This year has been a struggle for me as I live my artist’s life with ongoing depression and rising anxiety. Some might say I’m just another “tortured” artist, but it has taken me 20+ years to become accustomed to what “normal” feels like for me. And how I feel has changed alot this year for me.
So, as I work to get back to my own normal, one of my trusty therapies is my painting process. And besides trees, the sea and sky is one of my most favorite subjects. Painting the expansive sea and the ever-changing sky along with a nice, crisp horizon line holding them together almost always calms my nerves.
See what you think (and feel) with my latest sea and sky painting below. It’s titled No. 6 but is the only larger sea and sky painting to date that I’ve completely finished and mounted on panel. Click the painting or the link below to view it on my website.
Sure wish we were there in No. 6, don’t you?
Thanks for looking and for supporting my art!
“Oregon Coast Sea and Sky No. 6”, oil and metallic watercolor on panel, 12 x 12 inches, $400 (available on my website).
For the last several months I’ve become increasingly uncomfortable with this Fossils painting still hanging around my studio. So, I’ve decided that I will schedule this painting for destruction-by-saw on May 15th, 2014 UNLESS someone saves it first by naming your best price.
I know that was a rather abrupt announcement, so let me briefly try to explain what’s going on here. Over my 13-year art career, I’ve destroyed very few of my original paintings. It’s not that I’m so good that nearly every original I’ve painted is perfect, but I’m a sentimental and nostalgic guy at heart and like to hang on. And maybe someday I’ll do something with the pile of paintings I have in storage that have never been seen by anyone.
“Fossils No. 2″, watercolor on paper mounted on canvas, 36 x 36”, Regular Price $1,600.
“Fossils No. 2” is an exception that has become rather glaring over the last several months. I really like this painting – one of the largest of my Fossils Series that I ever painted. It has many great “fossil” shapes that I created with the polished Oregon beach stones that I used. And, tons of glowing gold and copper metallics in with the purples and reds.
The feeling I have with Fossils No. 2 is like a bubble inside that just wants this painting to finally be free from me. To escape the captivity it has endured for years in my studio or locked away in storage. I saw only two solutions: destruction-by-saw or someone will save it by naming your best price to purchase it. So, if you’d love to have this painting, comment here or email me before the destruction date of May 15th, 2014!
“Fossils No. 2” – scheduled for destruction on May 15th, 2014 UNLESS someone saves it!
I’m excited to announce my upcoming 2012 Winter Painting Sojourn on the Oregon Coast, January 10 – February 7, 2012!
I can’t wait to stay in my usual spot in the tiny town of Oceanside, Oregon and get my fill of inspiration from the mighty Pacific, the lush and rugged coastline, wicked winter storms and the ever-present horizonline. In fact, let’s make that “HorizonLine”, and use it for the name of my latest series of paintings that I’ll be painting while on the coast.
As in past years, this is where you come in… I’ll be pre-selling a limited number of my new HorizonLine paintings to everyone before I head to the coast. With a color of your choosing, I’ll then paint your original 12 x 12″ painting during my sojourn, whilst I soak up all that inspires me there. Comment here or email me to order yours – I can only paint a limited number! Here are the details:
HorizonLine Paintings (Winter Sojourn, 2012)
Special Sojourn Price: $150 (regularly, $275)
Description: Each painting will be inspired by a color of your choice in my new HorizonLine style. Original paintings are watercolor on paper, mounted on gallery-wrapped, stretched canvas. Canvas edges will be finished with acrylic paint and ready to hang with a clean, frameless look. Each painting will be a finished size of 12 x 12 inches and protected with a final varnish with a UV filter. Finished paintings will be available for pick-up at a special studio exhibit on First Friday, March 2, 2012 (paintings can also be shipped for $15/each). I guarantee that you’ll love it, or I’ll return your payment!
This sunset is the inspiration for my current sunset elementals paintings… and includes pretty all of the range of Daniel Smith Quinacridone colors that I brought with me. From Coral and Pink to Deep Red!
Yep, it is “nice” and sunny here on the coast today… I’m making some good progress on two sunset elemental paintings. The larger one is reds, oranges, greens and purples (and is for C. A., if you’re watching!). The smaller is for R. R. and will be similar with some good metallic highlights.
My art painting table and the ocean and rain outside my windows.
