He Served, 14x11 watercolor painting by Stevie Denny

He Served

14x11 watercolor painting

on 140# Fabriano Artistico paper

I painted this portrait of my dad, George Quinn, from an old black and white photo taken while he was in Italy during WWII. The note on the back of the photo said "San Maria, Italy, Feb. 1945". I searched the Internet for a town named San Maria or Santa Maria, but I couldn't find one. I did find other WWII records about his service, though. He served in the 10th Mountain Division Ski Patrol; and that division was in the Appenine Mountains driving back the Germans from northern Italy. My son just saw this painting over the weekend, and he loves it -- so I'm going to frame it and give it to him. His first-born son is named Quinn, after my dad.

StevieDennyArt.com

Day 12, Project 125 Susanville, CA Barn plein air painting

© 2013 Becky Joy    Susanville, CA Barn      oil      6 inches x 6 inches    

I didn't get out of Lake Tahoe until almost 11:00. (I had to stop by the post office to get something in the mail that was overdue, oops!) Anyway, got my work done and posted my painting from the night before.

I remember Susanville from years ago going through there on the way to Reno from Oregon. I don't know why it has always stuck in my mind, but I do love those old barns and farms. In this barn I got a great shot of an old truck, which is below. I'll have to paint that later.

It was afternoon by the time I got in Susanville. I was struck by the beautiful blues of the mountains. That blue always seems indescribable in paint. It's kind of an ultramarine & colbalt combination. In this painting I placed the light of the sky against the dark of the barn, adding a little yellow and cad red to the white, just a tiny, tiny bit. I very seldom use a pure white in a painting and only sparingly.

Upcoming Workshops:

Hood River, OR  1 day plein air Sept 4, click here for info

Carmel, IN  3 day plein air Sept 24 - 27, click here for info

Tuscany, Italy June 7 - 17, 2014, click here for info

Korkula Island, Croatia  Sept 14 - 23, 2014, click here for info

Talk to you all later,

Becky Joy

workshops