Green Cove

Green Cove, oil on gessobord, 10x10"

Since I finished the Strada Easel 31/31 challenge 12 days ago, I have only worked on some studies, and I have been researching and looking at many artists that are new to me. My goal, stated many times over the past year has been to lean towards abstraction. And, even though it hasn't left my thoughts, I don't feel like I have accomplished this to my satisfaction.  Today's painting DOES do that and for that, I am very happy!  I bought a broad wash brush recently and used it for the first time today. It immediately felt right, and I started painting what has been locked in my head for months.  This little scene is from a cove at Lake Cumberland, painted from a photo that I took at the end of summer.  I guess I should thank Strada easel for the huge push that got me to this stage!

Private Universe

Private Universe, oil on gessoed board, 16x20"

I worked on this painting for a few days from several images I had taken from a short Lake vacation near the end of the summer.  The reflections on the evening water were intense, and I had problems with scaling down the intensity for one painting.  As I am a few days removed now from finishing it, I like the way it is equal part calm, equal part alive.

Quiet Lake

Quiet Lake, oil on gessobord, 12x12"

I did some quick sketches at Bernheim Forest and Arboretum a couple days ago. I had planned on staying for a few hours, but the heat and the bugs got the best of me.  I enjoyed the small amount of productivity I was able to accomplish in a short amount of time.  I used one of the sketches to produce this painting,  remembering the light  that was affected by the heat and humidity that day from memory. 

Cascading

Cascading, oil on gessobord, 12x9"

If you have ever been to Boulder, CO then you know there are constant streams running throughout. When I was there last summer, there was one within walking distance from the hotel. Even though the streams are small-ish in width, the water always runs rapid because of the trajectory of the nearby foothills.  The rocks are still large enough to hop around on and take some fun photos. This painting is from one of those days. 

Near and Far

Near and Far, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 12x8"

I was up late, unable to sleep the other night and produced this painting. I was a good way to spend my insomnia.

Layers

Layers, oil on Arches #140 cold pressed oil paper, 12"x16"

Day 21,  30 paintings/30 day challenge

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I started painting on gessoed watercolor paper at the beginning of the challenge in January, switching from my normal gessobords.  I realized I love the feel of the paper, and am sorting through the best way to suggest framing/hanging.  I was reading an artist blog recently and someone posted information on a type of Arches paper, that is suitable for oil paint. It has a built-in barrier so chemicals and oils don't leach through, leading to breakdown. So I decided to try it. I bought 12 - 12"x16" sheets to cut into smaller sizes. For Layers  I kept it whole, and BIG!

It had a different feel then gessoed paper, more of an absorbent feel that requires more scrubby painting. But I will acclimate and report more later.

Collection

Collection, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 12x9"

Day 5, 30 paintings/30 days

Cattail collections are becoming some of my favorite subject matter.  Perhaps it has to do with plant matter, or being at the waters edge, or standing in the beautiful, reflective light or the fact that every time I work on a cattail painting, the color palette is so calm and appealing.  

Bernheim in Winter

Bernheim in Winter, oil on gessoed watercolor paper, 6x9"

OH Happy New Year! On top of everything that I have going on (it's great to be busy), I have decided to enter another 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I am going to paint, unless otherwise noted, on gessoed watercolor paper.  It is an interesting and less expensive surface to paint on during the challenge. I may not paint all thirty but the spirit is willing. With preparing for an exhibit, a show, making frames and working on the ARTwheels Mobile studio/gallery camper, I have had little time or energy to paint. So I wanted to start this new year off with a reminder for myself that I can do it ALL!!

Yesterday, Hugh and I delivered many boxes to the Polvino Art Center in Nicholasville, KY for my solo show that will open January 8. The opening is from 5-8 and I would love to see all your smiling faces there!
After we left the gallery we walked around historic Nicholasville. Nicholasville is close to Danville, KY where I attended college, and way back when, it was know as the place where the college students went "over the hill" ...a.k.a - went to buy booze.  How different it looks in the daytime!! :-)
We spent some time in an antique shop and had a lot of fun looking at elements of history. I bought a fedora, and a beer stein (speaking of booze) from my favorite city in all of Europe.

          

Grey Skies, Ohio River

Grey Skies, Ohio River,  oil on gessobord, 9x12"

After packing up my painting gear on Sunday, I took the back roads in Southern Indiana. About an hour later ended up here...O'Bannon Woods State parks. It has an amazing section way up on a river bluff. I hiked down as far as I could without falling off the ledge and set up the easel.  The wind was strong, and the footing a bit ominous, and it was quite exhilarating!!

Here is where I set up my easel. Luckily I had the sunshine after about an hour of painting to warm me up.

Roundabout

Roundabout, oil on gessobord, 5x14"

The day after Thanksgiving provided me with the perfect weather and opportunity to paint outside. There is no better gift I can give myself.  This is a diptych of two 5x7" paintings.  The lake at Bernheim had some beautiful grey pockets of light floating around while I worked.  The background reeds and feathery plants hugging the far shore were made up of beautiful golden slivers.

Cattails 3

Cattails 3, oil on gessobord, 8x10"

Cattails 3, oil on gessobord, 8x10"

Here is a painting I did last week. I love painting cattails, and I had taken this photo reference the last time I was at my favorite Nature Preserve. The light was bright and the water was actually the star of the show this particular day.