I’m getting all settled and have started painting flapjack back washes and a large Helium Autumn Trees for my good artist friend Kathy Beekman. And getting alot of the water that I wanted: ocean, storm, rain, puddles… I’m happy!
View from the Oceanside Beach, just a 5 minute walk from my painting "perch"!
Two weeks from today I’ll be on my way to the Oregon Coast! I thought I’d provide an update on my Shareholder event, especially for those folks who haven’t reserved your own shares yet.
As of today, I’ve sold 56 shares out of 100! Thank you to everyone who has participated so far – you’ll have fun sharing in my inspiration and anticipating receiving your exclusive framed flapjack that I’ll paint on the coast.
If you haven’t yet contacted me to reserve your shares, email me now, or leave a comment on this post and I’ll get in touch with you! For just $40/share, I guarantee you’ll have some fun sharing in my inspirational sojourn and anticipating getting your own painting from my trip.
If you’re reading about my Shareholder program for the first time, here’s a complete description:
I’m busy planning my sixth annual Winter Painting Sojourn to the stormy Oregon Coast and would like to invite you to be part of it!
This year I’m offering 100 “shares” in my inspirational sojourn at $40/share. As a Shareholder, you’ll receive one of my exclusive, oversized flapjack paintings that I’ll create for you while I’m on the coast (a $75 value). I’ll be painting on the coast from January 19th – February 16th, 2011 and will work with a color of your choice. I’ll then frame your flapjack in a 6 by 6 inch Nielson frame and include it in my special open studio exhibit on First Friday, March 4th, 2011. You’re welcome to pick up your flapjack at that time, or for $5 extra, I’ll ship it to you after March 4th.
If you’re looking for a gift – this is an excellent idea, and I’d be happy to provide you with a special gift certificate for the recipient. Of course I’ll be blogging about my sojourn this winter, so you and your gift recipient can follow along and share in my experiences and inspirations and anticipate receiving your flapjack in March!
So, buy your share now! Email me or comment here with your number of shares and your color(s) and I’ll be in touch with more details.
Oceanside is a tiny town perched on a rugged hillside overlooking Three Arch Rocks and the Pacific. It’s a rather quiet, sleepy place in the winter… just one coffee shop and a part-time restaurant are open. I need to travel about 6 miles on a winding coastal road to get to Tillamook for grocery shopping, the library and the world-famous Tillamook Cheese Factory.
Pretty much directly west of Portland, I’ve found Oceanside to be the perfect refuge for my sojourn. I hope you’ll share in my inspiration by becoming a Shareholder and get your exclusive flapjack that I’ll paint while I’m on the coast!
Oceanside, Oregon (in the yellow shaded circle)... my winter sojourn spot!
Working with curves was one of my big goals while in Oregon… here are two large paintings that I created for one of my special commission clients. I’m loving the stripe elementals, squares and curves together and the overall shapes I achieved!
I’m back in Denver and am getting unpacked and settled again. Here’s a snapshot of one of my last paintings to pack up in Oregon – I nearly had to wait until the last minute to pull up the large rock since it took so long to dry (about 5 days)!
The last fossils rock still drying in the sun the day before I returned to Denver...
My rental condo is only a few miles from Tillamook, OR which is home to one of the largest (and yummiest) cheese makers in the USA. I planned to post my Tillamook Cheddar Baked mac-n-cheese recipe today, but forgot to bring my recipe notes with me to the library (where I can access the internet).
So, here’s more blue sky while you wait for my recipe. This snapshot is from Monday… it has been raining ever since. Check back soon for my recipe!
Beautiful view of the Pacific... while you await my Tillamook Cheddar mac-n-cheese recipe!
I’m on my painting sojourn for 2 more weeks… and would love to create more flapjacks for folks. Just comment or email me with a color or two and I’ll get to work! I’ll then contact you for payment and shipping info. Each flapjack is $20 or 3 for $50 (shipping/tax included). But, only while I’m still on the coast, through 2/10/2010!
Some of my Oregon Coast Flapjacks, about 4 x 4 inches, $20 each or 3 for $50.
The “rock hunting” is really good here on this part of the coast… actually, there are so many that I spent over 2 hours looking before the tide came in to make sure I got the best ones. These are what I originally used to start my “fossils” series and will be painting some this weekend!
Well, I’ve certainly been getting a big dose of what I wanted here on the Oregon Coast! Lots of rain and wind has kept me mostly in and painting… love it!
David Castle Art 