Lemon Bay Park Sketch

 Lemon Bay Park Sketch, watercolor sketchbook, 4x7" DMannion

NEW SKETCHBOOK

Broke in a 5.5x8" Hand Book watercolor sketchbook, first page always a bit scary!  Love the way the pigment flows and stays on top, lies flat when open, nice fabric cover...  A pleasure!

Partly cloudy view.  Painted with Englewood Plein Air Posse.

Day 14, Strada Easel 30 Day Painting from Life Challenge, and Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days 9/18.

Boca Gate

Boca Gate, 4x7" sketchbook watercolor, DMannion

LAST SKETCHBOOK PAGE!

Day 13/30 Painting Challenge

Celebrated painting the last page in my NON-WATERCOLOR Moleskine sketchbook!  Love Moleskine sketchbooks, had planned for only pencil sketches in this one but got carried away with oil paintings, gouache, and watercolors.  It actually held up quite well.  Because the paper was so unforgiving with watercolor, forced me not to overwork them (sometimes).

Parked across from the gate and did an auto-painting, looked like rain but didn't happen.  I like painting in the car, air conditioning, radio, and comfortable.  This was a quick study later tinkered with at home.

Painting assistant, Stormy in backseat.

We were also parked next to an empty dog park, let Stormy have a good run.

Day 13 of the Strada Easel 30 Day Painting from Life Challenge, and the Leslie Saeta 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge 9/18.

Micro-Sunflowers

Micro-Sunflowers, sketchbook watercolor, 4x7" DMannion

Survivors

Day 12 of 30/30 Challenge

These sunflowers were grown in my micro-greens planter a few months ago.  The seeds sprout very fast and the baby shoots can be eaten days later.  If they're not harvested young, sunflower greens get hairy and not fun to eat.  Had no idea the leftover plants would thrive and bloom!   Strong and hardy, they grew to about fifteen inches.  They survived the summer heat, our salads, and my tremendous neglect.   Wanted to immortalize their perseverance and paint their sunny faces!  Next time I'll plant them in the ground where they should grow five or six feet high!

They look gorgeous in the sun contrasted with the dark hedge behind them.  For day 12 of the two 30/30 challenges, I decided to paint them from life.  Not an easy task, the slightest breeze sent them dancing.  Sketched rapidly in pencil, took many breaks while the paint layers dried, and realized I was in trouble.  Lesson learned... choose easier, less complex subjects for quick watercolor sketches!

 Rapid pencil sketch of their dance routine

 Locked in faces, stems, and leaves with waterbrush

 Painted leaves, first pass of flowers, background with DS burnt orange (should have left it at this stage.  Urgh.)

 Painted background with DS Moonglow (love it) mixed with a bit of ultramarine blue.  Thought the dark value would make the flowers look brighter.  Added more oranges and cad yellows to petals.  It's ok, I don't love or and don't hate it too much.  Fine for sketchbook work.  Moleskine NON-watercolor paper is not very forgiving.  But tomorrow is the LAST page!  Have real watercolor paper sketchbooks waiting!

Day 12 of Strada Easel 30 Day Painting from Life Challenge, and Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days 9/18 Challenge

Local Palms

Local Palms, sketchbook watercolor, DMannion

RIP

11 of 30/30

Gloomy and scary kind of day with almost Cat 5 Hurricane Florence heading towards the Carolinas, 9/11 Remembrance Day, and major Red Tide still infesting our area since 9/10/17... from Naples to St Pete.  I usually keep this blog entirely for art and promise more cheerful posts later.  Meanwhile, sending prayers.

Started this watercolor, Local Palms last Sunday on Manasota Key but had to leave because red tide was causing coughing and itchy eyes.  This beach is where a good friend went diving off nearby Venice.  Here's what he had to say on FB,  with permission to share:

Lemon Bay Park

Lemon Bay Park, sketchbook watercolor, DMannion

Along the Trail

Day 10 of 30/30

Wonderful place to paint in Englewood!  Good trails, lots of covered, shady picnic benches, and dogs allowed on leashes!  (Although some folks don't know how to read signs.)  

