Backyard Buddy

Backyard Buddy   5" x 6"    Pastel    ©Sheila Ashley Liston
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Day 7 of Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days, Sept 2017 Challenge with our frequent backyard visitor.

We've had a family of three bunnies living in our backyard this summer. They seem to love the food that we provide for the birds and in exchange we are entertained by their presence.

 I've learned one important fact in painting bunnies.....you have to work fast!

Here are some progress shots from beginning to the finished painting shown above. 

Glade Creek

Glade Creek    4" x 8"    Acrylic   ©Sheila Ashley Liston
Available $85

Day 6 of Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days, September 2017. 

As I stood on the bridge, Glade Creek was sending rushing water under the bridge, past the mill and on to the waterfalls below.  Glade Creek runs through Babcock State Park in West Virginia where the Glade Creek Grist Mill is located. (See blog on September 1, 2017)

I grew up in Dille, West Virginia with a creek running in front of our house. This scene reminded me of the times that it would rain so heavy that it seemed to touch the bottom of the bridge leading to our house. It was moving so fast that I would actually feel like I could lose my balance while looking down through the spaces between the boards. As a child, I believed that the water would never go above that level.  The sound was actually soothing as I would sleep. 

In June of 2015, flash flooding in West Virginia took out the bridge where I lived. This was when flooding affected people over a large part of the state. As a child, I never imagined so much devastation could have ever occurred. 

Marginal Way

Marginal Way   6" x  8.5"   Pastel    ©Sheila Ashley Liston

Available $95

Day 5 of Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days September 2017, Marginal Way, Ogunquit, Maine

Our first experience in Maine was to Ogunquit in a pouring rainstorm. Not wanting to miss anything, we purchased ponchos and headed out to a trail along the ocean called Marginal Way. What a way to see Maine for the first time. The ocean was slapping against the rocks with high winds in a sideways pouring rain. We loved every minute of that storm!

This trail is now an asphalt walkway perched on the high rocks along the coast.  Marginal Way has many stunning views. On that evening in October, that bare tree spoke of the winter that would be on its way soon.  

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
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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.