using marks and smooth

This river series is my true love. Therefore at 5:30 in the morning I was walking down the path just to see her. A beaver greeted me, they were waiting.
My idea this time was to see the layers. Make it more about the surface. The watercolor below with thin layers of pastel is topped by marks of pastel.

working in a series

Working in a series is one of the most important tools we artists have to nourish growth. Most times artists build series around a theme: river paintings, window paintings, still life with waxed paper, or cityscapes, just to name a few.  Sometimes it's around a format, like all squares. The one thing that binds these ideas is that each painting in a series builds on the next painting. The process takes the artist down a path of discovery.
Series can just shout out to us, others whisper, some you have to find. My river series has been ongoing for many years. I love that river and have still not exhausted its possibilities.

Here are four ways to find your next series.
1. Line up your ten favorite paintings. Analyze them. What did you do in those ten that was so successful. Write it down and be ready to build on those ideas.
2. Choose a new format and stick to it. Do you want a more peaceful painting? Choose an elongated rectangle. Look at the Japanese woodcuts. Try diptych or more.
3. Find a new surface. If you normally work with a sanded paper try making your own surface. If you paint on smooth canvas try wood with a vibrant surface pattern. Take yourself out of your comfort zone.
4. Make an exploration of color. Limit your palette to certain color harmonies.Make many small studies (3x4) before moving into bigger work. take yourself out of your color rut. 

When you have a series begun make certain to keep all of them out to view each day. Number them on the back. Look and grow with the previous work.

One of the most exciting and inspirational series I have seen is Marla Baggetta's Variations. Here is a link to the book she made about it. Wow!

The most important thing about a series is the fact that it drives you and you can't wait to get back to it.

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.

working in a series

finished pastel, potomac river

sketch /pastel,before the rain 6pm, magothy river

sketch/pastel, sun and clouds 3:45, magothy river

Working in a series is one of the most powerful things a painter can do. When you are infatuated with your subject you can not wait to see what you can do next.  Once you KNOW your subject you easily go beyond the representational and slip into the reason you chose that subject. I believe life and all its questions, answers and unknowns bleed into your psyche as you paint.
The river is and I think always will be a muse for me. It may be different rivers but it's always the same idea. The humidity of the East coast compliments the river water well.

finished pastel potomac river

 Each time I paint the river I easily get lost in the "What happens it I do.....?"To many people it may seem repetitious, but to me it is love of a place.

in progress, oil 12x24 skagit river