New Year's Resolution, Revisited and Revised

Here, I am, exactly one year later. I didn't do too badly last year on a painting a day until the end of July. My resolution for the coming year is to paint every day, not a certain amount of time, but some, everyday. I won't be trying to post an image everyday because I want to work on larger pieces that can't be finished in a day, but I do want to try to write a few lines and chronicle my progress. When I'm done, I'll post an image.

The first piece I want to finish is the 18 x 24" oil for Kevin, the painting that I have fondly nick-named Il Bastardo, and then, his big sister La Colony Club, the 36 x 48" oil for Kevin.

Happy New Year and healthy 2011!

Mary Kay

Day 203 Rock Formation

SSP staff person Cameron told me of the sacred site of the Paiute tribe, but, of course, I got lost looking for it. I ended up somewhere up in the mountains behind the reservation and painted this Rock Formation (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5").

Days completed: 109

Days missed: 94

Days to go: 162

Day 202 Hills at Splatterfest

Hills at Splatterfest (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") are the hills behind the McDermitt high school football field during splatterfest, our fun water day.

Days completed: 108

Days missed: 94

Days to go: 163

Day 201 McDermitt Bluffs

The colors of the hills in McDermitt are very much like the colors of the hills in Yerington and my eyes were filled with the subtlety. Sitting in Harold, enjoying my free time from the junior high kids, I painted McDermitt Bluffs (watercolor, 5 x 7").

Days completed: 107

Days missed: 94

Days to go: 164

Day 200 McDermitt, Nevada, Sky I & II

McDermitt, Nevada Sky I

McDermitt, Nevada Sky II

At McDermitt, the sky was quite beautiful with big, cumulus clouds which I tried to capture on these postcards, McDermitt, Nevada Sky I and McDermitt, Nevada Sky II (watercolor, 4 x 8").

Days completed: 106

Days missed: 94

Days to go: 165

Day 199 Winnemucca

On the way to our Sierra Service Project (SSP) site in McDermitt, Nevada, we stopped for lunch in Winnemucca. I had been watching the hills as we drove, and I painted this quick sketch Winnemucca, Nevada, Golden Hill ( watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") while we were waiting for the bill at lunch.

Days completed: 105

Days missed: 94

Days to go: 166

Day 196 Big Sur

I painted Big Sur (watercolor, 5 x 7") from a photo while I was waiting for Harold to get his oil changed.

Days completed: 104

Days missed:

Days to go: 169

Day 195 Demonstration Paintings

Lake Tahoe

Costa Rica

I painted Costa Rica (watercolor, 7.5 x 11") and Lake Tahoe (watercolor, 5 x 7") as demonstration paintings in private art class today.

Days completed: 103

Days missed: 92

Days to go: 170

Day 185 Piedmont, Italy Hay Bales

I painted Piedmont, Italy Hay Bales (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") on the airplane home from Italy from a picture from Martha's camera that we took on the very last leg of our trip from Milano to Torino through the Piedmont district to visit cousin Maria Grazia.

Days completed: 102

Days missed: 83

Days to go: 180

Day 182 Isola Pescatori from Isola Bella, Lago Maggiore

Martha, Clay, Warren, and I took a little boat ride to the Isole, and I was able to paint Isola Pescatori from Isola Bella, Lago Maggiore (watercolor and pen, 5 x 7").

Days completed: 99
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 184

Day 180 Large Jars in Parma, Italy

The Ora Hotel in Parma was remodeled from an old barn in quite a modern style. In the back was an identical barn filled with all the stuff from both barns, which looked a lot like Davis, out in the middle of large, grassy, hot fields next to a vet school. I took pictures of some of the stuff inside and sketched these jars from my camera. I added the wash just before bed and came up with Jars in Parma, Italy (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5").

Days completed: 98
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 185

Day 179 San Guiliano from San Gallo Palace Hotel, Perugia

I managed to squeeze in San Guiliano from San Gallo Palace Hotel, Perugia (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") from our room just as we were leaving Perugia.

