6 x 8 thumb box

I'm loving my new little Guerrilla Painter's 6 x 8 Thumb Box.  It's so lightweight it's a breeze to carry it to any painting site.  Small but mighty it's as sturdy as my 9 x 12 box.  I added the plate to attach the tripod and the insert to do larger paintings.  Can't wait to try it out on my painting trip to Paris!  Will post the results.
Happy Painting!
Nancy

"The Media is the Message" Manhasset Library Exhibit

"Angel in the Clouds, Central Park", Oil, 10" x 8"

Nancy Wernersbach©2011

3 of my oil paintings will be part of the Manhasset Public Library Art Exhibit: "The Media is the Message". Director Amy Finkston's theme for this show: transparent/opaque--will display the way artists use different mediums to create their personal visions.  Show runs from June 2 through Aug. 3, 2012.  Reception: June 9th from 2 to 4pm.

Manhasset Public Library

30 Onderdonk Rd.

Manhasset, NY 11030

516-627-2300

www.manhassetlibrary.org

"It pays to get postcards of your work, you never know when a picture of your artwork will get around and get you into a show!"

Happy Painting!   Nancy

Oil painting from panorama photo

"Osprey Nest & Egret, Orient Point", Oil, 12" x 24" ©Nancy Wernersbach
Here's the finished painting from the panorama photo in the previous post.  The end result is rarely the same as the photo.  The painting dictates what it needs and here it needed color & interest.  I added the boat from another photo of the same area to make sense of the distant water and the egret on the left to create a circle of interest and keep your eye from flowing out of the painting along with the water.  The colors I boosted from my observations of fall color in past years.  This past year the hurricane really cooked all the foliage with salt water and everything was a burnt brown color.  The hardest part was the marsh grass: the tendency is to paint every blade of grass and I had to keep wiping it out as I got too fussy with it to flatten and soften it so it would go into the distance.  A lot of decisions go into a painting and a lot of work!
Happy Painting!
Nancy

Photoshop Merge for Painting Reference

I print out most photos as reference for my paintings with Snapfish.com--I find it easier to shuffle through them and see possible combinations than staring at the thumbnails on the computer.  I found two photos that fit together naturally of this peaceful marsh scene out near Orient Point on Long Island's north fork.  Rather than getting out the scotch tape, I got up my nerve to try Photoshop (it looks so intimidating with all the buttons and icons!), but I tried the merge function and got a decent looking print out as reference for my new oil painting.  I'm doing this one as a 12" x 24".  I've been playing with my Photoshop Elements program more now and finding ways to correct my photos, so they can work better for me.
Happy Painting (and Photoshopping!)
Nancy

A New Use for Watercolor Pencils

I've had a tough time making a detailed drawing when doing oil paintings: drawing with the brush is just too clumsy for me and messy to correct, pencil drawings are hard to correct and get graphite in the paint, so I decided to try my watercolor pencils to draw on canvas and it worked out great.  It's easy to wipe off with a damp paper towel for corrections, leaves a crisp line and when painting it melts away into the oil painting, so there's no line showing through thin areas.
Happy Painting!
Nancy

"Spring Bluebirds" © Nancy Wernersbach
Watercolor, 14" x 10"

It pays to get the artwork out of the closet and on display wherever you can show your work!  You never know where it might connect with someone.  Just sold this painting at the Mineola Memorial Library.  It's a nice local library that has turned a hallway into a fine gallery space and the staff are receptive to the paintings.  My paintings along with paintings by artist friend Carol Bruder are on  display till Nov. 28th, 2011.  195 Marcellus Rd., Mineola, NY 11501. www.nassaulibrary.org/mineola

Studio East Gallery Exhibit "Women Only": Proceeds for Breast Cancer Awareness

"Summer's End, Orient Marsh" Oil, 9" x 12", Nancy Wernersbach©2011

I'll be taking this new painting out to Studio East Gallery in Greenport for the Oct. show "Women Only" Oct. 8--Nov. 5th, Reception: Sat., Oct. 8, 6 to 9pm.  120 Front St., Greenport, NY 11944. www.studioeastgallery.com.  Proceeds from sales go to Breast Cancer Awareness, "Save the Tatas".

Long Island truly has some beautiful places once you get beyond the endless shopping malls, gas stations, pizza places and banks that seem to create an ugly suburban sprawl.  The East End, and especially the north fork towards Orient Point have magical places where the ocean and land mix and mingle in beautiful tidal marshes.  As the seasons change the colors turn to brilliant red, purples, burgundy, gold and silver green.  Looking forward to getting out there again to take photos as autumn changes the landscape.

Happy Painting!

Nancy