Category: Pt. Lookout
Painting From Life
Painting from life can be both exciting and nerve wracking, for me anyway. I seem to go into a trance as the action of painting and the colors of the paints hypnotize me. I don’t see what I’m doing. Overdoing the work with watercolors can happen before I can blink and wake up from my stupor.
These two little paintings are the ones that were sold in my Etsy shop. Both were painted on site. I painted Beach Day while at my favorite Long Island beach, Pt. Lookout. This couple were sitting in their beach chairs enjoying the day. I guess they were having a good day, for all I know they were annoyed with each other and just sitting there. Can you tell that I like a good story while I work?
The Greek harbor scene was painted while we were on a short day cruise to three Greek islands, Aegina, Poros, and another one that I can’t remember now. They were all lovely and had different scenes, but at Aegina we sat at a cafe to have an icy ice cream frappe because it was so hot we couldn’t continue without something cold. We were at the harbor and I had time to quickly draw the scene out with a bit of color. I finished it later on, but basically had it sketched with paint right there.
When I started with watercolors I purchased a small travel set that included half pans of basic colors, small brushes, and tiny pad of watercolor paper, and a little bottle for water. It’s like a fanny pack you can clip around your waist, but I never do that. I added pencils and some other stuff I need for painting and it’s the perfect bring along set.
The funny thing is the paints that are included are minimal yet I do my best work using just those colors. The palette at home has so many colors now, but I gravitate towards the ones in the travel set. I think I should pay attention to that and maybe minimize my choices. Whatever I do, I know I like painting from life. I just have to try and stay in the present rather than have those out of body moments.
Photos for Friday
Photos for Friday
Photo Friday
Last Chance at a Beach Day
Before the winter begins to chill my bones, I took the opportunity to visit the beach one last time. A couple of weeks ago we had some beautiful, warm weather. The sun was out and putting out some nice, hot rays. The air temperature was perfect and there was really no wind, which was definately a plus. Wind can be bad!
Living on Long Island, New York, offers a quick trip to the beach any time you feel like going. I can be at the beach in fifteen minutes, barring any traffic. After the summer is over, a beach jaunt is so much more relaxing. Everyone else is back at school and work. Most people have had it with the summer activities by now. Not me.
I packed up a quick lunch, ice coffee and off I went! My travel bag of watercolor paints was already in the car. I decided that I was going to paint whatever I found when I got there.
Point Lookout Beach, NY ©2009 Dora Sislian Themelis |
With my camera I photographed the scenery. Who knows? Maybe I’ll paint from the photographs during the winter. I usually like to paint from life, but sometimes it’s not possible. The photos will help motivate my creativity at a time when I can’t get outside.
Shells and Seaweed ©2009 Dora Sislian Themelis 14×16 Watercolor on Lanaquarelle paper |