Tijuana, Mexico - November's Virtual Paint Out

Tijuana is a Mexican border town just south of the U.S. border and about 20 miles south of San Diego.

A jumble of city and country living, it is noted for its rough terrain of steep canyons, sandy gullies and mesas. The climate is semi- arid with temperatures averaging between 44° and 95°.  Covering approx. 246 sq.mi. it is home to over 1,700,00 people.

Tijuana is known for its vibrant mixture of cultures, beautiful sandy beaches, spirited nightlife, exciting restaurants and bars, its shady red light district and its high crime rate. Home to a diverse population of the very rich and the very poor, it is one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico.

Tijuana, Mexico, 9x12, oil

The destinations in our Virtual Paint Out Group are always interesting and I enjoy reading about the area as well as exploring it with Google Street Maps. Some places really make you appreciate home.

Thanks for visiting with me. This painting is available in my Ebay Store - Virtual Paint Out.

Celene 

www.CeleneFarris.com 

Last Days of Summer

Since tonight is Halloween and the last day of October, I guess that I have to accept the fact that another summer is over. We had an exceptionally dry summer and we all thought that the fall colors would be dry and dusty looking. But what a surprise! The colors were spectacular this year.

Trying to capture all that color on canvas is daunting. I did a few paintings "en plein air" but mostly took lots of photographs. As much as I enjoy painting outside, I would rather work in my studio as my style of painting is more controlled and disciplined and needs a few sessions to complete.

But once in awhile I will be successful "en plein air". This view from our outdoor table is one of my favorites and I have painted it many times. I just had to paint it again.

Autumn Garden, 8x6, oil SOLD

This is a 6x8 stretched canvas, gallery wrap with a one inch profile. 

The painting continues on the edges so framing isn't necessary.

This painting was available in my Ebay Store - Small Paintings.

Thanks for visiting. Hope you had a fun Halloween with lots of little visitors. Such a fun time! And now we get to eat the rest of the candy!

Celene

My Ebay Store

www.CeleneFarris.com 

Newfoundland, October's Virtual Tour

The island of Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada is slightly smaller than California, covering 43,000 sq mi. with a population of approx. 487,000 people. A former English colony, Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation in 1949.

Moderated by the ocean and the Gulf Stream, the temperatures range from an average of 25°F in winter to 60°F in summer. The sub-arctic maritime climate produces abundant precipitation, high winds, with more clouds and less sunshine than on the mainland. 

Newfoundland is a remote island of spectacular scenery - stunning coastlines, mountains and tundra, whales and seabirds and, of course, icebergs. There are isolated settlements and large cities, ancient historical sites and four national parks. L’ Anse aux Meadows at the northern-most tip is the site of the only authenticated Viking settlement in North America and dates back to 1000 AD.

The island can be reached by air or by a 6-hour ferry ride from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques. There is also a ferry from Labrador to Newfoundland.

My husband and I traveled to Newfoundland in the early 1990's with our local Boy Scout troop. Both our sons had just received their Eagle Badges and this trip was for the Eagle Scouts and the younger members of our troop. We set up our camp at Gros Morne National Park, hiked and explored, on foot, in our trucks and by boat, a good portion of the island. It was a marvelous adventure.

Newfoundland, 6x12 SOLD

This is a 6x12 stretched canvas, gallery wrap with a one inch profile. 
The painting continues on the edges so framing isn't necessary.

This painting was available in my Ebay Store.

Thanks for visiting,

Celene

My Ebay Store - Virtual Paint Out

www.CeleneFarris.com

A Little Time Off

Our fall colors this year are brilliant despite our dry summer. We just returned from our camp a few miles south of Moosehead Lake. It’s one of my very favorite areas in the state and I always take lots of photos. Today I’m going through them and will share some in this post. The weather can be very unpredictable at camp, perhaps influenced by the numerous mountains and lakes in the region. This sunny morning quickly became cloudy, but the views were still spectacular.  

Early morning at camp

A little sunshine on Wilson Stream

On the road to Barren Mountain

The road to Barren Mountain

Moosehead Lake

Clouds over Moosehead Lake, Greenville

Last settlement north of Greenville before entering into the North Woods

Now it's time to get back to work. My website and Ebay Store need a bit of fall housekeeping before the serious studio painting time begins.

