"A Glimpse of the Past", plein air, 14x11, oil on linen, old buildings, Old Florida art, paint-outs, plein air, alla prima, Florida art

"A Glimpse of the Past", plein air, 14x11, oil on linen

This past week I participated in "Paint the Town", an annual invitational paint-out that took place this year in Bradenton, Florida.

One of the suggested painting sites was the Manatee Village Historical Park, where I have painted before. I decided to go back there and paint the other side of the same old house where I'd stood and painted a few months ago. There were not many people visiting the park that afternoon and aside from the roosters crowing and a stray tiger cat who kept rubbing against my legs, it was a very peaceful place in which to paint for a few hours.

The last time I painted this old building I had toned my canvas orange and it really gave the painting a warm Floridian glow. This time, however, I decided not to tone the canvas with orange and instead used burnt sienna which cooled the scene more than I'd expected, especially since I was painting in heat and humidity and wanted that warmth to translate to the canvas, too! In the end, I was still pleased with the way that it came out and I felt that it helped a lot that I was familiar with the building and had painted it before.

The painting will be on display and available for purchase through Art Center Manatee through April 28th.

"Old Florida", plein air, 12x12, oil on gessoboard

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"Old Florida", plein air, 12x12, oil on gessoboard

Yesterday was Thursday which usually means painting with the Sun Coast Plein Air painters.
The Destination was the Manatee Village Historical Park in Bradenton which is a very cool place with old buildings depicting what it was like to live in Old Florida before the advent of tourists and snowbirds.

It was an hour drive to the site, and as I was driving I realized that I had made a mistake toning my canvas the night before with a warm color- orange! The sun was a total no-show on this cloudy morning. When I arrived I was amazed at how interesting all the little buildings were, though I realized painting any of them would be challenging as I found them looking pretty drab and lifeless under the sunless sky.

I decided to make the best of the situation and just practice what I am weak at- perspective. I concentrated on the perspective of the two little buildings only to find that my biggest challenge was not the lack of sun and the perspective, but the Spanish moss in the trees!

GRRRRRRR!

When I go back there, I may try this little house again. Hopefully by then there will be sunny skies!