Tuesday, September 30, 2014

30/30 - Last Day - Plein Air Study, Kihei


So- that went fast.  Hard to believe it's the last day of the 30 day challenge.  It's been a terrifically energizing and useful tool to gain ground in the areas I listed as my goals on day one:

Focus on Value Structure
Refresh Drawing Skills
Improve Composition Structure
Reestablish a sensitivity dulled by 15 years of scenic work
Cement working routine after hiatus 
Generate New Ideas

The two things that meant the most to me - though I was conscious of all of them as I worked - were enjoying more of a sense of play with these little studies which loosened me up to new ideas and possibilities and also reestablishing a solid working routine!  

Tomorrow - Shower trees on Baldwin Ave en plein air!  Can't wait!....

Paint pretty -

Day 29 of 30 - In a Cloud


Work in progress - underpainting and drawing structure for this view of a wonderful "orange" eucalyptus grove on the side of Haleakala mountain.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Day 28 of 30 - Iao Tile Bridge


So this is the last few days of the 30 in 30 challenge.  I'm spending them finishing up a few paintings that mean something to me that have been sitting around for a while - tying up some loose ends so I can get back to a couple of series I'm working on painting larger as well.  Very excited...

Paint Pretty -

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Day 27 - From Honua Kai


Plein air study done with Procreate on my iPad this afternoon at Honua Kai.

24/30 - Hiking Buddies


My dear friend Debra - the one that brings me all the avocados :)   - with her charges on the road above the Lavender Fields; one of our favorite hikes.

Today's limited palette:  Transparent Red Oxide, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue & White

26/30 Playin' in the Paint


Just playing in the paint this evening - fun...  Limited Palette: Permanent Rose, Cad Lemon, Cobalt Blue.

Friday, September 26, 2014

September 25th - Iao Evening



Iao Valley this evening as we were coming home.  Limited palette:  Flesh Ochre, Yellow Ochre, Ultramarine Blue.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

23/30 - Such as it is...



Just one of those days with too much to do and the unexpected popping up - but did paint.  Phew...  can see things from here I may change. - Okay - done now...
 Too tired to think about it.....  Oh - random limited palette was cad red light, cad yellow light, ultramarine blue.

Monday, September 22, 2014

September 22 - Local Avos


My dear, sweet, strong, independent, funny, energetic friend Debra brings me avocados!  Is she not just the best?!?!?!?!

Limited Palette:  Transparent Maroon, Cad Lemon, Old Delft Blue and white.

21/30 Rain Drenched Iao Valley


Almost no time for painting today (football, groceries, etc...) - so worked on finishing up this painting of the Iao Valley.  Still not finished, but close.  Also ran out of panels and so prepped 10 more.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Day 20 - Silver Spoon


Today's limited palette was Winsor Orange, Yellow Brown, and Ultramarine Violet.

Friday, September 19, 2014

19/30 - Poko Place


My street - looking up Haleakala Mountain - painted with limited palette:  Tera Rosa, Yellow Ochre, and Bright Violet with white.  Dark, heavy rain clouds were spilling over and rolling down Haleakala mountain behind the trees in the setting sun.

Love Limited Palettes!

Paint Pretty -

September 18th - Paia Bay Cloud Study



So - because all of the studies are too wet to scan, today's post for day 18 is a cloud study done on Baldwin Beach, Paia in water soluble pencil and Daniel Smith Primatek watercolors.  Gorgeous morning!  There were other artists out painting there as well - so cool.  Their paintings were wonderful...

Paint pretty -

Thursday, September 18, 2014

September 17th - Hui View


So this pic is an edit to the post - and while it's a bit better than the first it still looks absurd on this platform... Ugh....  Looks great on my computer in Adobe Bridge???  What the heck?  

Anyway - I did this from two sessions on location at the Hui No'eau and then finished with a few tweaks in studio, so don't feel I can truly call it plein air.

So - the study I did for today with the limited palette was way to wet to scan and the colors were just uber awful as an iPhone pic.  This one above I just finished also, and the colors are also Waaaaay off! iPhones just don't see pigments well.  - Much too intense on my monitor.  Will have a better pic of this one soon as well.

As soon as today's study is dry enough I'll scan it and you'll see why the phone camera couldn't "see" it.  The limited palette was Tera Rosa, Yellow Ochre Pale, and Bright Violet - Yikes... Stay Tuned.

Paint Pretty -

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Day 16 - Melaleuca Study


So I decided to go off the reservation on one of my goals.  Instead of monochrome studies I'm going to finish the month with limited palette triads plus white.

I have 3 bags labeled red, yellow, blue.  In each bag are slips of paper with all the names of the corresponding pigments I have for that color.  Each day I reach into each bag and pull one slip out - then paint my day's study with that triad and white.  Fun!

