Adirondack Experience

Adirondack Museum View      5" x 6"     Pastel      ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $75

Day 4 of Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge, September 2017

A September view from the observation deck at the Adirondack Experience Museum...

The former Adirondack Museum is now called Adirondack Experience and appropriately so. The natural beauty is a breathtaking experience as the museum sits on Blue Mountain Lake in Blue Mountain, New York . The grounds, buildings, and historic displays are worth a visit with something to enjoy for all ages, as well an many events during the year.  There's a lifetime of painting subjects there.

I especially enjoyed the view above Blue Mountain Lake from the observation deck with lovely, well cared for plantings of a variety of flowers. I love painting places like this as it helps to embed the experience in my mind. Also, I get a chance to relive our time spent there with long time friends and new friends from our last visit. 

I began with a simple thin wash of black, mapping out where my darks and lights were located.

I then laid in some beginning color to establish a tone for the whole painting. Once I began with the foliage and flowers I became so focused that I forgot to take another progress shot.

Tiny Dancer

Emma Grace Before The Recital    6" x 6"     Pastel     ©Sheila Ashley Liston   NFS

A grandaughter makes a perfect model for Day 3 of Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days Challenge!

Well now, painting doesn't get more fun than this! Our grandaughter, Emma, was getting ready for her dance recital in June. Our daughter, Michelle, photographed her as she was fastening her shoes. By now, you have by now figured out the next step...Grandma couldn't resist painting this! 

Marsh I      5" x 7"    Pastel      ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $65


Day 2 THIRTY PAINTINGS IN THIRTY DAYS September 2017  #30paintingsin30days

With a color palette of blues, browns, and a touch of lavendar, I found a fun approach to a simple subject. I was experimenting also with the type of surface that I had tried before with no success. This time I found that the suede surface seemed to work well to hold soft Sennelier pastels. The harder Rembrandts didn't adhere to the surface as well previously, resulting in a less than exciting result.

Bogs and marshes seem to call to me with their winding paths of water that reflects the sky's color perfectly. The marshes near the ocean are interesting with an occasional boater paddling through. The protected wetlands near me in Ohio, are a wonderland of colorful wildflowers and birds, especially in July and August.

Glade Creek Grist Mill    8.25 x 6.5    Pastel     ©Sheila Ashley Liston
SOLD

DAY 1 of THIRTY PAINTINGS IN 30 DAYS September 2017        #30paintingsin30days

Glade Creek Grist Mill at Babcock State Park is in West Virginia. My husband and I enjoy photographing and painting this mill in every season. ( Look for the fall painting on this blog soon). This day was a result of rain in the area for a few days. The water spoke in a thundering tone, throwing a mist into the air that threatened the camera lens. 

This shows the early stage that I was not happy with.  I was able to remove some of the pastel with a brush.  With a bit of re-work, I darkened some areas and increased the lights of the water to add to the contrast.  It seemed to take on a different feel altogether. Putting the beginning stage aside for a bit, seemed to help determine what really needed to be done to make a stronger painting.

Weeds or Wildflowers?

 August's Color Palette   5" x  7"   Pastel   ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $75

To some, they are weeds...to others, a closer examination reveals stunningly beautiful wildflowers!    

Sometimes we need not travel far to find a wealth of color, worthy of painting.  Located between a dental office and a bank in my town (Aurora, Ohio), is an undeveloped field of riveting yellow goldenrod contrasted against purple ironweed, with a touch of Queen Anne's lace. The setting sun, along with the distant blue treeline becomes a soothing backdrop to set the stage for a splash of color.

 Frequently, this is my classroom where I learn from God's very own color palette. I love staying here to study the sky and make color notes of how to paint the evening atmosphere. Then it's back to the studio for better light and a mosquito-free environment! 

Misty Memories

Misty Memories    4" x 7"   Pastel    ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $75



    

Day 7 of my personal challenge of painting 7 paintings in 7 days. These were my "warm-up" exercises before starting 30 in 30, beginning September 1, along with 1500+  artists. Like any challenge, this demands planning ahead for an interesting growth and learning experience.

On the last day of my challenge, I decided to paint simply an impression of the ocean, wherever the painting decided to lead me. It does remind me of our first trip to Maine years ago, as we walked along Marginal Way in Ogunquit. The weather report promised rain all day, so we purchased ponchos and headed out into the storm. It was a totally exhilarating experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat! With the wind and surf leaving us breathless, our umbrella's only option was to morph into a useful walking stick. The only regret was that I couldn't take art supplies into that environment!

I decided to try a different surface to paint on this time. It is a mixture of pumice and gesso on 300# watercolor paper. I did enjoy experimenting with a new method for me, as it added a significant amount of texture. I began with a watercolor sketch first, and then added layers of pastel. I guess you could say memories of that adventurous day and a new adventurous painting surface brought about this painting. I'll definitely try this surface again in a larger format.

Curtis Island Light

Curtis Island Light      4 x 7    Pastel     ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $75


Day 6 of my 7 paintings in 7 days takes us to Curtis Island Light on a quiet fall evening....

Curtis Island Light marks the approach to the harbor of Camden, Maine.  The lighthouse is still an active US Coast Guard aid to navigation. I didn't need to go onto the island, as I was perfectly happy viewing it from a distance that explains its purpose since 1836. 

Curtis Island protects the Camden Harbor from the ocean storms. Camden is a lovely town on Penobscot Bay. I'm seeing a harbor painting coming soon from our many photos from our visit there.

There's nothing quite like having a personal tour guide who is my nephew. Michael, who lives in Camden, Maine is an artist also. We were quite spoiled by Michael, as he lead us to the non-tourist sights in the Blue Hill Peninsula area and around Camden.