Day #4, January 2015 - 30/30 Challenge, Morning Mist, 6x8

An early morning walk at camp last fall. Watching the mist disappear in the rising sun.

Morning Mist, 6x8, oil SOLD

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

Day #3, January 2015 - 30/30 Challenge, Daybreak, 6x8

Here comes the sun. Another day begins.............

Daybreak, 6x8, oil SOLD

Thanks for visiting,

Celene

Day #2, January 2015 - 30/30 Challenge, Peaceful Harbor, 5x7

There are days on the coast when the air is so clear that you can see forever. Days when the air is so still that the water looks like glass. Days when it is so quiet that you hear nothing except an occasional sea gull's laughing call.

Painted from a photo from one of our day trips to Stonington, Maine.

Peaceful Harbor, Stonington, Maine 5x7, oil

I am using a limited palette for color harmony, based on the color gamut theory. My colors were Indian Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, White and Burnt Sienna as my neutral.

This painting is available on my ebay page.

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

Day #1, January 2015 - 30/30 Challenge, New Years Across the Bay, 6x8

Happy New Year.  I thought I would begin this challenge by painting the New Year's Eve fireworks across the bay last night.

New Year's Eve Across the Bay, 6x8 oil SOLD

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

Christmas Day 2014

On this peaceful Christmas day I want to wish you all a very happy holiday season and a New Year filled with peace and joy.

Although it was raining this morning and almost 50 degrees outside (very unusual weather for a Maine Christmas), I'm sure that Santa put on his raincoat and completed his job without a hitch. I know that he was very generous at our house.

Our family gathers here for Christmas Eve. It is always such a fun time, filled with laughter, love and great food. There were presents galore and Ginger had a wonderful time ripping up all the wrapping paper.

Today is a quiet day, just the three of us - Tony, Ginger and I. The classical radio station is playing beautiful Christmas music, Cornish hens are roasting in the oven and the house smells so fragrant. The wrapping paper and ribbons have been picked up, but there are still bits of paper all through the house, thanks to Ginger. Tomorrow will be soon enough to run the vacuum. As I see these bits and pieces scattered about, I smile with the remembrance of last night's festivities.

My refrigerator is stuffed with the leftovers from last night so I won't have to cook for a week. That is good as it's time to clean the studio and get ready for the January 30/30 Challenge. If all goes well, I hope to get a lot of painting done this winter, both for the Challenge and some larger gallery pieces. My internet marketing is doing well and I hope to expand that in the new year.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. After all the hustle and bustle of the season, we are left with the warm glow of family love and good friendships.

Wishing you all the very best in the New Year.

Celene

January 2015 30/30 Challenge - Sign up!

It's time to sign up for Leslie Saeta's " January 2015, Thirty Paintings in 30 Days Challenge." 

This is great fun and I really enjoyed last year's challenge. There are no limits, you can paint as many or as few as you want, any size, any medium. She says that her only rule is "to have fun." Here is the link to read more about her challenge and access the sign-up link.  Leslie Saeta's Blog link -lesliesaeta.blogspot.com.

Your name and location will be added to an interactive map showing the participating artists from all over the world.  More than 1050 artists joined the September 2014 Challenge.  And you will be able to see the work of these artists and add your painting to the daily listings.

I did join Leslie's September 2014 Challenge, but that was a busy month here and I didn't have much time to paint. January is a better month, the holidays are over and the cold winter days keep me in my studio.

I started a still life a few weeks ago that I planned to share on my blog, but haven't had much studio time to work on it. I have been very busy - doing what - who knows?  The older I get, the faster the time flies.

The busy Christmas season will be over before we know it.  I want to take this time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

Using My Kindle in the Studio.

I have been sorting through my reference photos stored on my computer and transferring them to folders in my Kindle. I can then use the Kindle image in my studio. This eliminates printing the photo and the annoying problem of color shifting by my printer. 

Reference photos from our trip to Acadia National Park.

My Kindle is clamped to my easel and I have begun the block-in. I am working with a limited palette of the three primaries - yellow, red, blue - plus white and burnt sienna. I have experimented a lot this summer with different color palettes and gamut masking. I do enjoy the color harmony of limited palettes.

The basic block-in is complete. The rock structure is established, but needs simplification.  I want the energy of the water to be dominant. The painting is left to dry overnight.

Acadia Surf, 9x12, oil.

This painting has a new home in Pennsylvania.

Thanks for visiting.

Celene