March's Virtual Hike - Australia 1

March's Virtual Hike - Australia 1

This month's Virtual Hike, using Google Street Views, takes us along The Great Ocean Road - from Port Fairy to Barwon Bluff, in southern, coastal Australia. 

This area is called "The Shipwreck Coast" for a good reason. I started my journey in Port Fairy and after searching around I found a side road that led to the sea. I came upon this scene and it was perfect - the bright orange against all that lush greenery.

Now I will travel farther along the coast and look for another fun scene to paint!

The Orange Kayak
Port Fairy, Vic. Australia
11x14, oil on canvas panel

This painting is available in my eBay Store. And, as always, you can always purchase my work directly from me if you prefer.

You are invited to join our virtual painting group. It is great fun, it's free and no strings attached. And you can interpret the scene as you wish. We use Google Street Views from Google Maps to explore our assigned monthly destination. Then we send a picture of our painting, with the Google Map link, to Marla and she puts it on the group's site on her blog. It really is a fun adventure. And it's interesting to see what the other artists have created!

For more info and to join - just click on Marla's link The Virtual Hike Painting Group .

Thanks for visiting. Happy painting.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page - Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

February's Virtual Hike - Paris, France

February's Virtual Hike, again using Google Street Views, takes us to Paris, France.

What a beautiful city to explore! We truly live in a fascinating world. I could spend hours on the computer just roaming around. The buildings are amazing!

And then, of course, there is the history of the area ... more hours on the computer.

So, for starters, I looked up the Eiffel Tower. It was constructed in 1887-1889 of wrought-iron lattice, standing 1083 ft tall. Built for the 1889 World's Fair and to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution (1787-1799). 

One of my favorite books is Charles Dicken's "A Tale of Two Cities" about the French Revolution. More computer time.... 

This was an interesting scene that I really enjoyed - so I painted it twice.

Paris in the Morning 9x12, oil on canvas panel

Evening in Paris 9x12, oil on canvas panel

Sidebar - Do you remember the perfume - "Evening in Paris" that came in a pretty, cobalt blue glass bottle? It was my favorite when I was a teenager - many, many years ago. So I had to look that up too ... Soir de Paris (Evening in Paris) is the most known fragrance by Bourjois, which was created by Ernest Beaux in 1928. It was discontinued in 1969, then reorchestrated and relaunched in 1992. (It probably doesn't smell the same...)

These paintings are available in my eBay store. And as always, you can always purchase any of my work directly from me if you prefer.

You are invited to join our virtual painting group. It is great fun, it's free and no strings attached. And you can interpret the scene as you wish. We use Google Street Views from Google Maps to explore our assigned monthly destination. Then we send a picture of our painting, with the Google Map link, to Marla and she puts it on the group's site on her blog. It really is a fun adventure. And it's interesting to see what the other artists have created!

For more info and to join - just click on Marla's link The Virtual Hike Painting Group .

Happy painting, happy exploring.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

Tell your own story.

Waiting for Spring, 9x12, oil. SOLD

January's cold, snowy days are a perfect time to sit in my studio with a cup of hot tea and pull out my art books. No matter how many times I read them, I still find something interesting to think about. Today it was landscapes.

Landscape books often recommend beginning with the sky. The inference is that the sky's coloration and mood set the key for the whole painting. It is also suggested that we paint from the top down, working back to front. Supposedly when we reach the foreground, the painting should be complete. Maybe yes, maybe no.

To me and my way of painting, it make more sense to begin with the most important aspects of my painting - the focal point and the story I want to tell - and key my painting to that. I don't want to be hindered by trying to force my painting into a certain structure. I would rather just paint and see where the painting wants to go. 

Because my paintbrush often has a mind of its own, a sunny day in my reference photo might progress into a stormy day or even a night scene. Starting with the sky doesn't work for me.

So when you start a painting, decide what you want to show and the story you want to tell. Establish your focal point and then just paint. Put the photo aside and enjoy the process. Tell your own story - in your own way.

