A Flurry of Florida paintings to end the month

David Evans set up a Roadside Snack for one of nature's friends in his version of this Sarasota View.  Remember David's Arizona painting?  It hangs on MY wall right now ;)

David Evans "Roadside Snack"
5x7 Oil on Gessoed Board

New to our Paint OFF this month is Rose Singleton.  Her watercolor submission (below) comes to us virtually from St.Petersburg, FL  

Bay Banyon by Rose Singleton
11x15 Watercolor on 140lb Paper

Sandra Lee John found a classic beach scene from Englewood, FL that makes you want to call the travel agent.

Beach Vacation by Sandra Lee John
8 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas

Chris Favre submitted this from St. Augustine, FL

Fort and Cross from Bridge of Lions
by Chris Favre

Chris Ousley's Head to Flagler Provides Proof

Proof that there is everyday life in paradise.  Here in a scene from St.Augestine Florida that makes it hard to tell if it's a resort or just another day in paradise.  Chris makes me want to go there and find out.  But for now this beautiful painting and its Street View reference will have to satisfy.   VOTE today for your favorite Florida painting.

Head to Flagler by Chris Ousley
9x7 Watercolor on 140 lb paper

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Arizona Artist finds Paradise in Jupiter

Another new (to our contest) artist this month from Arizona, like me!  Beverly Koldon submitted this little island paradise she found via Street View in Jupiter Florida. You can vote for Beverly or any of the others in the January Paint Off until February 5th, 2011. 

Jupiter Paradise by Beverly Koldon
6x6 Acrylic on Canvas

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Classic Florida Street View from New Participant to our Paint Off

Carol DeMumbrum is a new participant to our Street View Paint Off but she's no newcomer to her art.  Already a well know "painting a day" artist, I am so happy that she decided to make Florida one of her paintings this month.  Here is what she found on Rogers Street, titled "Clearwater on my Mind"

Clearwater on my Mind by Carol DeMumbrum
8x10 Oil on Linen

Here's her classic Street View.  Who doesn't want to be there, right now ?

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Miriam Carnell paints Old Time Religion

Old Time Religion by Miriam Carnell
8 x 10 Oil on Canvas Board

From her studio in South Carolina Miriam found St. Paul's Episcopal Church and created her oil painting entitled Old Time Religion.

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Bob Ross Style from South Orange Blossom Trail

Alma Jo Drain, from Florida, paints in Bob Ross Style (also from Florida) from a Street View of a Florida landmark area.  It's the Hat-trick for this month! 

Bird Bath by Alma Jo Drain
16 x 20 Oil on Canvas

Here's her Street View

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La Rua Street, Pensacola Through the eye of an Artist

Obviously this little street in Pensacola has seen better days.  Filled with intrigue however, these little houses caught the eye of Diana Arneson who captured it in Watercolor.

Here's the Street View as seen by the Google truck.

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Rock House Saint Augustine

16x 12 Watercolor by David Sgambellone

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Rickenbacker Causeway Driveby Painting

24x12 Acrylic on Canvas
by Karen

Here is Karen's Street View of the Rickenbacker Causeway.  You can paint from this view or use it as a starting point for your own painting.

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January's Paintings starting to come alive

Not too many entries yet for January, but they are fabulous none the less.  Check them out and VOTE for your favorites.  I'll try and post the Street Views this afternoon.

I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I tried to get off the computer and in the studio.
It didn't work. . . .

The ORIGINAL Paint Out wins a MAM Award

Many people are aware that I did not come up with this idea of using Google(tm) Street View for finding subjects to paint.  If not, I feel compelled to let you know :) Especially now since the ORIGINAL "Virtual Paint Out" was started by Kentucky artist Bill Guffey.  His site has won a Making A Mark award for the original idea.  An idea that I am grateful for.  Congratulations Bill and thanks again for all of the inspiration.  (Bill is a REAL artist.  I just play one on the internet ;)

Like our Street View Paint OFF, the Original Virtual Paint Out site has a challenge location each month and he has a lot of fabulous artists participating.  It's not a contest really, no voting, no prizes, but fabulous art.  They have a Facebook page and he does share the paintings there as well as on the blog.  I wish he'd share the Street View that originated the paintings, but then I know how much work that is.

If you like our contest, I highly suggest you check his out.  His sight is widely read and covered.  If you have a website or blog where you market your art, you could gain some valuable exposure there.

Check out Bill's Paint Out and his original 50 State Series, also done via Google's Street View.  Some great inspiration there.

