Digital Photograph at State Botanical Garden

"Orange Suprise" - Digital - June 2015 - SBG

"Merry Christmas" - Digital - June 2015 SBG



"Flower Portrait" - Digital - June 2015 - SBG

" Hydrangea Suprise" - Digital - June 2015 - SBG



"Reflection" - Digital - June 2015 - SBG

When I signed up for Native Plant Certification at the State Botanical Gardens, I didn't know how much it would benefit my "art".    I recently bought a Nikon D3300 and it's been a challenge to learn who to use it.    When a class was offered on Digital Photography of Plants, I jumped on it.    The rule of thirds of composition was first on the agenda but the most significant approach was "getting closer".    I wasn't able to get my focus right on all these but it was fun to use the intricate structure of plants to add to the composition.   

Sometimes We Forget!!

"Garden Path" - Pastel - 9x13 - June 2015 - Cultural Arts Center

"Butterfly Garden" - Pastel - 9x13 - June 2015 - Butterfly Garden Cultural Arts Center

 

Sometimes life just happens and you forget to do things.   Plein Air Painting is one of them.   I've done some plein air painting during the last few years but usually at a workshop or intermittently.   I had just forgotten about the page and frankly had lost some passion for plein air since I couldn't get any other artist to come along.    I packed my supplies and headed to the Hydrangea Festival in Douglasville, GA yesterday and set up in the butterfly garden of the Cultural Arts Center in Douglasville, GA.    It's a tiny garden but it offered some nice views.    These are two quick paintings I completed.  Of course, I took photographs and I'll be revisiting the photos and the garden again.    

Hydrangea Festival - 2015

Art In Bloom - Cultural Arts Center - 2015

This show was an invitation to six local artist and is currently on exhibit through July 24, 2015.   The paintings are focused on gardens and many were painted in local gardens that are part of the Hydrangea Festival.     My paintings that are part of this show are "Hydrangeas in Jar", "Daffodil Morning", "Mountain Meadow", "Hydrangea in Pink", "Hydrangea Pots", and "Garden Pond".   

 

 

 



"Garden Path" - Pastel - 9x13 - June 2015 -CAC Garden

 Each year during the Hydrangea Festival local artist are invited to plein air paint in the gardens.   This year I visited the Butterfly Garden at the Cultural Arts Center in Douglasville, GA.   The day was hot but the shade offered a great place to sit and paint.   It was good to talk to visitors to the garden.    Visitors were also able to see the Art In Bloom exhibit currently showing at the CAC.

"Butterfly Garden" - Pastel - 9x13 - June 2015 - CAC Garden

 

One of the things that is always hard about plein air painting is "deciding what to paint".   This morning when I visited the garden, I first walked around to take a look at the garden from different locations.   I then used my view finder to look for a good composition.   I do have the supplies down to one square rolling box and a chair.    I had everything I needed.   Frequently in the beginning I'd get to a location and find that I was missing something.    My must have list is the following:

1. Several sheets of UArt paper.   I usually carry 9x13 - 200-300
2. 2-3 small boxes of pastels -   I usually just carry the small boxes that the pastel are packed in rather than my larger wood box.   It's lighter and I find that a plein air painting is just a quick painting sketch for me.   I'll go back and paint again with my full box available.
3. Pastel box -  I made a tackle box several years ago for all my mediums such as paste, watercolor and acrylic.   That way if I am going out to paint I just pick up the box marked "Pastel" etc.   Each box has the essentials such as scissors, pencil, view finder, pipe foam, rubber gloves, rubber bands, pencil sharpener, tape,  etc.
4. Empty paper folder to store paintings -  I save my cardboard folders that UArt paper comes in and reuse them to store paintings when I'm out painting.
5. Paper towels
6. Water and a snack
7. Insect repellent - I love the small packets.  They tuck in your pastel box and are easy to use.
8. Easel
9. Chair - in a bag with a strap to carry easily
10. Folding camp stool -   I use the stool to put my pastel box.
11. Foam Board - to mount the painting
12. iPhone - for taking photos for later reference
13. Rolling box - I love the square plastic box.  It has space on each side for picking up and a handle to roll it around.   Works perfect if you are in a location where you have a relatively smooth surface.   If I was going to be further out I'd take my rolling backpack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Beach Trips and Packing for the Beach - Tybee Island

"Sunny Marsh" - Watercolor - 5x7 - 2012

This painting is one of my favorite watercolors.   I painted this small one at a watercolor workshop on Jekyll Island.   We met at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in February and painting all day and critiqued at night.    My friend Betty Shows is the owner of this small painting.   

