Work in progress eden

I havenot had an internet connection for days. Here is one of the final paintings afer two layers. I know it needs more mid value transitions between the light and dark areas which u will do in the next layer.

More Caribbean Skies

This study was painted at dawn so it was still dark outside. It is painted on carton board which is an interesting surface. It is the color of cardboard and quite "scratchy" in texture. Carton board is also very absorbent so the color change is more noticeable when dry versus linen. The impressionsts used a similar surface for their oil sketches at the turn of the last century. I like it for studies and sketches but the drawback is that it has to be framed under glass (as do all works on paper) .

Sky Painting

Sorry for the long delay in posting. Unfortunately, I have had a tragic incident with my Macbook and a glass of water. I wish I could say it is the first time it has happened but it isn't. It's tne second time in less than two years. They can create all this incredible technology but they can't (read:won't) make a laptop than can withstand water. aaarrgggh. In any case, I am solely reliant on the ipad until I return to the US. It is maddening. i am growing less fond of the ipad on a daily basis and I am REALLY unhappy with the blogger app which as you can see has basically no capabilities to edit or change anything whatsoever. So, after all this complaining, here is one of the sky studies I have been working on this week. It is really interesting painting clouds. Quite challenging! i will go into more discussion on "skying" as Constable called it in the next couple of days.

New Snow Paintings

"Saratoga Fields", oil on linen, 24 x 24

I've finally finished up all the winter paintings I've been working on the past few weeks.  I've done quite a few studies and paintings of the area between Saratoga Springs and Schuylerville.  I'm leaving for the tropics tomorrow so this will be the last cold weather painting I will be doing for a while!  Next stop Tortola . . .

Schuylerville Sunset

Study for "Schuylerville Sunset", oil on linen, 6 x 8

Another painting from the Saratoga-Schuylerville area done from sketches and memory.  I am working on a 24 x 24 version of this painting but changed the composition to accommodate the square format.  I am happy with the progress so far and hopefully will be able to post something tomorrow.  Busy, busy.

Winter Landscapes and Memory

"Winter Vineyards", oil on linen panel, 8 x 10

This little painting is a scene from the same area as the last few posts.  Working from memory is both liberating and confounding!  It is liberating in the sense that the artist doesn't feel constrained by the limits of what is in the photo or sketch and is free to move trees around, change the direction of light and create different color harmonies than what may have been there initially.  It is confounding for just that reason as well.  There is no guidepost or map to follow when painting from memory.  The color of the bushes against the snow was what I remembered most vividly of this scene.  I may have overdone the saturation of the rust colored bushes but I'll let it sit a while.

Saratoga Sunrise

"Saratoga Sunrise", oil on linen, 5 x 7

This little painting was one of my first experiments with indirect painting.  I didn't intend to paint in layers with this little study as the underpainting was done in opaque rather than translucent paint.  Paintings done in an indirect manner usually start with a translucent underpainting followed by layers of thin glazes to build the color.  I like the soft effects you can get with glazes but I also like the bold, fresh quality of paintings done in one go ("alla prima").   There will be more posts on indirect painting as I experiment with this method in the coming months.   This painting is currently at Mimosa Gallery in Saratoga Springs NY as part of their small works exhibit which is on view through February 17th.