BOWL CAT 3

Diane Mannion, BOWL CAT 3, 8x6" o/c

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Don't Miss My Dailypaintworks Challenge This Week!

On a roll with cats in a bowl for my Dailypaintworks Weekly Challenge.  This is my favorite so far... painted with only burnt sienna, ultramarine blue, and white!  The range of colors with such a limited palette, both warm (burnt sienna) and cool (ultramarine blue and white) is amazing.

Check out the wonderful paintings by other artists at the Dailypaintworks link above!

Bowl Cat 2

Diane Mannion, BOWL CAT 2, 8x6" o/c

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Second Painting for My Dailypaintworks Weekly Challenge

This painting is closer to my usual style than the purple cat I did yesterday.  Indian yellow toned canvas and simple... red, yellow, blue, and white palette... no black.

PURPLE CAT

Diane Mannion, PURPLE CAT, 8x6" oil/c

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My PAINT-A-PET CHALLENGE... this week!

Dailypaintworks.com

My daughter's cat, Elliot loved to sleep in this bowl as a tiny kitten and it's still his favorite place to hang out or hang out of.   I picked this theme for the Dailypaintworks Weekly Challenge... please visit to check it out or submit your version of a pet painting!

 Photos by Jana Potashnik

Elliot is actually a gray cat with yellow eyes, so why did I paint him purple?  Wanted to "see" if I could... just shocked my inner vision with imaginary colors!  Purple for dark value, orange and light blue for medium value, and yellow for lights.

Don't forget to hug your pet! 

#87 Royal Terns

Diane Mannion, Royal Terns, 6x6" oil on Gessobord

Dailypaintworks Pick of the Day...YAY!

This Royal Tern family was on Englewood Beach yesterday squawking along with the folks cheering for the nearby triathlon racers.  Painted them because I loved the way the sunlight glimmered on their beaks!  (Never know what will spark a painting idea with me.)  Always found these birds amusing, the black feather tufts on their heads remind me of toupees.  I think the bird on the right was the big baby of the family... the headpiece was still developing.

Scrub Jay

Diane Mannion, #86 Scrub Jay, 6x6" oil

SCRUB JAY CROSSING

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This scrub jay landed near my paintbox at Venice beach, Florida looking for a hand-out.  Signs all around said, "Do Not Feed the Scrub Jays!"   But it was a popular picnic spot and I'm sure folks dropped a crumb or two, so this bird was pretty tame and seemed to like posing for my camera.

Notice how many bracelet-like bands he had on his legs!  Scrub jays are cherished birds down here.  The Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is the only endemic species native to Florida!  It's also an endangered species.  Birders travel from all over the world to see them.  Unfortunately, they are easily tamed by feeding which causes major harm to their breeding cycle.  And also, scrub jays that are fed by humans will reproduce earlier in the year than those that are not.  The problem is... fledgling scrub jays need to feed on caterpillars present in late spring.  If they hatch too early they will starve.  Sad.  I never knew this.  Now I'll have to explain it to my neighbors that like to hold up peanuts for them to eat.

The scrub jay, like the crow, is a bold and curious bird attracted to shiny objects and tempted to steal!  Perhaps, the silver glint from my paintbrush handle caused him to land nearby.  And no, I did not feed him!

This sign on a nearby roadway always makes me smile!  As if scrub jays didn't know how to fly!

Artist note:  Took the reference photo for this painting a few years ago and knew I wanted to use it... but wasn't ready technically.  This happens often, I'll take a great reference photo but can't quite figure out how to make a painting from it.  Then years later, I get braver, or feel I'm more capable technically and give it a shot.   And like I say over and over about painting from photos..."Don't be a giant copy machine!"  So, I changed a lot of the information in the scrub jay photo, especially in the background.  I'm pleased that this scrub jay painting has taken on a life of its own.

#85 Orange Umbrella

Diane Mannion, Orange Umbrella, 8x10" oil on linen, plein air

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Ahhh, nothing's more satisfying than spending a few hours in the shade surrounded by other artists, painting a view like this... and heading home before noon with a painting that doesn't want to make you throw up!  Manasota Key Beach, a favorite place to paint.

