A Seat for Sunset

melaniestokesart.com
A Seat for Sunset
8×10 Oil
$120

“I come down here every evening,” he told me.  “I come with my drink and watch the sunset.”

I had been painting the swing and the tree en plein air, after a full day of learning at Plein Air South.  As I painted, this gentleman took a seat on the swing.  It didn’t seem to bother him that I was looking his way.  I took a photo of him to use as a reference later.

The end result that day was disastrous.  I was ready to wipe the oil paints off.  But the artists with me encouraged me to leave it and look at it later.  The gentleman came over to see if he was painted into the scene.  He was not especially impressed…and neither was I.

The next afternoon I got busy painting sky and water and thought no more about the panel tucked into my wet canvas carrier in the car.

The third day, I sat in James Richards’ two hour session about Abstraction in Landscapes.  I learned so much just watching him paint.  As he started his painting with BIG shapes of dark and light values in random colors, he suggested that we simplify shapes by painting OVER too much detail and bringing it back to an abstracted form.   I remembered the painting of the landscape with the swing and knew what I needed to do to fix it.

As soon as the session was over, I drove my car back to the waterfront.  There was the empty swing, hanging from the curving tree.  I spread red paint over the top portion and yellow on the bottom.  I began defining the abstract shapes of lights and darks and masses were formed.  Reminding myself to stay loose and abstract, the scene developed.

On cue, at 5 p.m., the man came back out with his cup in his hand.  We talked of painting (he thought this one was looking better), of Georgia (he was from Moultrie), of mutual friends, of careers, of life choices, of faith, of retirement and old age.  The time came for me to pack up to get to dinner on time.   I planned to put the swing in later from the photo.

Back in my studio, I added the swing and since I had a photo reference, added my new friend, Mr. Lowery.  It would not have been the same without him there.  After all, it is “his” swing — his seat for sunset.  May he enjoy many more of them!  And I hope he sees this post!

 

Is it Spring Yet?

I’m so glad I live in the South!  Though it’s unseasonably cold this April, I don’t think I could stand it any further north.  And one reason I want springtime weather is that means it’s time to enjoy painting en plein air!

melaniestokesart.com

I recently enjoyed a few days painting on the waterfront of Saint Mary’s, Georgia.  The breeze was enough to keep the sand gnats at bay and the light was wonderful.  It’s always interesting to meet the people who happen by and want to watch.   Thank you to the “random photographer” who happened by and sent me this photo.  I didn’t get her name but maybe she is reading this.

melaniestokesart.com
Gilman Park 9×12
Oil
$80

Here is an updated 16×20 version, painted in the studio.

melaniestokesart.com
Day in the Park
16×20 oil
$225

And one more, painted from my photo taken the same week.  Springtime in St. Mary’s is gorgeous, but remember to take bug spray!

melaniestokesart.com
Christ Episcopal Church, St. Mary’s GA
12×12 Oil
$110

Looking forward to Plein Air South in May!!


 

 

 

The Next Time You Eat Shrimp…

melaniestokesart.com
15×30 Oil

We all love a shrimp dinner!  Summer sun, beaches, coastal vacations and  SHRIMP,  are a delight to me, and probably you, too!

I was on this Florida dock in May, early in the morning, so artists could catch morning light in their paintings.  The boat on the left looked like it had seen better days, half-sunken into the water.  The one on the right is a shrimp boat, with empty nets all rolled up.  The birds flew around it, perhaps attracted by the smell and all the edibles being stirring up in the water.

As I was there to learn about painting, to watch the masters, to listen to their wisdom, I noticed a shrimper walking toward our group.  His truck was parked under the shelter we were using.  His body language looked dejected and tired, his lunch box or tool box weighing him down.  One of the guys in our group was talking to him and later told us what he said.

The shrimper had been out all night, doing what shrimpers do, trying to haul in those pounds and pounds of fresh shrimp that we so eagerly desire.   After a night of hard work, something happened that caused him to have to cut his nets and let the whole catch go.  (I’m not a shrimper so I don’t know the details.)  But I understood enough to realize how difficult his job is, how much he had lost, how dejected he was, all because we love shrimp.  

He probably does not want everyone to stop eating shrimp.  Then he would be totally out of a job!  But, the next time I eat shrimp… I will think of this man, and so many others like him, who live on the coast, smell like fish all night, come into the dock in early morning hours and then have to clean out a boat.  They may go home to a family, beginning their day with good news or bad news, and lay down to sleep during the daylight hours of a beautiful day.

Things aren’t always as picturesque as the image that we see.  That is the story behind this painting.