Monday, September 30, 2013

making the most of mistakes


"It may have been accidental but you knew enough to let this alone. The intelligent painter is always making use of accidents." Charles Hawthorne
I am not saying I am an intelligent painter, but I am one who often makes mistakes in my (plein air) haste. I am learning to no longer correct them, rather use them as a new road to something different. This is a mistake of dropped and smudged pastel, on a sunny day, that turned into something else.
 It turned out better than the sunny day painting.
(from Chincoteague Plein Air)

Thursday, September 26, 2013

a new infatuation

about 10x14 pastel on watercolor
about 12x14 pastel on watercolor

about 4x6 pastel on watercolor

Yes, that's right, I have found a new love. I am trying to woo my new love to love me back...we will see what happens. I am using watercolor paper, sanded at different times in the process. a different variety of watercolor underpainting is used in each of these. I am playing with the variables within the same context.  Just searching.

Monday, September 23, 2013

iridescent paints

When we put our work in the public eye, it provokes comments and questions. Right? Some we welcome and well others, we wonder. Last week when I was at the Chincoteague plein air event, I was asked many questions about my work. The most unusual was, "what kind of iridescent paints are you using?"
When I explained that it was soft pastel, with not iridescent paints, she didn't believe me. That led me down the road of explaining simultaneous contrast and layering.....a favorite topic of mine. I am still not sure if she believed me.
What unusual questions have you heard?





Thursday, September 19, 2013

working in a series



Working in a series is always a good idea if you want to grow and expand. Usually that means working on the same subject matter, or any same theme of sorts. I am taking it to mean doing multiples of one scene, in one day, without moving. Here are three 6" square studies of a few trees as the light moves over the land yesterday morning.It was fun to do and I plan on doing more often. Today I take this same idea to the studio.

Monday, September 16, 2013

working from your work en plein air

second painting, pastel

This summer I have been experimenting with working from my plein air paintings while on location. Make one painting, then make another one using both the scene in front of me, my first painting and my new ideas to make the next painting. Another way to jump out of the box.
first painting, solely plein air

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

News

Guess what? Just this week Richard McKinley, my mentor and friend, surprised me by writing a post about my work and working methods! Here is a link to Richard's post.  If  you have a moment please check it out.
Richard is an amazing painter, teacher and writer. I am honored that he choose to write about my work. I do know how fortunate I am to have him as a friend.
 In the meantime, my computer crashed on Thursday night. The hard drive is kaput. DEAD. That means my time capsule is "vacationing" with my computer for the repair. Which also means there is no Internet or computer at my house. I actually feel fortunate. It' s like hiding all the chocolate from a dieter.  Convenient for someone who is trying to go cold turkey from the image barrage.
On another note, I am now in Chincoteague for their wonderful plain air event. So, on a borrowed computer and Internet, I blog. Two reasons. I want to thank every one for their kind comments and emails regarding Richard's piece and my last blog. And to shamelessly invite you to read the post at the Artist's Network/ Pastel Pointers. I will reply to comments when I have my computer back.

BTW not only did my computer crash, but my refrigerator imploded and created a waterfall in our kitchen. Lucky for me my hubby is back home taking care of business! What a guy!

Monday, September 9, 2013

controling your influences


Thinking about what we allow to influence our art (or even our life) is something we need to do every once and awhile. We, as artists, constantly barrage ourselves with images. These images of others' work come from galleries, museums, books and the omnipresent Internet.  We look to these "others" for many reasons. Sometimes it is for inspiration, and other times it is to study..... sometimes just because we "like to look."
My sensibilities were shaken up a little during my summer blogation. Which brings me to this question. How would it be different if I didn't look and instead only looked inside? i am venturing to guess there will be a radical difference.
So, I ask, why not take an influence vacation and just look inside?
I am trying to do just that.

Egad, it's hard.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

obsessing about water


Lately, during my plein air time, I have been obsessing about water. I use all my plein air morning painting it. After my painting time, I  silently paddle my kayak.

Watching, trying to understand the nuances of the water and its reflections.

As a rule, we know that the reflected image is darker in value and grayer in chroma. The water now has been still with mirror like reflected images and the surface is  cloudy with floating particles that reflect color form the sky and surrounding land masses in interesting ways. The lake in late summer is truly its warmest brown near the shore.
Its beauty can make you want to cry.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

2 experiments in color / temperature


Ok, back to color and plein air.
When out on location I have been challenging myself to push the color temperature. The bottom painting is the "actual color"this morning. On top you see how I took the scene and gave it a strong warm bias.
Keep in mind that while painting you are like a chef, constantly measuring the amount of spice you need in your dish. When making tomato sauce I taste- do I need more onion, garlic, basil? When painting you look and think, is it warmer or cooler (darker or lighter)? Keeping a painting in a temperature range gives it a mood. Similarly, cooking a sauce with  the right amount of spice gives it a smooth flavor.

BTW My favorite plein air event is approaching. Chincoteague Plein Air (in Chincoteague VA) will be September 11-14. More later.