This was a Super quick study of a Melaleuka tree in the neighborhood.

Paint pretty -

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Day 15 - Starfruit on My Palette



I actually painted a ceiling today - but thought that wouldn't make for a very interesting post - so sketched this oil study of a funky star fruit...

Paint Pretty...

Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 13th - Haleakala Dusk


This was painted after a wonderful hike up the twisty, turn-y road behind Ali'i Lavender Farm on the side of Haleakala mountain.   The base color is a tube black mixed with browns and a little red.

Paint Pretty -

Saturday, September 13, 2014

September 12th - Cloud Study


Day 12   -Been doing cloud studies for days...  wiped most of them.  Fluffy white water vapor is kicking my patootie!  Ugh.....  Will persevere!!!

Paint pretty -

Friday, September 12, 2014

September 11th - Cloud Study


Another cloud study looking out toward Kahakaloa from Sprecklesville Beach.  Beautiful day and wonderful cumulous clouds.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

September 10th - Sprecklesville Cotton Balls


Not lovin' this one.  Decided to do a bunch of cloud studies as they are incredibly prevalent and always present here.  More to follow -

Paint Pretty -

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

September 9th - Yes, we have no Bananas... :)


Devoured - every last one!

Just finished this very quick study - the paint is out-of-the-tube wet - but didn't want to miss a 30 in 30 day.  Tomorrow we'll be on Oahu all day so will make a proper scan when we get back and post it.   Both Liquin and a great mixture of stand oil and orange oil in equal parts (mmmmm...smells so good), allows for scanning of a study in a couple of hours generally -

Paint pretty -

Okay - much better pic...

Monday, September 8, 2014

September 8th - Makawao Logs


Day 8 - Painted in the Makawao Forest Preserve.  A cool, cloudy afternoon.  Very peaceful...  Used a purple/black mix for the base of this monochrome study.  Got out my little Guerrilla 5 x 7 hiking box and did most of it with a paint knife.  The 6 x 6 format doesn't fit in the box very well, but it works and I have a fantastic painting holder by Raymar that is so light to throw over my shoulder with the paint box.

Paint pretty -

Sunday, September 7, 2014

September 7th - Baldwin Ave Shower Trees


Day 7/30 - Yay!  What a glorious, clear, sunny morning - wow!  Need to go back and paint these in full color - so incredible.  The paint was too wet to scan - so a phone pic will have to suffice today.

Paint pretty -

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Makawao Bike Ramp


Chromatic black with purple mixed in is the base color for this study.  Began with a palette knife but finished with a brush.  Loved working with the knife, but it was a bit out of my comfort zone.  Just needed to finish it up and move on - thus a bit of brush...

Paint Pretty -

Friday, September 5, 2014

September 5th - Banana Spiral


These are apple bananas that grew in our backyard.  We let them ripen as much as possible on the tree - they are tangy and incredibly delicious. 

I'm using dark colors I don't generally put on my palette any more.  It's fun to use different hues and stay monochromatic while using up paint that was just sitting there.

These were painted from life - in my kitchen.  They're all gone already!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

September 4th - West Maui Wind Generators


Day 4/30  Painted from a beach trail in Kihei, Maui.  Tomorrow - a still life...

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

September 3rd - Molokini


Okay - Day 3  This is great - but am already getting claustrophobic on these small panels.  Will continue on with this theme, but gotta stretch this idea....

Paint Pretty -

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

September 2nd - Ma'alaea Harbor


Day 2 of the 30 in 30 challenge.  Really fun!

Tried posting from the road today via my iPad as it's been a very busy day, but that just wasn't going to happen - just couldn't get enough signal (tough on Maui anyway) - even in hot spots, etc...  There must be a way - will persist!

Hasta maƱana -
Paint pretty -

PS - Wow - I have to say I'm shocked at the harshness of the pic above.  It looks much better on Adobe Bridge on my computer and not too bad on my shop site - Hopperpaintings.com.  It is exactly the same file used on all sites.  Guess it's the way each site extrapolates the digital information - Yeesh....   Anyway - the original is much softer - far less contrast in the background - a far more cohesive image.  Just don't have time to color adjust for each site.


Monday, September 1, 2014

Day 1 -


My Theme for Leslie Saeta's September 2014 30 paintings in 30 days challenge is small monochromatic paintings - the purpose of which for me is:

Focus on Value Structure
Refresh Drawing Skills
Improve Composition Structure
Reestablish a sensitivity dulled by 15 years of scenic work
Cement working routine after hiatus 
Generate New Ideas

You can find this painting on my Website or my Shop.  As Always - Thank You very much for taking the time too look -

Paint Pretty...