Category Archives: seascape

Winter Sunset Surprise

Sunsets are tricky. They’re beautiful to watch, but capturing them on paper is a different story.

I was scrolling through my photos references and a sunset picture caught my eye. I liked the dark clouds overhead, the band of yellow orange on the horizon and the dark lake with waves rolling in. But sunsets can be frustrating to paint. The colors you think ought to be there somehow don’t look right on the paper. However, I’d just learned a way of figuring out colors using the eyedropper tool and a color wheel in Photoshop, so I thought I’d try it and see what happened.

The first surprise was the little bit of sky peaking out on the left side of the piece. When I sampled it with the eyedropper tool, the color wheel showed a yellow green. Normally I would put an aqua in there, something more blue than green. The second surprise was the water. It registered as a dark reddish blue. I would have used a blue trending towards yellow there. Hmm. The third surprise was in the heart of the sun. That showed up on the color wheel as a bluish yellow, not a reddish yellow as I would have guessed. All of a sudden, this potential painting was not just another sunset. It was an experiment, and I was eager to see what would develop.

Winter Sunset Surprise time-lapse

I used a warm alcohol wash underpainting–red, orange and yellow–to start with. Then I blocked in whatever caught my eye, without thinking too much about what I was doing or where I would end up. I was careful to use the colors I discovered in the color wheel, however. When I got to the water I went back to my dark red to put in the waves and was very happy with the result. It all meshes together pretty beautifully I think. Sweet!

Marie Marfia, Winter Sunset Surprise, soft pastel on sanded paper, 8x10". — Winter Sunset Surprise, soft pastel on sanded paper with warm underpainting, 8×10″. $800.

On another subject, what do you think about a pastel class that is all about sunsets? Should we all paint the same sunset? Or each do a different one? Is a 3-hour class long enough to finish or should it be more than one session? Leave your comments and let me know what you think!

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Latest daily paintings

Making an effort to do more daily paintings. Here are a few of the latest time lapses.

Those Clouds Look Interesting, soft pastel on sanded paper, 12×12″.

This one is inspired by a drive back from the Ludington State Park where we’d dropped off our camper for some friends of ours to use. I said something like, “Those clouds look interesting,” and Steve promptly pulled over so I could get some pictures. Next day I pulled them up on my computer and made a painting.

Old Bent Gate study, soft pastel on sanded paper, 5×7″.

I based this on a scene right outside my door, practically. Along the ditch that forms a boundary on our property is one of those metal gates that don’t really block anything. It’s a little bent and sort of just hangs there, unconnected to anything. I noticed how the sun was lighting up the bracken behind it, and the dark trees just behind the bracken. Honestly, the golden morning light fascinates me. Anyway, I took a picture of this scene to paint later. I’m glad I did, because yesterday when I walked past it again with the dogs, all the color had vanished, leaving drab browns in its place. Lesson to me: if something makes you look twice, take the picture! It’ll never be like that again.

Between the Dunes study, soft pastel on sanded paper, 5×7″.

One of the last times Steve and I went to the beach for a swim this year, I took pictures of the space between the dunes. This painting is all about the low hills just behind the beach and then the higher, older dunes beyond that. I love the grass, the way the wind blows it every which way, the colors of it in the lates sun. I could paint this every day I feel and never get tired of it, never run out of things to say.

Fundraiser is Saturday

I have three small 8×8″ acrylic paintings available to buy in the Ludington Area Center for the Arts center Grab and Go fundraiser. Each is available for purchase starting at 10 am this Saturday, September 4, 2021.

From their newsletter: “…you’re invited to join us on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. for our 2nd annual Grab & Go Fundraiser… The Grab & Go is back this year with the theme of “Grab a Piece of Ludington.” Each 8×8 canvas artwork is available for only $35 on a first come-first serve basis. All proceeds go to LACA, thanks to the time and talent of local artists.”

Artwork will be available for viewing in person Friday, September 3 at 11:00 am.

Here are the three I donated to the cause:

Marie Marfia, Trash Pickin', acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in — Trash Pickin’, acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in

Marie Marfia, Been There Done That Bought the Sweatshirt, acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in. — Been There, Done That, Bought the Sweatshirt, acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in.

Marie Marfia, Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in. — Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, acrylic on canvas, 8 in x 8 in.

And here’s a timelapse of the second pass on “Morning Sam, Morning Ralph.”

Time lapse of the second pass on “Morning Sam, Morning Ralph.”

I tried to fulfill the requirements implied for a fundraiser with the theme of “Grab a Piece of Ludington,” without being too traditional. I played around with the naming and/or the composition for all three. I wanted Ludington landmarks but I wanted humor in there somewhere, because that’s just who I am. I like to laugh. A lot. Sometimes I’m the only one who gets the joke, but that’s okay, too.

