LOOKING UP A CLIFF

    Cliff Notes | Pastel | 12 X 9

Day 1 of Capitola Plein Air. Arrived at 12:30 to be told I was one of LAST to check in.  Yikes! Apparently this event is going to be heavily attended by local artists - and there are some of the best in this area. Twenty minutes later I considered returning home and punting the whole thing.  No room for my Eurovan in any state campgrounds, and no answer calling most of them and local campsites. 

But one obscure small campground  pulled through for me and when I arrived I found the proprietor was also an artist. She showed me her paintings and I felt like I was home - home for two nights!  At check-in, an artist had left a $10 parking stub for New Brighton Beach State Park. I headed there and painted most of this - right up till the approaching waves went from 25' away to 12'. Time to go! 

Painting notes: I brought all Wallis warm paper for this event. Painting looking right into the descending sun was tricky. My new WonderBrella saved the day but high tide ended it early. I went back up to the parking lot where I got carried away with the last rays high lighting the cypress on the hill...and then was saved by two artists in the event coming over and inviting me to cocktails and dinner! 

I'D RATHER BE BLUE....

    Capitola Nocturne | Pastel | 8x16

Saturday night, after a long, glorious day of painting Capitola, as I was walking back from the restaurant at the end of Capitola Wharf, the reflections of Capitola's night lights called out to me - especially the blue lights!  I thought  'It's only 8 o'clock. I think I still have another painting in me tonight'! 

Back to the car for my highly portable (contractors proposal box pochade) mini-box.  Making the marks was like writing a musical score, left to right, notes and clefts!  The music was the artsy-me singing! Being inside one's own head is sometimes the MOST fun!

Painting notes: Key ingredients - black art spectrum paper and a couple of great super black pastels- Nupastel and Rembrandt.  The thing about painting on dark papers is that one's 'usually' medium value pastels are now your super lights!  The final touch is a pale yellow white in just the right places. And those blue lights!

TRYING SOMETHING NEW!

    

Saturday at Capitola's inaugural Plein Air and I'm out of the shoot painting my first ever street scene! Two point perspective is all I can muster. I must have mentally measured my right vanishing point a thousand times! I so envy artists who were born with what I call 'Perfect Perspective'. It is like 'perfect pitch' in singers. The 'rest' of us have to labor with the concept and application of it! Sigh...

Painting notes:  My two new best friends, Wallis Warm Belgian Mist paper and a square format! Pushing, stretching - this is what excitement is to an artist! I can see areas I could strengthen but then again, sometimes leaving the painting just as it was when you took down your easel is the best teacher!