All images are photographed late in the evening for posting the same night we paint them. We strive to reproduce the color of the paintings here as close to our originals as we can, but some variation is probable. The paintings are labeled with our initials preceding the date label and title. The date label is Month/Day/Order Painted.
All of these paintings can be purchased on our website. This link will take you to the page where they're posted... Salt Marsh Studios.
Marc's Day
Another morning back at Bonaventure Cemetery to paint the ancient oaks and architecture of the grave sites. It was another, I know, it's getting old, beautiful day! Nothing too exciting happened today, we painted the minimum 3 pieces and were thinking about another. I'll say this, even if you're out early painting and plan on a full day of work, the shortened days of this time of year really do limit your time. I fully expected when starting this that it wouldn't be too hard to paint 4 or 5 paintings a day, considering that the weather isn't severe, ever. Between painting, getting to where we're going to paint, restocking supplies, and life errands, a day can be eaten up very fast. Today, like a couple of other days, I'm happy to have put three paintings in the dry box! Another thing that I wanted to mention is about the palette both Dottie and I are using. We decided to do this using a limited, split-complimentary palette. The colors are listed in an earlier post on this blog if you're interested. Basically a warm and cool of the three primaries, and then we both added ivory black. The two blues are Ultramarine and Manganese Hue, basically a subdued phthalo blue and white. Using this palette we're really challenging ourselves because of so many greens in this area. I would LOVE to have viridian to help out, or even transparent oxide red, or yellow ochre... and probably a few others too. Thanks again for looking in. We are now at a total of 40 paintings painted, 20 each, since 1/1/2020. We're already feeling a little remorse for the day that this stops, we're enjoying it that much.
MH - 1/6/1 - A Quiet Corner
I painted this one liking how the old walls that divide the plots caught the early morning light that was floating across the grounds of the cemetery. Then it hit the base of that big oak and tied it all together.
MH - 1/6/2 - Old Walls
This is another one where the old walls caught my attention today. This one interested me because of that huge old oak in the shadow, and all of the shadows that made up the mass of the composition. Strong edge light, large dark shapes... always interesting to paint.
MH - 1/6/3 - Late Edge Light
The last painting of the day today was not what I had expected to paint. I was thinking "easy composition, big flat shapes, nothing but marsh and a tree line so that I could get away from the complexity that I had been in front off earlier in the day. That had my eyes spinning, they needed a break. They didn't get one. This is on the path out to Spanish Hammock on Tybee. This old dead snag greets us every time we show up out here, so today, despite my state of being at the time, which is best described as "It's 5 o'clock somewhere", I decided to give it a go. This is the result.
Dottie's Day
The last five days have been nothing but painting, photographing, blogging and sleep. With a few meals thrown in for sustenance. We are up and out painting between 7-9 and not home until 5 or sometimes later everyday. Once we are home about 6, Marc photographs all the paintings, edits them and then we sit down to write this blog. We are usually done every night about 9pm. By then, we can't form a complete sentence.
As some of you know, I also take care of my mom who has Alzheimers. We loaded her up on groceries on New Year's eve and have gone by for quick visits on our way to paint several days and communicated by phone. We needed a few days to get into a groove and figure out a system to get the painting and blogging done. This week, in addition to our 12 hour painting schedule every day, we have some other "life stuff" to work around so it should be an interesting week.
Today, mom had her Senior Center day. We dropped her off at 9, painted two paintings each, then picked her up at 1. Ran a couple of errands, got her settled, ate lunch and then back out to paint. It is hectic sometimes and takes planning and dedication to keep going especially when we are exhausted. But it is so worth it. I was already thinking today how sad I am going to be when this month ends. It is exhilarating to be outside painting every day, all day. Complete immersion with no distractions. A million painting decisions to be made, with only the changing light to deal with. (And maybe a few gnats) I am truly loving every minute we are out there.
DTL - 1/6/1 - Resolute
After we dropped my mom off we headed to Bonaventure Cemetery which is just about 3 minutes from her Senior Center. It is truly just a fabulous place to paint. The morning sun was on the old oaks and I just fell in love with this one. It stood so beautiful and strong, almost as if it were sheltering the grave markers around it. The warm sunlight really brought it to life.
DTL - 1/6/2 - Shining Through
Along the edge of the path behind me was this wonderful grouping of small trees, shrubs and vines that were backlit by the sun. It felt almost lyrical the way the sun lit up the leaves and the moss.
DTL - 1/6/3 - Moon Marsh
The moon rose today at 2:30 pm. It's almost full and it was beautiful hanging there above the marsh in the late afternoon light. There is something magical about seeing the moon in the daylight I think. Almost like a gift.
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