My thought for the day. Happy painting.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

January's Virtual Hike - Greece

January's Virtual Hike - Greece 

Somewhere in Greece
8x10, oil on canvas panel   SOLD

Our first destination in Marla's new virtual paint-out group - The Virtual Hike - was Greece, along the route from Athens to Marathon with side trips allowed. It was very interesting to explore this area. There was a lot to see but I had difficulty in finding something to paint, so I took a side trip to the coast. There I found an old abandoned chapel, all white and blue, shining in the sun. I don't know the name of the town, but it was south-east of Marathon. An enjoyable painting adventure.

How the group works - Every month Marla will choose a new destination and post it on her blog. Using Google Street Views we explore the area looking for a scene to paint - without leaving home - a virtual paint-out. 

When your painting is finished you email a photo of your finished painting and it's Google Map Link to Marla. She will post it on her blog as part of a monthly display. It will be a lot of work for her. Thank you so much, Marla.

It's a great concept - from exploration to finished painting. I hope you'll join us. It's free, fun and no strings attached.

If you'd like to join us, click below to meet Marla and read about the group and how to post your work to the site. 

https://marlalaubisch.blogspot.com/2024/12/greece.html

I hope you'll join us. It really is great fun.

These paintings will be posted in my eBay Store, but you can always purchase directly from me if you prefer.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

Christmas Greetings

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas with peace and joy in the New Year.

During this very special season I want to thank all my friends and followers for their support and for all the nice comments about my paintings. I may not have replied to everyone, but please know that I truly appreciate all the kind words. 

Painting is a very important part of my life and knowing that other people find joy in my work is a wonderful feeling. I sincerely thank you all.

Wishing you and your families all the very best always.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

The Virtual Hike - Greece - step 1

 Greece - The black and white underpainting

As I mentioned in a previous post the new "Virtual Hike Group" has begun. Our first destination for Dec. and Jan. is along a designated route in Greece - from Athens to Marathon. Since side trips were allowed I "hiked" eastward to the coast.

This is my initial lay-in in black and white acrylic. This method gives me time to work with the scene, adjusting and moving shapes a bit to strengthen the composition. And time to think about my color and value choices.

Nature doesn't stand still. In a few minutes the colors and values will change as the sun and clouds move across the sky. Shadows will move. The weather may change. This photo, if taken at a different time or on a different day, would look different. This knowledge gives me a chance to use my "artistic license" to make the changes I need to strengthen the composition. Most of all, it allows me to paint the scene - my way!

The next step is working in oils. Did I mention that I love to paint? Stay tuned....

If you'd like to join our group, click below to meet Marla and read about the group and how to post your work to the site. Its free, fun and no strings attached.

 https://marlalaubisch.blogspot.com/2024/12/greece.html

Thanks for visiting with me. Happy painting!

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com

A New VPO is back!

Years ago I was a member of a group called "The Virtual Paint Out". The concept was to explore a designated area using Google Street Views to find a scene to paint - without leaving home - a virtual paint-out.

New destinations were assigned each month. Our submitted paintings were then downloaded to the VPO site as part of a monthly display. It was a great concept - from exploration to finished painting.

Then, after many years, our director retired.

Last week, I received an email from a fellow artist who would like to start up the program again. She would call it "The Virtual Hike". This is a tentative start. She is hoping to engage many artists to join. I'm in - for sure!

Our first destination is the route between Marathon and Athens in Greece -with side trips allowed. I think I have already found my spot, but I'll keep exploring for awhile.

This destination will be up for Dec. and Jan. as this is the first step and she will need this time to organize and collect artists.

This is a free group. You are under no obligation to continue. It's just a fun group of fellow artists. This will be a lot of work for our new director. Thank you so very much, Marla.

For more information and to sign up, please visit her blog at -

 https://marlalaubisch.blogspot.com/2024/12/greece.html

Give it a try. It's free, fun and no strings attached!

Happy painting.

Celene

My Website -  CeleneFarris.com

My eBay Store -  eBay Store Celene Farris, Maine Artist

My Facebook Page -  Facebook Celene Farris, Maine Artist

Email me at - mail@CeleneFarris.com