Saturday, January 3, 2009

From Chain Bridge

9.5 x 9.5 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.plus tax and shipping

It's a good thing I move like a squirrel, quick and flexible, because in order to paint this one I had to climb onto a ledge underneath Chain Bridge. The Potomac River is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth and I am always looking for a new view and returning to my favorite old views. I do not think I will ever tire of it. To make the illusion of great distance on a small piece of paper you need to use shape size, color and value.
As I painted the kingfisher called almost continuously. I wonder what he/she was trying to tell me.

4 comments:

Karen said...

The kingfisher was trying to tell you that the distance is DEEP in this painting.
I love that, hanging off the side of a ledge to paint! Fantastic!! I'm laughing right now.
:)

loriann signori said...

You're too much Karen! I love getting your comments!
Thanks for the kingfisher insight.

Next time you are in DC I'll take you up to my ledge. The view is fantastic!

Jala Pfaff said...

Ooh, gorgeous! I love the apricot-colored line from the left going towards the center.
Do you paint that size of a pastel painting in a single session outdoors? (I have never ever tried painting outdoors, in any medium!) If so, how long does it take you, and how many colors do you bring along?

loriann signori said...

Thanks Jala!
My typical "vitamin" is a single session outdoors. The average time to create one small plein air piece is 45 minutes to 2 hours....usually 1 hour /10 minutes. I take my backpack size heilman box full of my favorite pastels. These consist of girault, unison, diana townsend, terry ludwig and other odd ones. I also carry a small watercolor palette and a one inch flat and a half inch flat (brush). Oh I forgot to mention, my heilman box (and easel bar)attach to a light weight tripod-making a quick easel.
Try outdoors and if it's for you, you'll never turn back. In addition to the wonder of outdoor painting plein air painting builds a "vocabulary" to use when you paint inside the studio. I find that I take more chances in the studio because I am beginning to understand light.
I absolutely LOVE being outside and feel incomplete unless I have been in the woods each day. Maybe I am a squirrel:-)