Days completed: 97
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 186

Day 178 St. Peter's

I did two paintings today of St. Peter's from our hotel Casa San Giuseppe: St. Peter's Dome (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") from my room window and St. Peter's Square (watercolor ink, 4 x 8") from the beautiful photo in the hotel lobby.

Days completed: 96
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 187

Collection of Rodolfo and Marissa Perasso, Alessandria, Italy

Day 177 Convent, Rome

Our hotel in Rome is owned by a convent which you can see out our room window. Right before a late afternoon thunderstorm, I painted Convent, Rome (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7").

Days completed: 95
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 188

Day 176 San Gimagnano

San Gimagnano (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") is a tower town that we could see in the distance from our bus ride from Cinque Terre to Rome. The hillsides had golden wheat and vineyards.

Days completed: 94
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 189

Day 175 Volterra

While sitting on the step of our hotel, waiting to walk down to the diasatrous Italia v Slovakia futball game, I painted Volterra (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") of the gate into the city where you can look out and see the city wall.

Days completed: 93
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 190

Day 174 Monterossso

Looking out the window of the hotel and eating breakfast, I painted the pink house near the end of the train station in Monterossa (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7").

Days completed: 92
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 191

(Sorry the image is blurry.)

Day 173 Corniglia

I painted Corniglia (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") from the train station after we hiked some of the Cinque Terre trail. So beautiful!

Days completed: 91
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 192

Day 172 Tuscany Hillside and Cinque Terra

Tuscany Hillside

Cinque Terre-Bluish Green Ocean, Collection of Patty and Marc Tanenbaum

Cinque Terre-Purple Ocean, Collection of Patty and Marc Tanenbaum

I painted several times today: first on the bus ride through the Tuscany Hillside (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7"); second, Cinque Terra-Bluish Green Ocean (watercolor and ink, 4 x 8"); and third, Cinque Terra-Purple Ocean (watercolor and ink, 4 x 8").

Days completed:90
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 193

Buona Notte. Kisses.

MK

Day 171 Palazzo Vecchio from the Uffizi Cafe

We had the most wonderful tour of the Uffizi museum today where we saw many of the great Rennaisance paintings. Afterwards, Eleanor and I got a caffe from the cafe from which she sketched and I painted Palazzo Vecchio from the Uffizi Cafe (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5").

Days completed: 89
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 194

Collection of Patty and Marc Tanenbaum

Day 170 Rainy Via

I painted Rainy Via ( watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") after breakfast this morning in Florence.

Days completed: 88
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 195

Day 169 Ted's Field II

I brought along the picture Ted took and had plenty of time at the Paris Bercy Gar (train station) to paint Ted's Field II (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7").
Days completed: 87
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 196

Collection of Marie Grazia Luzzini

Day 168 Norman Cows

At the end of our all day tour of Nornandy and the beaches, I was able to steal ten minutes to paint Norman Cows (watercolor, 5 x 7").

Days completed: 168
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 197

Day 167 Giverny

I was able to sit down at the end of the path looking down a row of flowers at Monet's home. Unfortunately, I lost my paintbrushes and I ended up painting with a twig!

I had gone into the gift shop and looked at prints of his paintings. He painted what he saw and often tucked his house in the background. So with that in mind and a twig in hand, I painted Giverny (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5").

Days completed: 85
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 198

Day 166 Warren on Serpentine

I painted Warren on the Serpentine (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") in Hyde Park, London.

Days completed: 84
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 199

Day 165 Prince Alfred, London, UK

I painted Prince Alfred Building (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") after we got breakfast and were walking around Bayswater. After walking to Hyde Park, we bought tickets to the Big Red Bus to ride around and see all the sights in London. I felt a little like Gilligan because our 2 hour tour took over 4 hours. A lousy dinner and then all asleep by 8:30 p.m.

Days completed: 83
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 200

Day 164 Napa Dogwood

A successful flight from SFO to London Heathrow included Napa Dogwood (5 x 7", watercolor and ink). The flight included many small children and very little sleep. We took the Express train to downtown London and walked to our hotel to drop off our bags.

Days completed: 82
Days missed: 82
Days to go: 201

Image to be posted later.

Day 164 ???

