A Diversion to water colour!

Sorry it's been awhile since the last post!

All oil painting has been stopped and the water colours are out of moth balls...just kidding. I am always dabbling in the water! I have a great teaching gig in Toronto for the next 10 weeks at the New"Freehand Art School". It is one evening a week for 2 hours and last night was the first class. If anyone is interested there are still a couple of spots available. I am posting 2 of the "quick" sky studies we were working on.

If interested their web site is ...

http://www.freehandart.ca

Stuck...?

Well, like I mentioned at the start of this painting...I'm stuck! In order to keep the flow going I stopped work on the large piece and did a couple of "Forest" studies. I have posted the images here. They are just works for colour, experiments in season change and patterns of light. These are 9"x12" canvases that I have ready in the studio  with a wash of "burnt orange" toned canvas. I like the warm orange because I  seem to paint with cool colours and the orange shows thru to warm up my work.
These studies are not finished paintings so I usually "loosen" up and avoid my dreaded "detail". I will probably varnish these and sell them.

Stay tuned...the large one is not forgotten!

Here's the Third session!

Well, I'm starting to see the return of detailing. I really have to sit back at this point and take notice of what I am trying to do. I do like detail but find you really lose the "feeling" with Oils very quickly. My detail works well with illustration and watercolour, as good drawing is usually a great start for watercolours.

However, back to this thing... I put more variations of dark blues,rose and even green into the snow shadows. I didn't blend them either (another problem I have from watercolour, it blends so nice with the flow of water!) My biggest problem is going to be the trees...I would love to put in every branch!!! Yikes...what AM I doing?

I am getting so close to ruining a great start! I did a small 16"x20" that is on my web site that inspired this painting, (Can't See The Trees" named because there are so many and not many branches!). It is much looser because the small size isn't as intimidating to me. I can afford to throw a small one to the pit! (fire pit) I am going to see this through, bare with me! Maybe the next session will be an improvement.

I see I still haven't enticed any followers...maybe I'm just ranting to myself here. I could be losing my own mind rather than a painting. Well one thing is for sure. It is making me think about what it is I am trying to achieve. I've never been a "journal" writer (like Oprah) but she swears by it. So, this is my journal or journey to a better way of painting!

Second session of painting!

This is the second session on this "woods" painting.
I have started to add some darks and establish the cooler blues and rose colour to the snow in shadow. I also have defined some of the trees in the direct sunlight. I am going to study the work so far and decide how I want the cast shadows from the trees to go. I think rather than straight down they should be in a direction either left or right. This would direct the viewer's eye into the painting and be more interesting.

I'll post the next session in a couple of days!

Starting another studio piece!

Well, after a frustrating day of errands...I decided to start a new painting. This will be a woodland scene in winter. i love the colours, warm tones against the cool blues & greens of snow. This is a photo of the first lay -in or wash of colours. I try to establish my lights and rough in of shapes of the trees.
I will post the painting at different stages of completion. I'm sure there will be times of frustration! I usually get "stuck" around the 1/2 way point. I have sometimes put the painting away for several weeks and start something new!

Here goes the journey...                 30"x40"

Still Learning how to blog???

Well, after several re-designs I am getting close to what I like to see when I read blogs! It still isn't too interesting so i haven't notified anyone that I am doing this!!! Seems pointless to have a blog then if no one knows about it!

My introverted self is showing!!!  Art is moving on about as well as this blog! Going no where fast!

Back to the computer? Or to the easel? I think easel....

My first blog post!

I started a blog today to try and get myself to paint on a regular basis and get tips from several other artists and followers.
I hope to post finished paintings as well as sketches and even some commercial work. I will explain my painting process and places I paint from. I am trying to paint more "en plein air".( Means painting outside in all kinds of weather,bugs and changing light! Difficult at first but gets some what easier!

A bit about me...I have been an architectural renderer since 1980 working from plans and painting every brick,shingle and matching builders' colour schemes has kept me on a very narrow and tight style of art. (hope to change)... I am an elected member of the "Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour" CSPWC since 1995 and painted in water colour for years and have recently switched to oils. I love the creamy texture of oil paint and find the  vibrant colour much more appealing!

So,  I hope you enjoy my blog and please make comments or suggestions!