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I did this painting a few weeks ago and posted in my newsletter but didn’t quite get around to posting it here on my blog- sorry about that! But I am still painting away. This painting came up spontaneously after my beautiful en plein air painting day at the beach with Andy. It pays [...]
What a difference a day at the beach makes!
This week, my friend, Andy, got me out of my house AND my head with a little painting a la ‘plein air’ style at Montara Beach near Half Moon Bay.
We packed up some paints and a few nibbles and plopped down right in the middle of a gorgeous view.
We packed small canvases, of course, but when Andy pulled out this little wooden palette for me, I just started painting that instead! You all know how much I like painting on, well, pretty much anything better than canvas. I’m not sure why, but I went with it and created my most realistic (and yet, still VERY stylized, of course) painting so far for my painting-a-week challenge.
This is actually, the back side of what I painted at the beach (can you spot the ‘front’ side in the messy photo?). I used tape instead of torn poster board and decided to let the wood grain be part of the sand pattern. Kind of reverses the perspective so it looks like I’m looking over the sand dune rather than along it, but who cares.
Besides a bit of mess and…
A few minor accidents…
We had a great time. And I feel refreshed and ready for this week’s painting… I already have a feeling about it…
So far, I’m really enjoying this resolution of completing one painting a week. This piece was inspired by two things…
1. This dresser design I created and painted for the DIY Channel this past Summer. I tore pieces of posterboard to create jagged edges that became stylized landscape rows...
2. ...and Meagan Lewis, awesome friend and founder of of Brown Pigeon stamps, saw the dresser and said, "Oh, I could make a bunch of those landscapes and hang them on my wall!" or something close to that.
I’m so used to working big (think a kitchen full of cabinets, 9′ walls…) that her idea to create several landscapes on a small scale hit me like a bolt of lightning- excellent idea, Meagan!
I set out to do a really soft skyscape with subtle whites and grays. But as I stacked the colors, the painting screamed for color- of course
I painted the landscape over this painting you see below.
Which explains the stripe at the top and the section of paint that’s cracking over the star….
Do-overs are totally allowed in painting. Some of my favorite pieces are the ones I paint over older work. Clean canvases still kind of intimidate me. Painting over an old idea takes the pressure off- and there’s usually a surprising bonus like this little star that shines through the piece.
Watch this video (click the photo) and you’ll know how I painted my latest landscape!
STEP RIGHT UP! READ ALL ABOUT IT!
My videos for the DIY Channel are finally up! I’m so excited, not only because it’s been a major work in progress for several months, but also because I can’t wait to share these easy and colorful projects with you AND celebrate so many of the people who helped me get this all done. It really does take a ‘village’ to accomplish great things, and I happen to have the best tribe!
So this week, I’m sharing behind the scenes details (along with links to the videos!) about the people and projects to show you how it all comes together. I’m starting with my brother, Lane, because I honestly, couldn’t have done this without him… so without further adieu…
Lane flew down from Portland to assist me with the DIY Videos. He’s been building a dance company and launching some new performances himself, so I’m grateful beyond belief for his support.
We filmed the videos in an empty loft (thanks for the awesome find, Greg Goode!) which was the perfect space, but before shooting we ran far and wide gathering everything we needed to style the shots and make these rooms feel homey.
Of course, we hit the flea market… truth be told, I didn’t think we had time, but Lane insisted so we went and found primo pieces! (bien sur!)
We might’ve been a tad- um- unruly- at West Elm putting together the bedding for the How To Choose Colors Videos.
But it was worth it, we found everything we needed…
…to start the show (so to speak!)
I don’t know if we get along because he’s my next youngest sibling, because I’m a lefty and he’s righty, or just because my bossy-ness and his pesky-ness balances our personalities to just getting a long…
like two peas in a pod
He always finds something a bit mischievous to do… he always has to get away with something
But he’s my biggest fan, greatest support, and the person I aspire to match creatively.
Oh, and he can pack a van like nobody’s business.
Thank you, Lane!!! Check out Lane’s upcoming dance version of Psyko coming to Portland, Oregon this October!!!
Can’t wait to share more of the coolest people in my village… stay tuned!
