Glory in the Sky

 

I've only to look to the skies above to find such awesome inspiration! So often, I'm too busy to stop everything and paint a gorgeous sky, but I'm trying to be more mindful with my schedule.  Always filling every minute with a many things as I can, I find there really is merit in the here and now, and allowing those things that appear in the moment to REALLY make an appearance.  I let go of time a little, so these opportunities can slip right in, and I can appreciate them completely.  As the color grew in the sky, I knew there were possibilities growing, too.  Beautiful cloud formations abounded to the south where only clearing skies were to the north.  With 3 big brushes, I jumped right into it, painting all the large masses quickly.  Reserving each brush for a color - yellow, blue, and violet, I could didn't waste time cleaning my brushes until I had everything painted - and I saved the green bits until the end, when a dirty brush wouldn't matter.  My paint is getting thick from all my days of painting in the heat. I must clean it up before the next plein air event, but for now I'll concentrate on using it all up!  Painting number 3861 in 3861 days. 

Clouds Over Farmland

I've been gazing at the clouds since I was very young.  I love the movement, the way their forms change in fluid fashion.  The colors are as countless as the clouds themselves, and such a challenge to capture with paint.  On this one, I begin with an acrylic under painting that loosely renders the gradating sky plane and the land plane.  When this is very dry, I use my oils with a dry brush method of applying the paint.  I am using 1 inch and 3 inch bristle brushes to softly form the clouds.  When the composition is in, and I'm happy with my shapes, I push and pull the paint, tweeking edges as necessary.  This is such an effective way to paint clouds, and a fun shift from the bold palette knife work of yesterday!  Painting number 1886 in 1886 days.

Early to Bed

I've been wanting to paint this little beauty for some time, and I finally got to it today.  After a busy day of the gym, shipping paintings, visiting my daughter - the biting cold winds were less than appealing to this painter!  Taking care of those necessary computer chores, I turned my attention to the easel.  Oh, it felt good to pull my brush through my paint, even if some of that paint needs to be scraped.  I'll clean that palette another day, when I'm not chomping at the bit to paint.  I primed this panel in a different color - a grayed down plum shade.  I've been wanting to try it under my winter landscapes, but I just happened to grab it for tonight as well.  I like it.  I think the orange I use in the summer months is just too strong for the subtle colors of winter.  I also brought my favorite palette knife out to play!  I love the fresh marks this knife leaves in it's wake!  With this old cat's beautiful coloring, I will definitely be painting her again!  Painting number 1838 in 1838 days.

January Sky

The late afternoon sky was beautiful and begged to be painted.  In this painting, I have tried a new color - Sevris Blue by Williamsburg.  The color is rich and the pigment is strong, much like their Indian Yellow.  It bends towards the turquois, and is the middle sky color in this painting.  The Williamsburg paints are creamy and richly pigmented.  I have nine of them, and have yet to try two of them.  On the landscape I painted a few days ago, I used them exclusively. It is so fun trying out new supplies!  This painting makes 1454 in 1454 days  :)

Oil on panel, 7x5
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Little Mackinleigh

Today, I'm switching gears to the soft, impressionistic brushwork of sweet baby flesh!  I am using the limited palette yellow oxide, red oxide, cad red light, cad red medium, indanthrene blue, ivory black and titanium white - all Liquitez heavy body.  I start by laying in the background, allowing the baby to emerge.  In this case, I had all masses in before I even started the flesh tones.  Not my normal method, but I always let the process happen organically.  After a little push and pull, I am going to let this one rest.  I'll take a look tomorrow with fresh eyes, and decide if I need a little tweaking!  Painting number 1453 in 1453 days and day 3 in the current 30 day painting challenge!  :)

Light on the Urn

After very little sleep last night, we arrived with our workshop students at our loft in Bailey's Harbor.  A little unpacking and introductions cleared the way for a quick nocturne paint.  Even with only 3 hours of sleep, the brushes and paint exhilarated me as I captured the illumination in the night landscape.  It has been a little while since my last nocturne - and boy do I love them!  Now - off to bed!    Painting number 1298 in 1298 days :)

Waiting for Dinner

Michaela wanted a new cat, and so we went down to a friend's farm and brought this beauty home with us.  Her markings are unlike any other cat I've seen, and finally, I have time to paint her tonight!  I am using my new poly tips on this one,  but I'm reaching for my connoisseurs to blend.  I think the poly tips may be great work horses,  but for finishing, my old favs are easier to maneuver. The polys just seem to grip the paint a little tighter, and they aren't releasing with the same flow as my brushes. This is only my fourth painting to use them, so maybe this is still my learning curve.  After arriving home from dinner, I passed by this painting on the easel, and thought it was actually my cat!  Whoa, now that's crazy.   Painting number 1295 in 1295 days :)

