30 in 30: Day 13: Sterling Lagoon

"Sterling Lagoon"

Sandra LaFaut ©

6x9" pastel on Uart sanded paper

This is a reworked pastel from a plein air day this summer. 

You can read about the day and see the original here.

30 in 30, Day 8: Fleeting Brilliance

This one is titled "Fleeting Brilliance" and is 9x12" pastel on sanded paper. I thought it was finished until I looked at it on the computer. It's not for sale yet because I am going to work on it more later today. When I get the final version I'll switch out this image for the new one, keeping it in this same post to keep the days in order. 

The river is our local river, the Raisin River in Monroe County, Michigan. 

It has the distinction of being the world's crookedest river.

30 in 30, Day 7: Last Light

"Last Light"

by Sandra LaFaut ©

9x12" pastel on sanded paper

Last of the day's light over the lagoon at Sterling State Park on a warm summer's eve. I really loved the way the water was catching just a few streaks of red as the sun dropped below the horizon. 
I almost lost the series of photos through a moment of careless deleting on the camera. Fortunately I was able to run a recovery program on the card and get them back. 
Once gone these moments in time can never be duplicated (except in art!)

30 in 30, Day 2 Under the Apple Tree

Under the Apple Tree

Sandra LaFaut ©

5 1/2 x 6"

Pastel on Sanded UArt paper

For many years I have enjoyed sitting on my patio in the fall as the sun goes down and seeing the edges of the apple leaves turn to gold from the beautiful backlighting. This pastel painting is my impression of the scene.

Kayaking at Sterling State Park

Last weekend Bob and I went to the state park: him for kayaking and me for a little more plein air practice.

 I decided to try pastels this time. I have so many art supplies from my many years of doing a variety of things, so I'm just experimenting with different things outdoors to see what I like. No decision on that yet.
Here is the beginning sketch with the scene in the background.





And here is the point at which I stopped. I consider this another study. It's about 6x9" I had a bit of trouble at one point. I got all set up, just barely started the sketch, and realized I really needed a bathroom break. Bob was already out on the water so I had to pack everything back in the van and drive over to the restrooms. Then go back to my spot and set up to begin again. Well, thank God for bathrooms - and sure sometimes with I had a painting partner!

 Bob finally bought a kayak this year after many years of wanting to try it. He decided on this nice inflatable one. This was his first time out with it: He and the kayak both performed very well. No spills and able to maneuver around the lagoons very well. It was a nice calm day on the water.

 

Sterling Storm

 A few weeks ago we had a really stormy and windy day. I drove out to Sterling State Park to see the waves and ended up staying to do a small watercolor study. I got thoroughly soaked and cold, but it was still fun. The waves were probably at about 5 feet with very strong wind and driving rain. I was able to sit under one of the shelters to do the watercolor. Good thing or I would have had no artwork at all.

 Sterling Storm study, watercolor, about 6x8"

Great Egret sheltering on a stormy day.
I also took some of the best egret photos to date: the storm brought a couple of them into a small pond with more shelter and with the gloomy day I was able to get the brilliant white with a dark background. Perfect for scratchboard and with several really nice poses. Then I almost lost them all by accidentally hitting the delete button on my computer. I found a good 'restore' program after a few tries and was able to retrieve them from the camera card. So I learned a new trick and also got the images back. Whew!!

A Day at Sterling St. Pk.

An afternoon at Sterling St. Pk. - Bob brought his bike and rode the trails while I spent an hour or so painting again (6x9 on oil paper). Again, mostly just putting paint on canvas for practice. It went ok until I was visited in the shelter by a mom and 3 kids - the kids were fine, curious but not unpleasant - the mom not so much. She just yelled at her girls nonstop. The kids mostly just tuned her out - I was wishing I had their skill!  But all in all a nice afternoon out.
I need to get out in the morning or evening for some better lighting conditions.

 And the beach - very peaceful that day.

Preparing for Plein Air

I post these as more of a Plein Air Journal entry to document my re-entry into plein air painting. This is a small oil study from the hedgerow across the street, just about a mile from that crooked river. I'm testing my supplies, easel, and set-up in anticipation of doing more work in different locations. I probably spent 45 min. to an hour on this. It's really gloppy up close but looks better from several feet back. When it dries I may scumble that back row of trees with a lighter color to push them back a bit. I'll try this scene again with less paint on the oil paper. It always pleases me and I'm so very thankful we don't have houses across the street. We get some beautiful sunrises sometimes.