Azaleas 2009

Azaleas 2009 Oil on Linen 20" x 30" by Noel Darvie

For the past several years I have gone to Old Westbury Gardens to paint the Azaleas. It is my favorite subject at the gardens. This year I decided to do a large painting of them. The painting was completed in four hours. This painting was also done with only primary colors. All the greens were mixed. I'm very pleased with this painting. I don't work that large on location that much anymore. I used to many years ago. There was a time when my small size canvas was a 18" x 24". However as my style evolved, I began to work smaller.

Old Westbury Gardens Spring

Old Westbury Spring-Oil on Linen 11" x 14" by Noel Darvie

I always love the return of spring. It lets me get out and recharge my batteries. With the spring flowers in bloom, I head straight for Old Westbury Gardens. What I love about the gardens is that each year the subjects change because they change the flowers from year to year. I'm always challenged with a back lit subject. I think backlighting adds drama to the subject.

Spring has Sprung

Spring is in the air, the weather is getting warmer, and the spring colors are starting to appear. For me spring is a call to action to get out and start painting on location every chance I get. I did these three paintings last weekend and enjoyed every minute of it.

Old Westbury Gardens Guest House, Oil on Linen, 11" x 14", by Noel Darvie

Spring Colors Garden City, Oil on Linen, 12" x 18", by Noel Darvie

Garden City Golf Club #8, Oil on Linen, 12" x 9", by Noel Darvie

Garden City Golf Club

For Birdie at Garden City Golf Club - Oil on Linen 12" x 24" by Noel Darvie

I have done many painting of the golf club. This is number seven. It was a mild day. The wind was blowing up some, but not enouigh to stop me from painting. It's been a long winter, and I didn't get out much to paint. It was good to get out. I need a plein air fix.

Man with Red Shirt

Man with red shirt - Pastel 24" x 18" by Noel darvie

It has been a while since I did a pastel. I did this pastel today at an open studio at the local museum. It is a two hour head study on archival paper.

Catch the melting snow

Garden City Soccer Field Melting Snow O/C 12' x 24 " by Noel Darvie

We had gotten a snow storm two Sundays ago, and the following Saturday I had a change to get out to paint. It was 50 degrees and the snow was melting very quickly. I had to work fast to catch the patterns of snow before they melted. By the time I was finished with the painting, all the snow was gone.

Gloucester Fishing Boat

Gloucester Fishing Boat, oil on canvas, 8" x 12", by Noel Darvie

I've been to Cape Ann on many occasions and painted in rockport and Gloucester. I painted this from an old photo that I took many years ago. I did a painting of this location from life a couple of years ago. The building that is in the above picture had burned down and was repaced by a prefabricated metal structure which doesn't have the same character as the original. Also, the fishing boat above is no longer there. I was told that it nows works out of Maine. It's a shame, because those old beat up buildings and boats make very interesting subjects to paint.

Head Study

Connie, oil on panel, 18" x 14", by Noel Darvie

Though my primary focus is plein air landscapes, I do like to paint from the model. This painting is a 2.5 hour head study from life that I did at an open studio at the local museum near me.

Street Musician # 3

Street Musician # 3 O/C 12" x 8" by Noel Darvie

This is the third in a series of street musicians that I am working on.

Street Musician # 2

Street Musician # 2 Oil on Linen 12" x 8" by Noel Darvie

This is the second painting of the series that I'm doing on Street Musicians

Street Musician

Street Musician - Oil on Linen- 12" x 9" - by Noel Darvie

I have alot of respect for musicians. When I was an art student, one of my classmates husband was a jazz musician, and I would go to the clubs they played in and listen to their music and sketch them. I always found the street musicians interesting subjects. The above painting is of a street musician from Seattle, WA. I used a limited palette of Titanium White, French Ultramarine, Cad Red Light, Transparent Oxide Red, Cadmium Yellow Medium and Cadmium Lemon. This painting is the first in a series of street musician paintings I intend to do.