Imperial Beach Revisited

I've been to Imperial Beach, CA twice.  The condo I rented sits on the edge of the Pacific facing directly west.  It is a place of spectacular sunsets. I photographed them every evening.  I choose these 4 for seascape paintings  to submit to the Marion Art Center's small works show in December.  I'm working on all 4 at once, usually finding time for 2 a day.  They are all within the 12" requirement.  

January 26,  Oil on Board 3" x 12"

January 29, Oil on Board, 12" x 6.5"

January 25, Oil on Board, 7" x 12"

February 1, Oil on Board, 7"x 12"

Chickadees, 2019

Chickadees, 2019, Oil on Board, 10" x 10"

Black-Capped Chickadees are active, acrobatic, curious, social birds.  They perch in all sorts of positions and will even feed upside down.  They are hardly still long enough to photograph.  This painting is a compilation of photos intended to demonstrate their social behavior as well as their amusing antics.  

Baltimore Oriole, Work in Progress

Baltimore Oriole, 2019, Oil on Board, 10"x10"

When composing these paintings, I'm combining 2 photographs, one of the oriole and one of the orange.  That presents problems such as light and shadows.  But mostly, it presents the problem of how the Oriole would perch on the orange.  I really need a simulator.

Baltimore Orioles Redux

Klatch, 2019, Oil on Board, 10"x10"

I finished this painting a few weeks ago and then began the one shown below, which is still a work in progress, as an accompanying piece.  These pieces are a compilation of different bird photos and the orange.  I'm photographing the orange on my mantle to take advantage of the light on the form.  It is reasonable that a half peeled orange would be inside on a surface.  But, unreasonable that two Orioles would be there having a conversation.  Maybe next I'll have a tea cup in a tree.  

Baltimore Oriole in Progress, Oil on Board, 10"x10"

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch, 2019, Oil on Board, 10"x8"

The goldfinch have such interesting body shapes and positions.  Unlike the other birds I photograph, the way they proudly expand the chest or cock the head speaks so much to narration.  The males are in full glory now.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas, 2019, Oil on Board, 10"x10"

I used a variety of photographs to work out this composition.  As such, I'm uncertain that all areas work.  For example, does the leaf in the upper left right sit in front of the leaf below it?  Or do you see the lower leaf as in front and somehow cut off.  I may go back and remove the entire upper leaf because it just seems to distract from the focal point.  

Hydrangeas In Progress

Hydrangeas In Progress, Oil on Board, 10" x 10"

I worry about becoming illustrative.  Does this belong in a garden magazine?  Pushing the realism toward the surrealism or photorealism might solve that (if it is a problem).  Mixing the colors each day brings different results, which works because of the variety of color in the petals.