later afternoon glow, distilled

Trying to find ways to create the late afternoon glow from the marshlands at Chincoteague. I want a distilled landscape, without fluff and details.

two studies, exploring papers and mediums

both are 6x8 pastel and watercolor on Twinrocker all purpose
I decided to try watercolor on the Twinrocker paper, even though it is not watercolor paper. I was delighted that it only buckled little, just as much as wallis does; but it took the watercolor in a very interesting way. I had missed the way watercolor adds a richness and takes away the dustiness that pastel can have.
These were both done in very low light, the sun was setting and dropping below the trees. Green is the name of the game already. That meant I needed to use a warm underpainting to temper the greeness.
Now it's morning, time to go off to the lake again.

beginning are ends

8x9 pastel and liquid !watercolor on Uart paper $100.

"Slowly dusk pours the syrup of darkness into the forest." (quote from the children's book Twilight Comes Twice) This is the other side of twilight, the late afternoon, moments before darkness approaches, when the last beams of light slide through.

It was warm and spring like and I am beginning to wish winter might just GO away. The only problem is my hands came out of my pockets too much. The result...too many strokes!

Heron's View

about 21x 21 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper
This is a studio piece I have been working on for awhile. I used my painting from November 26 -Golden Wind /Riverbend Park as my reference. My notes describing my time there- the heron's flight and call and the light- helped me feel the place while in the studio. The one thing I am satisfied with is that the painting has a life of its own. But I feel unsure how to complete it..
That tells me it's time to stop, put it on the shelf so I see it each day when I arrive in the studio. The painting will tell me.

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.

Ode to Richard

about 6x6 pastel and watercolor on Uart paper $100.
Today I decided to go to one of my favorite haunts and test my new understanding on familiar grounds (yet different light-4:45-almost 6:00). Here is my (hopefully understandable) explanation -----Simultaneous contrast.....a color is different depending on which color is adjacent. You can really make that work when it is the same value, different temperature. Thank you Richard McKinley and Josef Albers. Little pieces of dancing colors sitting next to each other. Can you see it in this little jpeg?

A Different Version of Color Field Painting

13x14 pastel and watercolor on wallis board $310.
Today I found a new field. The colors of the grasses are exquisite. I attempted to give that impression in my painting. I am beginning to feel like I am on to a new understanding about color and its relationships. More on that later.

October 6, 2008 Farmland Peek-a-Boo

8x8 pastel on Uart paper
Right past Dulles Airport you find farmland that is quickly being converted into subdivisions:-( The land is gorgeous; rolling hills, speckled trees and peek-a-boo light. At this particular sunset it reminded me of California.

September 17, 2008 Goldenrod Light

7x7 pastel and watercolor on wallis board $100. plus sip and tax
The Audubon Center is a beautiful place...way up there on the hill. The fields face east and the back of the house and trees glow from the western sun. At this point the field is filled with goldenrod. Cool.

September 13, 2008 Fleeting Golden Moment

9x12 pastel and watercolor on mounted wallis paper $100.
This was a speed painting. It rained as I walked to the river and then suddenly it cleared. Still, I could hear thunder in the distance. The sky was lemon and gold and the glow was violet. Quickly I painted, fanned the board dry and moved my pastels gingerly over the slightly wet surface. To capture the essence of the moment was my only goal.
I think I will use this in the studio to create a bigger painting.

September 7, 2008, Rock Creek, After the Hurricane

7x8, pastel on board, $100. plus shipping and tax
Yesterday we had the remnants of hurricane hanna, which means everything is covered in a couple of inches of mud. The rivers and creeks overflowed their banks. To paint this one I stood in 2 inches of soft mud. It's amazing how immediately after the storm the sun came out and made it all better.
Greens, hard stuff.

September 5, 2008 Hot Afternoon on the River

8x11.5 pastel an watercolor on wallis, 200. plus shipping and tax
Light does amazing things...mostly indescribable. It seems like the haze of the river seems to play games with complementary colors- the greens have red glows and the purples-well touches of yellow/gold.
On Wednesday, fellow blogger and artist Karen asked about the differences between a much loved pastel paper, wallis, and the surface I usually make. I did this one on wallis to help me answer the question.
1. Wallis takes paint differently, smoother, it's easier to get intense color.
2. My surface has more surface. That means when I paint watercolor or oil as the first layer it seeps in to the bottom layer (it also takes more paint to be intense.) Then when it is dry I have the textured surface to play with and the pastel can rise above the paint and create a vibration. Cool, eh? It also allows me to play with the accidents or plan the texture when I marble dust it.
3. Last note, wallis paper, as of recent times, has become a bit unreliable. It sometimes gets a orange peel -like effect and can repel the watercolor, both undesirable effects (to me.)

September 2, 2008 The Sentinel of the River

9x 12 (i think) pastel on board, $200.
This new view of the river called to me as I walked down the path near Angler's Inn. I like the way you can feel the shade on this hot day...but still you want to walk to the other side and visit the beautiful Potomac.
This old tree has seen decades worth of happenings...if only it could speak.

July 29, 2008 Lock House

9x12 pastel on board
Late yesterday afternoon, after a day of studio painting, I decided it was time to go to the river. I made it as far as the canal as the light was hazy-beautiful.
Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to get a good photo of the painting. The light really has a pretty orange.

July 27, 2008 Late Afternoon Light

9x12. pastel on board
Today I worked on the big one (mom's painting) so this is another painting (illegal spare) I had saved from my painting trip.
It seems like my blog has lost a subscriber connection. If you are a subscriber, first -thanks!, second, if you do receive this blog entry, please let me know. Otherwise I will work with blogger to get things up and running.
THANKS everyone!

July 19, 2008 Melody in Gold and Pink

14x7 (about) pastel and watercolor on board
This is my favorite of all the field paintings so far. So soft and flowing yet, it has rhythm. I am totally enchanted with this field. Like a good lover, it's really difficult to pull myself away at night. I will be sad to leave.

July 17, 2008 Path to the Beach

7x14 about??? pastel and watercolor on wallis
The field is amazing once again. I love being in the nature alone...just me and the songbirds.
The last 3 days have been field work, alone. Now I will go back into the studio and Richard will be discussing resolve. Concepts like simultaneous contrast are sinking in (finally.)
Till later.......

July 12, 2008 Down the Road Bit

8x10 pastel and watercolor on marble dust board
Sorry about the bad photo, all I am doing now I am doing by the seat of my pants. Blogging has turned out to be challenging- both finding the time and an internet connection. I sit now in a parking lot in front of a hotel that has it w/o a password. (thank you Country Inn.) The workshop is awesome and I am painting from 6:30 am to 8;30-9:00 pm. The light is awe-inspiring. I will blog a few in a row to catch up. Enjoy the ride!

June 12, 2008 Golden Afternoon Light Bath

9x12 pastel and oil on marble dust board
Merrill Center again..the golden light on these beautiful grasses and wild flowers blows me away. The creek is just beyond the trees and around the bend is the bay. The light was so warm, I felt like I should be rolling around in the field.

June 11, 2008 Aubrey's Gorge

about 9x10, pastel and oil on mounted paper
Aubrey, this one is for you. One of my favorite people at school is leaving. A beautiful, warm person who absolutely loves animals. She always has a nice word for everyone and has been very supportive of my art. I tried to give this painting the same light that shines through her.