Summer’s Soft Blue Haze
Vultures like skaters
Carving figures on clear ice,
Glide gracefully in circles,
Waltzing on thermals
We stand hypnotized by flight
Tag: light
5 Paintings in a Day
I have been teaching a lot of classes lately and enjoying it immensely but it does take a toll on my ability to paint for my own enjoyment and advancement as an artist. I try to paint every day and I usually do but sometimes the efforts are demonstrations in either watercolor or oil and they are not finished or truly paintings from a creative point of view. Yesterday I started out early and painted until the evening doing 5 oils while sitting on my porch looking out over the Shenandoah Valley. All of these are quick 1-hour paintings.
Three More Thursday Demonstrations
14×20 watercolor. I can’t really remember what I was trying to teach hear other than the quality of direct washes and good brushwork, which I guess is the goal of everyone of my lessons. I wanted to capture the light out behind the trees.
Here is the oil painting of this same image.
Jumpstart Repost from 2011 “Same Subject Different Light”
Tape your paper into 4 rectangles or squares, whichever format makes you the most comfortable. I find it easier to make a composition on a rectangular page than a square but the square is much more fun to deal with, especially if you are looking to create something a little out of the ordinary. In
Continue Reading “Jumpstart Repost from 2011 “Same Subject Different Light””
“Beautiful Light”
I painted this piece yesterday at one of those rare moments when I had total clarity of thought about the subject and its meaning to me. The center of interest is the beautiful piece of light on the water and the sky hooks down to it. I didn’t want the rest of the painting, a metaphor for the rest of the world to obscure the visual impact of the light skip sitting perfectly on the water.
Ready to Paint: “New England Summer Sun”
So it’s cold, icy, and early January. I thought of Maine in September and painted this familiar beautiful house with a wonderful shadow pattern. My goal is to capture the light and feeling of summer, nothing too complicated. As always, the holidays have taken a toll on my work production, not really the truth because I have painted about 10 oils in the last month but this is my first watercolor in a few weeks and what a wonderful medium it is. I know why I spend 35 years painting in it, it is spontaneous, transparent and friendly to those who practice and develop good skills. Get comfortable with the medium, your drawing, and subject matter and you will have a good year.
Just Paint 50 “Race To The Finish”
I thought this was a good metaphor for my birthday, it is exactly the way I see them, following along until you just fade out. A little maudlin I suppose but really shouldn’t a painting tell a story. I could have left the background white paper but the addition of titanium white and tints of gray and warm yellows give it body. Try to tell a story using as few symbols as possible. Use a stiff bristle brush to apply the paint.
Just Paint 38 “Low Tide Spruce Head”
I painted an oil today, still learning, I have only really painted about 10 now, and I love the medium but she is not really snuggling up to me yet, but I think the relationship has potential. The goal was getting a feeling of light in one session, a few details, and getting comfortable with the medium, thanks to my friend, oil painting magician, Sara Poly. Not really what she told me to do but I am not good at following all exercises.