Humid Day in Newport

"Humid Day in Newport", 8 x 10, oil on panel

It's been a long time since I have posted here but I have actually been working!  As I have mentioned here before I am working in an indirect manner which takes much longer than painting all prima (in one sitting).  I am also still trying to paint without photo references for at least three months to see if I can improve my memory skills.  This painting was started on site and finished over a few days in the studio from memory.  To make things even more challenging, I am using a new palette which I am still trying to get a handle on.  It is based on Donald Jurney's palette.  He is a New England based painter who does stunning work mostly from his imagination.  He does paint a lot plein air and his drawings are exquisite.  I had the opportunity to meet him in Ogunquit a few weeks ago and I hope to be able to take another workshop with him sometime.  You can see some of his work here.  The palette is unique in that there is no cadmium yellow or red which makes for a softer and more natural color harmony.  He also uses premixed greens which I have never used before.  I'm working on it.  I have a few more pieces in the works.

End of Summer

"End of Summer", 6 x 8, oil on linen panel

We are taking care of boat things in a marina north of Newport RI.  There are a lot of boats hauled out awaiting their repairs or just hanging out for a while which makes for great plein air subject matter.  This old fishing trawler caught my eye right away.  I think it's one of the "hanging out" boats:  it's been sitting there a while.  The colors in this painting are a light brighter than my usual palette.  I grabbed my paint bag not realizing I had taken several tubes of paint out a few days ago.  I was left with cad yellow, yellow ochre, quinacridone red, transparent red oxide and prussian blue.  I rarely use prussian blue. It is a very strong pigment and can take over the entire palette if not used carefully.   I kind of like the pure color in this but I would like to do another version with my more complete palette to grey it down a bit. I'll post a second version if I get to it in the next day or so.

The Series Continues

"Hot Day on the Docks"  8 x 10 oil on linen panel

I started this on site at the Newport Shipyard docks where all the big fishing trawlers and small boats are docked.   I couldn't stay long though as it was just too hot to stand in full sunshine with no shade.   I have an easel umbrella but it seems to only work in less than 5 or 10 knots of wind which is rare around here.  I like the colors in this.  The jpeg doesn't really pick up the subtle grays in the background but I like the soft effect in the further structures.   Things look a little busy in the lower right hand corner which I didn't intend but I will leave it for now.  If this ends up being a bigger piece I will soften that area so it doesn't draw so much attention.

Newport Lobsterman Again

"Newport Lobsterman II", oil on linen panel, 8 x10

The lobsterman paintings may become a series but I won't commit yet.  Two does not make a series!  There is so much material to paint from the New England lobster boats.  The boats are usually small and neutral colored but the bright gear that the men wear and the trap buoys create a colorful and appealing scene.  The challenge is to narrow down the elements to create a cohesive painting.  There is almost too much to work from.   In this painting, I focused on the center man in the orange gear.  I liked the positive and negative shapes created by the overlapping figures. There was actually a lot more going on here but I simplified the composition to focus on the main shapes and concentrate the brightest color around the focal area.   I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.