Thanks for visiting with me.
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com
My Ebay Store

September 30/30 Challenge. Day 30

Welcome to October, one of the nicest months of the year.

This is my last painting for the September 30/30 Challenge. I knew it wasn't possible for me to complete 30 paintings in 30 days because my painting process requires at least 2-3 sessions per painting. But it was still fun to be a part of Leslie's group and I'm looking forward to her next challenge in January.


 

Secret Cove, 6x12, oil

This is a 6x12 stretched canvas, gallery wrap with a one inch profile.
The painting continues on the edges so framing isn't necessary.

I am very pleased to learn that our Virtual Paint Out Group is traveling to Newfoundland for October. I visited Newfoundland many years ago and it remains one of my favorite memories.

Tony, Ginger and I will be going to camp soon. I look forward to sitting by the fire and listening to the loons on the lake and the distant train whistle of the Canadian Pacific as it echos off the mountain. No radio, TV or internet connection - just my two favorite people and my paint set and lots of books. A nice respite from a busy summer.

Thanks for visiting with me. This painting will be available in my Ebay Store in a few days.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store - 30/30 Paintings

September 30/30 Challenge. Day 24

I'm running behind with my posting. This is for day #24. I had hoped to paint all day today, but spent the morning bringing in my houseplants. A few days ago the weather changed drastically. Last week I was complaining because it was hot and humid - then almost overnight the temps dropped to the 40s. The wood stove is going and I am dressed in a heavy sweater and jeans and it is still September. This must be why I chose to paint this subject yesterday.

Snow Bound, 6x8, oil  SOLD

 I'm still working with a 6x8 stretched canvas, gallery wrap with a 1" profile. 
The painting continues on all the edges. No frames needed.

To reduce computer time, I will post my weekly paintings to my Ebay Store at the end of each week. You can always contact me directly for more information.

Thanks for visiting. Happy painting.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store – 30/30 Paintings

Artist Block

Definition - a loss of inspiration, motivation, or ideas. A creative stand-still.

Here are a few suggestions that I found helpful when I'm in an artistic slump. Because repetition creates boredom, I look for changes.

• Change my canvas size – I usually paint in mid range sizes but lately I’ve been working smaller. I enjoy these small canvases and because they work up fairly quickly I can experiment with new ideas. And these small paintings are very popular with my customers. Always a plus. 

• Change the type of canvas – I have worked on artist quality canvas panels for years. I am now using stretched canvas, gallery wrap with a 1” profile. The edges are painted with a continuation of the painting, making framing unnecessary, unless the customer specifically requests a frame. I like the feel of this new surface and the finished look of these small paintings. And it's a relief not having to deal with framing. Another plus.

• Change of subject – For years I was a serious still life painter. I am now working with landscapes. The technical differences between the two required me to rethink my painting process - especially the differences between the shallow picture plane and controlled subject matter of a still life and the expansive picture plane and atmospheric effects of landscape painting. 

• Reference material – I revisit and reorganize my reference photos both printed and digital and try to find new compositions in these old pictures. I prefer to work from my own photos and always carry my camera with me, constantly looking for new material. 

• Choosing a theme – When I can’t decide on what to paint, I try to pick a theme or a subject for  series of paintings. I am currently working on an ocean theme with waves and rocks. I have a new theme in mind that will have something to do with music, but I haven’t formulated it yet. When I tire of my current ocean series, I will move on to my new theme. 

• Take an art class – either in person or on-line. Sometimes you need a bit of help or encouragement to solve the problem. I am currently taking an on-line figurative landscape course.

• Join Art Groups – Membership encourages participation. A great incentive to paint. The three groups that I really enjoy are Leslie Saeta’s 30/30 Challenge offered in September and January, Bill Guffy’s Virtual Paint Out with a new destination each month and Robert Hagan’s Artist Group (now a closed group, by invitation only). They are free and fun, with no commitments and only a few basic rules. And since they are on-line, I can participate at my own convenience.

• There are many other art groups to join, Facebook is a good place to search them out.  If you prefer, you might find an art group in your neighborhood, or start a new group with fellow artists in your area.

And sometimes Artist Block means you just need a break from the studio for awhile. The danger is in staying away for too long……

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

My Ebay Store

Leslie Saeta's 30/30 Challenge

Bill Guffy's Virtual Paint Out

My Website