What's on the Easel

The photo reference for the sand dune painting taken in Falmouth Mass. This area is called the Big Beach and somewhere out there is Martha's Vineyard.

What's on the easel

Working on a sand dune from a photo taken a while back in Falmouth Mass. While visiting friends.

The painting in progress

Painting Inspirations

Sometimes the littlest thing that you see will inspire a painting. I was walking past a shed at my local farm store and I noticed that they replaced the the door on the shed with a new door . It was bright and new raw wood so I took a photo with my Iphone and here's what happened.

Sunset Regatta on Pigeon Cove

Sunsets can be brilliant and can be painted brilliantly ! As in brightly and almost unbelievable colors .How often do we as artists see a sky and think . Wow , I'd love to paint that ! This painting is meant to pair with Sails on Pigeon Cove , these are both only 6x6 studies and are fun to paint and I try to not be specific but use the color and the light to tell my story.

Remembering Helen Van Wyk and Julia Child

🎨Remembering Helen Van Wyk and Julia Child.

Millions recognize Helen Van Wyk as the host of PBS Television's "Welcome to my Studio" which, for many years, was a breath of fresh air on TV for artists who wanted to know more about their craft. Rather than introducing a formula for making paintings, Helen took the time to teach the reasoning behind every brush stroke and its value in reaching the goal of a finished work. I tuned in when she was on to watch her magic. I related to her painting and her casual teaching style. She kept me aquinted to painting as I went back to college while a married mom in the early 70's managing a husband ,children and career while grabbing a moment to paint and cooking with Julia Child . These were my idols  , they said I could still be creative and paint or make soup.

I could keep my love of painting and cooking while getting a degree in nursing .Many years later I learned  how important Helen and Julia would be as they taught me the painting style of Impressionism and the art of French cooking. They sustained me through those years when my life was filled with the fun of young motherhood ,marriage and career building when sometimes I dreamed of a loft full of canvases and the smell of linseed oil and turpentine . I envisioned myself with artists in some studio opening ,admiring avant garde paintings I didn't understand ,but pretended to , sipping a pink Chablis from probably a jug with Carlo Rossi imprinted on it and biting in to those scrumptious little retro canapés that were inspired by Julia.

Today I toast them both with a better wine and and my perfected bites . I'm still painting and cooking with Helen and Julia . Thanks , Ladies.

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting Small

Pastel Painter Cooks by Sandi Graham: Painting Small: I recently purchased a nice pochade box , supplybox/shelf and tripod. I am planning to take it on a field trip . I have researched what supp...

Plein Air in the Park