dunes on a breezy afternoon at Inlet Beach, Florida. 

Grace

Most every summer we go to the beach. It’s a wonderful time for family fun and relaxation. Our favorite patch of sand is on Seagrove Beach, just off of 30-A in Florida. I have always wanted to paint on the beach. This year, we had the room in our van for my french easel and I seized the moment. Painting the ocean tides was harder than I thought. For one, I chose to paint at dusk, when things are the most colorful. But I discovered that the sun sets rather quickly, and the colors change a bit too fast for my speed. I also realized how hard it was to capture the constant motion of the waves. I think what turned out was more impression than fact. That’s just fine with me because what I was really after was an impression. An impression of God’s Grace. I am amazed how the sea is so varied from day to day, and yet remains so constant. Today’s tide could be calm and gentle. Tomorrow’s tide could be strong enough to change the shape of the shore. Yet, you can always trust that there will be waves. One after another. Endless. Never stopping like a beating heart. God’s Grace is very much like that. Sometimes gentle and peaceful. Other times strong and formative. But no matter what, God’s gift of love comes to us every minute of every hour of every day. It never stops coming to our shores. Like a constant breath, God loves us, forgives us, reforms us and sustains us with every crashing wave. It may too complicated to capture in paint, but the impression it leaves for me is simply beautiful.