Colors before the Storm

I have been drawn to this clump of oak trees that sits at the end of my road and was trying to figure out how to paint them.  Then came fall, a beautiful color change and a cold misty day.

Moonlight Sonata

I woke up very early today and noticed the moon in the clouds and I couldn't resist.  Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" was playing in my head, so I put it on to listen to.  These paintings are hard because the lack of light means, lack of color!  I don't mean on the painting as much as on the palette! I couldn't tell ultramarine blue from burnt umber or what color I was mixing.  A head lamp helped but it will blind you if it shines directly on the canvas.  Still, it is a lot of fun painting these kind of scenes.

Tomoe

This painting is off of an original drawing from a figure drawing group I used to run here. This is one of my favorite models, Tomoe.  We had been playing dress up the model and she suggested her traditional Japanese outfit might be fun.  After she struck a pose, I moved around the model to find a view that excited me.  This is what came of that...she is lit from the front, but my view was "backlit".  I have always liked using the toned paper as part of the drawing and here I tried it with a toned canvas.

Carmel Fog

I took Brian Blood's workshop this last weekend.  I learned a lot even though it was two days. Hopefully I will get rid of those bad habits I have been carrying around.  I love his use of color, bold strokes, sense of light, etc., etc. and hope to incorporate that into my work, that is, if I ever figure out how to do it.  This was one of two I didn't wipe.  This was next to the beach at Carmel, CA. I want to work more on this one but thought I would show it anyway.

Blue and Gold

I got a chance to go out painting with Veryl, Rosie Sandifer and Ralph Oberg, wow was I in seventh heaven!  I just wish I could paint!  All these guys are great painters and it was a learning experience to see how they dealt with different scenes.  All of mine looked horrible, of course, so I am reworking and touching up those that are salvagable.  This is the first of those I have finished.  The best thing I can do is practice, practice, practice.

Evening Shadows

This is a study of the beaver ponds above Rico, Colorado.   I loved the light, colors and reflection here.  I had to wipe the first try because it just wasn't working well at all.  I am hoping to do a larger painting of this next.