Monday, April 29, 2013

difference with an underpainting


lake 1
lake 1 underpainting
 Last week I was playing with my underpaintings. I did two different versions at the same time. Then I painted on the dried underpaintings. Both were done with Nu pastels moistened with mineral spirits. I was looking to see how I respond differently to the underneath colors.
Only the side of the pastel stick was used. The purpose was to keep away from drawing the scene and just respond to the color edges.
lake 2
lake 2 underpainting



Thursday, April 25, 2013

new big painting

30x40 oil
This painting is creeping along....maybe it is almost done.  While painting this I am thinking, "In nature there are no lines, just places where colors meet."

And a quote from the master, Wolf Kahn-
There are many prejudices about art, and first among them is that it is a skill and that there are definite rules.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

tips on painting sunset clouds


6x6 pastel
There is a good reason painters are fascinated with the wonderful clouds of sunset and sunrise. The color becomes amplified and the personality of the clouds is very easy to see. When working to record this you need to first look for the movement lines. Mark them immediately. It's a moving target so getting the important diagonals is key. After the lines are there enjoy making it alive. As long as you remember that the sky is a dome and respond to that concept the sky becomes a little easier to paint. Value matters as always. Have fun and relish the fact that with a handful of pastels or a few tubes of paint you can make magic.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Plein Air and Mountain Maryland

pastel 9x9
In the field I am focusing on clouds- the ever elusive clouds. This is yesterday's small painting.

Good news! I have been invited to participate in the Mountain Maryland Plein Air . I love this event.  The people are wonderful! And
pastel 9x18
the location is beautiful: fields, water, big views.  I was fortunate to be part of this event two other times 2010 and 2011. In 2011 I won an honorable mention with the painting on the right.
I can't wait for this year's event. May 28- June 1. More on this later.

Monday, April 15, 2013

what really is your subject?

oil about18x11 (a guess)
My blogger friend Donna commented that "the concept for this painting (last post) and those of your recent works seems to be much more than I can put into words! Amazing really, when your subjects are not necessarily complex. Maybe there's a connection?"
Donna is an amazing artist in her own right and a very insightful one.
Delete I guess, to most, it looks like I am painting clouds, but that's really not the case. I chose clouds as the vehicle so that I can paint the underlying luminosity and work with the abstractive qualities. The simplicity of the land/sky format allows me to enjoy the complexities of the concept. That's the closest I can come to an explanation.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

painting concepts is limitless


oil 36x36 work in progress
"Painting concepts is limitless..... painting subjects is finite. Know our intention. The lasting quality that is reflected to the viewer is intention." David A. Leffel Therefore painting is not just copying.
I continue to work on this painting (top). It was inspired by my Chincoteague plein air piece (bottom.)

Monday, April 8, 2013

personality that reinvents

The field next to my house is my constant muse. It has so many facets to its personality and pushes me to invent and reinvent it. It feels similar to what I do when I "dress-up."

Thursday, April 4, 2013

clouds and Albert Handell Interview.

New goodie to read- an interview with Albert Handell- Master landscape painter. Check it out. Link here.
And another large B&W cloud study. I am doing a lot of these.... if you can't make your clouds read in black and white, go no further.
pastel on BFK 14x22

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

clouds and a beach road

20x40 oil
I have been working on this one for awhile now, with today being the pinnacle of frenzied work. Finally it is in "sitting phase." Wait, think, just stop.
With this I add a few more ideas, that I have learned to be true, about painting skies .
*Think of the clouds as layers or different planes. That helps you "sculpt" them with your two tools-value and color.
*Remember that the sky is a dome and that color and value need to respond to that shape.
*Use your clouds to make your composition.

Monday, April 1, 2013

plein air paint for yourself


I was looking through my sketchbooks and saw the reminder.
"Plein air-paint for yourself. Stop the agendas. It is all part of the journey."
The reason we go outside to paint is to be sensitive to real light falling on form. Enjoy the responding.