"Tybee Island Lights" - Pastel - 9x12 - 2011

In 2011 I took a personal "painting" retreat to Tybee Island.   I had such fun painting from condo that faced the ocean.  I'd take photos on the beach and paint some each day.   I must have renamed this one for a show because I show "Ocean" being owned by my brother Kenneth Price.

 

 

One of the nice things about painting is remembering the times and places that lead to the painting.   It is extra special when you know that a family or friend has the painting to enjoy.    This year for the beach I plan to leave the pastels and watercolors at home and take my sketch pad and color pencils.   I recently took a drawing class with Susan Gardner Gore and loved it.    I've already got the small bag of materials ready.  It will be something I can take to the beach and sketch by the ocean.   Can't wait!!!

Framing Paintings Can Revitilize your Creativity

"Barn Temple" - Pastel - 18x12 - 2014

"Vienna Night" - Pastel - 9x13 - 2010

"Daffodil Morning" - Pastel - 9x13 - 2014

"Mountain Meadow" - Pastel - 9x13 - 2014

Sometimes I get in a slump and just can't even make myself paint.    I start and find I'm having trouble concentrating or I just don't feel inspired.   Sound familiar??    I think we all get there at some point.     What I have found that helps me to "revitalize my creativity" is a trip to the framer.    For me that is also a great art teacher Ann Cockerill.   I schedule a time to take some of my work that has been "hanging around" unfinished.   Well I take that back - they are finished but I've put them on the shelf because I know there is just "something" that is not right.    I schedule a lesson with Ann and have her critique my painting and then I might only add a one stroke or several spots of color or maybe just straighten a line.   Then the painting feels more finished.    I guess we artist are so self critical that nothing is ever really finished we just decide to stop.     Once I stop, I select a frame and or mat and then walk away feeling "yes I can paint".   Sounds crazy but it seems to work for me.    These 4 paintings are examples of some old and some new.   "Vienna Night" has sat in my stack for several years.   I love it but knew the lines were off.   I allowed myself to just make a few corrections and then release it.   Since art is a reflection of time and place, this painting is very special because I remember the night in Vienna walking up this street.   "Daffodil Morning" and "Mountain Meadow" were painting last year and I knew they needed something.   After a few paint strokes on these today, I was ready to release them as well.   I love "Mountain Meadow" which is of a field in Blue Ridge.   The barn is a new painting.   One day I just forced myself to paint this barn.  I had spent hours on a photo shoot with a friend walking fields in Temple GA looking for abandoned barns.   After I took the photos, it took months to get to the easel.  Structures are tough and frequently take time with all the angles, etc.   I decided to just do it free hand so to speak and actually like the first attempt but knew that some of the lines were wrong.   Having Ann look at it and give a couple of suggestions helped complete the process.     Now I feel like and artist again!

Plein Air Convention in Tucson!! 2016

Tucson in 2016 - For several years I've heard about the Plein Air Convention.   Each year by the time I figure out I'd like to go and can go.....it's sold out.   This year I got a jump on it and have registered for the Plein Air Convention in Tucson, AZ which is April 15-19, 2016.   Even signed up for a preworkshop of Basic Plein Air.    It's held at the El Conquistador Resort.  There will be field trips to plein air paint in the area around Tucson.   Looking forward to it!

Old Barns - May 1, 2015

"Temple Barn" - Pastel - 18x12 - 5-2015

"Temple Barn" - This is one of the many barns I photographed last month in Temple, GA.   It was a beauty sitting on the side of the road abandoned.   Like many of you I have memories of playing in our family barn.  Ours was small and not as grand as this one but it offered many hours of play and fantasy.   I was in a free mood today so I just tackled this....no sketch...no wait and think...I just painted.   Sometimes its fun to just get lost in what you are doing and simply "enjoy the moment."