Fence Left in the Pond

8x10

oil, gamvar, on canvas panel

auction on Daily Paintworks beginning at 80.00

Apparently this scene involved a pasture with a fence before the pond was built. I loved that the fence posts carried the viewer into the picture. It added another dimension to the composition.

5x7's once again

Painting a small painting each day results in several outcomes.  I have more paintings--but that is not the most important.  It is an opportunity to experiment with color, composition, and brush work. I figure that in 4 months I will have over 100 5x7's and will have learned a lot.  Sometimes I learn what works and I also learn what not to do.  Win/win both ways!

New, 5x7

Although I am working on larger paintings, I have started the habit of painting a small to "warm up".
These three are 5x7 and are one Dailypaintworks.com. I'll post some more tomorrow.

Tuesday Morning at the Park

oil on canvas panel

8x10

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/tuesday-morning-at-the-park/601847

My painting friends and I met at a park in town.  It has a beautiful lake but most of us chose to

paint one of the buildings.

This was a plein air painting which was finished up in the studio.

I did paint the lake later in the studio.  See that painting at the next post.

Poetry in Light

• oil on canvas panel
• 8x10
• Daily Paintworks
• http://www.dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/717271

Painting a barn is always a fun project.  All look somewhat weathered to me and most look a little

 (or a lot) 

rundown.  Most painters agree that a not so beautiful scene will often make the

best painting....although I don't think I can put the reason in words.

I painted this one with my plein air group but also did more work in my studio,  Once I get it away from the subject matter I can be more objective and often see something that I want to "improve."

I am including a photo of the barn from where I was standing.  It's always fun to see

what was really there.

Old Blue

Old Blue

8x8

oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks

100.00

My plein air group painted this old house that we found almost in downtown Matthews, NC.  For those of you who live nearby, it is on one side of The Farmer's Market.  I have no idea why it has been saved--maybe someone just liked it.

This photo was made about midway through the painting.  And look!  A surprise!
The house is not blue.

The Old Cowpoke

The Old Cowpoke

8x8

oil on canvas panel

Dailypaintworks.com

80.00 auction

Several years ago I made a painting trip to Jackson Hole and it was a glorious adventure.  While eating dinner one evening, I took this photo of a real cowboy having a drink at the bar.  A few days ago I located the photo and did a studio painting.  Most artists make quite a few changes when painting from a photo.  I left out a figure on the right but may paint him in a future painting.  The background is definately abstracted--it is not as important as the figure but I did try to show there were much happening in the background.

At Water's Edge

I got out my big brush for this one. Painted in my studio from a photo I took in Jackson Hole several years ago. I made an effort to keep it loose and be mindful of brushstrokes and edges.

At Water's Edge

8x10

oil on canvas panel, Gamvar

Daily Paintworks.com

Day 27, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Sky Reflections on the Water

8x10

oil on canvas panel

Dailypaintworks.com

Tuesday is my plein air day with my group, which we call

the Plein Airies.  Today we met at Freedom Park and

it was another gray day with not much

happening.  I did paint the scene

before me but it is not recognizable!

It was decided it looked like

somewhere in Amsterdam.

Day 12, 30 in 30

Neighborhood Pond

6x8

oil on canvas panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/neighborhood-pond/511715

It was cloudy this morning and I could not think of a location that might work for plein air.

There is a small pond 2 neighborhoods over which is usually dark and scummy, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to at least stop by and see how it was looking today.

The scum had cleared a little to over one side and it thought I could push the color

a bit.  I remember Dee Beard Dean, smiling that pretty smile

of hers, and saying, "Lie if you have to."  and it has been one

of my mantras ever since.

Day 11, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Shadows on the Wall

oil on panel

8x10

DailyPaintworks.com

This is another from the Mint Hill Historical Village--a perfect location, close, parking, not isolated,

and a painting everywhere I look.  I'm sure I could paint there for weeks.

