Blog
The House at the Edge of the Village
Posted June 17th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Still having our mini heat wave. We’ve been up for hours, working on various outdoor tasks like cutting wayward grape vines. Finally, at 8:30 a.m. I can get started painting, just a little ways from our house, and finish before the sun reaches me on the shady side of the path. I’ve painted this house before; I like the way it sits on the edge of the hill, and I love the blue gate. I’m really happy that someone left it open today.
The House at the Edge of the Village, 16 x 12, Oil on Linen
Set up for painting the House at the Edge of the Village
Katapola Harbor, Summer
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Very, very hot day, but breezy under the tamarisk trees that line the approach to the harbor in Katapola. The two red boats caught my eye, and I was sorry that the trees were so far from the boats, but shade and breeze won out over composition!
Uncategorized |Alain’s Steps
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
“The Sunday Morning After…” a wonderful baptism party we were priviledged to witness. Slept in–no painting this hot morning, so went out at 6:30 in the evening to see the last, golden light hitting the door of this most traditional house in Langada, owned by a Frenchman. This is on the way from our house to Langada’s main square (and parking lot), so I often admire the way the sun hits the old paint, and fervently hope it will not be painted again soon.
Alain's Steps, 16x12, Oil on Linen
Blue and Orange
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
It was a very windy day, and we decided to go to Katapola for a change of scene and, perhaps a break from the wind. Not much luck with the latter, but the back street offered a little shelter and some shade by the side of the church. The trumpet vines by the door of this pension are something I look forward to seeing every summer. They’re still a little sparse now (June), but later there’ll be a smashing profusion of orange.
Blue and Orange 16x12, Oil on Linen
Aegiali Bay d
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Another morning down at the shore. It’s very hot up in the hill village of Langada, where we live, because it’s set into the side of a rocky mountain which just soaks up the heat. Aegiali, our port town, almost always has a nice breeze under the tamarisk trees along the shore, so it’s a favorite painting spot for me in the summer.
Aegiali Bay, 8x16, Oil on Linen
Aegiali Bay, with yacht at anchor
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Of the two ports on Amorgos, Aegiali is visited by fewer yachts. Maybe because the Katapola harbor is so sheltered. Every once in a while, though, a yacht will anchor in the bay itself, not along the quay. This was on Monday following a very nice weekend, and this yacht spent three days in the harbor. There was also a catamaran anchored over towards the quay, not very visible in the painting. Both of the vessels left during the time I was painting, so I’m really glad I got an early start on this morning.
Aegiali Bay II, 8x16, Oil on Linen
Turquoise Tires d
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Still fascinated by the bumpers–these some old tires which have taken on a patina almost like copper. A very sunny, hot, windy day. My umbrella blew over and bent the central pipe! Probably the last painting on the quay till fall, when the sun loses some of its intensity.
Turquoise Tires 12x16, Oil on Linen
Sofie’s View, 12×16, Oil on Linen
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
Decided to try this view again, this time adding more background. The Langada school is right behind me, and I had lots of onlookers during recess.
Sofie's View, 12x16, Oil on Linen
Bumper Reflections
Posted June 16th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No Comments
I love the way the bumpers looked in the water, and wanted to capture the reflections. It was an interesting, kind of tough day to paint because there was alot of wind, and fluffy clouds scudding across the sky in Katapola, Amorgos. This changed the reflections continually, and I wished that I could have painted two canvases at once: one with full sun, and the other with clouds!
Bumper Reflections, 8x16, Oil on Linen
"Bumper Reflections" at Katapola, Amorgos
Timios Stavros
Posted June 17th, 2010 by Sandra Offutt | No CommentsI’m painting late in the evening (starting at quarter after seven or so) because it’s just very hot at any other time of day (except early morning). In this case, I’m not quite where I want to be, but shade and keeping out of the way of possible ferry traffic and fishermen mending nets dictate where to set up. I know I have to work fast; I’ll lose the shadows shortly after 8, but all this does is confuse me, so that I wipe off my drawing and value study five times before getting a real start with the sixth one. Challenging, but a great time to be down at the harbor!
"Timios Stavros," 8 X 16, Oil on Linen