Stories Around the Campfire

I don't know about you, but I can't wait until winter is over! (If there was even a winter here in California) It was more like perpetual fall minus the rain. I'm not complaining though because I absolutely don't like the cold :)

One of the things I regret not doing last summer was going camping! So that is a must-do for this coming summer! It's such a shame because I live relatively close to Yosemite National Park so I really have to take advantage of that.

I was real excited to get home last night and start painting. My painting was inspired by a picture of a campfire scene I saw online a few days ago and I couldn't wait to get started. This is the first time I was basing a painting on a picture so I was kind of nervous since I had to use my best judgement.

My canvas wasn't too long so I couldn't really capture the whole starry night scene like in the photograph, but I'm still very happy with the outcome :) I had a hard time with the night time sky color...it took me awhile to get that tinge of blue and lightness. I feel like I'm learning more and more each time though! I used techniques from the tree branch tutorial and techniques that I've read online and in books. Which reminds me! I ordered 4 books on acrylic painting on Amazon yesterday, so excited! I'll write and review them in future posts :) I hope they really help me in this painting adventure.

Anyways, here's my 6th painting entitled Stories Around the Campfire :)

Painting Inspired by Philippine Waters

A quickie fact about myself: I lived in the Philippines for 9 years :) As I was stumbling around YouTube for tutorials and random inspirations I came across a video that taught the basics to drawing palm trees. I suddenly felt a pang of longing for the islands that hold so much meaning to me. I basically grew up with an audience of coconut palm trees surrounding me. I can still remember looking out my window at the swaying of seemingly weak trees only to find they had survived over and over the greetings of typhoons. For my 3rd painting it was great to feel that sudden urge to paint out of true inspiration!

I named this painting Sangley Point. Sangley Point is a coastal naval base in the Philippines where a lot of my high school friends lived.

There were plenty of weekends spent there for dance practices, random get togethers, and just hanging around the sea wall. The smell of the sea is so distinctive...fishy but fresh! Manila bay is not known for its cleanliness, but all is forgiven when you're standing by the edge, and the constant hit of the wind along with the sound of water splashing violently on the rocks drowns out all the worries around you.

I wasn't able to take any progress shots because I was too into it! :) Painting this allowed me to familiarize myself with the brushes which was great! Learning to distinguish the brushes that make thick and fine lines really helps. I'm starting to have favorites in my beginner brush collection :) so that's a good sign.