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Prepared to Paint

The are the panels I use to create the smaller Chromascape paintings.  I start out painting the panel with acrylic.   I originally used just red and orange to get the warm under painting.  Now I have begun using greens and blues as well.  I often select the compliment of the landscape palette as the under painting hue.   This intensifies the color I put on top of it.  For example, if my Chromascape is based on purples, the panel I start with will likely be yellow.

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Appreciation of Landscape

A great deal has been written about why humans are so moved by the site of landscape.  In my recent immersion into landscape painting I have looked more seriously at the potential reasons for this.  I have begun reading such authors as Jay Appleton, who wrote The Experience of Landscape.  Appleton is known for the “prospect- refuge theory” which describes an evolutionary response to landscape.  Prospect defines our desire to perceive large expanses.  Refuge refers to our need for security and comfort. I am just beginning to read the text more completely, but I have to say that my initial response to this theory is that it is too simplistic.

This is a recent sketchbook drawing, in preparation for a painting. I am combining an appreciation of landscape with a decisive approach to color and form.  There is a relationship to art that I think can inform our appreciation of landscape beyond pure evolutionary concerns, but without descending  into mysticism.

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Wasted Paint is Bad

I remember well a MIAD instructor I once had telling me and the rest of the painting class never to waste paint.  “Keep a stack of panels handy” she would say, because left over paint on the palette could always be something.  Well here is my something.  So, using generic interpretations of my landscape theme I have composed these mini studies on a gessoed piece of watercolor paper that I taped off.  I am doing them in between panel paintings.  Great things are happening actually.  It is always an invigorating feeling when you let go and play, and it is good.

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Pastel Drawing (sitting down)

I did this drawing today in the studio.  I was taking a little break from painting I guess, while reflecting on a recent conversation about my work.  The way I do pastel is different.  I snuggle into my cozy chair and wrap myself around my drawing board.  This is very different then standing at arms length from an easel.  While different, I value both experiences and the results they produce.

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A Painting Continues

 

I blogged about this piece a few weeks ago.  To see days 1 and 2 click here.

These are days 3 and 4.  The progress has been good, with today focusing on detail and subtle changes.  The problem I think I face now is one of overworking.  I feel it is starting to be be killed and I have to consider stopping.  Something nags me about it and perhaps it is the simple truth that the little ones work better.  I have mixed feeling about this piece and do not know yet if I will keep going or not.

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New Painting

I began this piece a few days ago. These are two “in progress” shots. This image is based on photograph, as well as a few drawings I have done. I also have a smaller painting of the same image, which will provide an idea for where this is going. Chromascape 45 was completed a few months ago. It will be interesting to see how a similar composition will translate to a larger scale (the piece I am doing now is 20″ x 30″). I am aware in distinct differences in paint handling at this size. Also, of course, I am using a larger painting knife. The size however gives me the freedom to have a wider range of mark making. I could make more use of this freedom perhaps.

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Waiting for varnish to dry…

I do not love framing, and now I know I do not love varnishing either. I have spent the last few days waiting for varnish to dry and have started planning my next painting. This is a drawing I did in my studio today during the down time. It is not to the scale yet of the next canvas, but none the less it is the beginning of a thought process. I will probably draw this composition out one or two more times before beginning to paint. The canvas I am preparing for this painting is 20″ x 30″.

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More Progress

Remember that painting I blogged about a week or so ago? If not, view it here.

The piece continues to evolve, and I continue to document the changes I am making. The palette has now shifted a bit. I think it is almost done now, I don’t expect to do any radical changes at this point. It is interesting to look back at where it has been. These two versions were done in the last three days, the bottom image is the most recent state of the work. I think things are falling into place.

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Vancouver Art

I spent the last few days in Vancouver, B.C., where I manged to do a little gallery hopping. Vancouver has a very active art scene. I went to Gallery Row, in South Granville. This is a small, trendy area full of boutiques and galleries. Here I visited a number of noteworthy galleries, including the Petley Jones Gallery, Jacana Gallery, Kurbatoff Gallery, and the Elissa Cristall Gallery. A little off the main stretch was the the Diane Farris Gallery. Here I saw an exhibition called Waterways by artist Judith Currelly. Currelly’s muted paintings of animals and landscapes are slightly stylized and evoke a sense of history and native influence. (See image)

In downtown Vancouver I came across the Rendezvous Gallery. The gallery person I spoke to informed me that all the work in the gallery was North Western Coastal artists. The space was big, but still packed floor to ceiling with work, mostly bright and colorful landscape paintings. The gallery felt warm and vibrant and I think this may have been my favorite stop. Overall it was an exciting trip. Vancouver is a fascinating city full of diversity and culture.

Image: Judith Currelly, Inside Passage, Diane Farris Gallery, 2010

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Progress

This is the painting I have started based on the drawing I did last week. I am referencing the colors of a photograph. I am doing the painting in stages. These images are from two different studio days. I anticipate one more studio session will complete the piece. I have kept the paint thin as to avoid too much surface build up. The palette hasn’t quite come together yet, so I am looking forward to getting back into it.

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Planning? Me?

I started a new piece today. Usually I will just go for it, referencing a photo, maybe making a quick drawing. Today I made a preliminary drawing, to scale. I rarely plan so meticulously. However, I am going to attempt a larger painting. Most of the works I have done in oil recently have been small, because the direct alla prima painting I have been doing does not seem to work as well large. I tried a few, and they have been pretty unsuccessful. I just cannot accept that. So, now I try again with a game plan. I will post updates soon!

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Writings on Art- Mark Rothko

I am currently reading “Writings on Art” by Mark Rothko. This is a collection of letters, notebook entries, and essays by a very influential artist. Rothko writes a lot about creativity and education. He writes about how educating children on art should focus on inspiring creativity rather then instituting a regiment of lessons and disciplines. This reminds me that much of art making is letting go of the inhibitions we develop as adults. This is the part of art making that cannot be taught but only encouraged. So many believe that if they learn to draw they can be an artist. However, there are so many more intangibles components.

Many of Rothko’s texts are fragmented. However, this adds to the romance of discussing art. It is reminiscent of anyone’s studio journal which makes it fun to muddle through.

Mark Rothko, Writings on Art, Yale University Press