plein air painting – Page 2 – Marianne Thompson

May 10th, 2017

May 10th 2017
A Better Man

They say that it’s important for the maintenance of good mental health to devote time every day to gratitude. To that end, I spent the better part of the past two weeks staring into the noble eyes of this good man. I painted it, and then scraped it off, painted again, scraped again I don’t know how many times. But I wanted to do my best. Because I am grateful that for eight whole years this country was led by an honourable man. A thoughtful, sage, temperate and decent man.
(there are sure more fixes to do, but maybe I should just let it be. For tonight anyway I will.) PS Ask me who it’s supposed to be and you will suffer the consequences.

April 24th, 2017

April 24th, 2017
Birches, Gloucester Harbor
Oil on Board, 18 x 24 in

Another day with my great student who doesn’t seem to mind me painting too. There are tons of cranes by the water in Gloucester, they were too far away to fathom but very arresting regardless. The story for me was the tree – branches take on this pregnant, rosy glow as the leaves begin to bud- and this birch was also rife with pollen laden golden – hmm, seed shags? I don’t know what they’re called, but they look like greengold caterpillars and were quite lovely in the spring sun.

April 18th, 2017

April 18th, 2017
Venice
Oil on Board, 18 x 24 in

Well I was teaching in studio and had nothing to paint, student offered me a stack of photos to look through. Although I don’t like working for the pictures, and particular not for pictures of the places I’ve never been, this one caught my eye. The 18th is my best friends birthday, and she’s living in France far away where I’ve never been. I think painting this was partly because she was on my mind, and partly because I liked it…and why not? This is not the best photo of it but it will do for now.

April 4th, 2017

April 4th, 2017
Kenora, Ontario
Lake of the Woods
Oil on plywood, 18 x 24 in

This I did in studio in Annisquam working from a photo I took a couple of years ago from the Island. My thoughts are forever escaping to my glorious northern home – in this case, I integrated the recent disposition to paint a boat or two. Not only is there a sailboat in this, there are people (yes! People!) in it! Rare, rare event for me. I like it. I got to daydream and work at the same time.

March 28th-31st, 2017

Showboats – Annisquam
March 28th-31st, 2017
Oil on Canvas, 24 x 30 in

This was painted in studio in Annisquam, with reference from a photo and from the view outside of the river, boats and shoreline. It’s “Golden Hour” and the colors were so egregiously gorgeous I almost didn’t paint it. But of course, in the end I did.

March 23rd-25th, 2017

March 23-25th, 2017
Rockport, MA
Oil on Canvasboard, 24 x 18 in

The water here is a delicious, gorgeous emerald green at the depth you see in Rockport Harbor at high tide. I was looking towards Motif #1 but decided to leave it & almost everything else out. A vision of de-colonialized MA, with the exception of the dock and pier. The story here for me as usual is the water, the shadow of the boat on the water, the chain reaching from the dock to the ocean floor. There are a few details on the boats that I will fix once it is drier.

March 20th, 2017

March 20th, 2017
Annisquam, MA
Oil on Board, 8 x 16 in

After taking the picture I fixed the distant fog a little so it doesn’t look as solid. The interest of this painting to me was the reflected light on the hull of the boat. I’m happy with the way it came out.

March 6th & 7th, 2017

March 6th & 7th, 2017
Oil on Board, 18 x 24 in
Lake of the Woods

I worked on this painting from a combination of memory and photo. The picture was taken last summer when the devastating Alberta forest fires were raging and even as far east as Kenora, Ontario the skies were full of haze and smoke. It made everything a strange color, rich and dark. The sun was this glowing burn of light, I still don’t think I quite have the color right. But this is how it stands.

February 27th & 28th, 2017

February 27th & 28th, 2017
Annisquam
Oil on Board, 16 x 24 in

Another done in studio while teaching. Had a 4 x 6 in photo and the view out the window for a guide.

February 23rd & 24th, 2017

February 23 & 24, 2017
Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24in
Lake of the Woods
“We’re not in Kansas anymore.”

Not a Plein Air, technically. I was indoors working with my friend David Curtis, who is recovering from a grave illness. Worked in studio, using as reference photos of a major storm up in Kenora a summer or two back.