I am off to London today with Clay, Martha, Warren, Eleanor, and Claire. We will be gone three weeks, and I have neatly packed everything that I need to paint a small watercolor everyday. I am planning on painting on the flight today (Day 164.) It doesn't look like I will be able to upload photos of the paintings while I am traveling, but I hope to write the copy of where I am and what I painted. When I get home, I will upload the images of the paintings.

Day 153 Marlis's Eastern Sierra Hillside

I painted Marlis's Eastern Sierra Hillside (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") in my last oil class for the summer. Marlis had some beautiful photos of poppies and lupin on an eastern Sierra hillside from a few years ago.

Days completed: 81

Days missed: 72

Days to go: 212

Day 140 Ted's Field

I painted Ted's Field (watercolor, 5 x 7") last May after he sent me this photo of all the flowers in his favorite oak field. On the first of May, I got sciatica and spend much of the month down and then doing end of the school stuff when I got back up.

Days completed: 80

Days missed: 60

Days to go: 225

Day 131 Colony Club Cypress

I parked in front of Mullin's yesterday before clinic and painted Colony Club Cypress (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") from Harold. The day before, Kevin had been telling Clay and me how in the old days before the Ritz went in, the courts were under that tree and covered in bird droppings.

Days completed: 79

Days missed: 52

Days to go: 234

Day 130 Tulips

I painted Tulips (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") from the photos I took from the flowers at Lisa Specter's Music School this spring.

Days completed: 78

Days missed: 52

Days to go: 235

Day 127 HMB Kayak Co.

I painted HMB Kayak Co. (oil on canvas board, 16 x 12") out yesterday with Rebecca. I see these colorful kayaks many times a day as Harold and I ferry onto Highway One. I have wanted to paint them for years, so yesterday was the day.

I first painted an underpainting of yellow and orange. Then I sketched them with french ultramarine blue a la Van Gogh. In the image below, it looks as though he outlined in black or indigo, but when you see the original at the Getty, you can see that it is french ultramarine for sure. (Thanks Grant and Julie for taking me to the Getty, which continues to inspire me.)

One thing that I am noticing about my oils this year, is that I am getting looser and looser, which doesn't surprise me because I like to paint fast and just capture the feel of the place rather than try to produce a photo like quality. Also, it is often cold, damp, and windy out painting here on the coast, and I would rather finish in the field than go inside with a photo for the final details. I think it keeps the paintings much fresher.

I would like to paint this scene again, but from farther back, so that more of the harbor is in view and the kayaks are smaller in the focal point in the lower right hand sweet spot.

I thought that you might like to see my easel set up out when I paint plein air.

Days completed: 77

Days missed: 50

Days to go: 238

Day 118 Roses

Roses (oil on canvas board, 8 x 10") was painted in less than 1/2 hour as a demonstration painting during my Wednesday afternoon Senior Coastsiders art class. For the first time, I set up a still life from which we all painted. Go to my sister blog called Coastside Artists to see some of the student's work. http://coastsideartists.blogspot.com/

Days completed: 76

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 247

Day 117 Oak at High Noon

Oak at High Noon (watercolor, 5 x 7") is painted from a photo by Pete Zell. We were at the Giants vs. Phillies game at AT&T Park Tuesday night watching the awesome HMBHS Cougars Marching Band play the national anthem.

Days completed: 75

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 248

Day 116 Venice Beach II

Venice Beach II (watercolor, 5 x 7") is like Venice Beach except the foreground is softer.

Days completed: 74

Days missed: 42

Days to go: 249

Day 113 Koi Fish

I painted Koi Fish (Brushes, iTouch application) while sitting in the dentist chair waiting for my new tooth. Outside the window were draping bushes, and I added the Koi from the memory of the Koi that I painted in Hawaii.

I tell you, I am a WRECK in the dentist's chair, but Dr. Vertongen sculpts my new crown on the computer screen, a laser mills it out of a ceramic block right in his office, he pops it in, and I'm out of there with a brand new tooth in one visit.