Row Your Boat

Diane Mannion, Row Your Boat, 8x10" o/c

This fellow rowed by while I was painting... knew it was excellent reference material and snapped a few photos.  (Changed his appearance to protect his identity).  About 3 hours.

A few experiments:

 Notan, simple black on white value study to see masses and play with composition.  10 minutes.

 Three value sketch, black, midtone, and white.  20 minutes.

 Five value sketch, scaled from black to white.  30 minutes.

 Fun with weird colors, purple, viridian, and white.  30 minutes.

 #84 Diane Mannion, Row Boater, 6x8" oil on linen
And a 60 minute high value study... darkest dark was the value of yellow ochre. Painted with mid-value black and white as cool dark.  Then lights for the b/w mixture which really look blue!

And the yellow ochre mixed with the b/w mixture look green.  Painting has hazy, foggy appearance.

Fun!

Boca Depot Bike Path

Diane Mannion, Boca Depot Bike Path, 8x10" o/c plein air

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Managed to find some sunshine between thunderstorms and painted in Boca Grande by the Depot Building, around 8 in the morning while some folks were catching up on bike and running time before even more rain.  It's raining again now while I'm writing this.  My sixty pound poodle, after suffering from Fourth of July celebrations last night, is trembling again from distant thunder.  Fireworks, thunder, and sneezing are her greatest fears... aside from the big scary exercise ball in the family room.

Worked on this for an hour an a half on location and added the biker and shopper later.  Have been studying the work of a few fabulous artists... will report later.  Have to unplug computer, don't trust the surge protector... thunder boomers overhead

Sarasota Anchorage

Diane Mannion,  Sarasota Anchorage, 6x6" oil on Gessobord

Beware of Parking in Sarasota

Found a cluster of Light Chasers painters under a shady tree this morning in Sarasota.  Nice breeze, pleasant company.   A tourist stopped to tell us that said he had a sister that was an artist and she was REALLY good.  Set up my easel and painted for about an hour and a half.  My car was parked in a three hour zone.  

A ticket was on the windshield when I returned!  Thought it must be a mistake and didn't read it until I got home.  I knew I was well under the time limit.  Well.... I was charged thirty-five dollars for backing into a parking space!  I had noticed a nice shady spot and pulled in backwards, thinking it would be easier to pull out when I was ready to leave.  Never ever heard of getting a ticket for this.  So, beware of parking in Sarasota!

A few Light Chasers in the shade.

Photo reference of my view for adding details later.

My thumbnail sketch and notes.

Boca Doorbells

Diane Mannion,  Boca Doorbells, 8x10" oil on linen

This was started on location in Boca Grande but wiped out later.  Too much detail and too complicated to paint on the spot.  Tried again from color memory and photo reference in the studio.  Always wanted to paint that doorbell!  Wonder how many tourists crank the handle to hear it ring? 

Thumbnail sketch to visualize patterns, masses, and values.

Ugly Underpainting!  Painted over another wipe-out (no one's perfect) with ultramarine blue thinned with linseed oil.  This layer is for figuring out placement and structure.  I refered to my thumbnail instead of the photo (which was on my digital flat screen tv).

Next painted in the masses but painted too fast (forgot) to stop and photograph.  

This is how it looked by lunchtime.

And again, the final painting with details.  Challenge was keeping it painterly!  And constantly reminding myself... it's not an illustration, it's a painting.  Terra cotta tiles are tough to keep loose.

Diane Mannion, #80 Boca Doorbells, 8x10" oil on linen

Minimum Wake

 Diane Mannion, Minimum Wake, 6x6" oil on panel

What Was I Thinking?  (or not)

Was this vessel sunk by a manatee?

This is an early morning quick studio study that evolved into a mini-painting lesson shown below.  Taking a few months off teaching but the "instructor's voice" still echos in my head while painting.  Thought I'd attempt to capture a few of those mental ramblings on index cards while I worked.  Get it all out, empty myself of the chatter. 

