On the Mend

I am finally on the mend. I am not quite up to the hike out to my favorite spot at Short Sands, but I can manage some of the other beaches. Today was a lovely spring day to get out to paint. The tides were perfect to paint at Hug Point. Hug Point is a little further north of Short Sands. It has been a while since I have been to Hug Point. The cliffs are mostly sandstone and the waves are continually carving the stone. The beaches are always in flux, ever changing.

There has been another wash up of Vellela vellela jellyfish. It was impossible to avoid stepping on them. I could smell the odor as soon as I opened the car door.

Vellela, vellela on the beach.

I took a bit of time poking around before setting up. It has been a while since I have been there after all and I like to look around at what is different. The best time to paint at Hug Point is when the tide is just going out. The tides can trap the unwary if they are coming in. Low tide was around 5:30. I got there about 12:30 so I had a good long time to paint without concern.

I spent much of my healing time studying art and am finally able to start putting what I learned to practice. Sometimes easier said than done. Here are a few more pictures and the final plein air painting:

Hug Point, Oregon Coast

Hug Point, Oregon Coast. Plein Air Painting

© 2015 R.L. Delight, Hug Point Falls, 8"x10", oil on canvas. Plein Air

I am looking forward to a good spring, summer, and fall of painting!

-Renee

Studio Changes

It has been an interesting month since my last post. I worked hard going through every nook and cranny in my studio cleaning, culling, and reorganizing. There have been many changes both large and small.

I actually was pretty much finished a couple of weeks ago but due to getting hit with a rather nasty cold virus that has been going around and spraining my foot a week ago, I have not been able to get back to work quite yet.

Yesterday I couldn't take it anymore. I wrapped a garbage back around the armored boot protecting my foot, hoisted my painting pack on, and hobbled the 1/4 mile out to the north end of Neahkahnie beach to paint. The winds were fairly strong and the tide was going out. Not the best time to paint. This time in the tide cycle I usually head out to Short Sands beach or Hug Point to paint. I am not quite up to those spots yet but hopefully next week.

I made notan sketches while waiting to see if the winds would die down. They didn't so I weighted my easel with rocks and got to work. I wasn't trying for a masterpiece, I just wanted to paint. I did spend much of my downtime studying and I wanted to play a bit. The winds increased to the point where they were blowing me around to much to paint so I had to head home.  Here is a photo I took from yesterday:

The painting wasn't that great but I am actually pleased with it as it is showing some of the things I have been learning. It will take more practice.

I have a surprise addition to the studio.  I wanted to find a way to take some of the financial pressure off the art making while continuing to put in the time and effort to improve and using resources I already have. I have been a weaver in the past and have a rather large weaving loom and the skills to use it. The skills may be a bit dusty but they will come back fast. We live in an area that has a tourist economy. I have decided to spend a bit of my day weaving accessories to sell in area shops. Weaving has given me many skills that have been beneficial to my painting. Weaving and music both. My painting also helps my weaving.

So with all of that, here are the pictures of my refreshed studio. The loom is empty at the moment, waiting for my foot to heal!

The back of the loom, looking toward the painting area.

Side front of the loom. I have a few plaster casts for drawing, and a Lego phone!

This is the drawing nook, with my canvas and paint supplies on one side, and art books on the other. The photo of the handsome man on my bulletin board is my wonderful supportive husband Bob.

One final mention, I do have a weaving blog. It has been in virtual mothballs these past 5 years while I worked on art. I will be posting my weaving results there and not on this blog in the future. The site can be found here.

The studio is a bit crowded but definitely workable. Now to get to work!

-Renee