Stormy on guard, fine painting buddy!

   Have been experimenting with watercolor for this 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  Only a few pages left in my non-watercolor Moleskine sketchbook.  It's forced me to be brief and not overwork because the paper can't handle too much fussing.  Will be a treat when I crack open my new watercolor paper sketchbook!  

Although I used watercolors as an illustrator for many years, it was an entirely different style and technique.  My main medium now for studio work and galleries is oil paint.  I've found these sketchbook experiments have forced me to loosen up and simplify.  Watercolor will add a new dimension to my oils.  One medium informs the other.

Watercolor has a mind of its own and often does what it wants no matter how hard I try to control its direction.  Easily overworked and often with disastrous results,  it's a joy watching happy accidents happen... when they do!

Strada Easel 30 Day Painting from Life Challenge, and Leslie Saeta's 30/30... 1/3 of the way through,

Day 10!

RED TIDE

RED TIDE, sketchbook watercolor, DMannion

Day 9 of 30/30

Had planned to spend the morning on the beach painting, but was only able to do a couple of sketches.  Red tide, since October 2017 is still horrendous!  Dead fish floating out toward the horizon.  Our usual clear water, Carribean blue is still the color of dark brewed coffee.  Counted less than a dozen birds and the same amount of tourists.  Burning eyes and itchy throat... really stinks... so sad.

Dead Snook and baitfish, coffee colored water, Manasota Key, Florida

Broadmoor Park

Broadmoor Park, 4.5x7" sketchbook watercolor, DMannion

Shady Bench

Shade didn't last long enough this morning on the only shady bench I found while walking Stormy.  Another hot one.  Have condensed my art supplies to one pencil, one travel brush, small watercolor palette, little jar of water, and Moleskine sketchbook.  All fit into cross-body bag to make walking easier while hanging onto the dog leash.

Challenged myself with the sun-dappled effect on the path.  Simplified the scene and forced myself not to fiddle and overwork.  Attempted to put strokes down and leave them!  Painted light background sky and trees first, then built up the dark masses and foreground trees.  Let each layer dry before painting darks over.  Floridian sun works faster than any hairdryer!

And managed not to be chomped by the gators floating in the nearby pond!  

Dog Park

Dog Park, sketchbook watercolor, 5.5x7" DMannion

Dog Park Watercolor

Day 7

Painted this after walking my dog, and no, not IN the dog park.  This view is from my car on the other side of a pond at a safe distance.  Haven't been back inside the dog park since my dog was attacked by two sharpeis.  Every dog training school I've been to has said... stay out of dog parks!  It's not the dogs, it's the people.  I could go on with horror stories but this blog is about painting.  

Don't feel this is my best attempt, every painting can't be a masterpiece... but good practice for the next one.  The best thing about these 30 paintings in 30 days challenges is the incentive to paint, just paint and paint.  I paint all the time anyway, almost every day.  But have pledged (to myself) to work in watercolor in this challenge in the mornings.  Oils and pastels later.

Strada Easel Painting from Life Challenge 30/30, and Leslie Saeta's 30/30 9/18 Challenge at same time.  A two for one!

Albritton Gallery Watercolor

Vulture on Gallery, watercolor, 3.5x6" in sketchbook, DMannion

The Thrill of Watercolor Plein Air

Totally enjoying the speed and ease of painting watercolor field studies in my sketchbook!  Sat under the back hatch of my Honda this morning and painted with the Englewood Plein Air Posse, chatted with other artists and was finished in less than an hour.  

Realizing that I'm simply doing a sketch, not a finished painting, takes all the pressure off.   Field studies for mornings and "serious" studio work for afternoons!   