I was attracted to the tree shadow on the wall of the building. Of course the red wagon and

bench were also a plus.  I find I am really looking for sites with more bright colors.

Day 9, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Fruits and Veggies

8x8, oil on canvas panel

DailyPaintworks.com

I spotted this little fruit and vegetable stand while driving home from the historical village I painted yesterday.  Of course, the first thing I did was ask permission and the

owner was so agreeable, even asking if I needed water to drink in the heat.

One reason I am doing all plein air this month is to tackle more complex subjects and work on 

simplifying.  This was definitely complex...for me.

Day 8, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Morning Light

6x6

oil on canvas panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/morning-light/510924

This painting was also done at the Mint Hill Historic Village---sort of--It was adjacent to the villiage and I loved the morning light on the side of the house.

Day 7, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

The Sign Says Farmer's Market

6x6

oil on canvas panel

to buy go to DailyPaintworks.com

My Tuesday Plein Air group met in Mint Hill at the Historical Village to paint yesterday.  It has quite a few picturesque buildings, making it a place to can visit often.  I managed to paint

2 smalls.  Between finishing and starting a new one I walked

around and took photos of the artists and their work in progress.

As you an see everyone is painting something different and the styles are also unique to

the painters.  I always enjoy seeing what the others are doing and

hope you will, too.

Kathy, I could not find your photo.  Did I forget to take it???  I certainly thought I did.

Jan

Robin

My first painting which will be posted on Day 8.

Carol

Suzy in the background.  Jan's work in progress.

And then....we all went to lunch!

Day 5, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

At the Edge of the Pond

8x10

oil on canvas panel

Often there is copious brush, sticks, and leaves around the edges of water.  This is

a summery version of it.

Day 3, 30 Paintings in 30 Days

The Road Not Taken

oil on canvas panel

6x6

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/the-road-not-taken/509675

I found this location after quite a bit of driving around.  The reason I did not take the 

road is there was a very big gate across the road.  I just turned in and parked close 

to the main road, leaving the gate out of my painting.

The River Bridge

The River Bridge

5x7

oil on canvas panel

http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/connie-snipes/the-river-bridge/502159

This is a studio painting done from a photograph.  I prefer to work plein air but it is close to 100 degrees here so I stayed in.  Once I have blocked it in with the value decisions made, I tend to only

look at my painting rather than the photograph.  This helps it become more

my painting than a copy of a photo.

Summer Day in the Neighborhood

8x8

oil on canvas panel, gamvar varnish

Daily Paintworks

100.00

My plein air group which meets every Tuesday morning gathered at the Mint Museum grounds this past week. I had painted the grounds last time so I just turned my easel across the street to this house with the little picket fence.

My 12 year old grandson is spending the week with me.  Along with baseball, etc, he likes to

draw and paint so I set him up with my easyl box, oil paints, a selection of

brushes and solvent.  A lovely painting emerged!

Two 6x6 Gallery Wrap Paintings

Into the Forrest

6x6

oil on gallery wrap--no need to frame

buy on Daily Paintworks

Afternoon Sun

6x6

oil on gallery wrap-no need to frame

buy on Daily Paintworks

A few weeks ago I bought 5 gallery wrap size 6x6 canvases with the intention of doing a series.  Did I know what the series would be?  No.  But once I got started I decided on

landscapes tying all together by using some of the same

colors or variations of the same.

I have another series to do--just got the canvases in the mail today from Jerry's Artarama.

Not sure what I will work on tomorrow!

Painting en Plein Air

The Hay Barn, Hunter Farm

10x8

oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks

It's Seen Better Days

8x8

oil on canvas panel

Daily Paintworks

Today's weather was wonderfully warm, allowing the Plein Air Group to meet and paint. Our location was Hunter Farm, a place we've painted before but never tire. I did two paintings this morning without ever moving my easel--that's how much "stuff" there is to paint!