Wednesday, May 11, 2011

the baseball field early evening

9x9 pastel and watercolor on Uart
 The tree on the right has been obsessing me, the way it turns a goldish silver in the light is extraordinary. I watch it every night at sunset, just to see that color! I worked on many studies before getting a composition. I wanted it to be different than my usual field compositions so I included the hill going down to the houses. It caught the light just right.  In addition the buttercups have been left there unmowed. Yay!
That decided I packed up my stuff. Since carrying my stuff is still an issue,  I simply did the watercolor underpainting the first time, returning the next night for the pastel. Violet and yellow predominated in the underpainting- simple.
This evening I brought the pastels. I was out there painting during "pick up" adult softball so fly balls  kept coming precariously close to the easel. It added to the drama of the scene.
Planning and patience are becoming a bigger part of my repertoire.  I can see this one growing huge.
PS This is my first painting done (since surgery on January 13th) while standing at the easel.  Yay! It felt so GOOD!

10 comments:

Donna T said...

She's standing at her easel again! Woo hoo!!! Maybe a helmet is in order to protect you from fly balls, Loriann. This painting is a winner - so much to like and I hope it goes bigger someday too. The straight lines and angles of the houses are the perfect complement to all the round tree shapes.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Donna! I am having so much fun playing with the underpaintings...in pastel they work up faster (for the small ones that is!)
Great idea about the helmet!

Leah said...

congrats on standing at the easel! and what is that yellow orb in the left above the trees? ;)

Jane Hunt said...

Beautiful piece! So glad to hear you're able to stand at your easel again :)

loriann signori said...

THANKS LEAH! It does feel great to stand! The yellow orb is that huge glowing body in the sky...the sun. Oh dear, it wasn't clear..now that's bad!

Hi Jane! Thank you about this piece. It does feel so good to stand!

SamArtDog said...

The sun-struck tree is spectacular! I also like seeing down into the blue violet shadows. Congrats for facing it all upright.

loriann signori said...

Hi Sam! That tree is really amazing, a color I can't really describe with words.
Yay! Upright is where it's at!
Thanks for your comment Sam!

Anonymous said...

Hi Loriann,
I am glad to hear that you are back outside at full speed. The color in this painting is very much from within .I love how those blue greens contrast with the warmer colors. There is a lot of energy in this painting. ASW has the Austin Folding Crate which may make it easier for you to bring your supplies outside since packing your stuff is still an issue. I also recommend the Safari folding pack stool in case you find that you have to take time sitting down while working outdoors-it is very comfortable.

NJ ART 73

Leah said...

It was clear! That was my attempt at humour. It's just been so long since I've seen it that I didn't recognize the sun.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Sam..they tree is my new obsession. Upright is good.