Across the river

Third workshop painting. This is really working for me. Feel the light green is a little harsh but will leave it. The only workshop that I am getting decent paintings.

Sunset Farm

Second workshop painting done in the evening. Used the same method as previous painting. I really like working like this and my painting has improved.

After the rain

First workshop painting with Chris Leeper. Wonderful workshop. Main principles: Shapes, value, color, edges. It was partly cloudy so the block in was with local color. Used some painting medium and blocked in lightly, adjusting the values. The color dried quickly and I was able to apply wet paint on top, then got my close edges with some bright color. I like working like this.

Preparing canvas boards

Spent the day preparing canvas 8x8 and 8x10 boards. Used flexible Modeling Paste first in and x type brushstoke, then two coats of Gesso with a little sanding on the bumps. Finished 24 boards. That should hold me for a while! I have been fascinated by the 8x8 format. Makes for interesting compositions.

Herb Garden 2

I was definitely intrigued by those pots in the herb garden. I wanted to do this painting the day before but we had to move due to spraying in the rose garden. I also wanted it to be an 8x8 but only had an 8x10 panel. If I cut it down the composition changes. I don't like it as well as the day before painting. The greens are a challenge and the amount of different foliage is a challenge also. What to eliminate to make a good painting!Sometimes painting a formal garden makes it difficult to do melodic lines!

Herb Garden 1

This was done on Monday June 6th in the early morning before it got too hot. I especially like this painting. I feel the composition works well, the planes read well, and the color is much to my liking as I feel lately my work has been on the dull side. I am hoping that the Chris Leeper workshop coming up will help me with this as his work is brilliantly colorful.

Kingwood Garden

This was done on June 4th at the OPAS paintout at Kingwood Gardens. Certainly a challenge with all that green. I did get some good critique remarks by Debra Dawson and she also suggested some lighting changes, which I did when I got home. Not perfect but I am learning to do greens and planes!