Daily Painting

Better

Got a chance to do another and I think it coheres a bit more than the last one.  4"x6", oil on clayboard (immediacy of watercolor or acrylic, depth of oil) with blue ground tone. That is a Mosque at left on the horizon, not sure which one, against the Atlas mountains.

Wrestling with the dark

Whistler I am not but I do give myself credit for trying something that feels impossible to pull off.  I'll keep working at some sort of harmonie du soir of my own.  24"x24", oil on canvas.  A smaller scale would help but for some reason I yearn to make large night paintings right this minute.  (I often work backwards going from big to small rather than the other way around.)  Marrakech.

Medina Rooftops

16"x20", oil on canvas.

Covered Streets of Marrakech

Many of the streets in the Medina of Marrakech are covered to filter the bright sunlight.  16"x20", oil on canvas. 

Archway with painting process

At a few points during the painting process I snapped some pictures.  I am immensely pleased with myself because this feels like a stretch and it is satisfying to be able to put into paint some of what I observed while in Marrakech.  16"x20", oil on canvas.  A sister to the Jemaa el Fnaa at night painting.  (I hope that they will both have many siblings in the near future.)

Jemaa el Fnaa at night

Bit by bit, the creative seizure triggered by the glut of inspiration from our Moroccan Sketchbook trip is loosening its hold.  16"x20", oil on canvas.  This view overlooking the square is from Chez Chegrouni, a restaurant serving memorable tagines.  Here diners write down their order which returns later as the bill.  Such a relief on the first night when my sister and I were tired, overstimulated and starving.  

Sketches

Rooftops in Essaouria near sunset and, for your french lesson, a tree sparrow, "Il est donc plus petit que le Moineau domestique notamment au niveau de la tête. Il est également plus mince".

Oil Painting Workshop in Morocco

Elizabeth and I cooked up yet another Moroccan painting workshop.  In addition to offerning Moroccan Sketchbook April 7-13, 12013 we have an oil painting workshop, Plein Air Painting in Morocco in Marrakech and Essaouria from March 29-April5. This painting represents one of the many splendid rooftop views from the charming Riad in Marrakech that will serve as home base.  

8"x10", oil on panel.  It was a pleasant surprise to get this one done as it's been sitting half started for weeks.  I had given it up for lost until this morning.  I am quite pleased with it now.  A print of this painting is available here.

Koutoubia at Dusk

The first night we were in Marrakech my sister and I had dinner on a terrace overlooking the busy Place Jmaa El Fnaa.  This this little painting (4"x6") of the square is from a photograph I took that night. The Koutoubia Mosque presides over the whole of Marrakech and dates back to the 12th century.

More of the Souks

From the long watercolor block.