Father's Day & Just off the Easel: A Ride on the Beach

Happy Father's Day!

Today we celebrated my husband's second Father's Day.  We let him sleep in (only until 8:30 but it's better than 6:15!), had a nice brunch, and headed to the NC Museum of Art. 

We have been wanting to see the 30 Americans exhibit, so we activated the membership we bought on Groupon a few months ago.  The year membership got us free admission to the ticketed show, and it was well worth it!  We'll also be able to see the Rembrandt show coming later this year.  30 Americans was an incredible show... my favorite pieces were Mickalene Thomas' Baby I Am Ready Now and Kehinde Wiley's  Sleep.  If you are in the Raleigh area, don't miss this exhibit!  It is also heading to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. in October 2011.


For Father's Day, I just finished this commission of a daddy and son on the beach. 

A Ride on the Beach

acrylic on canvas

16" x 20"

I'm loving the summertime scenes right now, like the one I finished last week of Natalie on the beach.  I'm working on a smaller oil pastel of Nick and Natalie on the beach...look for a post on that coming in the next few days!


Last but certainly not least, thank you to all of the wonderful fathers ... most especially my own Dad, father-in-law, and my husband.  Natalie and I are lucky to have all of you in our lives! :)

Just off the Easel: Buckets of Fun

After our fun trip to Emerald Isle, I have tons of great photos to paint!

Natalie loved romping in the sand, chasing waves, eating kelp, and playing with water in her buckets.  I think she was more interested in the buckets filled with water than eating sand, which was fine by me!


I have just finished this painting of Natalie busily playing with her buckets...

Buckets of Fun
8" x 10" oil pastel on paper

Painted with oil pastels on Arches Cover stock, primed with terracotta Colourfix.  This time I underpainted with the Neocolor water soluble pastels, and I liked how it kept the layers thinner.  The oil pastel really builds up quickly and takes some time to set up.  Using the water soluble pastels helped me to work more quickly and make changes to the composition before using the oil pastels.

Here is my underpainting...for once I thought to get out the camera and take a picture halfway into my work.  This is after laying down the Neocolor pastels and using a wet brush to create a wash.  

after underpainting finished
& before oil pastels used

I'm looking forward to some more beach-inspired paintings, and will continue experimenting with different ways to underpaint.  Next I may try some watercolor washes, which I haven't done in years.  Should be a good exercise!

Stay tuned :)