Camellias

Even when the weather gets in the 30s, these little jewels of the South keep on blooming.  They  have many different colored blooms including white, coral, pink and red.  Some have variegated petals that look like peppermint candy.  They have thick, waxy-like leaves.  Most people cut them with short stems and put them in tiny little vases or float them in a dish.  Most older homesteads  have at least one in their yard. I have a cousin who has over 300 of all different colors in his yard and many are over 10 feet tall.  It is delightful to visit there when most other blooming things have disappeared!
Natalia Andreeva brought these to class for us to paint.  The exercise was to mix the different colors before we started painting.
I love painting flowers!

Cafe in Paris

This study was done on Day 3 of the workshop. It was done from a photograph of a Cafe in Paris.  I wanted to capture the relaxed atmosphere of the people sipping their coffee while the girl rushes off to work.  And, of course, I loved the red awning!
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People 2

This is the second exercise of the workshop.  This one was about making shapes or gestures that would represent people.  These were from our imagination.  We had about an hour to do this.
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People

Today was the first day of our workshop with Michele Byrne on putting people in the landscape in Apalachicola, Florida.  It was pouring rain outside so we didn't have many models who would venture outside.  We stayed in and painted from pictures.  This was my first try at it.  It was an exercise on the people so I didn't pay much attention to the rest of the composition.
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The Flowered Pitcher

Day 8

I thought I would set up an easy little still life for this painting.  I am not sure what happened after that.  The shapes, the values and the colors just didn't work.  After I walked away for awhile, I decided it was "just a canvas" and it was not in charge!  I came back and had a little talk with it.   I  corrected some of the shapes, values, and colors and now it reads like it should.  Some days just go easier than others.
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Reds 3

I wanted to try something different with this painting.  I have seen where people put 2 panels together and paint on both so they can be hung together.  I am only using small panels but I wanted to test to see how it would work. I would like to use large canvases with this concept.  This is a great experiment and I may be on to something!

This is what it looked like with all three of them together.  The alcohol ink one is on the left.  The 2 on the right are oils.  I would also like to share with you my panel holder.  I saw something like it on Dreama Tolle Perry's site.  It is simply a clipboard with a ruler cut the same width as the clipboard.  The alligator clips hold the ruler in place and you can snug the panels in between pushing the ruler up until the panel doesn't move.  I layed different size panels on the clipboard and drew around them in black marker.  That makes it easier to line them up when I get ready to paint.  Most of my easels accommodate this and I can get to all edges of the panel. I love mine.
You might also have noticed the  black panel behind the paintings.  I made this from a black poster board.  I measured one inch increments and marked it with a silver marker.  I use it behind my paintings to help get the photo straight.  I think I need to hold the camera straight also!  (I did not say it was perfect...LOL!
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Red 2

I used the alcohol ink ideas to see what effects I could get with oil paint.  I have more investigating to do to see how to transfer into the oil medium.
I would also love to find a magic way to photograph reds so they don't look like one big mass. Drives me crazy!  If anyone has an answer , please leave a comment below or message me!
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Happy New Year!  Thank you for joining me for another painting challenge by Leslie Saeta, 30 paintings in 30 days!
It is always a challenge to think about what would be appropriate to paint in a small format.  Driving around the countryside, I noticed this little church.  The light was hitting the right side of it as it sat quietly on a small hill.  I decided it would be a perfect scene to start the New Year.  It allowed me some quiet time to thank the Lord for His many blessings on me.  The flag out front swaying in the breeze represents all the people who have fought for our freedoms.  I thought about how blessed I was to raised in a community of people who loved each other, our country and the Lord!
Thank you for joining me along this journey to becoming a better painter! Please feel free to leave comments and do come again.
I pray that each of you have health, joy and happiness in 2015!
http://www.lesliesaeta.blogspot.com

Another Field

When you grow up in the country, there is something you love about the dirt!  My Daddy used to say when you get the sand between your toes, you always want to come back to it.  It is true.  I love riding through the countryside and watching it change with the seasons and the crops.
I love painting a plowed field just as much as one that has a crop in it.  It is all part of the process.
Painting reminds me of farming.  There are steps you have to take if you want a successful farm or painting.  Farmers have to think about what crops grow better in which season and in which soil.  Painters have to decide which type of painting they can be successful with and what colors and tools to use.  Farmers have to think about  rainfall, pests, and temperature. Painters have to think about values, hues, and temperature.  Farmers are continually thinking and planning ahead. Painters are always looking for their next painting.  Farming is a twenty-four hour a day job.  Painting is also.  Farming is hard work. Painting is too.  The harder a farmer works the more people say he is lucky.  The harder a painter works the more people say they are talented.  It all boils down to one thing...the more you work at it, the better you get!  Farmers and Painters have to do the best they can and let the Lord do the rest!
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Cloudy day

