Summer Breeze V?

If you’ve been following me for a while you may recognise this painting. It has gone through many versions and many color palettes over the last few years: I was never quite saisfied though.

In this version I like the fresh breezy feeling. I’m pleased with the impression of cloud shadows throughout the scene and the sparkle on the water. Some of our beaches have shallow water which encourages rippling waves from wake like these, and the shadow under the tee looks like a good place to read an e-book and enjoy some down time.

I have a submission coming up in a couple of months, which calls for pet paintings and I may add a dog here running along the shoreline. For now this painting can be purchased on Artfinder, sans dog, or I could even add your pet pal.

ALL TIME MOST POPULAR BLOGS - DANIEL DEARBORN DEMO AND PROCESS

ALL TIME 6th MOST POPULAR BLOG

Yesterday I went to a demo by one of my favourite artists, Daniel Dearborn. He has worked in many different media including pen and ink, watercolour and oil, but is currently having fun with acrylic. He loves painting plein air, and his work reflects a love of the outdoors and careful observation over many years. This collage was created from a demo I attended last year.

Artist Daniel Dearborn

This year started with a bang with Daniel creating 24 paintings 24" x 24" which will be in their first exhibit today at Lake Country Art Gallery Art Bazaar. At that time his style was evolving into a painterly style with swirling lines, the beginnings of which can be seen here in the sky.

Daniels style has now moved towards pointillism with bold strokes of colour straight from the tube. Here is a detail from a recent painting. Daniel's demos are friendly, relaxing and easy to follow. If you have the opportunity to attend one, or to visit his studio in Lake Country, BC, Canada, I highly recommend it.

Three things I took away with me this time are:-

1. Starting mid tone and painting the darks and lights towards the end
2. Painting the upper sections and working your way down.
3. Painting with a dirty brush (or at least not fanatically clean). I figure this adds just enough mid grey to dull the colour off the sometimes too vibrant acrylic brights.

Like me, Daniel will be holding open studio sessions where you can follow along as he paints and create your own work at the same time. He can be contacted through his Facebook page here (of course you must be a member of FB to access it).

Follow this blog to see more demo and process photos from current artists, free lessons, tips and tricks, art history and more great art.

I always like to include a painting of my own in a similar style to the artist I am introducing. My work is generally not like Daniels and I rarely paint as large which greatly affects the style of brushwork, However, this wave painting is as bold and colourful as Daniels work and can be purchased here.

LUMINOUS BREAKER by Sea Dean

GAY ABANDON

1.  JACKSON BOUQUET before drying

FREE TO BE ME
When are you the "most you", when you aren't filling the role of parent, provider, friend, or even artist; when there are no expectations from other people or from yourself? What fills you with peace, recharges your batteries, refreshes you? Paint the activity or object or location that represents you being simply yourself. 

2.  JACKSON BOUQUET after first drying

You don't need to show a face or body unless you want to. Maybe it's gardening, watching the sun come up from the back porch (with your favorite coffee mug), riding a motorcycle, bird watching, training a pony, weaving, carpentry, baking, journaling, jogging, sunbathing, hiking, relaxing in a comfy chair late at night after the kids are in bed, or when it's just you and the dog. Or maybe it's a special location where you feel totally part of the environment. 

Stay "in the moment" as you paint it and let yourself go. Painting is ultimately personal. Give yourself permission to express yourself in your art. 

This was the challenge at Daily Paintworks a couple of weeks ago. It is a great incentive to let go and be yourself, although it may take a bit of practice to free your mind. 

The first attempt is like taking a one week vacation, when you are just starting to relax and you have to go back to work. So perhaps it should be a series, gradually becoming more relaxed and more free until it captures the essence of you.

Although I didn't have time to do the exercise, I remembered this Abstract Expressionist piece in honour of Jackson Pollock. It is a tiny Mini Masterpiece, so there wasn't much chance to throw the paint around like he did, but I do remember feeling completely happy, free and in the zone when I was creating it.

3.  JACKSON BOUQUET after retouching

The top painting is just after I had finished when the paint was wet and glossy. The second was the next morning when all the texture had been sucked into the canvas panel (this was before I discovered that gesso is not a good prep for acrylics on panels). I then added more layers of colour to build texture and depth and the result is the final image.

I have since discovered gloss medium, airbrush medium and Gamvar and would like to create more Abstract Expressionist paintings to see how they enhance this technique. I have a show in September where a series of such paintings would make a great display, so hopefully I will have time to make them.

If you decide to do this exercise, you can find the original challenge here. It is free to post on DPW for these challenges and a great way to get you work in front of many buyers.


VIew my online Gallery of large works and Limited Editions at ARTFINDER
View my online Gallery of small works at DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO and printed products here
Art Cards $5 and Art Postcards $3 here

WOODLAND TRAIL - 30 PAINTINGS IN 30 Days - Day 7 - ONE WEEK DOWN CONGRATULATIONS!

WOODLAND TRAIL
By Sea Dean
8" x 10" Canson Arches Board
Ready to frame

View my online Gallery of originals please visit DAILY PAINTWORKS
Shop for Limited Edition ACEO here

My friend Bob Jones is a wonderful photographer who documents his active retirement beautifully. He took a series of interesting photos on a recent hiking trip and I chose this as today's painting. I always love pathways, steps and bubbling steams and this has all three plus a bridge and a wonderful composition, so I couldn't resist. Thanks Bob.

