Two new paintings

I'm slowing down from my daily paintings to tackle a few other ideas that are taking a little longer. Top one is an 8x24 oil from a scene in Seattle's Magnuson Park, that I've done a few smaller versions of and wanted to paint a little larger scene. Second is a very abstract, 8x8, thickly painted with a palette knife, scene of south Seattle from a high rise building, showing our two stadiums on the left and a twisting highway 99 on the right. I wanted to loosen up a little again and this is about as loose as a landscape can be. I also like the monotone look at times where the colors are subtle grays. 

Through number 101 of daily paintings

Now that I've reached over 100 daily paintings, in 107 days, I think it's time to slow down and go back to some larger work. Here are the two latest works, both from Arizona. The landscape and colors are so different from my home of Seattle that I like the diversity now and then. The top one is a view of the Grand Canyon, and is 8x10. The smaller is a creek with orange reeds, and 6x8. Of course, I'm working on an  8x8 now so still not larger, but I like the square format so will do a few of these next from some images I've put into this format but didn't have the right shape canvas.      

   

Almost to 100

Just completed daily painting number 99, in 105 days. Will evaluate at number 100 and probably move on to larger work indoors again to take advantage of the learning experiences. Did purchase more small panels for outdoor painting as the weather should be improving soon here in Seattle. Here are several of the most recent works. 

The top most is my favorite place, Green Lake, 6x8, showing a kayaker in front of Duck Island, recently the home of a huge eagle, who perches at the top of the island, the ruler of all he sees.
Next are the tulip  fields north of  Seattle, that I seem to paint several times a year. This one is 5x7. The boats are in the harbor of Charleston, SC, and 5x7. In a work this size you can only hint at the details, and I think this worked well here. 
The snow scene is in Washington's many mountains and at 8x10, the largest I have been working at lately. This is from an image graciously provided by a friend who is a hiker and climber, and doesn't mind the cold up there. 
Last is a 6x8 sun lit path in Seattle's Kubota Gardens, where I painted last summer.
Enjoy.  

Daily paintings up to #91

Have been continuing my daily paintings except for a couple of travel days again so am up to number 91 in 95 days. Have a variety of locations painted recently so will post a few highlights today. The top one, a 6x8, is vineyards in California, near Palm Springs during a trip there last spring. Next is an 8x10 Seattle street scene, above Lake Washington. 3rd down is a 6x8 of my favorite place, Green Lake, an evening scene at dusk. Last is a 6x8 scene from Seattle's Magnuson Park from last summer. 

A variety of daily paintings

This group of daily paintings covers a wide geographical area. First are a couple of works of Charleston, SC's low lands. Next is a lighthouse from NJ. Last few are scenes from the Northwest, starting with some water lilies, then a couple of water scenes and a farm from the town of LaConnor, north of Seattle. All are 5x7 to 8x10 in size. 

Oregon Daily Paintings

I switched from Hawaii to Oregon scenes this week, now on number 71. These are Oregon coast views, 6x8 to 4x6 in size. Took time in the middle of these to redo an old Oregon coast scene in a larger work and although I improved it, it's still not where I want it to be. What's the saying, if at first you don't succeed. 

Daily Paintings through number 66

The fun of the daily paintings is that I can tackle images I'm not sure will turn out well as paintings, to see if I can pull them off. Usually I can so that's a great confidence builder, especially for when I get outdoors again when the weather improves or I travel to a warmer place. I'm a weather wimp so don't go up to the mountains nearby for snow scenes or such. Much rather paint the beaches of Hawaii,Oregon, and California. The top image is a waterfall on Kauai, 5x7. Next is a road to Iao Valley on Maui, 8x10. Third is a view from North Maui, looking NW, also 5x7. Bottom two are views from the Oregon Coast. 5x7, and 6x8. I always seem to have aerial views of Oregon as the coastal road has many ups and downs and the scenic stops are high above the beaches for the most part. Most of this group especially shows my strength in making the composition work from a distance, by having the canvas divided well into light and dark shapes. If you squint at them you will see what I mean. I've always been good at this and now the daily paintings are helping me make the paint surface more interesting. Next challenge is to incorporate still more color besides what I see to offer greater color variety than is found in nature, or to emphasize the "odd" colors more, or heck, just add whatever I want to make the work more alive. Painters are allowed to lie, same as fiction writers.