Candy Barr Artist Painting a Day

Bowsprit ~ Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T22:34:00.008-04:00

18 x 24 inches Oil on canvas (in process)

I had painted this bowsprit plein air, with a different
background. It was too bland for the ship,
so I made up the dramatic sky to compliment
the shape of the bowsprit.

The ropes need some more deltail and highlight.
The horizon line is uneven too..yikes.

bow·sprit (bousprt, b-)

n. Nautical

A spar, extending forward from the stem of a ship,
to which the stays of the foremast are fastened.

~ from www.thefreedictionary.com

Vernal Pool Log

2009-07-01T23:07:00.005-04:00

14 x 14 x 1.5 inches Oil on birch

It was lightly raining, but the canopy of trees
seemed to keep it pretty dry.

I sometimes use 2 Masterson palettes
for larger paintings, when I'm using
larger brushes. Blues and greens in one,
and reds and yellows in the other.

I didn't do any touch ups or
make changes in the studio.
This was it.
It's kind of exhilarating
working in the woods with
the sounds of birds, wind
through the trees and the
sounds of rain in the pools.
Even though you are
alone, yet relating to your
surroundings, there is a lot of
company in nature!

Vernal Pool Reflection

2009-06-30T01:00:00.001-04:00

14 x 14 x 1.5 inches Oil on birch

Really infatuated with the reflective colors,
the dispursement of light ~with the rain
lightly falling as well as the wind
shaking the water from the canopy of trees.
It's another rainy day in Maine, so
I'm taking advantage of the
mysteries in the woods.
The ocean waves are tremendous.
Painted 6.22.09

The lady with a walking stick

Laundry Rug Blowing

2009-06-27T01:00:00.000-04:00

14 x 14 x 1.5 inches Oil on birch

Same rug, different day with flat light

It started raining with the last strokes!

Laundry with Rug

2009-06-24T01:00:00.002-04:00

12 x 12 inches Oil on canvas
$595. + S/H

Ok, a break in the weather momentarily,
over weekend,
after catching another vernal pool in
the woods in the morning.
I love the contrast from shadows
and the abstract shapes
all over.

Rain Pool

2009-06-23T01:00:00.003-04:00

14 x 14 x 1.5 inches Oil on birch panel

This was what I thought was final but then I
wanted the water darker, so I redid it to one above.
I sacrificed some of the freshness, and reds and pinks
especially in the top left. I also broke up the
shape coming in from the right which
I didn't want as the focal point.

It was raining all morning till mid afternoon, and the
droplets were making great rings in this vernal pool.
Mosquitoes abound in Maine this time of year needless
to say. I was fascinated by the reflection, the patterns and
the low contrast with a myriad of colors in the woods.

3 Boats

2009-06-22T15:30:00.013-04:00

$325. + S/H

Painted over a torso of nude model,
not bothering to paint out first.
Sometimes the underpainting colors
find their way into the new painting.

Dingey

2009-06-19T20:07:00.006-04:00

$99. + S/H

This was quick one of group of boats that I will post
tomorrow. We left just as it started to rain again.

Bluff View

2009-06-18T01:09:00.007-04:00

11 x 15.5 inches Oil on masonite

This was done alla prima, and I think I'll do
some tweaking to the sailboat after it dries
Tough to get the detail wet on wet.
I'm not big on touch ups of any kind with plein air.
Evidently the IPAP group claim 10% can be
added in studio and still claim to be plein air.

I don't think PAPA have a ruling. Does anyone know?

My back was sore from mowing, so I decided to sit last
couple of days, not usual for me. I like to be able to
step back regularly and have freer arm motion while standing.

The under painting here was from a
retired nude done in a studio

that I just added an ocean to

She never really worked, and I have
a frame available, a little smaller.
So I cut 2 sides down
and packed her to become another
Maine painting. Recycling!

