I’ve just spent some time in the studio working on these two plein air paintings that I did on Wednesday during a brief trip to Chincoteague, VA.  For those not familiar with this area, Assateague Island National Seashore is a very large barrier island along the Delmarva Penninsula that separates the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. Chincoteague is both a town and a National Wildlife Refuge that is in Virginia. It’s a favorite get-away for many in the DC area, but it was John’s and my first trip.  We will go back!  We lucked out with a clear, beautiful day the one full day of the trip. But the photos from the first, more muggy day are actually best.  The most beautiful spot is Snow Goose Pond that has a drive around it, only open to cars after 3:00.  John dropped me off with my gear and I spent two happy hours doing these two paintings.  They aren’t great, but I really enjoyed looking at and trying to capture the multitude of color in the marshes, grasses, and distant trees. Of course these pictures lack the many birds and ponies that one sees there.  They may appear is some studio pieces. I tried to focus first on composition and some of my changes today had to do with the composition, adding a little more water in the Marsh painting to open it up, and changing the shape of the trees in the Grasses picture to make them more interesting. I tried to remember the color and change it only to match my memory.  My photos are amazingly dull!  But one woman came by and said “I’ll bet you are having fun with all this color” so it wasn’t must my imagination. Anyway, I was so happy that I’d brought my easel and pastels.  I may try to do a painting this week as I get ready for IAPS.

Chincoteague Marsh, 14 x 11, UART 400

Chincoteague Grasses, 14 x 11, UART 400