The Refuge - Looking East by Julie Riker

12x24 oil

This is another painting that I did from the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge.  This is actually painted from the same location as the previous work I posted, only turned 180 degrees looking the other direction.  This side of the marsh has more water and less solid land.  I painted this in two afternoons, when the sun's direction allowed the most reflections of trees and sky.  Aside from the mosquitoes it was a peaceful place to paint.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

The Refuge - Looking West

 
      This is one of the paintings that I did for the Plein Air Chincoteague event.  This view of the refuge is one that I have wanted to paint on my visits to the island in the past.   It is a view that most visitors to the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge will recognize - almost everyone who stops along the road at this spot to photograph the vast marsh will see the wild ponies grazing in the distance.
   
     I was so fortunate to have some sunny days for this trip.  It was the same week that hurricane Lee was flooding Central PA, but since the storm stayed inland the coast was pretty nice.  There were some interesting cloud formations though - the large sky streak across my painting was, I think, the edge of the storm on the mainland.

 The Refuge - Looking West

12x24 oil

 
     This painting was carefully planned.  I even purchased a larger horizontal format canvas to take with me with this scene in mind.  Since the light changes drastically I worked on this 2 separate mornings and stopped at noon each time.  The painting sold at the Saturday exhibit to a nice couple from New Jersey who I had met on the beach earlier in the week and drove by several times as I was painting this.

     I was thinking I may sometime to do a larger studio version of this painting.

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Painting on Chincoteague Island, VA

     I have just returned from a week of plein air painting on Chincoteague Island, Va.  45 artists participated in painting throughout the week and on Saturday night they held an exhibit/sale of the finished work.  Despite the heavy rains and flooding in Central PA, we were blessed with great weather all week on the coast - even the one day of drizzly mist led to some wonderful atmospheric paintings.  There are so many painting possiblities on both Chincoteague Island and the wildlife refuge on Assateague, from houses and historic sites, boats and marinas, marsh, beach, bay, and ocean.  Such a beautiful place to visit.

 

     This was my display for the Saturday night event.  I was delighted to sell 3 paintings and still have 3 to bring home as souvenirs of this fun week.

     I will be posting on the individual paintings in more detail later...

     If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com

Painting at the McClain Celtic Festival

Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters had a small exhibit of paintings hanging in the Two Mile House this weekend as part of the annual McClain Celtic Festival, and a few of us painted during the event.  I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to do a small study of this reenactor's tent.

I have mixed feelings about painting at these events.  I never feel like I can focus on my painting and am usually unhappy with my results. On the other hand, I enjoy the comments of people stopping to watch the process - the children are especially interested in quietly watching me paint. With live fiddle music and folk singing in the air, there is a joyful spirit that is just fun to be a part of.

And who doesn't love a guy in a kilt?

 

 

If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website www.julieriker.com