Virtual Paintout - South Florida!

I really enjoy participating in the monthly Virtual Paintout where artists choose their view to paint by using Google Street View.   I've joined the Virtual Paintout every month for over 5 years!  The project started many months before I joined in and I see some past locations I would love to investigate.  

The location for September 2017 was South Florida.  A very timely location considering the state's devastation following Hurricane Irma this month.  The Street View vehicle  images I found were from 2013 to 2016.  Sometimes these images change years several times within a few blocks.  I like having this extra painting challenge as well as sight-seeing during the month.

5" x 7" Watercolor

Miami

5" x 7" Watercolor

Key Biscayne

Virtual Paintout - Montenegro!

Each month I love participating in the Virtual Paintout.  So much fun to virtually visit locations around the world, having a painting in mind.  This month Bill Guffey chose Montenegro for our virtual paint-out.  Montenegro has a very picturesque coast along the Adriatic Sea across from Italy and it's a prime tourist destination.  Along with some cruise ships, I also found some medieval walls and villages.  The buildings with tile roofs, and the many flowers and palms are so charming.  The country looks like a beautiful place to visit.  

These are my last paintings and final post for 2016.   Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and wonderful 2017!

5" x 7 " Gouache

5" x 7 " Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Newfoundland!

Each month I really enjoy participating in the Virtual Paintout.  Bill Guffey chooses the monthly location anywhere in the world that Google Street View cameras have covered.  I find it fascinating to virtually visit so many places that I will never be able to see in person.

This month the location was the island of Newfoundland, Canada.  I was surprised that the largest city, St John's, had so many brightly painted historic homes built in the late 1800's.  Very beautiful and charming.  There were also so many great seascapes that I had a hard time deciding on my two views to paint.  And there is never enough time to see everything, just knowing something great is just around the corner!    

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Maine, Route 1!

I'm still participating in the monthly Virtual Paintouts, still enjoying virtually visiting locations all over the world.  Bill Guffey organizes the Virtual Paintout where artists use Google Street View at the month's location to find their views to paint.  Bill posts all of the submissions on the blog and on Facebook.

For May 2016, the location was Route 1 in Maine from Rockland to Milbridge.  There are some very charming towns along the Maine coast!  It looks like a beautiful place to visit.  Maybe someday!

5" x 7" Watercolor, Camden, Maine

5" x 7" Watercolor, Rockland, Maine

Virtual Paintout - NSW!

Each month I enjoy participating in The Virtual Paintout.  Artists find their virtual view to paint using Google Street View.  The location for March 2016 was New South Wales.  I was excited to look around that part of Australia and I wasn't disappointed.  It looks very beautiful, and now at the top of the list of places I would like to visit.

I like to use the smaller pieces I paint for the Virtual Paintout as practice.  I recently read an article by a watercolorist I admire who coincidentaly lives in Melbourne, Australia for part of the year.   He puts in his dark values at the beginning of his paintings which isn't the usual way to work in watercolor.  So, I gave it a try on these two pieces.  Interesting way to work, and I will give that approach more practice!

5" x 7" Watercolor, Sydney Harbor

5"x 7" Watercolor

Virtual Paintout - Scotland!

The Virtual Paintout location for January 2016 was Scotland.  Bill Guffey chooses the monthly location for artists to virtually find their view to paint using Google Street View.  I really enjoy looking around cities and countries that I'll never be able to visit in person.  The areas I saw of Scotland looked beautiful.  What a charming place to visit.  It was definitely quite a change from the past several month's paint-outs in Ecuador, Istanbul, and the Philippines.  Amazing!  I like to use the virtual paint-outs as practice for the local ones I go on.  Brush miles are always a good thing.

5" x 7" watercolor

5" x 7" watercolor

  

Virtual Paintout - Monterey Peninsula!

It's the end of the month and I've submitted my Virtual Paintout pieces to Bill Guffey.  For August 2015 the location was the beautiful Monterey Peninsula area of California.  I was surprised we were in the USA for two months in a row.  And it was another place I've visited in person which doesn't happen often.

