Cedars with Color

Pastel on Gatorboard, 14x11

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This painting was started from beneath the Beach Blvd. bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.  It was raining, and the colors of the salt marsh were spectacular.  The part of the scene that attracted my attention most was the stark contrast between the dark, gray-green cedars with the marsh grasses and coastal shrubs that the rain had turned to brilliant green and gold.

With the rain, I had to do most of this back in the studio, where I could work with edges, colors, and the composition.

"Marsh in the Autumn Rain"

Pastel on gatorboard - 14x11

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This is a view of the marsh and the Intercoastal Waterway from the access road that goes under the Beach Blvd bridge. I've painted this before. The bridge provides a little shelter when it rains. The gray/purple sky bathes the marsh grass a special light that paints everything in dark, warm gold and brown.

"Heading Out"

Pastel on sanded Arches watercolor paper - 14x10

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I retouched, updated, and signed this painting today.

This is a view from the Little Jetties, Helen Floyd Park, looking across the San Pablo River / Intercoastal Waterway. This is where the ICW meets the St. Johns River. The channel has cut into the bank on the far side making a dramatic backdrop for the boats as the make their way into the open water. The sea breeze has caught the sail of the nearest boat as he heads out for the day.

This view impressed me with it's dramatic view of the eroded bank, the blue of the water, and the almost overpowering brightness of the sunlight. By mid morning, the sun has burned away the haze, the sea breeze has come up, and a few puffy clouds dot the sky.

Last of Winter

Oil on canvas panel - 12x9

En plein air

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I captured this scene across the Intercoastal Waterway. It was early morning with the tide way out when I started, and I finished just at lunch time and the tide was almost high. That's one of the difficulties of painting water.

I did the sky and water first because I knew thy would be the first to change. Then I blocked in the shadows for the deepest values. Next I blocked in the broad shapes and masses of color. Then I finished with details and edges.

I had to work quickly because the sand gnats have arrived.

Royal Morning

Pastel on UArt, 27x21

I have finished and signed this painting this afternoon. It has been longer in the works because of interruptions and distractions, but that's life.

I have tried to capture the purples and lavenders of morning on the Intercoastal Waterway looking southwest from the Little Jetties toward the Wonderwood Expressway Bridge which is two to three miles away. The passing clouds cast the foreground in shadow but bathe the near shore and the far bank in bright light.

Royal Morning

Pastel - UArt 27x21

Work In Progress

I'm putting this up for my own evaluation. I have added the palm tree as a design element, but I'm not satisfied with the value/color. I'm still new to pastels, and would like to mix my own greens for this. Alas, mixing is a problem.

Royal Morning

11-10 Work for today

11-09 Work for today

Second Look

First Iteration...

Pastel on UArt 27x21

Work in Progress

This picture is based on sketches and reference photos looking from the Helen Floyd Park across the ICW toward the Wonderwood Expressway bridge. I especially wanted to capture the purple and lavenders in the sky set against the sunlight on the sand across the water. The foreground was in shadow which should make the picture more dramatic.

Falling Tide, October

Pastel on UArt 27x21

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The concept behind this painting is the color and openness of the salt marsh at mid morning. The wind is just coming up and ruffling most of the reflections. The tide is falling exposing more and more of the shore line. Across the marsh are some houses that stand out in the morning brightness, but they seem lonely and almost lost in the expanse of grass and water.

This is a view of the landing at Castaway Park. I developed this from a plein air painting and reference photos.

Low Tide

Pastel on UArt 12x9

Not for sale

The First Coast Plein Air Painters had a paint-out today at Castaway Island Park. Several of us showed up to enjoy the perfect weather and the beautiful views of the salt marsh and estuaries. I did this painting on UArt 800 with Rembrandt pastels. The sanded paper holds the pastel but makes broad blending difficult. I'm still learning to use smaller amounts of different colors juxtaposed in order to accomplish visual blending of color.

As I was finishing up and getting ready to add the reflections in the water, the wind came up. It's not easy to paint on paper that is flapping in the breeze, so I come home and will "finish up" later.

Heading Out

Pastel on Self-sanded Arches 14x10

Update 9/30/2010 - I do not like the water among other things, and I am redoing it. Wait for further developments.

This is a view from the Little Jetties, Helen Floyd Park, looking across the San Pablo River / Intercoastal Waterway. This is where the ICW meets the St. Johns River. The channel has cut into the bank on the far side making a dramatic backdrop for the boats as the make their way into the open water. The sea breeze has caught the sail of the nearest boat as he heads out for the day.

This view impressed me with it's dramatic view of the eroded bank, the blue of the water, and the almost overpowering brightness of the sunlight. By mid morning, the sun has burned away the haze, the sea breeze has come up, and a few puffy clouds dot the sky.

This photo (9/25/2010) shows the painting unsigned. I am still deciding whether or not to call it finished.

rjp

"Heading Out" - Little Jetties WIP

I'm putting up another iteration - changed the boat and it's placement. I like it better, but it still has some issues I don't like.
I spent most of the day painting the bathroom. This is not art - it's egshell laytex.

Palisades ICW - Work in Progress

I'm putting this up for review. It's still a work in progress. I had hoped to complete this in one day, but I got interrupted. Still a lot of work to do on the foreground, and some issues to resolve.

Since I had to pause, I'm considering what to do with the little boat. Should it be larger or not there at all? It's some kind of small tug with a pusher bar on the bow and an outboard for power.

En Plein Air Outing

I took my pastels to the Little Jetties - to work on the view across the Intercoastal Waterway. This was my first outing with pastels in more than two years. There were some things with which I am pleased, and much that I need to learn.

Here are some pictures for reference.

rjp

Little Palisades

Oil on RayMar linen panel - 8x6

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This painting is a view from Helen Floyd Park across the Intercoastal Waterway toward the eroded bank on the other side of the San Pablo River where it empties into the St Johns River. The park is also known as the "Little Jetties" on the south bank of the mouth of the St Johns River. I began this painting as an extension of drawings and reference photographs take last fall.

I was able to complete this small painting in about six hours over two days. The pallet is composed of three shades of cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, cobalt, cerulean, and ultramarine blue, and an occasional use of burnt umber.