In other news, I found a vintage camper, drove 5 hours to South Bend, IN then drove it home to Louisville this weekend. Yesterday, I spent the day tearing out replaced ceiling paneling that was hiding a lot of previous water damage, and found more work then I ever imagined (mold, rotting everything), BUT I got it, and am extremely excited over it's potential for my mobile gallery/studio, ARTwheels. 

My gofundme account is still very much active and seeking donations from all you wonderful people, the money now directed towards the unanticipated, complete renovation that this camper lovingly needs. Here's the link, and thank you to all of those wonderful folks who have contributed already. It is because of you this dream is coming to fruition!!!
https://www.gofundme.com/mvc.php?route=search&term=artwheels

Angel River, Zion

Angel River, Zion, oil on gessobord, 12x12"

I revisited a few photos from my "Department of the Interiors" trip, as my family fondly calls it, taken at the end of the summer. This is the first painting I've done from Zion itself, which by the way, blew me away. I hope one day I can retire near it.

We were hiking on an incredibly hot day, when the Southwest was having higher then normal temps. So what are hot hikers to do but put their feet into a very cold river. I took this photo from the center of the river standing thigh- deep in water.  Oh what fun!!

Overwatered

Overwatered, oil on gessoed board, 9x12"

While I was busy working on another painting at Patoka Lake, Indiana a couple weeks ago, I took a break to walk several feet away from the easel.  Looking out at the lake I spotted plants growing in abnormally high water, at least 20 yards from shore. Their distance was due to the ongoing heavy rains the area has had since June. Still, they were surviving, thriving and hardy despite being almost unnoticeable. The yellow and red leaves were a beautiful contrast to the greenish reflection surrounding the top half which dissolved into pristine blue.

Sun Tree

Sun Tree, oil on gessobord, 5x7"

This was the first of five paintings that I worked on when I went to Lake Patoka two weeks ago.  The other four have already been posted - I inadvertently went in reverse order. 

I tried to capture the sun radiating on the trees that morning. The water still had more of a green/dark tone to it because the sun was still on the rise. This little scene provided me with the perfect warm up.

On another note, my daughter Reid received a college scholarship from the St. James Art Festival high school competition for her portfolio entry. There are 6 scholarships offered from local foundations associated with the St. James Art Festival given to talented students.  Reid won the Dot Wade scholarship, which coincidentally was same one that her brother Hugh won for his 2-D portfolio last year.  I am extremely proud - times 2!! Here are a couple photos from the reception last night:

Old Cedars

Old Cedars, oil on gessoed board, 6x8"

I mentioned in a previous post that on one side of the cove I was painting on this day, there were thriving green cedars, and on the other there were worn out, last-leg cedars. This painting is of the latter. Despite their days being numbered and nature reclaiming them, they were the first colors of Fall I saw, and in the sunshine, they glowed!

Kayak Cove

Kayak Cove, oil on gessobord, 5x7"

I parked my easel at the bottom of a small-craft launch last week, at my favorite lake in Indiana.  I have kayaked parts of it, as it is very large.  For this painting, I turned my easel to face a tinier inlet within the cove. Some wild grass hugging the shore was mid-day illuminated.  The lake and the sky, at this time of the day were virtually the same color.

Cove Jut

Cove Jut, oil on gessobord, 9x12"

So I had a few days in a row of painting en plein air which was so rewarding.  I got to be outside for entire days, and I got to paint for entire days, which I rarely get to do.  I went to a lake in Indiana, and because it was a Monday in September, I could have counted the people that I ran into on one hand.  Due to high water, some of the areas I would have sought out were closed.  I did find a small-craft launch, like kayak and canoe size, that had enough flat to set up my easel. The ramp had these little juts on each side of me, so I painted them both as the sun moved overhead.  They caught my eye because each was lined with cedar trees, one with living trees, the other with dead and brown trees. These are the living. 

Lake Cove

Lake Cove, oil on gessobord, 6x6"

This is the second painting that I did on my latest visit to Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. It is one of my favorite places to go when I have a day off or a weekend morning with nothing to do but hike.  There is a lake near the entrance that has many great, quiet places to set up to paint. I only turned my easel a little from "Lake View", to zoom in to get these illuminated reeds.  

Wet Creek, Arches

Wet Creek, Arches, oil on gessobord, 6x8"

This is the first painting I have done since returning from my great Western tour. I have since returned to work, and helped two of my three children back to school. My third will begin College in a week. Sigh. I hate summers end.

One of the most amazing experiences while on my trip was being submerged in vast, open spaces....everywhere!  I have been to parts of the Southwest and Northwest, but the actual West put me on senses overload. I couldn't take it all in fast enough: the sky, the heights, the constant changes in geological formations and topography, the wind, the temperatures, the sun....

Here was the only bit of water to be found on a day that I hiked for an hour, in 108º. There were warning signs in Arches National Park advising hikers to carry at least two quarts of water each when hiking a three mile trail.  

Overall this painting makes me smile. The first of many to come from the trip.
http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/celia-kelly/wet-creek-arches/404820

The View

The View, oil on gessobord, 9x14"

I painted this shortly after participating in an art show that was shut down due to tremendous rain and lightening.  It was a bummer.  This photo perked me up with it's radiating warmth and it was enjoying to paint. Now if I could just get there.  
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