This is a pastel painting I did as a demo during the Landscape/Still Life class I teach at the Pasco Art Center. I'd previously done an oil sketch in plein air at the site. This little pond is actually behind a parking lot in the Trinity area. I like the colorful reflections in the pond and on the foreground tree.
from a
If you're longing for summer at this cold time of year, why not pick out a couple of beach paintings to hold you over til then? Two for $100, shipping and handling included. No need to frame -- these have a very wide edge that is painted too. Wired and ready to go. Thanks for visiting!
I saw these two sand hill cranes strolling the PHCC campus one day and luckily - for once - had my camera with me. The sand hill cranes are not afraid of people it seems, and they calmly walk around, usually in pairs and sometimes with a couple of chicks. I painted this in pastel recently. 
I paint with watercolors all the time but rarely post the images here. Here's one I just finished. I was playing with different textures when I painted this. I like the way the birds are looking in opposite directions. 
. In the heat of the moment (literally and figuratively), and after a couple of hours of observing the subject intensely, it's often hard for me to see whether I've said what I wanted to with the painting. Of course the trick is knowing when to stop -- I've ruined very many pieces by adding "just this one more thing!"
this month.
We have to find places near the water during the summer months because of the heat. Last Friday was delightful - there was a steady cool breeze coming off the Gulf that kept the 90+ temperature bearable. This is one of our favorite places to eat after a morning of plein air painting - Miss Vicky's on the River - the food is great and you can't beat the location!
Here's a little plein air of a path in Port Richey Waterfront Park, which is a few blocks from where I live. I just finished it recently. I'm going to try to get a few things posted to catch up a bit with this blog. I love to paint and just want to spend my time doing that! I'm always way behind with the photographing and posting of my work. Palmy Day, 5x7, Oil
Our plein air group painted at this farm/ranch for a few weeks during strawberry season and then were asked back for a day event during blueberry season. It's a "pick your own" operation and the fruit is top quality - very nice ranch owners who appreciate art also! The JG Ranch is located near Brooksville FL. and well worth checking out during harvest times. I painted this on the road that leads into the farming area and it turned out to be one of my favorite paintings yet. I think it's even more colorful and lush than my camera seems to be able to pick up. 
Our plein air group has been painting this month along Bayou Drive - a favorite location in Hernando County. I painted this from the side of the road. It's great when I can pull over the car and paint right out of the back of it. I fantasize about being one of those artists that travels around the country in an RV, just going wherever and painting every day. On second thought, I think I'm more the clean room in a hotel with room service kind of traveller. Wait - it's a fantasy - ok I'm back in the RV meandering the back roads with my dogs and a couple of good friends. 
A pastel painting of one of my favorite views in Phillipe Park, Safety Harbor FL. My plein air group went there several months back. I only recently completed this painting and entered it into the Pastel Society of Tampa Bay's juried show, "Possiblities in Pastel IV". This show was juried and judged by Doug Dawson, who spoke briefly at the Opening on Friday evening. He said he makes his decisions based simply on whether he likes a painting. Yes, art appreciation is very subjective isn't it?! If you like this painting, you can purchase it for $250 by contacting me at jennastarfriedman@gmail.com. Thanks for visiting my blog.
This scene is along the south end of the beach at Howard Park a couple of months ago. It was painted mostly plein air but I didn't finish it up until recently in the studio. I had some fun with the colors and values and now I like the atmospheric feel of it. This painting is currently in the S&M exhibit at the Dunedin Fine Art Center.
I set up this still-life and painted it as a demo for my Soft Pastels class at the Pasco Art Center. I love the Art Center - it's in an old cracker-style house behind the Centennial Library in Holiday FL. I've been teaching there for a little over a year now and will doing demos there tomorrow (Sat. Feb. 19) during the open house and reception for the current exhibit. This place is a little haven for the arts and has various classes, a gallery and a really cool gift shop. Come on over and check it out tomorrow - or any time! Visit their website for current information and directions: www.pascoart.org --------------------------------
I painted this little piece a few months ago along Howard Beach in Tarpon Springs. I've been very lax about photographing my work - and posting it to the blog - but am resolved to get on top of this. So today I photographed many recent paintings and plan to start getting them posted regularly. 
I started this plein air painting on a toned canvas, which greatly sped up the process. I tried to think of each stroke as I put it down and wanted to keep it loose and spare. This is a view across the Anclote River with Tarpon Springs houses on the other shore. January 21st 9:30 am May Stringer Historical Museum in beautiful historic downtown Brooksville. Located at 601 Museum Court one block north of the intersection of Jefferson (US 50/98) and Broad (US41). Restrooms will be available at a nearby business since the museum doesn’t open until noon. Plan to stay the afternoon and visit downtown Brooksville. Lunch at Mallie Kyla’s recommended.
January 28th 9:30 am Southern Hills Plantation is a master-planned community in the rolling hills of Brooksville, Florida. The unique terrain makes this a special place. Experience Old Florida living, where southern charm and peaceful days are surpassed only by the allure of nature’s canvas with hilltop vistas unseen by many in Florida, not to mention golf course views. Club House is plantation style architecture. This is a private development and
Directions: From US 19 or the Suncoast Parkway take Spring Hill Drive East to US 41. Take US 41 North (left) about 3 miles. Entrance to Southern Hills is on the right. Continue on entrance road. At gate tell guard that you are going to the clubhouse. Continue straight to the top of the hill to the clubhouse.
Restrooms and lunch will be available in the clubhouse.
Plein air painting of a palm tree near the Pinellas Trail in Dunedin FL. I wanted to keep my brush strokes loose and energetic while I was painting this. It was a little windy that day and the palm fronds seemed to be playing with the wind. 
I painted this still-life as a demonstation for my Pastel Painting class at the Pasco Arts Center. The Center is in a really neat old cracker house in Holiday FL right behind the Centennial Library. The classes are held in what used to be the upstairs bedrooms of the house. Downstairs is a gallery and gift shop space, and in the basement is the pottery studio. It's got a nice artsy charm. Here's the website if you want to check it out: www.pascoart.org
And here's another painting from Honeymoon Island. I like the simplicity of this composition and I also like the tropical colors in the water and the shadows. These colors are really there, to my eyes anyway. My plein air group will be painting here for a few more weeks. It's a great location for these steamy months because we get in the water and take little swims to cool off between painting and lunch. I know how lucky I am to live so close to this paradise. 
Another view from Honeymoon Island, this was painted on the beach near the North parking area. It's so hot at this time of year but we cooled off by taking frequent dips in the water. Yes, the water really has these beautiful shades of blue, turquoise and green, and changes color depending on the weather conditions. And we are so lucky that the horrendous oil leak catastrophe has not reached these waters. I do not take that for granted. While I'm so happy to have clean and clear water here, I am very saddened at what has happened to other areas of the Gulf. 
My plein air group has been painting at Honeymoon Island for the last several weeks and this is a shady spot on a little path near the beach. Looking out across the water, you can see the city of Clearwater in the distance. I love this spot and will probably paint there again. 
Palm trees line the inner banks of the Pithlaschacotee River (more commonly known as the Cotee River), which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This is a large Impressionistic painting that I created from field studies and photos of a day in the James Grey Nature Preserve. 