The farmers in our community have picked the peanuts and plowed the fields again.  They will probably plant rye this time to have food for the animals this winter.  This cloud was hanging so low it looked like it was going to touch the ground.  I loved the contrast of the dark purple cloud and the freshly plowed field.
I tried using the palette knife in several directions to get the texture on this one.  It is fun to smear the oil paint around and step back and see what you have! Try it sometime!
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Coconut Palm tree

I love looking up in trees.  There is something majestic about that view!  There is almost always a breeze blowing in from the water near the coast. The soft gentle breeze  makes the palm fronds dance around.
One of the hardest things about painting is deciding when you are finished.  Have you said enough for another viewer to tell what you meant without boring them with too many details?  If the painting isn't working, have you spent too much time on it?  Is it time to move on?  The jury is still out on this one. What do you think?
I was attracted to the movement of the fronds.  I love to paint movement and life into things.  I probably got distracted by that.  I should have planned the different planes of the painting better.  By that I mean, I should have paid more attention to what was behind what.  I had to paint over things I had already painted because I didn't do it in the proper order.  That is my lesson for today.
Overall, I loved the colors and the sky peeking through the swaying fronds.  It was fun dancing with it!
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Train

Cliff's granddaddy worked for Seaboard Coastline.  We were entertained with many train stories.  I always wanted to get a picture with an engine coming toward me.  But I have a great respect for trains and would never get in front of one!  Well, not unless it was stopped.  Luckily the other day when we passed the track, one was sitting still.  I was able to get on the track for the photo.  So today I decided it was time for a train ride!
I have learned this month when you take a photo of your painting, it will show your mistakes immediately.  But I didn't do it.  It is a good lesson.  I will be so glad when I implement what I have learned!  When you think you are close to completion, take a photo and it will show you what to do next.  I need to soften the line between the gravel and the bush on the right side of the train.  It is obvious when you see the photo.  I will do it in the painting now.
There is one other thing I didn't see until I took the photo.  The Engineer is there on the left side! It gave me goose bumps!  Enjoy the ride!
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Swinging in the wind

I am very proud to have a great grandson.  His Mom has tried to limit the chemicals he is exposed to. She has chosen to use cloth diapers for him as much as possible. Kudos to her!
I wanted to do this little playful painting in her honor.

White Rooster

Hopefully this picture will be a little larger.

White Rooster

My Grandma always had Bantam chickens when I was growing up.  They just ran lose around the farm.  I had a white Bantam Rooster that I got as a chick.  He made the strangest sounds  when he first learned how to crow.  He continued to try every morning and never gave up.  He finally got it and I loved to hear him wake me up.  We can learn a lot from the chickens!

Cardinal comes to visit

I love to hear the birds signing outside the studio window.  Look who came to visit!

Hay Fields

I love riding through our county in the fall.  Many of the fields have hay rolled up as the farmers are preparing to have food for their livestock during the winter months.

Stormy Evening

We have had lots of rain.  Several surrounding counties in north Florida are getting flood warnings.

Southern Ingenuity Day 4

Last year when we were eating at a restaurant in Apalachicola, Fl., I noticed one of the doors had an unusual lock on it.  Everytime I think about it, I have to chuckle to myself.  It is a prime example of "Southern Ingenuity"...making things work with what you have!
I am struggling with the computer and posting my paintings.  So far not one of the posts have turned out with correct color or size.  I apologize for the mishaps but I must push forward.  I will get it...for I am Southern!

On the Edge Day 3

Day 3 has been hairy, to say the least!  I tried to download a software program to get better color for the paintings and be able to size them correctly for internet posting.  The program put a virus or malware or some other unknown species on my computer, locking it up.
Patience with such things is not my spiritual gift!  When I saw this goose on the edge of the water, I knew she was the painting for the day. I feel like throwing my hands up, too!  The color is totally off...too saturated...I shall work on that tomorrow. I am learning, therefore I will press on!