"Salado Swimmin Hole" by Ann McCann 9 X 12 Oil (c)2017
I posted the watercolor of this scene two weeks ago after our trip to Salado, Texas. I had to do an oil painting of it. This is where the town comes to cool off on hot days which we have many of here in Texas. It is more of a wading experience unless you sit down in it. It is a very pretty spot!
My Pear Trees by Ann McCann 18 X 24 oil (c)2017
When you paint with oils, you sometimes have wonderful "accidents." In painting my favorite pear trees, I first applied a purple transparent layer (glaze) in some areas. It smeared around a bit and started to spread. I liked how it looked so I continued applying transparent layers of different purples hues over the whole tree area. Then I applied the various whites and pastels, pink and yellow, on top of it. Voila! My best "white" painting ever. It is usually hard to make an interesting white painting, but this somewhat painted itself.
"Favorite Chair by the River" by Ann McCann 9 X 12 Oil (c) 2017
When you have been somewhere that was especially lovely or had a really good time there, it shows in your painting. That is certainly true when you paint plein air on site, but that is also true when painting from a photo that you took there. You remember all the things that can't be captured in a photo- light, colors, etc. The fact that you felt good there affects the painting too. I can't explain it, but it is all true.
We spent Memorial weekend with friends at an inn on this river in Salado and spent a lot of time in these chairs. Mat and Kathy, this is for you!
Gothic Sky (Sevilla) by Ann McCann 9 X 12 oil on linen panel (c)2017
When you spend several hours or more making a painting, the visual picture stays in your mind forever. It is a visual that is hard to turn off. When you lie in your bed at night, you keep painting it mentally. When we were in Sevilla last May (2016), we spent a lot of time on the roof top of our hotel, breakfast there in the morning, drinks and sunset watching in the evenings. We also had a painting session there where I created the above painting of the skyline. I loved all the Gothic cathedral towers and spiky ironwork. The light was beautiful, so I made the colorful sky. Now I will always remember it.
I am working on my lilies. They are not an easy flower. My mother really liked day lilies and had a large patch that she tended in her garden. Lilies remind me of her.
We spent Memorial weekend in Salado, Texas, in an inn (old Victorian house) on a creek. We spent a lot of lazy time sitting in chairs overlooking the river. This was the swimming hole for the city. I did some sketching while drinking my wine. Lovely place with a great restaurant next door. Below is a photo of the same view.
A client bought this the day after I posted it. He said it reminded him of Van Gogh's iris painting. I will take that compliment!
"White Flower Canyon" by Ann McCann 20 X 24 Oil (c) 2017
Just because you enter an art show, doesn't mean you will get in. They are usually peer reviewed by other artists, so to be selected is pretty awesome. My painting (on the bottom of the easel) was selected for the Dutch Art 2017 Gallery Spring Show with the theme Call of the Wild. The opening reception was last Saturday, May 20, 2017. I knew the competition was tough as the art at the show was really good. The show will stay open for several months. Try to see it!
My neighbor across the street has a bed of violet irises that glow every morning and evening for about a month. In this painting, I tried to captured how they glow in the sun against the dark shadows behind them. I have enjoyed them, Lisa!
"Queen Anne with Butterflies & Bugs" by Ann McCann 9 X 12 Oil (c)2017
A dear friend commissioned me to create a smaller version of one of my paintings. So, here it is, a field of Queen Anne's Lace on the harbor in Orleans, MA. This one is unique as it has several butterflies and flying insects on the flowers, as it actually did in the field.
Come enjoy the reception this Saturday at the Dutch Art Gallery, 10233 E. Northwest Hwy #420, Dallas. Have a glass of wine and view all the beautiful paintings. See my entry in the show below. Ann McCann
"White Flower Valley" by Ann McCann 20 X 24 Oil (2017)
"Santa Elena Canyon" by Ann McCann (c)2017
I used to take all my oil painting supplies with me when I traveled, easel, chair, paints, brushes, etc. It is nice to have all your supplies with you. However, it costs a lot to carry an extra suitcase for all of this. I have taken all that stuff to Europe four times and many times to Cape Cod. I have a rolling backpack that will hold of these supplies, though you can't take oil paint or mediums (like turpentine) through security. Those have to go in your luggage. I bury them under my clothes, just in case.
These days, I have cut back extensively on the supplies I carry. I take a sketch book, small set of watercolors, brushes, pencil, ink marker and camera. On site, I do a pencil sketch, then apply ink and then watercolor. I finish by taking photos of the site to help me create an oil painting in my studio. Then I also have nice watercolor journals of my trips.
"Monet's Red Lily Pond" by Ann McCann 16 X 20 Oil (c) 2017
I painted this in the style of Claude Monet. It has a lot more texture than Monet's work as I painted it with a knife instead of a brush. The warm and cool complementary colors vibrate, and it is big enough to have some presence on your wall. It is painted on the sides, so it does not need to be framed. I have been to this pond in Giverny, France and there is a lot of red foliage that reflects into the pond.
"Wild Cherries" (c) Ann McCann 11 X 14 Oil on Canvas, 2017
I'm sure it helps to have a good aesthetic sense and a good eye for color. However, drawing and painting skills are not instinctive or inborn. They certainly were not for me. I did not draw or paint much as a kid. I shied away from art classes in junior high, high school and college, because I thought I would do badly! Fortunately, much of the skills can be learned with instruction and especially practice. If I could have practiced every day, I would have learned faster. But, since I had a day job, I had to stick to art in the evenings and on weekends, and it took me about 20 years. This means there is hope for any of you who want to be an artist!