Travel Time

Just a quick post to let you all know we are on the move.  Heading north, slowly making our way toward South Dakota.  My husband needs to have his license renewed by April 6th.  Thank goodness the spring weather has come early to the midwest!  Hopefully the warmth will continue so we won't freeze to death....LOL!  I'll post here when I can, but you can also check out our travel blog if you are curious about our journey.

Seagulls Part 3

I'm afraid it is getting a bit crazy around here as we prepare to leave Florida and start our journey North.  We are leaving a bit earlier than usual, but we need to get our driver's license renewed.  South Dakota makes you do this in person....sure hope the above normal temps continue! 

Here is the latest on my Seagull painting.....

I'm pretty happy so far!  My palette consist of White, Black, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Medium Grey, Raw Sienna, Hansa Yellow Medium, Glazing Medium.  These are all DecoArt Traditions acrylics.  I'm working on an 11x14 gessoboard.  Yes, I did start out on illustration board and absolutely hated it.  Nothing really wrong with it....it just behaves so differently from the gessoboard.  It really drinks in the paint...which translates to less working time...which translates into way to much frustration..for me anyway! Questions and comments are always welcome here!

"Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."
Albert Einstein

Seagulls part 2

Life sometimes does get between me and my easel.....this past week has kept me busy with one thing or another.  Finally, I am able to get back to the painting and share some progress with you.

The colors are a little off in this photo...I'll try a different light source next time.  I have established a pretty good base for the background, but now I'm working on the two gulls.  Laying down the first washes and slowing building the layers.  I'll go into more detail on the palette and brushes next time.

"Lots of people talk to animals... Not very many listen, though... That's the problem."
~Benjamin Hoff