Vultures were all over the Placida Fishery this morning, a creepy sign, this gallery and the buildings around it will soon disappear for a new construction project.  The Albritton Gallery was originally a country store and post office owned by the Cole family in the 1800's.  My maiden name is Cole, somewhere on the family tree I may be related.  I have painted in this area for over ten years and live only fifteen minutes away.   Will miss it... another piece of old Florida gone forever.  

Day 6 of Strada Easel Painting from Life Challenge, and Leslie Saeta's 9/18 30/30 

Dog Walk Sketch

 Dog Walk Sketch, 5x7" watercolor, DMannion

Multi-tasking

Day 5 of Leslie Saeta 30/30 9/18, and Strada Easel 30/30 Painting from Life Challenge

Took my painting buddy to a local park this morning, had good long walk then painted under the open back hatch of my rolling studio.  Also took my new Escoda Versatil #12 travel brush for a test drive.  Was able to complete this entire sketch with this one brush!  Happy, happy!

Painting buddy, Stormy!  

My Standing Studio

 WC Palette! DMannion, 7x5"

Watercolor Palettes!

I love my travel size, light-weight and portable Schmincke watercolor palette!   

This is the 12 pan size.  I removed the pan holder it came with and was able to fit 24 pans!  Pans can be purchased empty, these are half-pan size.  The box can also be purchased empty.  It fits on my Moleskine 7x5" and I can stand and paint with all equipment handy.  

Here it is clipped to my Moleskine.  An old cross-body bag holds a screw top jar with water.  I can dip my brush in the bottle as it hangs by my side.  Bag holds rags, brushes, spray bottle, sketchbook, snacks, car keys, phone, etc!  My complete Standing Studio!

30/30 Challenges!

Day 3, Waiting for Tropical Storm Gorden, 3x3.5" watercolor

30 Tiny Watercolor Sketches in 30 Days

I had already started the Strada Easel Painting from Life Challenge on September 1, and just noticed Leslie Saeta's 30/30 today... so I'll do both at once! 

I'm experimenting with watercolor, a medium I used as an illustrator for many years.  Then it was work, now it's fun!  While working on large studio oil paintings, these tiny watercolors are an enjoyable play-break.  They take less than an hour, most under 30 minutes, filling empty pages of my Moleskine non-watercolor sketchbook.  Will celebrate when that's finished and start in an actual watercolor paper sketchbook waiting on the shelf.

Once had a great teacher that said... "A real artist can draw with a burnt stick on a brick."  He meant that the medium doesn't matter, the skill is all that counts.  It's healthy to work with different materials, one medium informs the other.  My obsession with pastels (which will never end) has influenced my oil paintings by seeing colors in a new way.  These tiny watercolor sketches can be finished quickly... perfect for exploring new compositions, subjects, and ideal for travel and plein air.

Day 1, Local Beach, lingering red tide, burning eyes.

Day 2, Micro Sunflower from picked from my micro-greens planter.

Day 3, Waiting for Tropical Storm Gorden, view from studio window.

MY BOOK!

Here's the link to my book ABOUT FACE:

http://www.blurb.com/b/8790585-about-face

A collection of portraits I've painted over the past ten years!

Hope you will check it out... Thanks!!!

Big Brave Morning

BIG BRAVE MORNING, 11x14' oil, DMannion

Favorite Painting Spot!

Yay!  This painting is a FASO FAV15% selection for March 2018!

There's a place where I can set up my easel and turn in any direction and "see" a painting.  Have been painting there for about ten years early in the morning with a painting buddy.  It's in Venice, Florida, not telling exactly where… but it's similar to many places along the Gulf Coast. 

Seagrasses and foliage change from season to season, more orange and yellow ochre in winter, more blue flowers in summer.  Yes, seasons change in Florida.  High season is Christmas to Easter when the tourists crowd the roads.  Colorful beach umbrellas sprout like mushrooms along the shore, while sunburned figures bend searching for seashells and shark's teeth.

