Watching for the Comet in 2013

Here we are at the end of 2012.  NASA says that we may have a great comet viewing year in 2013, especially with Comet ISON.  There may be others during the year as well. 

I will be looking at the night skies.  In order to hail this new bright year, I painted the harbor lights of Charleston, South Carolina.  I figured it was a fitting year end image.  It also signals a new direction for me to explore during 2013 in my painting journey. 

So cheers to the changing of the year.  Happy New Year to all!

And good night Charleston...

Mona Vivar, "Charleston Lights", Acrylic on Canvas

Available on Ebay Vivar Charleston Harbor Bridge Impressionist Night Lights Landscape Painting

Pushed to the Edge of Fiscal Cliff and all I can do is talk about pineapples

My latest daily painting is the Pineapple Fountain in Charleston's Waterfront Park.  Since this week's theme has been Charleston, South Carolina images, I thought the Pineapple Fountain would be appropriate to add to the mix even though it is a new (2005) addition to the city's architecture.  This fountain does indeed resemble a pineapple.  It is part of the lovely view of the Cooper River.  I was happy to learn that in 2007 the park was awarded the Landmark Award for landscape architecture completed between 15 and 50 years ago.

So there's a little bit of knowledge for the day and here's my rendition of the fountain.

Mona Vivar, "Sunny Pineapple Fountain, acrylic on canvas

Available on Ebay at Vivar Pineapple Fountain Charleston South Carolina Impressionist Painting

Senators Work All Weekend, Meanwhile I Dream of Charleston

This week I am continuing my impressionist series of Charleston, South Carolina scenes of lush gardens, historic homes, and beautiful old churches.  I am doing a painting a day to challenge myself.  Then I list them on Ebay.  So, like the senators, I am working away behind the scenes! Enjoy.

 Mona Vivar, First Scots Presbyterian, Acrylic on Canvas

Now available at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivar-First-Scots-Presbyterian-Church-Charleston-Southern-Impressionist-Painting-/130826212620?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1e75d9950c

 

Mona Vivar, Summer in Charleston, Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Showing at Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivar-Historic-Meeting-Street-Fountain-Charleston-Southern-Impressionist-Art-/130826716589?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1e75e145ad

Snow Storms Make Me an Armchair Traveler to Charleston

Forget flying or driving or otherwise traveling in snow storms.  I am cozy in Alabama, but today I wanted to paint one of my top tourist destination cities, Charleston, South Carolina.  I can't resist the historical homes and churches.  So without leaving my studio, I painted Broad Street.  Enjoy!

Mona Vivar, "Broad Street Towards St. Michael's", acrylic on canvas

Now available at Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vivar-Broad-Street-Charleston-South-Carolina-St-Michaels-Impressionist-Art-/130825679083?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item1e75d170eb



Just In Case the Mayan End is Near

This post is more of a wish for all of you as the year winds down and you get caught up in the holiday rush.  Slow down.  Hug a loved one.  Cuddle your favorite pet (or someone else's favorite pet). Breathe in and out s-l-o-w-l-y.  Sit still in a quiet place.

This past weekend I was able to go stroll on the beach and enjoyed a beautiful silver-grey afternoon of scuttling clouds, rolling waves and wheeling gulls.  A few other people were taking in the off-season beach.  There was a sense of serenity.  Everything was right at that moment.  I took some photos to share with you.

I wish for you the peace which goes beyond all understanding

Impressionist Green and Red with Bonnard for Christmas

This week I bravely started painting a large (30 inches by 40 inches) canvas.  The subject is the interior of a quaint bed and breakfast in Carrabelle, Florida where I stayed during one of my many Florida wanderings.  I want to emphasize color and abstraction while keeping the picture recognizable for what it is.  The painting master I selected to help me with this task is Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867 -1947).  Bonnard's paintings are filled with color and often feature interior settings.  As you can in his painting below, he used complementary colors for visual sizzle.  The subject, a basket of fruit, is recognizable, but somehow it is almost flattened against the background.  Colors seem to melt into one another.  Beautiful!

 Pierre Bonnard, Fruit Basket, oil on canvas

 

 

Keeping some of these ideas in mind, I have begun my own complementary color (green and red) painting.  I am keeping the interior and the objects in it almost flattened to the picture plane.  The image below is my first stage which is mainly about object placement and blocking in color.  I am not finished with the piece of course, but am very excited about how it is shaping up.  Be sure to follow my progress in my next post. 

 

Mona Vivar, (unfinished work in progress) Interior with Ceramic Elephant, 30" x 40" 



No Fiscal Cliff Here, Just Cezanne's Landscapes

As the fiscal cliff political wrangling heats up I continue to climb my own mountains at the easel.  The great artist leading the way for me today is Paul Cezanne.  There is nothing like Cezanne's beautiful Mont Sainte Victoire landscapes with their strong brush strokes and deft handling of delicate blues, greens and yellows.  His landscapes shimmer and yet delineate a strong sense of place.

Paul Cezanne, Mont Sainte Victoire Seen from les Lauves

 

I worked some of Cezanne's concepts into my favorite scene at St. Augustine, the Bridge of Lions.  I emphasized brush work, particularly in the sky and used the thematic blue, green and creamy yellow throughout the painting.  I think Cezanne was very helpful with my Florida favorite.

 

Mona Vivar, Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, acrylic on canvas 8" x 10"