A DVD by Andy Evansen that was made in Monterey and the location with a view of the pier was on my mind.  I think I found something near there and chose that view for one piece.  It's been many years since I visited the area, which included Carmel.  I remembered liking the Carmel Valley but didn't find a view in the short browsing time I had to spend.  I tried downtown Carmel which is very charming and found a pretty storefront.  I think maybe I should add a figure or two.  Where will we be in September?

5" x 7" Watercolor

5" x 7" Watercolor

Frank Eber Workshop!

I was lucky to be able to take a recent workshop from Frank Eber.  I took a class from Frank three years ago which was before I started plein air painting and had little confidence.  I was really hoping another workshop with Frank would come my way.  It finally happened, a three day workshop at the National Watercolor Society headquarters in San Pedro.

The first day, after watching Frank paint, we all tried a coastal scene from one of his photos.  A fun scene, lots of green.  In the afternoon, from Frank's photo, we started a pastoral scene with a barn and cows.  Frank loves to paint cows and he had a big board illustrated with basic cow shapes to share.  The next day we met at the Pt. Fermin Lighthouse.  The morning started out cloudy but cleared up and we could add some sun to our paintings.  We watched Frank paint morning and afternoon demos which turned out so beautifully and were so inpsiring.  The last day we all met at the channel next to Ports O' Call and tried a harbor scene.  There is no shade at that location so lucky for me it was overcast.  My boats and water still need practice.  We all chose our views and Frank painted another wonderful piece.  We went back to the NWS studio and Frank advised us on finishing our pieces.  My barn and cows aren't finished yet.  This workshop was such a wonderful experience, and Frank is so generous with his tips and guidance.  So much fun!   

The view I chose - 10" x 8" Watercolor

Frank Eber

The view I chose - 10" x 8" Watercolor

Frank Eber

After Frank's studio demo

Frank Eber

Keiko Tanabe Workshop!

Last month I had the opportunity to get a spot in a 3-day workshop given by Keiko Tanabe at the NWS headquarters in San Pedro.  Keiko is one of my favorite plein air watercolor painters.  I was really looking forward to being able to watch her paint again and absorb some of her expertise.  I took a workshop taught by Keiko two years ago when I was first starting plein air painting and enjoyed it so much.  She is so generous and such a lovely person.  

Our first day was in the studio and we all tried painting from Keiko's photos.  She did morning and afternoon demos and we tried the same scenes of Italy and San Clemente, CA.  The next day we met at the harbor for some outdoor painting.  We had a fun morning watching Keiko paint and then trying the working harbor scene ourselves.  I've mentioned my painting of water and boats needs more practice...still does!  In the afternoon we painted in another area at the harbor and I found something without boats and water to try, a more "industrial" scene that I enjoy.  On the final morning we met at Averill Park which is a beautiful place.  There is a stream with ducks, trees, and dappled light creating a wonderful mood.  In the afternoon we went back to the studio to watch Keiko paint another demo.  She's just so quick and amazing.  Very inspiring! 

9 x 13" Watercolor

Keiko Tanabe

8 x 10" Watercolor

Keiko Tanabe

A diver doing repairs who was surprised to see us .

8 x 10" Watercolor

Averill Park

Virtual Paintout - County Kerry, Ireland!

This was my 27th time participating in the Virtual Painout and I wish I had started sooner.  Looking at the list of locations I missed, there were some interesting places.

County Kerry, Ireland was the location chosen by Bill Guffey for the Virtual Paintout, October 2014.  Artists use Google Street View to look around the designated area and choose their subjects to paint.  We submit our pieces to Bill and he posts them on his blog and on Facebook.  I had fun looking around this part of Ireland.  I wanted to find a view with some sheep and I did.  Looking forward to next month's location!

5 x 7" Watercolor

5 x 7" Watercolor