Thursday, March 31, 2011

30 Minute Irises

30 Minute Iris #1
3"x3" gouache on paper

30 Minute Iris #2
3"x3" gouache on paper

These little guys were meant to be 10 minute irises, but the elapsed time was more like half an hour. They're done in gouache from the earlier painting, since the flowers themselves had pretty much curled up. I was trying to get more shades of blue than in the oil version, and I think I did that. I need to practice with more real flowers, because "seeing" the different shades is key, and I need practice in that too.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Monday, March 28, 2011

"Irises"

"Irises"
6"x6" oil on canvas panel

Here's my second iris painting. I hope they last a while longer, since my other idea for the Garden of Earthly Delights Exhibit didn't work out. It was one of those painting experiences that teaches you how not to paint. I wiped it.

I want to thank those who have participated in the DPW Japan Relief Challenge. With three days worth of paintings auctioned so far, $21,00 has been raised. My first painting is sold and the second will close on Thursday. Here's a link.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Saturday, March 26, 2011

"Iris"

"Iris"
6"x6" oil on Raymar panel

I went shopping this morning thinking about the next exhibition at River Arts. It's called Garden of Earthly Delights and "explores all we envision and experience in our gardens, including the natural forces and creatures that occupy them". I've got a couple of ideas that I want to work on. First are irises. I love the color, and all those chunky petals, it really gives you something to work with. I've done two paintings of them so far, and tomorrow I plan to work on the other idea.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com


Thursday, March 24, 2011

"Mondrian Inspired 2" for Japanese Relief

"Mondrian Inspired 2"
6"x6" oil on Raymar panel

I've gotten a couple of comments on the first painting I put up for the Japan Relief Challenge on the DPW site, but no bids, so I thought I would put in something completely different to try and catch a bidder's eye. Above is a painting from January, with a modified name.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

"Across the Thorofare"

"Across the Thorofare"
8"x8" oil on Raymar panel

I'm getting ready for plein air painting and I can't wait! It's going to be wonderful to get outside and paint some green. This is a view across the Deer Island Thorofare from Stonington painted from a photo. If you ever get a chance, go there. It is one of the most beautiful places in Maine.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Sunday, March 20, 2011

"Off the Rim" for Japanese Relief - SOLD

"Off the Rim"
6"x6" oil on Raymar panel

This week, the Daily Paintworks Challenge is raising money for disaster relief in Japan. I'm putting in a couple of paintings and I hope you will rise to the challenge, visit the site and bid on your favorite painting. I chose this one because of the bright colors and simplicity of design.

All the money raised by the sale of this painting will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid in their relief efforts in Japan. I'll send documentation to the buyer when the donation is made. I've set the starting bid at $70 to encourage bidding in this 7 day auction. The winning bidder can pay by check or through PayPal.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Flying Pelican Sketch

This evening I did a group of sketches of birds and people. This one is the simplest and also my favorite.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

"Cruise Planning"

"Cruise Planning"
6"x6" oil on Raymar panel

My husband has this nice pair of brass dividers that we use on our sailboat. In thinking about things to put in a nautical still life these were at the top of my list, until I started to paint them. Wow, not so easy. The chart was fun. Anyone recognize the book?

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Lying in the Sun Sketch

"Lying in the Sun"

I'm trying to focus on regular painting practice and experimentation, even if it's in the car on the way to work or at lunchtime. Gouache works well for that since it's easy to clean up, but I don't always get something that I want to show. So here's another sketch from my recent trip to Tybee Island in Georgia. It's so muddy here in New England this spring, with massive amounts of snow melting, thinking about the beach is what keeps us going.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

"Daffodils"

"Daffodils"
5"x5" gouache on paper

I like to experiment using gouache. It handles a lot like oils, and the color mixing is the same. But it dries fast, which is useful when experimenting and when time is short (isn't it always?). This experiment is about abstraction. Abstraction simplifies things in a way. It's about composition and about values. Is that surprising considering how colorful this painting is? I think you get to choose the composition and the color, but the values have to be right for the composition. There are more layers on the blue part of this painting because that was where I struggled the most finding those values.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com

Sunday, March 6, 2011

"Shadow Quartet"

"Shadow Quartet"

after a second pass on the trees and block in of the rest

start - note there is no drawing, just the shapes

As the snow is melting, I'm getting more into painting it. This one is from a photo I took earlier in the week, out on my snow shoes. And we won't go into how I almost got the car stuck. I was glad I had a shovel in the back. The photos are not the best, a few lighting and white balance problems that even photoshop couldn't fix. The middle image is the most true to the real painting.

Upcoming workshops:
-- That I am teaching: Daily Painting and Blogging in Damariscotta, ME, April 30 - May 1, 2011
-- That I am hosting: Liz Wiltzen Plein Air Painting in South Freeport, ME, Aug. 19-21, 2011

http://bobbiheath.blogspot.com
www.bobbiheath.com