September and Fall is here No plein air this week

Bajio Valley watercolor 5"x 7" A quick sketch of the clouds over the Presa. 

 

This week no plein air scheduled as we'll be away for Tuesday. But next week for sure. Hoping to do something in Centro.  It's been cloudy lately so haven't had much luck with plein air this past week. Just the one quick impression. Classes continuing in the studio and welcoming back returnees! Donna

2014 September Paintings

The Lake  El Charco del Ingenio  8" x 10" oil on panel plein air

          Fun today. There has been lots of rain so the lake is full. In the winter it will be all dried up. Loved painting the light and shadows as they danced across the hills. Despite forgetting my easel I made due without it. Where there's a will there's a way. I don't recommend it but it can be done. I used the palette knife quite a bit in this one and thick over thin on a medium toned ground. I mapped in the shadows with thin paint before they changed. It' s a good idea not to chase the light, just stay with one pattern. A quiet day on my own not  many in the park today.

Light from the Window 8 x 8 " oil

And here's 2 paintings from the studio, from a photo by Billie Mercer with her permission.  I did a watercolor version and an oil. I'd love to know which one you like best. In the oil version I used a lot of modelling with the palette knife to get the old layered look and mood.

"Light from the Window " watercolor 10.5 x 10.5 "  I painted the watercolor version first. I actually like them both. It's interesting playing around with texture in both mediums. In the watercolor  I employed a variety of techniques, splatter, salt, washes etc. to achieve the old look of the walls.

Classes continuing in the studio Wed. Thurs. and Friday mornings from 10 til 1 pm. I'm open Saturdays 11 til 3pm if you want to drop by.

The February plein Air Workshop is filling up. It's Feb.23rd to 27th. open to all . Oils, Acrylics or Watercolors. There's a link at the top of the page to the workshop details. 

2014 September classes begin

SS. Master built in Vancouver 1922 False Creek Harbour from Granville Island - I really wanted to paint this but couldn't find a suitable spot out of the sun.

2 Fawns and mother deer grazing on Cypress Mtn. overlooking Vancouver Harbor

A watercolor I did paint  from Vancouver - A  1929 Glascow built tug The St. Eval. It was converted to a pleisure craft, by Dennis Washington owner of the Seaspan fleet of tugs. This I painted from the Lonsdale Quay. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for painting. approx. 8" x 10"

At  Deep Cove

Porteau Cove towards Whistler  A spot that would be fun to paint from, lots of mountain and island views

 

A touch of Fall in the Lynn Valley, North Vancouver

Leaving Vancouver early dawn with Mtn. peaks lit up

At Dawn a pink glow over the Tswassen Ferry Terminal 

Back home in San Miguel after my travels to B.C. I had a great visit with family. Our schedule for next week
Tues Sept 9th Plein air  meet at the entrance to the gallery at 9 :15 am be prepared for what ever weather -we'll be painting in centro.
Wed, Sept 10th - watercolors in the studio at 10 am til 1 pm
Thurs, Sept 11th - oils and acrylics in the studio 10 to 1 pm
Friday Sept 12th - oils and acrylics more advanced  10 to 1 pm
If you are new and need more info about classes ... e mail me at donnaleeartist@gmail.com