Carol Schiff of Florida Paints Indian River Drive

8x10 Oil on Canvas by Carol Schiff
Three Palms with Sunrise

Submitted by Resident artist Carol Schiff (of Florida) here's a classic Florida view.  She took the liberty of thinning the trees a bit to provide a tropical island feel.   Here's her Street View Link, we'll name: Indian River Drive

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Maria Milazzo is December's Street View Paint OFF Winner

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Country Road Farmhouse 18 x 24 Oil on Canvas
by Maria Milazzo, 1st Place DECEMBER

Here is the Street View Link that was Maria's reference.

Maria has won the HOLIDAY SIZED prize of a $350 VISA card for her efforts in Iowa over the holidays.  Thanks to everyone who painted, and congratulations to Nicola Dalbenzio who also won a $100 Visa card as the Popular Vote Winner. 

Judges Notes on Maria's painting.

-Her simplistic approach is very refreshing. I love the multiple perspectives and the glowing horzon line of the wheat fields. The home appears quiet yet inviting. I love the Hopperesk style.

-very creative and probably looks great at 18x24.  

- hand's down my favorite. I like her stylistic, imaginative approach.

Here are some comments on the other paintings. 

- Melinda Brown's w/c would be my 2nd choice. The vivid colors and composition work well with the subject.

-David Zimmerman -- . . for his beautiful colors in his landscape, and his treatment of the sky and the clouds.
-Carmen Beecher - did a sweet little painting with good perspective, detail and color.
-Carol Schiff's  - has beautiful brushwork and I like the cool green shadows on the lawn.


Other judges didn't leave comments or asked that I not share comments.  But speaking OF comments, there were MANY (ok well a few, but relative to the size of the contest . . many) comments about the Digital Canvas entry.  Most comments asked "what IS a digital canvas?" To which I answered to the best of my knowledge it is "created with digital paintbrushes in a software program, from a blank page, not a copy of an image"


The digital canvas entry got a conditional vote or two, that in the end worked against the entry because the conditions were that they liked it but if it was created with a computer program, then they couldn't vote for it.

Digital Canvas 4000 x 1800 pixels

by Julian Menet

Here's the Google Street View

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I have tried digital painting, it isn't easy.  One must admit that as an example of this sort of work, Julien's is great!  I did approve of the entry prior to the submission.  We had this conversation and it is my belief that while many others do NOT consider it painting, I think it is just a new medium and so I let it into the contest knowing that MY opinion doesn't matter . . . the fans and judges would decide if they liked it or not.

We can discuss this if you like.  Maybe on FaceBook discussion tab.  Perhaps this sort of painting would be more readily accepted if there were a "video" or step by step look at how it is done.  Starting with a blank page and clicking on "paintbrush" to have it "spray" paint where you want it is not the same as starting with a real paintbrush and a canvas, but it isn't cut/paste art either.  

I will continue to invite artists of all mediums into the contest.  If any submission lacks the integrity to win over the artists in this challenge, then so be it. The art world will speak for itself.   Considering all of the miscommunication taking place lately, the heated rhetoric that is beginning to direct peoples actions toward violence . . . I have a feeling that a group of artists from all walks of life can have genuine communication about differences of opinion and none of us will resort to Heated Rhetoric . . . What do you say? 

December's Finalists ARE Finally here

Here are the FINALISTS in the December Street View Paint OFF where we painted IOWA.  The Grand Prize Winner will be announced tomorrow after the Judges input is compiled.

Melinda Brown - 15 x 8 Watercolor on 140lb paper

Carrnen Beecher - 7x5 Oil on Gessoed Panel

Stephanie Denny 7 x 5 Watercolor on 140lb paper

Carol Schiff - 8x6 Oil on Canvas

Julien Menet - Digital Canvas (4000x 1830 px)

Maria Milazzo - 18x24 Oil on Canvas

David Zimmerman - 10x8 Oil on Canvas

Nicola Dalbenzio - 9x12 Watercolor on 14lb paper

Susan Cacici - 18 x 24 Oil on Canvas

Happy NEW YEAR let's paint Florida

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to go back to work!  I'm NOT.  But I'm going to try anyway.  First order of business is to announce (like the headline) that our new location for January 2011 is the State of Florida.  Which is COLD like the rest of the country right now, but let's pretend like it's summer.  Just like the Google truck found.

Voting in December's paint off (Iowa) is still going on and the finalists will be chosen in 2 more days, then we'll have a winner on the 6th or 7th, once the judges have all weighed in.  So go check out the Current Challenge tab above for a "jumping off" point in Florida, or find one of your own.

AND if you have not already voted for your favorites in December, please take a look now and help us choose a winner.

Spread the JOY. . . Kay