Spring and Early Summer at Indian Rocks Beach

Three heads are better than one.  

As the days grow longer and hotter we are choosing to spend the early parts of the day painting outdoors.   Each year we paint a triptych.  One panel by each artist.   Because of the sensitive nature of this type of painting, great care is taken.   Along with painting outdoors, we must co-ordinate our time  to this project.

This triptych is one of our favourites. Panel 1, Violetta, Mary Rose & Helen

One of our collectors has one commissioned triptych and her home is decorated around this piece of art.
Our hearts gladden whenever we are invited to their home.

Beach Trail, by Violetta

Often we find a client leans more favourably to either Violetta, Mary Rose's or my paintings and they will collect our work.

Boats at anchor, Mary Rose Holmes

We can think of several clients who own at least one each of our paintings and then commission or purchase a trip-tych.   They feel they have a well rounded collection of our work

Balcony Mornings by Helen Tilston

Coastal Cottages Series 12 continues at SaltRock Grill, Indian Shores.
Indian Rocks Beach Historical Museum exhibition of Plein Aire Cottage Artists continues.

Hope your summer is very special.

Salt Rocks Grill & Plein Aire Cottage Artists -what a combination!!Vi

Violetta & Mary Rose applying finishing strokes

Our feature painting" IRB - No Ordinary Here" is hung at Salt Rock

Coastal Cottages Series 12 opens today    Please click.

Your comments are always welcome

Coastal Cottages Series Twelve Opens at Salt Rock Grill

Violetta, Helen and Mary Rose

Spiritual Estuary,  View from Porch, IRB-No Ordinary Here

Experts and skilled workers hang our show with care and precision

 The hanging committee and skilled experts are in the midst of hanging Coastal Cottages Series 12.     Salt Rock Grill sparkles with light, the view over the intercoastal waterway will take your breath away.  It is a painter's dream.  

 

 

 

  Violetta Chandler, Mary Rose Holmes and Helen Tilston unveil 60 new original oil paintings on February 28th at 6:00 p.m.  at:  Salt Rock Grill,  9325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores  For Reservations Tel.  727.593.7625

The scale and values of Violetta's paintings have been likened to   John Singer Sargent,  Mary Rose's  use of pink and purples and her brushstrokes have been likened to Monet and

 Helen Tilston to the Spanish painter of light  Joaquin Sorolla. (MW)
"Their best paintings ever"  MW

A portion of the proceeds benefit Indian Rocks Beach Action 2000.

Salt Rock Grill owns their own fleet of fishing boats and the selection and freshness is superb.

Executive Chef, Tom Pritchard attracts visitors from all corners of the USA and Canada.

Indian Rocks Beach Florida & Painting, Painting Painting

As winter storms show their strength and muscle here in North America and also Europe we send good wishes for safety to you.

Violetta painting en plein air

 The show must go on and we mean that literally.  As plein air painters  each day brings us new joy and sometimes miniscule weather challenges, such as a gust of wind blowing  our umbrella away or taking one of our hats for a jaunt or the wobbly leg of an easel suddenly deciding to curtsy.

Mary Rose Holmes is sketching

Helen Tilston sketching

A typical lunch, thank you Mary Rose for today's creation.

On days when it is just too overcast or windy our studio becons and larger pieces are painted upon.
 "Coastal Cottages Series Twelve" opens February 28th.

 On my morning walk I spotted these cormorants, they looked like they were saying "there are three of us too"

Cormorants on Indian Rocks Beach

Wishing you all the joy and blessings of 2014

Florida Art Show Planning & Studio Visitors

Conner pays us a visit

Summer time found all three of us travelling extensively:- Hawaii, Baltimore, Tennessee, Miami, Naples, Virginia and Ireland  are some of the places we visited and painted. All three of us are home in Florida and back painting.  January is fast approaching. Our art show  "Coastal Cottages Series X11" will open
Plans are being drawn up.  Paintings are being glazed and receiving magical strokes.

Long time friend and supporter visits

Friends are stopping by the studio to say hello and share a cup of tea.  We work and paint for a few more hours until the shore beckons us.    Tomorrow is another day.

Indian Rocks Beach, Fl....The beach in front of one of our studios

Indian Rocks Beach Historic Museum Re-Opens

Original oil painting of Indian Rocks Beach Historic Museum, gifted to the Museum by Mary Rose Holmes

Indian Rocks Beach's new wing and renovated  Historic Museum is now officially open.
Architects Holmes & Holmes of Indian Shores designed the new wing which links and compliments the existing structure.

The museum is home to exhibits and displays that take guests on a journey from  Indian culture to the days of pioneer settlement and to the modern motel and condo eras.  Museum features include a pictorial timeline, Indian artifacts and a historic cottages exhibit as well as great photos, artifacts and interactive audio devices tied to exhibits bring history alive.

GeorgeAnn Thompson, Donna Valery and Nancy Ayers

 The Museum's gift store offers unique gifts and the original paintings of The Plein Aire Cottage Artists

Artist Mary Rose Holmes and GeorgeAnn Thompson

Plein Aire Cottage Artist:  Violetta Chandler

 INDIAN ROCKS BEACH HISTORIC MUSEUM

 203 4th Ave N, Indian Rocks Bch, FL 33785

Phone:+1 727-593-3861

Summer at Indian Rocks Beach and dancing on the street

"

Violetta, Helen and Mary Rose planning

While temperatures soar, the light is irreristible, the azure ocean calls.  Early morning and early afternoon being our preferred time to paint. The shadows dazzle.

Our client has decided to enjoy the morning.

Time for thinking and feeling the atmosphere of the garden

Violetta has found shade beneath a palm tree and is rapidly capturing light and shadows

Mary Rose strolling along Beach Trail and we can tell by her smile she has found her subject.

Helen is  having a difficult time starting to paint today.  We call this research and information gathering - she eventually get painting and neglected to get a picture.

A client has invited us to her home for afternoon tea. It is always a joy and a huge honour for us to see our paintings hang in a client's home. 

"Indian Rocks Beach is the place to be" by Helen Tilston

"Come by the Sea"a Triptych by the Plein Aire Cottage Artists:  Violetta, Helen and Mary Rose

Our song for today is:  "It's a wonderful, wonderful, life"