Thursday, December 23, 2010

Torrey Pines: starring-grays the great harmonizers

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart
 The rain has finally ceased, well mostly. So at 5:30 AM  I headed straight for Torrey Pines, a beautiful California State Park full of hiking trails and amazing vistas. Because of the flooding, the park was technically closed, although they would allow visitors to walk the road through the park.
This view  was from the road that faced east. There was a curtain of heavy clouds and the foreground was a darker rose color. I chose not to use as much local color (greens) in order to keep a strong presence in the foreground shape. Harmony was strengthened with my choices of reddish grays in the clouds and red in the green and blue grays in the foreground.

5 comments:

Caroline Simmill said...

Loriann, this is a beauty! I love the light area on the horizon, the colours here are really lovely. gosh 5.30 am that is early I am a night owl it is 1.24am and I am still up the full moon here is incredible over the deep snowy landscape. Glad to hear the rain has stopped. Merry Christmas to you!

Nika said...

Loriann, you're such a trooper:)
Love the harmony of this one, it speaks volumes. Well done.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

loriann signori said...

Hi Caroline, Thank you about the painting! I hope to see some of your beautiful full moon paintings from this wonderful winter solstice period. Enjoy the snow and Merry Christmas to you!

Hi Nika...a trooper or obsessed? it's a close call. Have a wonderful holiday!

brian eppley said...

These California pieces are wonderful examples of neutrals and harmonies. Kudos to you for finding beautiful landscape in an historic, crippling rain event!

Donna T said...

Brian spoke for me too, Loriann. You have such a gift for making the colors conform to your impression of the scene; you aren't steamrolled by reality. Merry Christmas and I wish you much happiness and success in the New Year!