It’s always fun to paint someone working on a computer or phone, because they tend to stay still. Here I was especially interested in the three different light sources: the computer screen and the two interior lights in the background.
Geoff Watson, “Thinking,” June daily painting #3, oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2019.
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.
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.
I don’t know what possessed me to try to paint a figure in an extremely foreshortened pose! The result is not my best work, lol. Normally I wouldn’t post a flawed effort like this, but the idea of daily painting is to share your failures as well as your successes. If nothing else, this principle usually induces me to work harder to avoid failures! But today I was tired and declared victory as the sun was setting. At least the warm light is kind of cool. :)
Geoff Watson, “On the couch (study),” May daily painting #31, oil on panel, 8” x 8,” 2019.
I started this little painting very late, and it got so dark that I could no longer see what I was painting. I was interested in the light streaming in from behind the deck.
Geoff Watson, “On deck (in progress),” May daily painting #30, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I’m always eager to paint cars, but cars are fickle models: they tend to drive away. Today I got a great chance: a car stayed parked for hours right across from my house. Time for a portrait of a Honda Accord!
Geoff Watson, “Portrait of a Honda Accord,” May daily painting #29, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
I spent the afternoon painting this pleasant view of Cordell Avenue in Bethesda, Maryland. Cityscapes are, for me, the most challenging form of plein air painting. First, you’ve got to get your perspective right. Second, it’s a drawing challenge: there are lots of machine-tooled, symmetrical objects with sharp edges and perfect corners (buildings, cars, windows), and it takes lots of concentration to draw them correctly. Third, composition is a challenge: how do you pick a focal point when there are so many interesting things to see? Fourth, there’s a ton of detail, and even if you omit 80% of it, there’s still a ton of detail. But the upside is that it’s never boring, and I never lack for company — well-wishers stop by my easel all day long.
Geoff Watson, “Cordell Avenue (study),” May daily painting #28, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
I had expected a dreary, overcast, muggy sort of day, but by mid-afternoon the sun was out and the heat and humidity wasn’t so bad. So I rushed outside to paint a rose bush in full bloom.
Geoff Watson, “Rose bush,” May daily painting #27, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
I had ambitions of painting my entire studio, but I didn’t start until 10:30 pm, so I had to scale back and settle for the studio sink. Even this narrower subject proved too much given the late hour; I had to cut out lots of interesting studio clutter. I’ll try it again when I have more time! In the meantime, I did learn something about painting sinks.
Geoff Watson, “Studio sink (study),” May daily painting #26, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I couldn’t stand looking at that bad start, so I resumed my little 6” x 6” self-portrait today. After a couple more hours work, it’s better. It’s getting closer to a likeness, and it’s no longer bad, lol. I will work on it again on the next rainy day.
Geoff Watson, “Improved self-portrait (in progress),” May daily painting #25, study, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I didn’t have much time for today’s daily painting, so this is a goofy start of a tiny self-portrait. I’ll work on it a bit tomorrow, which will be another busy day for me. Normally I wouldn’t post something this bad, but part of the point of the daily painting movement is to keep a daily journal. So, look and giggle!
Geoff Watson, “Goofy self-portrait (in progress),” study, May daily painting #24, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I wanted to practice painting cars today, so I parked myself at the local supermarket. I was counting on shoppers taking 45 minutes to get groceries. Instead, most cars stayed for 10 minutes, or so it seemed! The result is an unfinished painting, unfortunately. Plus I took a terrible photo!
Next time I’ll try sketching in the shape of the entire mass of cars, then moving to individual cars, rather than the other way around. I’m still not sure whether to work from back to front or vice-versa.
Geoff Watson, “Cars at the supermarket (unfinished),” May daily painting #23, study, oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
My daughter is home from college, and she and I painted together today — a rare treat! It was a glorious 70-degree day, with bright sunshine and clear skies. I thought I’d share both our paintings. First, here’s mine:
Geoff Watson, “Front walkway,” May daily painting #22, oil on panel, 9” x 12,” 2019.
And here’s my daughter’s impression, with a more zoomed-in point of view:
Maddie Watson, “The front door,” oil on panel, 8” x 10,” 2019.
I did this little sketch in an hour or so; wish I’d spent more time with it. Not a bad start, though.
Geoff Watson, “Floral sketch (in progress),” May daily painting #21, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I had intended a simple sketch of this interior, but a skylight cast a strangely-shaped light over the scene, and I couldn’t resist trying to depict it. I didn’t entirely succeed, but it’s an interesting effort.
Geoff Watson, “Skylight,” May daily painting #20, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
Today’s life class featured a man wearing a turban and billowing pants, and brandishing a blade. A very fun pose to paint!
Geoff Watson, “Man with Turban & Blade,” May daily painting #19, oil on panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.
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.
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.
For the second straight day, I felt an unusual compulsion to paint a doorway. And why not? There’s something mysterious about a closed door. But the flowers stole the show.
Geoff Watson, “Welcome,” May daily painting #16, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.
I painted this little scene from my kitchen, looking into my darkened dining room, with warm light in a window beyond.
Geoff Watson, “Interiors,” May daily painting #15, oil on panel, 6” x 6,” 2019.