Trying new methods

7x7 uart paper

I absolutely love summer! There is simply so much more time. I do enjoy teaching, but I must admit that when I have only one brain to wear- the painting brain- I feel my art work can take off. All I think about is painting! Hike at the lake in the morning to plein air sites, then during the heat of the day settle into the studio for a good work session.

Since I am hiking I am trying different papers and using only watercolor. Back in the studio I just put my mind back there and paint with pastel. I am exploring all different base surfaces...more about that later. 

I will also write about the Mountain Maryland Plein Air soon.

more texture experiments

Another version of my work with texture. It's on multimedia board. The multimedia board is amazing in the way it spotlights watercolor underpaintings. It easily accepts applied texture with no worries of warping.

Multimedia boards are acid and ligin free, ph neutral and impervious to mold and mildew. They will not warp, no mater what the media. The sparkling white surface is wonderful. Here's the link to check them out at Dakota Pastels. let me know what you think.

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.

before snow glow and upcoming pastel workshop

pastel and watercolor on Uart 8x10

The challenge today was to make the glow on the water. There was very overcast sky since there is snow on the way. (sidebar- we have had spring up to now-cherry blossoms in bloom, every the creeping flocks and quince have flowers!) Snow sounds exciting to see again.

I have been asked many times to talk about the process of my  paintings. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera, but still I will provide a written account. 
Since all landscapes have a warm undertone I used quid burnt sienna and quid burnt gold watercolor paint to paint the value in the large masses.  Very simplified.
 Observing and not painting I watch. Finally, I take off the gloves and settle down with my precious pastels.
My thinking :When you look at water it has a color of its own that is more prominent in the foreground and reflections. This water had a greenish tone. The sky color effects the whole tenor of everything and that was a pink gray violet.  That determined, almost all my selected pastels came from the gray section of the palette. The purer tones were added at the very end. The pastel is thicker in the sky thus more matte. The water has thin rubbed applications.
The main dance (the diva) has more marks and more contrast in  color. I hold back mark making in other areas.
It is an intuitive thing that is good to sometimes put in words.

I will be teaching a workshop this summer. Email me to let me know if you are interested. I like to teach small groups so the class size is limited to 5. Toodles for now......