We set up and start painting early when the beach is nearly empty except for an occasional metal detectorist swinging an instrument back and forth, or a yogi doing a sun salutation in the dunes.  A few couples stroll along hand in hand.  Pelicans and seagulls squawk and dive while fishermen cast circular nets for bait.  A Great Blue Heron waits for scraps while white egrets with yellow-booted feet scurry in and out of the surf with their sandpiper friends.

After a few hours,  it's always a shock to snap out of the painting trance and be surrounded by beach blankets and curious onlookers.  And to listen again to how someone's aunt was a "real" artist!  By that time, the light has changed and we pack up and leave.

The painting above is titled Big Brave Morning because I painted with much larger brushes, #10, 12, and a two inch, instead of my usual 2, 4, and 6.  I mainly use synthetic bristle flats almost as stiff as a palette knife, both Rosemary and Silver Bristlon.  Centurion OP DLX panels in Raymar Panel carriers are great, 8x10" or 9x12" are right size for quick paintings, 5x7" and 6x8" for sketches and color notes.  The painting above was 11x14" on a Frederick's panel that I gessoed several times.

We still paint all summer down here even though it gets a bit hot or we have to break for hurricanes.  Once led a group called the Heatstrokes.  There's always a spot in the shade somewhere and a cool breeze by the shore.  But I'm not telling where my favorite spot is!

Selby Gardens, April

Selby Gardens, April, 8x10" oil, DMannion

Why Did I Paint This?

(Or… what the heck was I thinking!)

Arrived early for a day of painting at Selby Gardens, Sarasota. Many thanks to the Light Chasers Group for the opportunity.  Met my painting buddy at the gate, Heather Arenas who had never visited the gardens before!  It was a pleasure to share a first-timers excitement at this incredible horticultural world.

Loaded with backpacks and painting gear, we wandered around the trails and ended up at the gazebo.  There's something to paint everywhere you look!  I set up in the shade while Heather painted nearby.  

 Me under the gazebo

Heather nearby

I was struck by the light pattern in the scene right in front of me.  A quick thumbnail sketch, snapped an iPhone reference photo… and swung my brushes for a couple of hours.  Meanwhile, the light had changed completely.  Weather report warned of rain and wind picked up, so after lunch we packed it in, looking forward to going back and painting there often.

Why the heck did I pick this scene?

 I only saw the light pattern.  Had to simplify, so much to paint!  Forced me to think abstractly.  

I liked Heather's painting of a Buda statue a lot, and admired how she could focus surrounded by curious tourists.  What a champ!  

Meanwhile, I asked myself… why the heck did I pick this scene to paint?  I felt bogged down by details.  My first impression seemed lost.  Had to re-imagine the light pattern that inspired me in the first place.  So back in the studio, this little 8x10" painting was scraped and re-scraped and wrestled to the ground.  I was determined to have something to show for our Selby Gardens morning!

My plein air attempt, 8x10" oil … urgh! 

Thankful to have my original thumbnail sketch and the photo reference.  And I could visualize what first impressed me about the scene.  It's so easy to get lost on location.  

My secret scribble technique for thumbnails, bottom is Selby.  I do most of my thinking and planning in this little Moleshine sketchbook in a few minutes.  Sometimes it helps.

SELBY GARDENS, APRIL, 8x10" oil, DMannion

After the struggle, I like the painting… a little.  It's simply practice for the next one.  Lesson learned, again and again.

Snook Haven March Morning

Snook Haven March Morning, 8x10" oil, plein air

Practice Practice Practice

Painted at Snook Haven, Venice this morning with my painting buddy, Eileen.  We've painted together for about 10 years.  Nothing helps get me out there more than someone saying, "Let's paint!"  

Location shot

Snook Haven is a restaurant next to a waterway filled with gators and kayakers.  By the time we finished painting, the busy lunch crowd was pouring in and we were glad to get out of there.  The morning was so beautiful, it was difficult to image another snowstorm happening up north!

