bittersweet sunset off Chain Bridge

8x8 pastel and watercolor on Uart
Last night, on my return trip from Dr. Joe, I decided to park by the bridge and battle the rush hour on the bridge. Chain bridge is one of the main  commuter connections between DC and Virginia. Yes, there is a sidewalk, the problem being is - the sidewalk is widely used by cyclists as a commuter route...making it a  very small space. The goal was to only paint what was necessary. Unlike Chinese landscape painters, the creation of a very specific light is my goal. This is the time before sunset, a slightly bittersweet time.  Attention to edge, neutral colors and large shapes reading from afar were my other goals.

Lush Green River

8x 12 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
Another green one, done off the Chain bridge (that wonderful construction zone/sans the snapping turtle.) Now they have even added cement barricades for a landscape painter's safety! How wonderful!
The green challenge continues.

Now to 4th of July festivities.

Looking for Rain and Plein Air War Stories

about 12 x16
They have closed one lane (the one closest to the edge/east side) of Chain Bridge for construction.....they might as well sent me an fancy invitation. Yipee! I arrived early so it was just me and the morning traffic. Talk about being on display...yipes! Well one unexpected guest all of a sudden appeared. Who, you ask? A snapping turtle! The construction crew hadn't appeared yet and the turtle was heading straight for me. (Ever see the neck on one of those prehistoric beasts?) Needless to say it was hard to concentrate and I was worried that the turtle would head out into traffic or take a chomp out of me. So I took one of those big orange and white plastic barrels that they use to stop traffic and tricked the turtle into going inside. Once he was inside...voilah! I scooped him up and transported him to a safe place under the bridge.
Now, I could finally concentrate. Back to trying to paly my "A game"..I had an audience after all!

Preparatory Work/The River

watercolor on moleskin paper
These three small works are from my moleskin sketchbook. I have been trying to decide exactly how the composition and light will be for this large painting. It's always best for me to fiddle a lot like this before moving big. Due to Brian's influence I have been turned on to this new (to me) surface. It can take a lot of abuse.
I want to thank Katherine for noticing my blog and mentioning it on her site.
Back to work!

View from Chain Bridge

6 x9 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
Today I spent the day visiting the museums. In particular I went downtown to see 3 Sanford Gifford works and Thomas Moran's big works at the Renwick. It was Thomas Moran's work that struck me. Talk about AMAZING space!!!!! Inspired by his Yellowstone painting I took out one of my own river paintings from this summer and started planning a new big one. I'll post sketches and preparatory work tomorrow. I was surprised by one more thing. This time I went up to the Luce Center in the American Art Museum. It is like a display/storage room and there was this little treasure by Sanford Gifford. I am guessing that it was a study done on location. It was only about 2.5"x 5"! I can seem to get it to attach...sorry.
More exciting stuff tomorrow as I plan!!!

The Crack Between Night and Day

about 9 x12 pastel and acrylic and watercolor on marble dust board/ no price yet

I was reading this beautiful illustrated children's book called Twilight comes Twice. The full quote is "Twice each day a crack opens between night and day. Twice twilight slips through that crack."
I love that quote. It opens a whole new world inside of my head. So this painting captures the very beginning of twilight, that first glow when there is still light. I think I will make more of these at different graduating moments.
How do you make that glow when the light slips through the crack?
I am struggling right now to create that illusive vibration, the glow. To do it I used three or more colors of the same value. Meanwhile I tried to keep color harmony throughout the whole piece. AAARGH! It's a studio piece. That's the time when I fuss and perseverate on one thing.

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.

Luminosity Squared

about 11 x 11 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100. plus tax and ship
The Potomac River right below the Chain Bridge has a wonderful open space view. I chose to use a square format, as I have done frequently as of late. Squares fascinate me. Being neither vertical or horizontal they begin with a tension not present in the other formats. Verticals are dynamic and make a thrust while horizontals are calming.......that leaves the wonderful square. It allows YOU to determine. Cool, eh?