After a week of rain, the sun finally came out today, and I wasted no time getting outside. I painted these azaleas and dogwoods while standing on my front lawn.
Geoff Watson, “The color purple,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”
Hiding behind the trees
The pandemic is upon us, and plein air painting has to bend to the needs of the day. In my case, this means painting a lot of things while standing on my driveway or front lawn, where no onlookers come peek over my shoulder. Fortunately, our cherry blossoms are about to bloom, so I should have some good subject matter. In fact, my little cherry tree is already blooming. I may paint it tomorrow.
For the last couple days, though I focused on our neighbor’s house, which is shrouded in trees. Our neighbors are wonderful social people, but the building itself seems to be hiding behind the foliage, as if distancing itself from the virus.
Geoff Watson, “Hiding behind the trees,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”
Neighbor's house
I stood on my back porch and painted my neighbor’s house, painting for a couple hours on both Saturday and Sunday. I was going after the glowing afternoon light that sporadically lit the house in warm colors.
Geoff Watson, “Neighbor’s house,” oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.
Daily painting #85: Canal
Our rented house in Rehoboth Beach looks out on the Rehoboth-Lewes Canal. It was raining all day, but that didn’t stop me from setting up under an awning and painting the scene. I wanted a better view of the canal, so I “pruned” a few bushes with my brushes.
Geoff Watson, “Rehoboth-Lewes Canal,” oil on linen, 6” x 12,” 2019.
Daily painting #33: Yacht
I had my most enjoyable day of painting of the year! My family and I traveled to the Chesapeake to enjoy a party with friends and relatives, and I brought along the paints. This yacht was sitting in the late-afternoon light, just begging to be painted. So I obliged it! There was a pleasant south breeze, temperature in the low-80s, sunshine, good food, and lots of friendly party-goers wandering up to my easel to chat.
It was one of those paintings that felt right after the first 10 minutes. I sketched in the hull, leaving the light bit unpainted, and I knew right away I'd be happy with the composition. It may not be perfect, but it sure was fun.
Geoff Watson, “The Yacht,” June daily painting #2, oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2019.
Daily painting #32 (football field); and a collage.
I have two things to share today. FIrst, the daily painting adventure continues into June! Today I visited Walt Whitman High School and painted its football field, which was about to be used for practice by a soccer team. A very fun subject to paint!
Geoff Watson, “Before practice,” June daily painting #1, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
Second, I used Photoshop to put together a collage of all 31 of my daily paintings for May! Enjoy.
Geoff Watson, “Collage of all 31 May daily paintings,” oil on small panels, 2019.
Daily painting #18: Up the driveway
I did yet another scene from my neighborhood, as I’m limiting my driving as my back heals. (It felt a lot better today.) It was a gorgeous day, but I had trouble seeing my panel because I was standing in shade looking toward a very bright light source. Perhaps not coincidentally, the painting is less daring than my best pictures. I’ll have to think about better ways to keep light off my canvas.
Also, this is not a wonderful photo. In the actual painting, for example, the background is more green. I might re-photograph and re-post it later.
Geoff Watson, “Up the driveway (study),” May daily painting #18, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
Daily painting #17: The road ahead
My back has been too sore for me to drive safely, so I’ve been walking to nearby spots to paint. In this case, I was trying to highlight the bend in the road in the top-left, but I also wanted to include the car because it’s just plain fun to paint cars. The trouble with cars, though, is that they always drive away. True to form, this one poofed before I’d finished it. I did my best completing it from memory.
Geoff Watson, “The Road Ahead,” May daily painting #17, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
Snowy road
I did a pencil sketch of this snowy road a couple of weeks ago, after a light dusting of snow, and finally got around to developing the sketch into a little studio watercolor. I’m afraid I haven’t photographed it very well; the original is somewhat cooler and whiter.
Geoff Watson, “Snowy road,” watercolor and gouache on paper, 5” x 8,” 2019.
Here’s an earlier version, photographed in cooler light. The colors are closer to the original. There’s not much color in the painting, to be honest, as the scene was mostly grey and white. Still, I need to add more color to my watercolor. :)
Geoff Watson, “Snowy road (in progress),” watercolor and gouache on paper, 5” x 8,” 2019.
Exfair Road
I went back to the same neighborhood I painted yesterday, this time one street over. I loved this yellow-orange tree! Unfortunately, I didn’t finish before darkness fell. I need to define the road better, refine the trees on the left, and probably tone down the dark spots at the end of the road. And I might add a figure or two, or a car. I may do those things in the studio, as rain is in the forecast.
Geoff Watson, “Exfair Road,” oil on panel, 16” x 20,” 2018.
Kenwood Avenue - Day 2
I spent the afternoon adding details to trees, improving the drawing, and painting MY car instead of the car that abandoned me in my first session. I also added a figure walking on the street. I'm not sure this one is done yet, but it's getting close; I'm inclined to leave it loose like this. I'll set it aside for a week or so to think on it.
Geoff Watson, "Kenwood Avenue," oil on linen, 18" x 24," 2018.
Kenwood Avenue - Day 1
When I started this painting, there was a car parked on the left side of the road, but of course it drove away after an hour. I may park my car on the road tomorrow so that I have a model to paint.
Geoff Watson, "Kenwood Avenue - in progress," oil on linen, 18" x 24," 2018.
Little Falls Creek
I did a study of Little Falls Creek last year, and I've been meaning to turn it into a larger studio painting. For this first effort, I experimented with the odd painting implements pioneered by David Dunlop: squeegees, house-painting brushes, paper towels, gloves, fingers. The result is a bit messy, but I do like the lighting effects. I haven't decided what to do next with this picture.
Geoff Watson, "Little Falls Creek," in progress, oil on panel, 11" x 14," 2018.
Brookside
This is a parkland area along Brookside Drive, a quiet local street. It was very hot and very buggy, but I did my best. The painting took about 3 or 4 hours.
Geoff Watson, "Brookside," oil on linen panel, 12" x 16," 2018.