March beach, plein air, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel

 Today is my teaching day - so no painting today.  But last week, I got to the beach and did a couple of quick plein air paintings.  It was 38 degrees and a little windy but I managed.  The above painting was my first.  Tomorrow I'll post the second I did - quicker and more simple - but I like it.

 my supervisor and my set up.  Sat in the sand with my box.  My french easel broke plus it was a little too windy.

Beach Lovers - daily painting, beach scene

6x6" oil on canvas. Beach Lovers. I love this little painting, the photo is not doing it justice.
Happy Valentines Day!

Beach Seeker -daily painting,children,beach scene

6x6" oil on gessoboard

Top of the Heap : available at Donovan Gallery

6x8 oil on masonite today I stayed home, did laundry, put on reggae and painted for 5 hours. sweet. this was the last of 6 that I did. nice and bright,loose and buttery.

Friday Flower

6x8" oil on masonite
As much as I love gardening, I hate painting flowers. SO, I will face this and paint flowers once a week. Flower Fridays. I will not however be facing my fear of heights with bungee jumping so fear not. This is a fully opened ranunculus I got at Whole Foods... which is a treasure trove of inspiration for paintings btw. This was also my warmup on friday before working on a commission.

Beach Chair

6x8" oil on masonite
another from the old photos. not everyone will 'get' these. I really like painting them, I can get lost in the image, imagine that day, that time. Stories form, my mind wanders, the paint becomes loose.... what oil painting is all about. And these look really good against my red family room walls :)

Ocean Beach

6x8" oil on masonite
OK, not your typical 'daily painting' and I know its breaking all sorts of 'rules' WE painters put on ourselves...like: painting from photos, using black, and centering the subject etc. But I couldnt help it and I'm pretty sure the girl with the pipe appreciates a little rule breaking.
Years ago there was an artist who showed paintings like this on Nantucket except they were huge. I loved them. For me, a series of these has always been brewing. Combining so many things I love: painting, people watching, history, old photos, family and the beach. The handsome sailor is my husbands grandfather in 1923.

ironstone

6x6 oil on masonite
I have a bunch of these ironstone pitchers. This is one of the biggest, usually I use it for tulips. I'm thinking a series would be good until I get one I really like..or not. Painting white china is a challenge. At RISD we would paint all white still lifes alot (or all green -yuck) Its a good exercise. ...course I cant resist throwing in some saturated color...especially since its soo grim outside.