1969 Catalina from New Zealand- a Lesson in Perspective

1969 Catalina from New Zealand!
watercolor study 8x10in,  (not for sale)

Today's camper is one of the hardest campers I have ever painted. It's shape, color and a canvas tent that is longer than the trailer caused a huge challenge.

I call today's painting a fail, but a learning experience.

Still I am posting my laboured efforts, just to show you that not every painting works out. And I have to be honest, posting this is a bit humbling, too. And I hope this painting will be a good teaching-lesson for me. I want to get better at what I do, this is why I started painting to paint 30 paintings in 30 days a few years back under the umbrella of artist Leslie Saeta's call to join her.

Let's analyze...!

So what happened  today you might ask? I was trying so hard to capture the immaculate high gloss finish. The muted colors were almost white soft pastel tones. I was trying hard to capture the rounded front windows, the tent-addition and simplify the layout somewhat. There were extra canvas stipes on the awning poles, too that I wasn't sure would read right in the painting. I edited those out.

First, the area rug seemed to fall out from the painting. I didn't see this as I don't have good perspective from the get-go. Then I asked my dear husband and he told me. As I tried to see it and adjust the rug's shape, I saw the pole on the left ended up too long, and as a result the corner of the awning looked to be by that pole.

So I painted the white pole over to fit with the dark open door (you can still see where I patched that pole, haha). At this point, I knew there was no going back, nor going forward. So, here I am posting this camper in hopes to being able to try a second round... but I might take a couple of days with other campers to calm my nerves, haha.

Anyhow, thank you so much for following along and hope to see you tomorrow again!

Sorry my sentences might read jumbled. I'm just too tired and weary now. Time for bed, zzzz.

1969 Shasta Compact 'Penny'

1969 Shasta Compact 'Penny'orig. watercolor 8x10in (matted to fit 11x14in frame)
purchase info here

1969 Shasta Compact 'Penny' is my feature model today. Isn't she cute? I might be biased as I have a little Compact myself. You can see it's painting here.

Actually, I have known about 'Penny' for some time now as she was featured in the very first 'Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine' I received in the mail and her story was so real, her name being Penny as her reno did cost quite a good 'Penny', haha! 

Her proud owner operates now a camper renovation biz, AmericanTravelersRestorations - so if that's what you need for your camper near Hemet, CA, give them a jingle or check out their Instagram!

I am thinking of taking the kids camping next week sometime. Hm, fall is in the air, but the weather has been so warm, almost summery that it might be just too early to quit the camping season for another year. We shall see. My 'Little Wings' certainly is ready, all looking cute in the driveway. I have already looked at a campground that might do the trick.

It is getting late here, so I better call it a day and fold in for the day (if that's a correct expression?)

Anyhow, thanks for your interest and we shall see you tomorrow with another camper painting! Yey Friday!

1963 Winnebago Cab Over

1963 Winnebago Cab Overorig. watercolor, 8x10in, matted to fit 11x14in frame
purchase info here

A 1963 Winnebago Cab Over is our camper of the day today. 

What a beauty! It was pure joy for me to paint it. You know how I love red, vintage red that is on those cute campers and this one here sports it! I kept the composition somewhat simplified as I didn't want to take away from the campers beauty. I think it has still lots of interest already with the striped awning and the accessories around it.

The fall has arrived here and it makes me tired. I see all the work that is waiting around the house to be done before winter and all I want to do is curl up and sleep! 

I'm still catching up from my last weekends away painting and on my courses. With three kids the chores just don't do themselves. Oh well, it'll get done. The chores AND the stuff around the house. 

On a positive note, I picked most of the apples from our tree in the back and they are nice and big this year! I hope to grab a longer ladder tomorrow to climb up and get the upper ones- they are even nicer looking! I can see apple crisp in our near future;-)

Thank you for stopping by and I'll be here with another campie, fresh off my easel;-)

thanks again and enjoy the beautiful fall if you can!

Simone