Clouds of May

Clouds of May
Oil on panel, 6x6
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Whenever there is a cloud show in the sky - I can hardly wait to get to my easel!  The formations are ever changing and irresistible!  I am focusing on the subtle color changes, and applying the paint with only a couple of brushes.  The definition of the distant hedgerow and the meadow are loose, and with soft edges.  The dogs look up at me on the balcony - and don’t know what I’m doing!  So far, the cats have not found me.  That little Wesson just jumped on the lid of my open palette two days ago - and lucky for him, he didn’t pick up any of the paint!  He is notorious for jumping onto easels, and I must be on my guard!  This painting makes the 1232nd in 1232 days :)

Charlie Cat

Charlie Cat
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

After two frustrating attempts at paintings, one a cloudscape and one a large, rainy evening scene, I am turning to something familiar - Charlie!  It is rare that I start a landscape - and dislike the progress. I will look at them both tomorrow, and see what needs to be done, but as for tonight - I just didn’t feel like working on them!  But this painting, I LOVE!  I love his expression, and the languid way he rests like royalty!  I am experimenting with a new tool tonight - the Princeton Catalyst.  It is a flexible, silicone like, thick palette knife head on a long brush handle - and it is awesome!  Not only can I pull it across the surface for normal palette knife marks, but it retains paint and allows me to “paint” with it, leaving textural marks (like the hair).  I bought two of these, and have only used the chisel edged one so far, and I am impressed!  Can’t wait to see what else this tool can do!  Painting number 1128 in 1128 days.

Whispering Water

Whispering Water
Oil on masonite, 18x24
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I have painted this secluded creek one other time in the early spring, when trees and brush were just sprouting forth their buds.  I love this location, it is so peaceful - and a hike from the road.  Just painting it again takes me right back to the spot. On this occasion, I am painting large from small color studies, adjusting as I go.  I don't remember if I've done this  before. I normally just paint the size I want from the beginning, but this one is the 9x12 kept calling out to me.....larger......larger.  Over the last few days, I have worked on this.  I really had the bulk of it finished the first day, but then let it rest until morning.  Well, that morning was Monday - and there is next to no wiggle room for me on a Monday, so I could only cast my eyes in it's direction....making mental notes.  Late this afternoon, while I still had natural light, I began to push the paint a little here and there.  It is night again, so I am letting it rest once again.  I believe I am finished, but will look again tomorrow with fresh eyes in the natural light.  This painting makes 1107 in 1107 days, and Day 14 in the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Little Dreamer

Little Dreamer
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6
sold

Oh - today has been SO full!  So many chores to be done, so little time - and all the while, I am "painting in my mind"!  After getting preparations under way for the Thanksgiving feast to come, I arrive late to my easel - once again!  Working from a friend's photo, I start brushing in the colors with short, quick, overlapping strokes.  Beginning with the darks, I mark them all before putting in the flesh.  I like the negatively paint around the head first, I don't really know why but it allows me so much freedom.  Freedom to move the edges, adjust parts up down or sideways, and always working towards a likeness.  It is amazing to watch the painting develop from it's humble beginnings, seemingly with a life of it's own.  This painting makes 1057 in 1057 days :)

Sunflower Sonata

Sunflower Sonata
Oil on panel, 10x8 - purchase here

Some days are WAY beyond busy - and it takes me all day to get to my easel.  Every time I pass the sunflowers on the candle table (that my dad made with my grandfather’s walnut), I felt the need to paint them before they fade!  The fancy ones are not holding up like the more traditional sunflowers I bought on the same day.  Oh, why didn’t I plant my own?  Oh yes - I did, and my giant red lab dug them up - or rolled over them!  I can hardly wait for the day he calms down and behaves like a big boy.  With all natural light gone, I am painting under the incandescent lights, and the dark room beyond fades to prussian.  Using large brushes and palette knife - I drop the last lemon yellow highlights on, and call it done.  This painting makes 966 in 966 days.

Along the Rose Path

Along the Rose Path
Oil on canvas, 6x9
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This is another study for a larger painting, probably 24x36.  I absolutely LOVE rose gardens, and the fabulous one in Shreveport, Louisiana is the inspiration for this painting.  Brushing on the masses with my favorite large brush, I then start early in the work with my palette knives.  Loose strokes reign supreme, and I am using the recent palette knife technique of pulling all petals towards the base for these small roses.  Grass and path get horizontal strokes, following the form of the land, and the trees are all willy nilly - as trees grow in that same fashion.  I have used some Gamblin radiants for this - lemon, magenta, blue and white.  I love the way they lay on top of all other colors - they are SO opaque.  This painting makes 927 in 927 days.

