Beach Read - plein air painting at the beach

6x6" oil on panel
another from the plein air session - blocking in shapes rather than drawing the figure works best for these.

actually its something to strive for in all my paintings.  I tend to 'draw' with the brush and want to get away from that.

"block in shapes" "squint!"  "where are the darkest darks?" - words to live by

Do you want a challenge? - Yellow tank top - plein air, painting people at the beach

6x6" oil on panel
Painting beach scenes from photographs is one thing but if you want a real challenge try some plein air!

1st thing is: if you are tackling people you are basically painting from memory.
 No one stands still long enough.  ever.

2nd: you have to draw a scene super fast - block in the shapes, lights and darks - work hard on capturing a gesture and the values of the scene. where is the light coming from? what are the spine and hips doing? what is it about that person that caught my eye? - all questions I ask myself. - instantly.  seriously you have to be quick.

3rd: use a bigger brush than you think you'll need - this is one I forget and am soooo much happier with the result when I remember

try it! - it will really test your painting chops! 

Beach Girls - beach painting,playing,blue,ocean,coast

6x6 " oil on cradeled panel.
black sides - ready to hang. 
this time I painted in much the same way as I approach a portrait.  - used a burnt sienna ground, then using a fairly big brush sketched out the composition, adding a little umber to the shadows/darks and wiping the ground away where I want the lightest lights to be.
happy with the feel of this one

Hello Sunshine - flower friday,flower painting,sunflowers

6x6" oil on panel
flower friday - painting a face/figure is like second nature to me.  easy peasy.  but a simple flower?
- yikes - THAT is a challenge!
  But I'm on it - best thing about this 'daily painting' thing is that it really does improve your skills. So I know with time painting flowers will be easy
...at least thats the plan

Summer day 1 - debbie miller,beach painting,people

6x6" oil on cradeled panel.
People. Now thats what I'm talking about.  I just can't get enough of painting people :)

AND I really really really want to be the sketch artist at the Whitey Bulger trial.  I'm super good at capturing a likeness and I am fascinated by this case!

Of course they found him near a beach - everybody loves the beach - even notorious criminals.

Surfers at Purgatory

6x6 oil on cradled panel (makes it easy to hang - no frame required)

One of my favorite spots in RI  - looking down on 2nd beach in Middletown and seeing all the surfers bobbing around on their boards - it wouldn't be summer without it

As much as I love the beach - a sun lover, I am not.
 Its the foggy, put on a sweatshirt days that I love most.

Got a Goal for the Summer?

6x6" oil on canvas.  A Little Beachy.
Ah Summer... hello.  
What are you doing this summer with your art? 
taking a workshop? doing a few outdoor art shows? plein air painting? 
ALL or NONE of the above? 
Its Ok - you can kick back and take a break if you want - we won't judge.

- I've been neglecting my daily painting habit - so its time to kick that back up into high gear.  along with the beachy stuff, I want to practice painting flowers - so you'll be seeing some of those soon
- Also starting an open painting group in my studio - which is something Ive always wanted to do

For the Love of Music

16x16 oil - sold.  this is a commission I did that was a gift for a beloved music teacher - isnt that such a great and special gift?  She must be an amazing teacher... such a nice project to do
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