Newport Beach Back Bay

On Saturday I went to a plein air class in Newport Beach in the back bay.  I hesitated before signing up because I don't really enjoy plein air painting and prefer to be in the comfort of my studio rather than schlepping all of that stuff needed to paint on location.
It started out as a perfect day until the lecture was over and it was time for us to paint.  I chose the scene I wanted to paint and spent about 10 minutes setting everything up (I have a very cumbersome easel) including an umbrella for shade because I was looking into the sun.  Of course, then the wind started to blow and my umbrella flew off of the easel.  Luckily, I hadn't attached it very tightly and it didn't tip the easel over.  Anyway, I decided that the umbrella was not going to work and I wasn't going to stare into the sun so I turned 180 degrees and saw this scene.  I started to paint with great anticipation but realized that I wasn't seeing the colors very well in the bright sun, especially wearing my much needed sunglasses.
 After about 10 more minutes, greatly frustrated and muttering a lot, I left.  I was so mad that I had failed at my attempt but I came home and finished it in my VERY COMFORTABLE studio so I guess that this is technically not a plein air painting but I don't care!  One of these days, maybe I will become a plein air painter but I think I need to stop being such a big whiny baby first and I'm not ready to do that yet.

Newport Beach Back Bay
Image Size 5" x 7"
Oil

Everlasting Orchids

This is the only way I will have orchids in my house long term.  They are such beautiful flowers but I don't seem to be able to get them to re-bloom.  If any of you know how to get that to happen, I sure would appreciate any tips.  How often do they bloom each year?  I don't know, it seems easier to give the plants that are done blooming to my friend to pamper and then just buy new plants for the house that have fresh blooms.  Or...I'll hang up this picture and then I will always have orchids blooming in the house. That's much easier, I think.

Everlasting Orchids
Image Size 22" x 15"
Watercolor

Boardwalk

Here's another painting done from google street maps for the Virtual Paintout blog.  This is from Revere, Massachusetts.  I've never been to the beaches on the east coast but this looks like what I would imagine I would find there.  It doesn't look like a California coast scene to me.  I've never seen these walkways to the beach here and the shrubbery looks different too.  Of course, some parts of Cal. probably does look like this but in my mind, it screams east coast.  These walkways and shrubs convey such a serene feeling to me and the long shadows make it seem like late afternoon, always my favorite time of day at the beach.  This was done using soft pastels.

Boardwalk
Image size 9" x 12"
Pastels

Calm Waters

I'm finally getting back to participating in the Virtual Paintout monthly challenge.  My intention has been to paint at least one painting for this challenge each month but the time has gotten away from me and it's been several months since I've painted from Google street maps.

This month's location is Boston and the surrounding area.  I found this scene in Lynn, Mass.  I really liked that clump of trees and the calm water.  This painting was done entirely with a palette knife.

Calm Waters
Image size 6" x 6"
Oil

Short Circuit

Here's another abstract - not as dark as last week's in color or theme.  I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I love the colors and the mix of hard and soft edges as well as the areas of pristine, white paper.  The glow of that white paper, to me, is one of the most beautiful aspects of watercolor that just can't be achieved with any other medium.  Also, the way the watercolor paint reacts and separates on the wet paper is unique to this medium.  I love to experiment with other mediums but shall always return to watercolor.

Short Circuit
Image Size 13.5" x 19"
Watercolor