March Beach 2, daily painting,landscape,plein air, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel
#2 - oh hello little little beach plein air. - so painting outside when it's 38 degrees IS possible but you better be quick!  my fingers were getting cold.  The simplicity of this one is what I like - plus I LOVE this color palette right now...this would be great BIG - like 30x30 or more- above a couch.  Don't you think?
(It is a little more subdued in person)

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.

Elise - weekly portrait, Debbie Miller

 

10x10 oil on panel

Painted Elise tonight. 

Sitting in the Morning Sun - pink,figure,abstract,debbie miller

24"x30" acrylic on panel

 Playing with acrylics today - my painting is turning a corner, evolving, changing.  This more abstract direction is challenging and fun.
 Makes we want to hurry up and paint- more more more - just to see where this takes me.
   It's something to be excited about - bigger-bolder-freer.

 Still holding on to the figure, perhaps a little too tightly.  Let me tell you - this way of painting is not easy! - it is hard to make it look effortless or the way it is in my mind - that is where the fun comes in.  Switched to acrylic because of the quick dry time as I hope to put a nice thick layer of gloss varnish over the top.

Don't worry the other work - my portraits and beach scenes will still be around but peppered in will be more of these.

in the studio

Jenn

10x10 oil on panel
painted Jenn tonight. - even without my lucky paintbrush.

A peek inside my sketchbook

Peeking in artists sketchbooks is fun isn't it?
Do you keep one? I go through periods of drought like anything else but right now I'm really loving my sketchbook.

I'm calling it an " art journal". Which for some reason has freed me up. All sorts of things are going on!

Here - take a peek----

Faces

The endlessly fascinating face and a new phone app - so happy

Britney - portrait painting

Monday is portrait day - this was last weeks portrait.
Red hair is by far my favorite to paint

My first post from the blogger app on my phone!!
How exciting!

Yellow Headband -B- Debbie Miller,beach scene

20x20" oil on panel  $1200

Lost the man with the red hat for this - it just seemed like clutter.  HERE is the little version.

Red Hat -2-Debbie Miller daily painting,beach scene

6x6" oil on panel $100

This image was painted from a photo of a very crowded beach day - there are thousands of paintings in this one photo.  Nice place to get lost in and ignore winter out the window

Red Bucket - A- Debbie Miller Painting, beach scene

 

20x20" $1200 oil on cradled panel

Red Bucket  - the larger painting inspired by yesterdays little one.  see it HERE.
It is so freeing to paint these and I'm excited to see where it goes.

Red Bucket - 1. Debbie Miller daily painting, beach scene

6x6" oil on panel $100

Oh Hello.  Remember me?
So, back in the studio with regular hours - hooray!!  It is all about time in the studio - my paintings are just not going to paint themselves no matter how I try.

There is a little stack of panels with black gesso just hanging around so this week that is the go-to surface.
The subject - people on the beach - of course. 
BUT Ive got the itch to paint bigger more abstract paintings - its really all I want to paint right now and I am even thinking about using acrylics *gasp!*  I know?  crazy talk right??

Which brings me back to the stash of little black panels - these I will paint a quick little painting to play with composition and to get a feel for the image - a sketch with paint. Not quite as realistic as I used to paint but not all crazy like the paintings in my head.
They will be up for sale through my daily painters page (or email me) and then I'll post the bigger paintings that the little ones inspire.  Fun right?

So here is little painting #1 - and fair warning I've got a thing for buckets 

Are you in a creative rut? I am.

nfDP
 Can you say "Rut"?  I can - because I'm in one.  Like an addict, admitting it is the first step.
 So what is the creatively challenged to do?

Hunker down and just get to work.
 Stop making excuses and make some art.
 Sounds simple right?
Well it is.  .....sort of.  Sometimes some help - or a swift kick in the butt is needed.
   Luckily, while  searching for something very important on the internet (ok - pinterest specifically : that time crusher dressed in beautiful clothing)  I came across Twyla Tharps book "The Creative Habit".
 Which is the Best. Book. Ever.    The 'kick' I needed.   Reading and rereading it now - getting ready to start doing the exercises at the end of each chapter.  Starting with my sketchbook.  It always starts with the sketchbook doesn't it?  Why do so many go half filled and forgotten?
No more - from now on my sketchbook is going everywhere.
That will cover #1 - find your pencil - the one creative tool needed.  After that 2-building a tolerance for solitude (no problem there,  being alone rules), 3-Facing your Fears - ok this one is big, time to make a list  and 4 - Going without for 1 week - take a week off from clutter and distractions ....hmmm like pinterest and social media? duh.

So if you see me with a pen in a little red book just smile and know that I'm doing my Twyla homework, getting one step closer to breaking the block.

 

Secrets in the Snow - daily painting,debbie miller,snow scene,pink

6x6 oil on panel

A while back I painted several snow scenes - this is one of them - the last of the bunch. 
Think I'll do some more this week. 

Cozy, Lazy Days of Winter

oops - didn't I say I was going to post everyday in January?  Dang.  3 whole days. 
Well I tried. 

I did take down and put away Christmas - and let me tell you THAT is no easy job.  I don't know about you but I decorate by bringing the holiday stuff out a little at a time - some garland here,some ornaments there - its a PROCESS.
  BUT for some reason it all has to come down all at once, on the same day - except some of the outdoor lights - those can stay up for a bit to brighten these short days and dark nights. 

and I saw an owl again....

RedStripe - beach painting, Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel

 Coming soon to a bookseller near you....if you live in Germany :) 
You'll have to wait for the book but the original painting is available.  Sitting pretty in my studio,waiting for a new home

Green Chair

8x10 (I think) oil on wood panel

After finishing up a portrait, I often grab another panel - a leftover or wonky sized board - to do a quick painting on before the time is up.  Usually these are looser and more colorful.  This is one of them.

I'm learning alot from these - maybe I'll post some more over the next month.
You can see the first portrait HERE

Icy Plunge - beach scene,blue,gray,Debbie Miller

6x6" oil on panel
Happy New Year!! 
Today I watched those brave (er...crazy) people take the icy plunge.  It was really cold this year - well done Polar Bear swimmers!  Why do they do it?  Cleanse?  Fresh start?  Its a little nutty but I like it...maybe next year.
  In the mean time - working on day one of my art resolution.  Did you make one this year?
Ive decided to post a painting everyday this January - mostly to get myself back in the habit of blogging again.  I have no particular theme going - just the challenge of posting and writing and painting - EVERY day this month. 

  So here is #1 - I just took the plunge

Santas downtime

6x6 oil
So - no open studio this year BUT I'm always game for "by Appt."  so send me a message if you want to stop by the studio and pick up some original art for the holidays!!

also - check out my latest portrait here: http://debsfaceproject.blogspot.com/2012/12/nico.html
more to come