PROGRESS PHOTOS FOR WOODLAND TRAIL

30 PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS - Day 7

WELCOME

POSTING
As a special gift to fellow artists participating in the Leslie Saeta 30 paintings in 30 days Challenge. I am allowing artists to post their entries on my blog as well. I'm using the same type of system to make it easy. Add YOUR NAME ONLY (not the painting's name or your business name) and a link to your web presence. 

VOTING
Posting ends at midnight each day and voting begins. Voting is open on all the previous days blogs from January 1st until January 31st. Three votes for each person. Each day voting opens the when posting closes and continues till 31st January 2015. At close of voting the top three rise to the top and remain on my blog forever.

SHARING
All I ask in return is to spread the word and give your buddies a chance to win prizes too. If you blog, link to your entry on it. Share to Twitter, FB, Pinterest etc. with an easy hover and click. Click on the thumbnails to visit the artists and tell them how much you love their work.

Prizes given to the most active artists and voters that participate throughout the month. Posts, Votes, Comments, Shares etc.

Good Luck everyone.

An InLinkz Link-up

P.S. Remember to post your painting on the current day and vote on all the previous blogs from January 1st to 31st for the most chance at prizes. You have 3 votes each day and voting is open on all pages till January 31st. To vote click on the grey heart on each painting you like. If you're lost click on each of these links.

January 1st WHITE MOUNTAIN II - VOTE
January 2nd WHITE MOUNTAIN I - VOTE
January 3rd WHITE MOUNTAIN III - VOTE
January 4th NORTHERN BEAUTY - VOTE
January 5th CITY LIGHT - VOTE
January 6th HEART AND ROSES - VOTE

Posted on Leslie Saeta's Blog #4

UNWRAPPED - GREETING AT THE DOCK - Pal portrait and favourite commission of the year

My favourite commission of the year, GREETING AT THE DOCK with Stella and Stanley.

This was a large commission for a pet portrait, so took longer than usual. I had to redesign Stella, the little black dog because she is very active and no one photo could capture her look. The last photo is not the finished version as in the rush to varnish and dry I forgot to take a final photo. I hope to take one in the future.

PHOTO SESSION - Stella and Stanley

PHOTO SESSION STELLA

PHOTO SESSION STANLEY

MASTER PHOTO

PHASE I - Underpainting - 24th Nov

PHASE II Working from photo on laptop - 25th Nov

PHASE III - Placing lights and darks - 25th Nov

PHASE IV - Working on Background - 25th Nov

PHASE V - Adding dock - 25th Nov

PHASE VI - Painting Stanley - 29 Nov

PHASE VII - Shadow - 1 Dec

PHASE VIII - Stella appears - 5 Dec

PHASE IX - Stella's face - 8 Dec

PHASE X - Stella Face and that tricky back leg - 12 Dec

PHASE XI - Finally a good position for that leg - 17 Dec

PHASE XII - Redesigning the dock - 18 Dec

PHASE XIII - Adding distant point and lighter foliage - 19 Dec

PHASE XIV - Nearly done - 22 Dec

I will post the final version when I can.

If you know someone that would love a PALS PET PORTRAIT, please send them this blog and ask them to contact me.

RED SAILS - EXHIBITION SIZE

RED SAILS by Sea Dean 10" x 12" Wrap Canvas - Final Version

SPRING ORCHARD II 
Original Painting by Sea Dean
5” x 5” Gallery Wrap Canvas
Professional Acrylic with UV Protection

Purchase via Daily Paintworks

As you can see, I went through many changes on this painting. There was something disturbing me and I couldn't put my finger on it. Then I finally realized that the uneasy feeling was caused by the effect of the sail boat sailing into the funnel like effect of the clouds and an apparent storm. I moved the boat to the left and turned it around and voila! The sail boat was sailing out of the storm and towards safe harbour.

It's amazing the power you have in your brush. I wonder if the sailors on board were aware of what I did!


Cat # 14077 Red Sails

Progress Photos

RED SAILS Progress II

RED SAILS Progress I

RED SAILS Progress III

ORCHID WATER I & II - A painting finds it's own voice.

ORCHID WATER II in Daylight

ORCHID WATER II

Orchid Water II by Sea Dean in Room Light

Original Painting by Sea Dean
10” x 10” x 1.5" Gallery Wrap Canvas
Professional Acrylic with UV Protection

Purchase via Daily Paintworks

Orchid Water was painted in answer to a DPW Challenge focusing on the Pantone colour of the year "Radiant Orchid".

I initially decided to create a painting with harmonious colour and used Titanium White for impact. Unfortunately, Titanium White is a very cool colour and tends to deaden other colours.

After living with Orchid Water I for a while, I decided to add a little more colour and created Orchid Water II. When a painting is substantially altered I give it a new name and catalog number. This is less confusing if I choose to make a print of the first version.

First Version

Each painting has it's own presence. When I was painting for the challenge I was thinking about Venice and in my opinion the second version is more congruent with that city. What do you think?


Cat # 140101 Orchid Water II