Waterfall in the Woods

I thought I was done here....but a photo taken at night is not true

Waterfall in the Woods - final
Oil over acrylic on masonite, 16x20
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I dreamed of painting this waterfall three nights ago - and this is the very first chance I got to actually put paint to panel!  Working large, I started my block in acrylic.  Starting and stopping repeatedly for various household responsibilities, I lost my focus - and then I became frustrated with the progress (in progress photo).  Then, I moved down to the kitchen to paint, switching workspaces completely - and I stepped away for awhile. Starting this time in oils, I began pulling this painting in the direction I wanted it to go. What a struggle this painting has been - and tomorrow, I have a very full day.  I guess they can't all just fall off the brush - perhaps I should have just gotten up in the middle of the night and painted it when I dreamed it!  I will look upon it with fresh eyes in the morning, as I already see things I want to change.  Painting number 924 in 924 days.  With a new day - I see a few additions, adding shadow back into the right side, reds popped in to bring the foreground closer, and look what s difference a daytime photo makes to the color!  NOW, I am happy with this :)

in progress

Glorious Clouds

Glorious Clouds
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
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Practice makes perfect - something I have heard all my life.  Well, tonight I am practicing my cloudscapes.  I am approaching this in a different way, experimenting with the layering of colors.  I first brush on the sky colors as they would gradate from horizon to top of canvas.  I then take my palette knife and start adding the whites of the clouds.  This layer automatically blends with the bottom layer in strokes.  When I want strong color, I simply pull the stroke once on top of the layers - which keeps it from blending.  I may just like this better than meeting at the edges in the block in.....time will tell....and practice, of course!  This painting makes 922 in 922 days.  In retrospect, that number just sounds crazy - I never thought I would still be painting daily SO many days after the original "30 Day Painting Challenge" :)

Cloud Song

Cloud Song
Oil on unstretched canvas, 6x4
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On this subtle skyscape, I am mainly using my brushes, with just a bit of knife at the end for texture.  I again start by gradating the whole sky, horizon to top in the colors they would be - in this case Naples Yellow to Prussian to Ultramarine Blue - all with the addition of white.  This is a subtle sky scene, so no blaring color here.  I then start adding the cloud colors on top of this layer, softly and with the brush almost laying on it’s side.  I then use my finger to blend here and there, and add a little stronger color towards the top.  I can’t decide if this is too subtle - are the clouds too diffused?  They often appear in the sky like that - so I will let this rest for tonight, and look with fresh eyes in the morning.  Painting number 920 in 920 days.

Blushing Beauties

Blushing Beauties
Oil on wood panel, 10x8
Overland Park Arboretum - Stems

I can remember loving roses as child walking among my mother's and grandmother's gardens.  The fragrance alluring, and the blooms bountiful - they reign supreme above the other flowers.  For this painting, I had to set up further away from my subject than I like to.  The walkway was narrow, and my easel would totally block traffic, so I had to push back into the grass behind another bed.  The cool pink shades of this rose, and the many petalled blooms were worth the extra effort in attaining them!  New on the palette for these - Gamblin's Radiant Magenta!  Painting number 883 in 883 days.

on location

Splash of Yellow

Splash of Yellow
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Overland Park Arboretum, Kansas - Stems
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With the heavy rains, this beautiful yellow peony was really drooping at the arboretum!  I gently picked up the heads from the ground, and propped them up over other stems and foliage.  My second painting of the day, these blooms were sheer joy to paint!  I used my brush for most of the work, and using my knife for just a bit of pop at the end.  Painting number 881 in 881 days.

Pink Peony Passion

Pink Peony Passion
Oil on wood panel, 14x11
Stems - Overland Park Arboretum
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Wowza!  These fabulous beauties were bursting with blooms at the Overland Park Arboretum in Kansas.  Always drawn to peonies, I set up on the sloshy grass in front of them.  We've had so much rain, and with this peony bed right by the lake - it was very wet indeed. I love painting these regal flowers - especially in such a vivid color as these magenta ones!  Painting number 879 in 879 days.

Glorious Sky

Glorious Sky
Oil on masonite panel, 10x8
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Taking a break today to explore some of the beautiful color variations in the sky.  When I primed this panel - and 15 others, I brushed on the first layer of gesso, an acrylic tint, a little acrylic sealer, and some pumice for texture.  I normally go over this with a mix of acrylic color with acrylic gel glass medium.  This layer seals the first layer, allowing my oils to flow easily over the surface.  Well, I have not yet done that, but had no other 10x8's - so I painted on this first coat.  It is grabbing at my brushes - and wearing them right down to nubs!  I must finish priming them before I paint on another one - or I will soon be replacing my bristle brushes - which are my workhorses for painting!  Painting number 794 in 794 days :)