The title was suggested by the sign, common in Floridian waterways, "Manatee Zone, Slow Speed, Minimum Wake."  And Minimum Wake reminded me of a writing quote from my English Major days... "Write when you're eyes are open but before you're awake."  So how does this tie to painting?  Sometimes, we "think" too much while painting and don't let it flow.  Teaching and studying keep me awake... but getting into the painting zone means shutting off the instructional chatter.  Dreama Tolle Perry put it beautifully and quite simply... "When you study, study.  When you paint, paint."

Could have painted this scene yesterday from life during my visit to the Navigator if I had set my easel on the end of a low-floating dock in full sun, a few feet away from my gator friend.  Instead, zoomed in with my iPhone and snapped away.  

Photo Reference

 Cropped Photo

Thumbnail Sketch with black and gray marker.

Main mass shapes, an exercise to "see" simple shapes.

Used tracing paper over thumbnail sketch. 

An exercise I give to my students to get them to focus on the big picture, instead of details.

First painting layer:

Transparent red earth or oxide wash to indicate masses. 

Used Gamsol (or OMS) to thin paint.

Painted fast then blotted with paper towel.

 Second Stage:  Blocked in main colors, sky, trees, boat, and sign.  

Kept loose, no detail at this stage.  Worked with values, lights and darks.

Also thought about color scheme... orange and purple and blue.

Did not use Gamsol or medium for painting.  Mixed colors from paint tubes.  Gamsol for cleaning brushes only!  And instead of cleaning brushes often... used several clean ones, or simply pulled paint off with paper towels (I love those sturdy blue ones found in the auto department.  Last longer and don't leave lint like other brands.).

And again, the finish.  Notice how I changed things from the photo reference.  Moved boat so it showed on both sides of the sign.  Tilted sign for a less stiff composition (Hey, that boat could have bumped the sign before the manatee sunk it!).  Left a lot of the underpainting showing.  Put paint strokes down and left them alone as much as possible.  Mixed colors on my palette instead of "licking" them on the panel.  And let my visual memory of that morning dictate the color choices, instead of the photo.  (We are not giant copy machines, I always tell my students.)

Hope this mini-painting demo will be helpful to someone out there.  If it is... please let me know.

And beware of gators and manatees and over thinking and tinkering!

 Diane Mannion, Minimum Wake, 6x6" oil on Gessobord.

Texaco

Diane Mannion,  Texaco, 6x6" oil on panel, 100% plein air.

This painting was a Dailypaintworks Facebook pick of the day... second painting in two days.
I'm so pleased.

A hungry cat followed me around the seedy grounds of the Navigator this morning while I searched for an interesting subject.  Haven't painted in this marina since 2009 and the difference was pretty sad.  Slips were empty except for a neglected sailboat without a mast, and two or three un-picturesque power boats.  Even the small cottages across the canal lacked the charm and character of a few years ago.  Gone were the interesting antique boats tied up to their docks.  An alligator watched and kept pace with my walk along the dock, hoping, I'm sure... I'd slip in and join him for breakfast.

A few other artists arrived, set up their easels and happily painted away, simply thrilled to be outside pushing brushes.  In no time at all, Sharon created a beautiful painting complete with a blue fish.  Connie splashed gorgeous watercolors on her sketchpad.  A man in a straw hat painted outside for the very first time while his wife waited with their little dog..."that doesn't bite, only snips."  I looked for Kathy but never found her... she must have found something great to paint.

Totally uninspired, I settled for the Texaco sign which formed the wall of an overgrown shed.   I liked the red and how the light bounced off the roof and the shadow pattern on the grass.  Painted fast... mainly because some GIGANTIC mega huge hornets were buzzing around my head.  One landed on a leaf next to my elbow so I took care not to make any sudden moves.  

 Here's a snapshot of my subject.  

Left out the letters and condensed the space using my artistic license.

Here's the hungry gator!  About 8-9 feet long, I think.

And here's the 2009 painting which is the view across the canal where the gator is swiming... and in 2009 a manatee, instead.

Diane Mannion, Manatee Rising, 10x8" oil, 2009.

Link to original blog post here.

#77 Venice Beach Birds

 Diane Mannion, #77 Venice Beach Birds, 11x14" oil on canvas

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This painting was a Dailypaintworks Facebook pick of the day.... YAY!!!!

