Thursday, December 11, 2014

Some recent Sketches

Last night I was at Starbucks sketching with my sketch club... We got into a discussion about where we could find a good Christmas tree lot to sketch.  Several of us had been looking but struck out.  Today I found the perfect tree lot.  Here's that sketch and the two from last night at Starbucks.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Cape May show

Folks, this month I am showing in Cape May with my friend Val.  I will be hanging 20 paintings done ( or tweaked) this year.  There are studio pieces, plein air pieces and some of my watercolor & ink pieces. It will be hanging until January 5th so if you can't make the reception, they will be there the entire month.  Cape May has some shopping and some nice events this time of year, check out Congress hall while you are there.


Friday, October 31, 2014

Friday, October 17, 2014

Autumn Floral

Last weekend, my friend Valerie and I, set up a booth at the Annual West Cape May Lima Bean Festival.  Across from us was a booth that sold floral arrangements.  I bought one and loved it so much that I had to captivate it for posterity....

Monday, October 6, 2014

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Recent sketches and studies

Last evening's sketch with the Patchogue sketch and a sailboat nocturnal study.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Sunflowers and old trucks

This was painted 2 weeks ago while standing on the side of the road, near this beautiful field of sunflowers.  

It was warm out so I stood under a tree.   It was a great day, great late summer light.  Hard to believe it's the end of August.

This painting has been sold.



Chincoteague Plein Air event

Last week, hubby and I trekked down to the Virginia Eastern Shore for the Annual plein air event on Chincoteague Island.  The weather bounced from being hot and humid, to rainy/gloomy, to cool and damp.  Each day brought different painting conditions.  Despite the weather, I was able to paint 6 paintings.

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos.
For some reason, we forgot to photograph all the paintings before we framed them.
This one is a house/shop on Ridge Rd. 6x9 pastel "Patchwork"

This one is a landmark across the way from the colorful house.  "Viking" 6x9 pastel.  SOLD

My friend and I challenged ourselves to paint a nocturne.  We were up past midnight at Memorial Park painting the moon.  This is "Just Before the Witching Hour" 9x12 pastel on black Fabriano paper

This is a painting of the "Purple Pony" 8x10 pastel.  It was difficult to take the photos once they were hung at the show, not a great photo but you get the idea.

"Jack" 5x7 watercolor & ink.  Jack is a sea gull that lives by the Fairfield Inn/Jack Spot Restaurant.  He is spoiled by the folks that go there.  I had to follow Jack around the restaurant in order to do this portrait of him.  SOLD

"Puddle Ducks & Friend" 6x9 pastel Chincoteague has ducks everywhere.  I painted this behind the Catholic Church.  They all came running over to me as I was setting up my easel.  Unfortunately I had no snacks for them....My son loves ducks so I am giving this painting to him. 

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Paint the Great South Bay Plein Air Event

These two paintings were done during the Paint The Great South Bay Plein Air Event that was held this weekend on the South Shore of Long Island.  They are for sale at the Phoenix Gallery, in Bellport NY.

Egyptian Revival: Pretty in Pink, pastel 6x9

A sweet Treat, pastel, 6x8

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Sketch done in West Cape May

This house is in West Cape May.  Every year the people who live here decorate their house for the summer and I always say I want to stop and paint this house.  I wanted to paint the Victorians, but there were too many people out on bikes and I got frustrated negotiating my way around them, so I headed back and stopped at this house.
Hope you like it!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Etsy Shop now open!

This painting and 6 others have been added to my new Etsy Shop.  More will be added soon!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/GinaLentoStudio


Saturday, June 28, 2014

No sew sketchbook to be shown in the PAC Member Show


This is an accordion type sketchbook that will be on display at the Patchogue Arts Council aka PAC Member Show during the month of July.  
  

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Painting today at the Bellport Garden Tour

Today I participated in the Bellport Garden Tour as one of the artists painting in a garden while folks were doing the tour.  I saw this beautiful variegated willow and I had to paint it.  I am pleased to say this painting sold.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Painting the Pink House in Snow Hill

This morning I watched an amazing video that plopped me right back into my memories of Snow Hill,  where I painted last week for the Paint Snow Hill Event.  It was a video of an artist out and about with his sketchbook and it compared his sketches to his subject, including his dog.

It made me think of the dedication of the artists that paint plein air.  It's not something we can explain, it's an unbridled freedom to be out painting in the open air, in the elements, with the birds, trees, cars passing by, water smacking up on a oyster shell beach, us against whatever Mother Nature deals out.

Many of us can tell you tales and adventures of plein air painting.   When you are out of the studio, stuff happens that you don't always have control over....like the wind.  You can't make it stop, you have to always find ways of managing to deal with whatever obstacles are thrown your way, and keep a sense of humor.  The big thing is to not let Mother Nature throw you from your game, to not let yourself get frustrated.

I am a pastelist and there have been times when disaster happens and a box falls to the ground thanks to a boost from Mother Nature....they aren't like oils, they break into bits and dust if they hit a hard surface.   My friends have expressed awe in my composure the last time it happened, I just told them that hubby says not to let it ruin my day.  But that's part of what painting plein air is about, it's about maintaining your composure, painting by expressing the emotion of the scene in front of you, tuning out the elements so much that you don't feel the cold in your bones.  It's just you, and the painting in front of you, your medium and your subject.


This painting is, simply titled, "Pink House...."  I've lost count how many times I have passed this house over the years of painting in Snow Hill.  Late Friday afternoon,  hubby and I drove through town to find a painting spot.  Since it was cold, windy and overcast, there was no sense in painting down by the water for those glorious sunset paintings.  No sun, LOL.  I went inland for warmth and the wind was a little better.  I saw this house and loved it.  

I like to challenge myself.  To paint a subject I don't normally paint just to prove to myself that I can do it.  But that is the whole challenge and fun of being a plein air painter.  It's all about stepping up to the plate and taking that swing.  I used to coach soccer and we had a saying that you only miss 100% of the shot's you DON'T take.  You don't have a chance of scoring if you don't take a shot.  It's the same with painting.  It's about challenging yourself to take yourself to the next level.   I love solving problems and challenges and this house had challenges for painting in pastel.

I donned my down parka for this little gem, it was darn cold at this point.  I stood out in that cold with a wind that made it feel a lot cooler and I painted this house for the sheer fun of painting this beautiful house.  I had to make some edits because of limitations (the light was getting dimmer), and I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't doing a portrait of this house, I was doing a painting of how the house made me feel about it.

I liked this house because it was pink, it was pretty and it looked happy and though I was cold to the bone, this house made me happy to paint it.   

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Paint Snow Hill Paintings

My Snow Hill paintings for 2014 are on sale and will be on display from 1-4 today in Snow Hill, MD. See www.bishopsstock.com for more info. It was a cold few days of painting but I loved every minute.

This is one of six paintings on display.  You can see the others posted on my Pinterest page.  This one is titled "Bird Condos."

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Paint Snow Hill 2014

Folks, I am on my way to "Paint Snow Hill" in Snow Hill, Maryland. Approximately 70 artists, including myself, participate in this event.  Go to www.bishopsstock.com for more information about the event and the wet paint sale this weekend.  Come on down and see why I love painting the Maryland Eastern Shore.
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