"American Pie - Lobster Boat" 6"W x 6"H, oil on linen over panel. $100, without frame.  $140 with a gorgeous dark wood wide edge frame.   I discovered this boat when it was on a dry dock, uplifted in the boat yard a few months ago. I saw that the former name was being whited out and a new name was about to go on. The next time I saw the boat, the new owner was looking at the new paint job. I asked him why the name change and he said he bought it in a bankruptcy sale and since the boat already had bad luck, he didn`t think a new name would jinx it. He said a song kept playing over in his head on the way back east, you guessed it, "Bye, bye, Miss American Pie" He shortened it and I love it. The third time I discovered the boat, it was in a slip in the Dana Point Harbor. I was excited to see it again, drove home and got my easel and paints to come back. Like the song, I could not get this boat out of my mind and was glad for the chance to be able to paint a small workstudy like this.
Which brings to mind a quote I created this day:
"It's not the song you sing, it`s the voice you deliver it in."
By saying this, I am referring to the image that the artist uses to produce a painting must carry the artist`s style or maker`s mark. It is their unique way of expression. I have developed my unique style over the years and it's only going to get better with each painting.

Here are the pictures of where I painted this in the harbor slip. 
The image above shows how I began by placing in larger color-value shapes.  I had this name tag from competing in other plein air contests, so I used it to identify myself to the many pedestrians strolling by.  It also helped when I had to run to the bathroom, I left it hanging there. 



I had to work fast to fill in the little 6" x 6" canvas before the water colors changed and the shadows and highlights on the boat shifted. 


Here it is at the end, the light became very strong and it helped that I got down my shadows and reflections early one in the correct hue/value.  All I had to do was add details, then take it home to add a tad bit more to the background trees and windows in the boat.  I didn't fuss with it, I wanted a very fresh, loose, happy work of art.  It sings it`s own happy song.

I am the assistant director this year of SOCALPAPA`S Back Bay Show & Sale at the Muth Interpretive Center in Newport`s Back Bay. The show dates are July 24-25, 2010. There will be both a juried art show with the opening reception on July 23rd and an outdoor art sale on the 24th-25th. More info will be coming soon. This is going to be a big, important show! Mark your calendars! I will be there!

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