Trash Pickin’ is all about the seagulls. I relate to them because I’m a trash picker, too. Ever hopeful that what I bring home from a thrift store or estate or yard sale is going to be useful for a future project, that’s me. I may end up throwing it right back out again in six months, but in the moment I am optimistic as hell.

Been There, Done That, Bought the Sweatshirt reminds me of a time when I and some fellow Rotarians brought visitors from Thailand to the Big Sable Point lighthouse and they asked whether the prices of the sweatshirts in the gift shop were reasonable. I opened my big mouth and told them, “If you want clothing that says “Ludington” on it, Goodwill has a lot of it and it’s a whole lot cheaper.” I understand that shortly after their thrift store experience the group learned about garage sales next and then insisted on stopping at every one of them on their way up to visit the Traverse City Rotary Club. A good time was had by all, and they got some really good deals to take home from their visit besides. A win-win.

For Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, I was nearly done with it when I realized the juxtaposition of the carferry and the barge in the composition reminded me of a Looney Tunes cartoon about Sam the Sheepdog and Ralph the Coyote. Remember them? How they punched in and out of a time clock before getting on with their daily work routines, Ralph trying to steal a sheep, and Sam trying to deter Ralph from a life of crime? Do they make cartoons like that anymore? Should they? Who’s they, anyhow?

Here’s all of the art available:

I got a picture of all 72 canvases (holy cow!) at the Member Show opening last night. Can you find my three?

You have to go in person to purchase, or possibly you could call LACA 231-845-2787 and tell them over the phone which canvases you’d like. But best to be safe and get yours in person. There might be a scrum! Wouldn’t that be cool?

UPDATE: All three of my small paintings have sold! Thanks to whoever it was that helped raise money for LACA. I appreciate your generosity! There are still more pieces available to purchase. Grab a piece of Ludington today!

Grab N Go fundraiser paintings for purchase — Grab N Go fundraiser paintings still available for purchase

My hat squared

I had to try this one again, but this time I decided to make it a square painting. I found a version of the photo reference where her hat was in the air instead of laying on the ground, which I like much better. This is still a work in progress, but I like the direction of it.

And here’s the final. I love spending time with my granddaughter.

Marie Marfia My Hat soft pastel on sanded paper 10x10 — My Hat, soft pastel on sanded paper 10×10. $850.

Ludington Lighthouse, pastel painting of a late fall scene by Marie Marfia

Another painting of the beach in Ludington, Michigan. Love snow fence as an element in a painting! It’s so bright and lively in an otherwise pretty dull colored seascape. Some people don’t care for the red slash but I just love the splash of color!

Time-lapse of Ludington Lighthouse.

Ludington Lighthouse, 7×5″ pastel painting of a late fall beach in Ludington, Michigan. Available $145.

Here are the studies I made of this painting. Each is 3.5×2.5″.

study of the Ludington Lighthouse painting. — Study No. 1.

Study for the Ludington Lighthouse painting. — Study No. 2.

This painting is part of a series I’m doing for the Holiday Artsie Craft Show coming up soon! Read all about it here.

If you’re interested in purchasing this painting, please email me.

Ludington State Park, pastel painting of a lake scene by Marie Marfia

November Clouds, 9×6″ pastel on sanded paper by Marie Marfia, ©2019. Available $200.

Here’s a piece that I just completed today. I have been getting out to see Lake Michigan whenever I can now that I live so close. I hope to have a series of these kinds of paintings, the dunes covered in snow and the sky peaking through the clouds, by next spring.

Here’s the time-lapse:

Here are the three small studies (4.5×3″) that I did before I started on the final.

This painting is part of a series I’m doing for the Holiday Artsie Craft Show coming up soon! Read all about it here.

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Rainy Day

Lately, I’ve been driving out to the state park in the mornings before I settle in at the office. Today it was raining but I just parked in front of some dunes, rolled down the passenger side window and zenned right out.

Late Winter Sunset, pastel painting of a sunset on the beach in winter time

pastel painting of a lake Michigan sunset during winter. — Late Winter Sunset, soft pastel on paper, 6×8″.

Sunsets in winter time are so full of drama! Dark clouds! Orange and yellow reflections! So pretty. I love it here.

This painting was for sale on ebay. When you bid on this painting you’re helping me contribute to AFFEW, a local environmental organization. Thanks for your support!

Winter Dune Path

This scene if from a recent walk along the dunes in wintertime. I love the Ludington State Park!

This painting was for sale on ebay. When you bid on this painting you’re helping me contribute to AFFEW, a local environmental organization. Thanks for your support!

Winter Path to an Inland Sea, pastel painting of a path through the dunes to Lake Michigan

pastel painting of dune grass and snow in the winter time — Winter Dune Path, soft pastel on paper, 9×6″.

This painting is from a walk along the beach in the middle of Michigan winter. I love this time of year because there is so much drama. It’s a beautiful time to visit the beach!