"Sister Bay Sail Boats"

 

I have not posted painting images on my blog and FB for a while. I am sorry. This is a small painting I did yesterday. 

Monument Valley 3

 

This is another color scheme study of the Monument Valley.

Plein Air "Off the Grid"

 

I painted plein air at my "off the grid" haven yesterday. I remembered I have talked about my DIY project of building off the grid before. I was inspired by Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" and did this project mainly in 2019. This year, I have added an attached bathroom to the main structure, and built decks in the front. Nine solar panels provide the power so I can turn on lights, run a refrigerator, and the most importantly, drive an AC to beat the super hot Texas summer. I use rainwater for shower and other cleaning, and propane gas for cooking and heating in the winter time. I enjoy very much when I stay there. Now, all of us are going through the Covid 19, and it becomes more significant to know how to live sustainably. 

The weather is perfect. When I was painting, all the details I went through during the construction came alive. It was a good moment. I realize that I can not be only a painter, I must know all the skills to survive. 

"Antiques on ConChu" --- Sold

I went to San Angelo TX and participated the EPAT. This is my first plein air painting. I like the turquoise colors on this antique store.

"Sun Set at Sedona"

When I was painting is one, the rain was on and off. I had to put away my easel back to my car when rain came and re-set it up when the rain stopped. I had been in and out 5 times. It is really test how fast I can put away and pull it out. I could manage to do this in a few minutes.

“Plein Air at Shangli 02"

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This plein air painting was interrupted a few times by the rain. I don't know if it is considered finished or not, but I was really in a rush using the time when the rain was subsided into a drizzle. The scene was a complicated structure, but I was under the pressure, and it is impossible to take care of all the issues I consider necessary to be a painting I like. reality is reality.

I feel the process of this painting just like my life. We have to compromise to all the issues we wish we can take care of, but life is telling us that is the best we can have. Struggling in life is not always a bad thing. Just like this painting, I kind of like it.

"Tuscany in yellow"

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This one is harmonized to yellow.

"Arch Way of Laguna Gloria"

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Painting is always compromised to all other so called "important" priorities, such as doing the taxes, fixing the toilet in the master bedroom, or calling the insurance company to check if they cover the next doctor's visit. Life is such an agony and insignificant stretch of time if we are driven by "priorities". No matter hell or high water, I throw all my gears into my broken backpack, I went to plein air painting today.