study of waves

Intimacy with your subject is most important.  Therefore last week I began my wave study in earnest. I love calming effect of the ocean waves. She has both beauty and repetition.  She is perfect and still moody, different each day. My infatuation with this beauty began long ago. I am sorry to say I have played with her feelings yet never settled into a pattern of constant adoration. I hope this past week began this journey.

daisies

I am enjoying revisiting paintings that were never resolved. Free of the scene I experiment with methods and ideas.

pastel and liquin

Finding new ways to layer can mean studio time. This pastel has an underpainting with watercolor on Uart paper done on location. Pastel was added then brought to the studio. Unsatisfied with the results I decided to use Liquin on the bottom half of the painting. I didn't know what would happen as normally I would use Gamsol. The Liquin worked like a thick  juicy liquid fixative. When the Liquin had dried (a day or so) I took the painting back to location. Then I added more pastel. I don't know if the Liquin helped or the time lapse helped.

important words to remember

I was looking through my sketchbook yesterday and found one message I had written.
"We make paintings not see them."
Remember that when you go  out to paint. As artists we move parts of the landscape, erase others, heighten color, and subdue color. We are in charge.
It helps to turn away from your scene part way during your painting time to simply work with the painting not the scene.

So many buttercup scenes in the last week. Same scene many versions....watch for the next post for more.

spring fog- study of color

Someone asked me what is my method for painting landscape. Hmmm. Method, there ready is no method, I really do not aim to have a series of steps I do in order to make a plein air painting. I could answer instead, "what was today's method?"
Today I used sanded down watercolor paper and chose different  colors  to mass in the shapes. I hoped it would help a foggy painting read space. Next I softened all of the edges, only because I want to choose my edges later. Then I began layering color.
On this one you can see the stickiness of the pastel. Fog has so much moisture in the air.

pollen and painting

Some of us are like homing pigeons. I am. That means I return to my handful of spots regularly, without question.  In May, the water in this area is covered with a thin layer of pollen. You might think-ick... but no. The good thing about it is pollen, like any other particle, it reflects color. (think fog, dust, smog, smoke) So I sneeze and paint. It's a beautiful time.
Happy Mother's Day!