A Little Beach -#2, 2014

6x6" oil on panel
More beach dreaming on a cold winter day

A Little Beach -#1,2014

6x6" oil

We could all use a little beach right now couldn't we?  This January has been brutal with this COLD! 
.  There isn't even a speck of spring fever in me yet but it would be nice to zip off to the beach just for a bit. 
Now I LOVE winter - I really really do but this cold kind of stinks.  So painting the beach is the next best thing (yeah right)

Just Chillin' - daily painting, debbie miller,beach scene,blue

6x6" oil on panel

Santa Plein air painting, debbie miller, daily painting

5x7" oil
Did you know Santa paints?  He does, he says it relaxes him and he especially loves plein air painting at the beach.



Beach Holiday - plein air painting at the beach

6x8" oil on panel - favorite from the beach plein airs - perfect for my a favorite holiday

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!!!  

Do you want a challenge? - Yellow tank top - plein air, painting people at the beach

6x6" oil on panel
Painting beach scenes from photographs is one thing but if you want a real challenge try some plein air!

1st thing is: if you are tackling people you are basically painting from memory.
 No one stands still long enough.  ever.

2nd: you have to draw a scene super fast - block in the shapes, lights and darks - work hard on capturing a gesture and the values of the scene. where is the light coming from? what are the spine and hips doing? what is it about that person that caught my eye? - all questions I ask myself. - instantly.  seriously you have to be quick.

3rd: use a bigger brush than you think you'll need - this is one I forget and am soooo much happier with the result when I remember

try it! - it will really test your painting chops! 

Want to Pick up the Pace? - plein air beach scene,debbie miller

6x6" oil on panel.

Spent the first real spring-like afternoon doing some plein air painting at the beach - at Warrens Pt. in Little Compton, RI.

My plan was to do studies of the waves and rocks - and I did do that but you know I cant resist painting the people!

This is THE best way to improve your powers of observation and to learn to paint faster! Really, you are painting your memory of the scene - a gesture of the person. Its challenging, difficult and wicked fun ;)

In the Soup - beach vacation,daily painting

6x6"
In the soup - the surfer term for that frothy area after a wave breaks that you have to get through to get out to the waves.
Always reminds me of the restaurant term 'in the weeds' ...in the thick of it, swamped, overwhelmed..... moms home with kids all this vacation week - this is you! In the soup - weeded :)

Mother Beach - daily painting,beach scene,beach vacation

6x6" oil on panel.

Always loved the way her suit and shoulder are painted....

A Little Beach Walk - beach vacation,daily painting

5x7 oil on panel
School Vacation Week - lets go to the beach!
Well, my family isnt going somewhere warm but my blog is!
Got a new scanner (epson 4490) so for the next week I'll be posting some little beach scenes that are still here in the studio.
Happy Vacation