Sometimes I scumble over previous paintings
and sand down any textures. I sanded this
one, but didn't bother to paint over.
It doesn't seem to get in my way to
be able to see the painting I'm doing,
and sometimes happy accidents occur
with a surprise color coming through.

It's very easy to see how additional work in studio
with better lighting and having had some time
to digest the imagery, can conjure up further
ideas for improvement of the picture.

This is such a big topic, but the short short version
might be, leave plein air 100% done on location,
and use it for larger studio work, where any
changes can happen and are expected.

On the other hand, if you can improve on an area,
why not add them?

Maine Rocks

2009-06-17T20:31:00.005-04:00

18 x 18 inches Oil on canvas

On the beach at 7 am to chilly grey overcast day

I primed this with a pink gesso
With all the blues and greens in plein air,
or for this grey day, the pink underpainting
gives a little pizzazz to the colors.

Tide going out

Sun started to break through clouds

Grey Day Wave I

2009-06-16T17:32:00.004-04:00

6 x 8 inches Oil on canvas

Rain and more rain in Maine...the good news
is the greys are sumptuous~!

Casco Bay

2009-06-14T21:17:00.010-04:00

12 x 12 inches Oil on canvas
$595. + S/H

Detail

Rain all day in Maine, but set up under the
umbrella at the lobsterman's dock.

Home of six artists working for two weeks

We hung it the night before

Mary's Garden ~ Final

2009-06-11T15:07:00.006-04:00

12 x 16 inches Oil on Canvas

More done from posting August 15, 2008

This was begun last August, and I wanted to donate it to a locavore Food group
fundraising auction this week. The East Warren Schoolhouse Grocery Store.

In Jeans II

2009-06-09T23:30:00.002-04:00

6 x 12 inches Oil on canvas board

$225. + S/H

Detail

Our model did the same pose as last week,
so I repeated it from same spot.

Fishing

2009-06-08T21:23:00.004-04:00

11 x 14 Oil on canvas SOLD

Starting to get some piles together for
annual 2 week Maine retreat with
5 other women artists. Working
on prepping canvases, dry goods,
and the infinite details to remember.

Planning to visit harbors and boats
plein air this trip...weather permitting!

2 Model Studies

2009-06-08T01:00:00.002-04:00

6 x 12 inches Oil on canvas board

$99. + S/H

Seated Nude Study

2009-06-07T01:00:00.001-04:00

5 x 7 inches Oil on canvas board

$99. + S/H

Standing Man - Study

2009-06-06T20:58:00.006-04:00

5 x 10 inches Oil on plywood
$99. + S/H

The 4 minute study leaves much
incomplete, and even uneasy
yet there is something
refreshing about the pureness
in the spontaneity and I
enjoy the energy from it and
looking at the possibilities.

Standing Stool

2009-06-05T11:46:00.004-04:00

6 x 6 inches Oil on masonite

$99.

Ponytail Back Study

2009-06-04T23:31:00.004-04:00

6 x 12 inches Oil on canvas board

$125. + S/H

In Jeans

2009-06-03T01:36:00.005-04:00

6 x 12 inches Oil on canvas board

Detail

Beginning of Process

This was Rachel a little more
than blocked in. The lean on the
wall was a nice relaxed pose and
I wanted to get her slouch.

East of Grand Canyon

2009-06-02T23:25:00.005-04:00

10 x 10 inches Oil on cradled wood panel

$225. + S/H

If you travel out of the canyon park, along
the road is this great crack in the earth.
Just when you think you've seen everything
in the park itself! There's another
famous "crack" in Taos..the gorge..

Sloop Hull

2009-06-01T22:51:00.003-04:00

9 x 12 Oil on panel SOLD

Lanquishing

2009-05-31T22:25:00.004-04:00

8 x 10 Oil on canvas board
$125. + S/H

Black Dress

2009-05-29T01:54:00.003-04:00

6 x 12 inches Oil on canvas board
$125. + S/H

Detail