Days completed: 73

Days missed: 40

Days to go: 252

Day 112 Venice Beach

Venice Beach (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") was painted from the driver's seat in Harold, my Honda Odyssey, on Thursday as I killed an hour waiting for Claire at tennis practice.

I used salt and high contrast in the foreground, but I think the detailed foreground detracts from the focal point which is the ocean, cliffs, and gulls. I would like to try this painting again just sort of "blurring out" the foreground.

Days completed: 72

Days missed: 40

Days to go: 253

Day 111 Snowy Sunset

I painted this Snowy Sunset (watercolor, 5 x 7") last night while I was waiting for Claire at her "playing party", i.e., piano recital without parents.

Days completed: 71

Days missed: 40

Days to go:254

Day 104 Romeo's Pier

I painted a quick sketch of Romeo's Pier (watercolor and ink, 5 x 7") before walking the dogs at the bluffs today. At first I had the structure its funny green color, but, as I finished, the light changed it to very grey so I added the grey quickly.

Days completed: 70

Days missed: 34

Days to go: 261

Day 101 Nevada Sky

I painted Nevada Sky (5 x 7") from memory also. The day was so gray, but a rainbow appeared in the clouds.

Days completed: 69

Days missed: 32

Days to go: 264

Day 100 Nevada Sunset

I painted Nevada Sunset (watercolor, 4 x 6") from the memory of the sunset the night Clay and I went down to pick up dinner in Yerington last Friday.

Days completed: 68

Days missed: 32

Days to go: 265

Day 93 Santa Cruz North Harbor

Collection of Warren and Jeannette Jolley

I painted Santa Cruz North Harbor (watercolor, 5 x 7") this morning looking out the window of The Captain's Quarters, the house that the Jolley's rented for the week to celebrate Warren and Jeannette's 60th wedding anniversary. Warren's family owned a house a block away from The Captain's Quarters when they married, and they went there for their honeymoon.

Even though Warren's family eventually sold the house to the Baptist Church who bulldozed it and put up a parking lot, Warren and Jeannette have many memories of visiting this beach and sending their own kids here with Grandma.

Days completed: 67

Days missed: 26

Days to go: 272

P.S. I would like to thank all my regular visitors for your gentle encouragement urging me to get back to my painting and blogging.

Day 91 Devil's Slide Path

I painted Devil's Slide III (watercolor, 5 x 7") while watching Warren's swim meet at San Mateo High School. (Swim meets have a lot of down time.)

Days completed: 66

Days missed: 25

Days to go: 274

Day 90 Flower Fields III

Flower Fields III (watercolor, 5 x 7") is the third painting in a triptych from Day 77. The three go together in a mat with three openings. I have painted this triptych in classes with students and have sold it before, too.

Days completed: 65

Days missed: 25

Days to go: 275

Day 84 Tulips

I painted Tulips (watercolor and ink, 7 x 5") from some photos that I took of the garden at Lisa Spector's Music School and Coastside Photography. This building's steps are painted purple and pink so I want to do a couple more watercolor sketches and then paint an oil of it.

Days completed: 64

Days missed: 20

Days to go: 281

Day 79 HMBVFD Bell

I've been working on HMBFVD Bell (oil on canvas board, 12 x 16") all week. I went down to the fire station to take more pictures of the wall on the right of the painting so that I could finish it up tonight. It was very important to Clay that I get the shape of the bell just right. Claire, too. She says, "the bell looks like a bell, now."

The writing on the arch that supports the bell reads, "STEEL ALLOY" and "ALARM BELL". Even though the real plaque is rather wordy and describes the history of the bell, the plaque in the painting reads:

100 YEARS OF SERVICE

HMBVFD

I'll donate this picture to the HMBVFD Crab Feed and Auction on June 5th. (Tickets are $55/person.)

Days completed: 79

Days missed: 16

Days to go: 286

Collection of Max DeVos

Day 77 Flower Fields I & II

I painted these sweet little watercolors from photos that I took about ten years ago when I painted the Montara flower fields plein air with Rebecca. Flower Fields I & II (5 x 7") were painted while I was watching Warren swim at Terra Nova.

Days completed: 62

Days missed: 15

Days to go: 288