Recently, I went through over a thousand panels painted since 2008 that are stored in cabinets and bookshelves in my studio.  Some will be turned upside down and used again, some will be destroyed, but a few kept as reminders of how much progress has been made over the years.  These are a visual diary of my painting journey, many have been thankfully sold or given away as gifts.  

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!  When a musician or an athlete practices, they don't have stacks of evidence, unless they have somehow made recordings of each session.  Painters have sketches, panels, and canvases that tend to pile up.  At least all this clutter proves that work has been done.

My painting this morning at Snook Haven is practice for the next one.  As long as I find joy in my practice… I'll paint on!

Boca Range Light

Boca Range Light, 14x17" oil

Catching Up!

With a recent group show at the Hughes Gallery, Boca Grande, FL and eight portrait commissions,

I've neglected my blog.  Still busy painting with several area plein air groups and also teaching a pastel class at Ringling EAC.  And have a new puppy!!!  So please excuse my long neglected blog, at least all excuses are good ones.

My painting, Boca Range Light will be auctioned for the Barrier Island Parks Society's fund for education and restoration.   The following history is from the BIPS webpage:

Built in New Jersey, 1881 and placed in Delaware, then decommissioned in 1918.  1927 was reassembled and installed on Gasparilla Island.  Tower was painted white and lit on January 1, 1932.

The tower is 105 feet tall and still stands as an active navigation aid.

underpainting

October Dust

Cool Morning, pastel, 5.5x8" field study, Diane Mannion

October Pastels!

Me!  Pasteling at Punta Gorda History Park with the Peace River Painters.

Thanks to Sharon Yarbrough for photo.

Limited myself to Canson Mi-Teintes, horizontal format 5.5x8" and mostly Nupastels for the Gail Sibley's How To Pastel October Challenge, 31 Pastels in 31 Days.  #31in31HTP.  

Found limitations extremely useful for field studies and sketching.  Was amazed at how much could be achieved with simple supplies!  My backpack was much lighter.

Never blended with fingers!!!

Once in awhile, used rubbing alcohol to blend underpainting or first pastel layer.  

 Blended with another pastel stick, or a bit of paper towel, or a synthetic brush.

Discovered how rapidly information could be gathered for future studio paintings.  Found it even faster than watercolor and gouache.  Was able to do about two studies in a morning and somedays three or four a day, so the challenge went quite fast.  Once the 31 mark was passed… didn't want to stop!  Will continue using pastel for small sketches and studies in the field.  And also watercolor and gouache, and oils of course.  Can't have enough fun!

30 of many more!

 Fishery Cottage, field study

 Angels from Greenwood Cemetery photo ref.

 Angels became a mini series in this challenge.

 Caspersen Beach, field study

 Surf study from ref

 Chadwick Boats.  Rain, sat under car hatch…auto painting!

 Chadwick Canal, ref and fantasy

 Super angel!

 Fishery View, field study

My setup, Moleskine thumbnail sketchbook, mini box of NuPastels

 Fishing for Gold, North Jetty, Nokomis with Lightchasers plein air.  Darn happy with this one!

 Caspersen again, water doesn't hold still!

 History Park, field study

 Caspersen, field study and photo ref

 Larry, from life, Venice Art Center

 North Jetty, field sketch and photo finish

 Used photo ref but mostly from imagination, Stump Pass

 Guardian Pastel Angel

 History Park, field study

 Tom, life study, Ringling model

 Caspersen, field study

 Happy with this study from an oil plein air I painted in Maine!

 Frank, from life, Venice Art Center

 Stump Pass, photo ref and imagination and visual memory

 Caspersen field study… hated it but like it a lot now.

 Quick field study, used that guys head to connect bottom to top of drawing.

 Figure drawing, Ringling Englewood model

 2 10 minute poses

 20 minute pose, sleepy model

20 minute pose… I like this one!  Less is more.

 Dunes on Venice Beach, Cool Morning… one of my favorites!

Fishery building.  Had to yell at a guy who parked in my view, twice!

So that's how the dust's flying in October… and it's not over yet.

Thanks for scrolling this far down!