En Plein Air: the Wooden Bridge over the Creek (Oil, 12 x 9)

This is a bridge at Dennis and Rocky's farm. I tried to express the subtle difference in light when the sun went through the foliage in the woods.

En Plein Air: Daybreak in My Backyard (Oil, 8 x 10)

I've long been yearning to paint either daybreak or night scenes since I read about how Frederick Remington studied color in order to paint Western night scenes. I have been observing daybreak or night scenes for some time. This morning I woke up early and realized it was a good opportunity to paint daybreak. I also know how quickly the lighting would change, so this paint I completed really in very short time.

En Plein Air: Monday Morning at Gulf Coast Town Center (oil, 10 x 8)

Like usual, it was quiet and slow on Mondays at mall, especially in the morning. When I got there, I saw only clerks and workers busying themselves with preparation for business to open. Maybe you have guessed where I stood. Yes, it is the entrance to Dick's Sports Goods. I fortunately set up under the corridor cover with a huge column which happened to block the sun from my eyes. The green cover for customers in the open-air is Aurelio's Pizza. I forgot the name of the bar in front ground. Toward the end of my painting, a mother and her child came to sit outside. I added them to the picture. It took me longer than usually because it was difficult to handle values of objects with the shining sun in the back.

En Plein Air: Wheel Barrow under the Tree (Oil, 10 x 8)

It was a prefect day with clear sky and cool temperature. The orange-color wheel barrow looked pretty bright, especially in the sun. The process went smoothly. Of course, I could have added more details, but as a plein air study, I tried to understand the contrast between directly lighted area and shaded background.

En Plein Air: Foggy Morning and Breakfast

The fog was really heavy this morning, but I knew it would not stay long. After I set up, I had to hurry. The painting took not quite an hour. After I was done with the first one, I painted the horse. With the animal constantly changing its position, I had to rush, too. So it also took less than an hour.

Foggy Morning

Oil, 10 x 12

Breakfast

Oil, 8 x 10

Alla Prima Portrait: Lisa (Oil, 20 x 16)

It was Punta Gorda VAC portrait studio day. Today's model was Lisa. I don't remember whether I painted her before. Her face looked familiar but I don't see her portrait in my past works. Possibly, she came to pose for us when we needed two models and I painted the other one. I tried to use a more subtle approach but obviously I was not successful in breaking the bondage of my habitual routines. Anyway, not bold enough. I know I need to constantly remind myself of doing quick strokework. Some effects you can get only when you are driven by a subconsciously purposeful eagerness.

En Plein Air: the Stable of Dennis and Rocky (Oil, 10 x 16)

I believe I've hit a jackpot, that is, Dennis and Rocky's hospitality. I went their beautiful home again this morning. Dennis offered to show me around the horse farm behind their house. When we are under the thick foliage of the woods, I saw numerous shafts of sunlight shoot through leaves like hundreds of flashlights making lighted spots on grass, bushes, or water. It was so beautiful! We further went to his friend's and neighbor's orange grove, goat farm, and their seclusive spot for relaxation on the creek. Wow, this is the right place for pelin air painting. I am sure you'll see more paintings I make of the place. What I made today is a corner of their stable.