A client wanted a larger version of the painting below that had already been sold, this is my new interpretation.  Interesting to take an old favorite, enlarge it, not as a copy, but shift it in a different direction.  New painting has warmer colors, brighter light, more birds, and is more dynamic. 

I'm pleased with both versions and plan on enlarging more small studies during the summer.

Older version:

 Diane Mannion, Caspersen Beach, 6x8" oil on canvas, sold

Fortunately, I had a jpg of the older version and painted from the flat screen tv.  

This is the underpainting.

Second layer... canvas looks a little wavy but will flatten out when mounted.

The rest of the layers didn't photograph well... so this is it!

Venice Beach Walker

Diane Mannion, Venice Beach Walker, 8x10" oil on linen, 100% plein air

Had the pleasure of painting with the Light Chasers Plein Air Painters under the gazebo at Venice Beach this morning.  Blue sky, plenty of shade, cool breeze, no bugs, and delightful artistic company.  It's a perfect summer location for painting with lots of interesting views.  

I'm happy with my Walker painting... decided to leave it 100% plein air instead of touching it up later.  Captures the feeling of the morning perfectly.  Was having so much fun painting, had to force myself to stop before overworking it. 

Decided to add numbers to my titles!  Recently sold one called Venice Beach Rocks... turned out I had used the title before (Venice Beach Rocks, Rocks on Venice Beach, Venice Rocks, etc) and sent the wrong painting to a buyer.  Almost 800 paintings in four years is difficult to keep track of, so to make it easier... 76 Venice Beach Walker is the 76th painting for 2013.  Phew!  Will be painting a new version of Venice Beach Rocks for my collector and it will be titled: 77 Venice Beach Birds!  No, not painting 77 birds... just a few sandpipers and pelicans.

Some of the artists under the gazebo while others were scattered around the area.

Arcadia Depot

 Diane Mannion, Arcadia Depot, 8x10" oil on linen

Drove out to Arcadia to paint with another artist early Sunday morning.  We could have set our easels up in the middle of the road, it was like a ghost town.  Started with a sketch of the Depot building... collected color notes and memorized light effects.  Should have followed my thumbnail sketch because my composition was way off... wiped off first attempt.  The finished painting above was painted later from reference, studio painting created from the mornings research.

Thumbnail sketch

 Me painting first future wipe out!

I have a renewed respect for city painters!  It's tough!

First Street and Palm

 Diane Mannion, First Street and Palm, 8x10" oil on linen

Painted in Boca Grande for an hour and a half yesterday, unfortunately the spot where I set up was covered with white shells that set off a blinding glare.  Lesson learned... beware of glare!  Painted with sunglasses in the next location but eyes were too burned out from first.  Was a wipeout but enough information gained to work up a studio version.

 I painted this because I loved the blue shutters and the turquoise flower pot on the porch.  It was a pleasure pulling it together in the studio... like a flash back to illustration days.  Tighter and more fussed over than a plein air, but I'm happy with the sunny effect and how I captured the charm of the neighborhood. 

A white cat scooted by while I painted, a baby iguana crossed the road, and a nice man said, "Fine job, that's my favorite house!"  Folks were riding by in golf carts heading to the beach, busy town even though it's off season.

Thumbnail sketch: 

View From Zeke's

 

Diane Mannion, View from Zeke's, 10x8" oil on linen, 100% plein air

Was on my way to paint Siesta Key when I stopped by to see what the Englewood painters were doing at the marina by Zeke's and never left.  Turned into a perfect Floridian morning... even made friends with a parrot!  

Getting into the useful habit of a thumbnail sketch before starting to paint.  Helps me see values, patterns, composition... and most importantly, what to leave out!  Easy to see what's missing in the photo below.  Really had to "zoom in" on my subject, the little boat behind the palm tree.

Painted from the back of my car while I chatted on the phone with my mother.  The angled pipe on the tripod belongs to my umbrella which popped off in a breeze and was saved from the drink by the black elastic cord. 

Kurt stopped by with Baby, a well-behaved macaw.

And after painting, the artists had lunch together at Zeke's.  Baby shared my sweet potato fries.