This painting is from my secret location. It appears to be this grand forest and in reality it is a patch of land between some buildings and an apartment complex. I have never seen anyone else within my secret forest and I plan on keeping this area to myself.
This week brings some excitement for me as I get to leave town for three days with fellow Outdoor Painters Society members on a painting trip to the Texas hill country. We will be in the Fredericksburg area as part of the Plein Air Southwest 2009 event. We are expecting a great turnout. Also this weekend I will be participating in the 4th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest. I will be painting all day with my work and several other artists work being sold during a silent auction.
Because of my day job, this will be the first time ever that I will be able to paint for four days in a row sun up to sun down. Just imagine the possibilities. Of course, I will share everything when I get back.
This week brings some excitement for me as I get to leave town for three days with fellow Outdoor Painters Society members on a painting trip to the Texas hill country. We will be in the Fredericksburg area as part of the Plein Air Southwest 2009 event. We are expecting a great turnout. Also this weekend I will be participating in the 4th Annual Fort Worth Prairie Fest. I will be painting all day with my work and several other artists work being sold during a silent auction.
Because of my day job, this will be the first time ever that I will be able to paint for four days in a row sun up to sun down. Just imagine the possibilities. Of course, I will share everything when I get back.
If you are in Fort Worth area please come out and say “Hi”.
http://www.tandyhills.org/prairiefest.htm
Hey Randy-
ReplyDeleteGreat job especially capturing the reflecting ground light on the bottom of the trunk. Have fun in Fredericksburg.
I like this one too Randy. Nice color harmony. Do you create these in one sitting? I struggle to keep the colors fresh when trying to achieve this painterly look. Better planning, using no medium and working thin to thick is helping. I do wonder though if I should be strategically letting things set up a bit between layers to keep the colors fresh and vibrant.
ReplyDeleteI too will be heading into the field with John Taft in June for a week. I also have a day job and am trying to practice in the mean time to make the week more productive.
Best,
Lee
Thanks Perry! I hope my trips successful.
ReplyDeleteLee, I do my paintings in one sitting and 90% of them on site. Even when I've attempted to paint as large as 24" x 36", I finished them same day. That is something that helps me in ways and hurts in others. When the speed is not necessary I need to force myself to slow down and I'll get better results. I am fighting that battle right now.
Keys to keeping colors fresh... Mix with a palette knife. They are easily wiped off and don't contaminate your mix with previous color. Even applying the paint with the knife helps. Don't over mix your colors. Most become duller the longer you mix. If your unsure of the color, don't apply it to the canvas. Compare your color to the color harmony on your palette and the object your painting first. I don't mix large batches of color. I mix a little color, apply it and then remix a slightly warmer or cooler version and then apply that. I watched DVD's of Kevin Macpherson doing this same thing. He is constantly mixing and wipes off his brush after every stroke or two. I also try to keep a brush for my sky, one for my darks, one for my lights, etc.
I don't think it's necessary to wait between layers. It's all in how you apply the paint. Learn not to press the new layer into the previous layer. With all this said I still paint some hits and some misses.
I'm jealous of your John Taft workshop. Make sure you post your workshop experiences for us.
Thanks for the detailed response Randy. I have two of Kevin's books and like them both. I have not watched his DVD but have watched Jay Moore's. Jay is not a fan of mixing large puddles either. He says that it is easier to make the required temperature changes when you are not motivated to use up what you have premixed on your palette.
ReplyDeleteI will post the workshop results as well as the experience with my new field gear. I just finished cutting and grey back-priming a piece of glass for my EASyL Pro box for easy palette cleaning. I use Holbein Auqal Oil paint so cleanup is easy especially in the field. /Lee
Oops! I really do know how to spell Aqua!
ReplyDelete