San clemente Pier at Sunset

I use 12" x 12" wrapped canvases and acrylic paints for the subjects of my Painting Parties.

Our selection this time was the San Clemente Pier at Sunset.  I encourage the participants to paint all the way around the edges of their work, to eleminate the cost of framing the paintings after completion. 

Skies, ociean, and shoreline were laid in first, with replicating colors to emphasize the dramatic sunset.   The silhouetted palm trees and pier were sketched in next, as place savers.  These would be detailed later.  We took a little break to let the black acrylic dry...

The acrylics dry fast, so there was no worry about the colors mixing and ruining beautifully finished skies...  Participants were able to paint right over their sketches, without loosing their placements.  The, they could go back in and add the palm fronds, pier details, and any other touch-ups that they wanted.

There was time to answer any question or give advice for next steps.  It was a lovely afternoon.

Although each person was receiving the same instructions, each painting, turned unique.  Beautifully done!

They had so much fun at the San CLemente Pier Painting party, that they wanted to do it again- this time, Sunflowers!

The day was perfect and Erica's beach house was all set for another fine day of painting...

Again we were starting with 12 x 12" canvases.  I had completed a 24 x 24" Oil on Canvas Sunflower, to use as a reference (I had thought to do one for a few years).  We were again goig to ne working with the fast drying acrylic paints.

After making the large flower's midde, off-center.  I had worked out some ways that they could quickly and easily get the petals in place without too much worry or stress over placement.  From there it was a metter of modulating their colors...

The sunflower's center was divided into unequal quadrants,  which later had the seed applied over overtop.  The basecoat helped to make the seed look as if the were on a three-dimensional surface- not just flat.

Time was flying by, as everyone enjoyed the painting and camaraderie.

Success once again!  Sunflowers are like these friends- They bring such joy to one's life!