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Updated 11/30/08
Landscape Paintings - Special Painting Events and Places
This page will be used for special paintings resulting from plein air competitions, and on location special places that don't fit into other categories. I can upload from anywhere with a T-mobile connection!
Kentucky
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I decided to finish up a couple of paintings that were started earlier--one is the book cover with the phoenix on it, and I may update that with a daylight photographed image to show the nuances. The other is the one started on location in Kentucky, and is the hillside with all of the texture in the greens. Although the mark-making at this point is subtle, the differences are pronounced in where I want your eye to go. This 16 x 12 oil now has the stronger message I wanted to convey about the light and the atmosphere as I looked across the valley.
On another note, I brought home Heather doe goat and her adorable week-old daughter. Tomorrow I will take pictures! We'll be back in goat milk, and with the chickens that came along, hopefully fresh eggs for quiche and breakfast! I love the sound of a rooster--as long as he isn't under our bedroom! Now, since I know they get up a whole lot sooner than I do, I'm off to get some much-needed shut-eye!
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OK, not the last of the last, but the last finished one I did while there. This is a 12 x 9 oil of Grimes Mill which is now the headquarters of the Iroquois Hunt Club, and the third painting I did on location that afternoon which seems already so long ago. I'm glad I had done these, as it has allowed me to spend some time here working on the goat pen and the chicken run--tomorrow I pick up my milk goat and her daughter (yet unnamed), and a flock of chickens from my friend and goat lady Sue. Of COURSE I'll post pictures!
So, what can I tell you about the process and procedure on this one? I can say that it didn't LOOK like this, in that there were shadows on the sunny side that were not very attractive, so I made my own! I like the essential horse-head hitching post and chain in the lower left, and that the renovation kept the millstones, which are in the front lawn filled now with flowers.
Tomorrow I'll finish the 16 x 12 landscape I started as a lesson painting, and present that to you finished. Thanks for joining me on this journey! Of course, all the paintings you have seen are for sale, but I'm working behind the scenes with my assistant (Alberto) to put them all in my ebay store. I'll send out news what that is all ready to go!. |
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Back home again, into the hot tub, two glasses of wine later, and I'm about ready to slide into the sheets for a good night's rest! Although I'm posting it at 8:45 pm, my head thinks it's 11:45!! The flights were uneventful, but it was hard to say goodbye to Melissa and Kentucky--but who's complaining with the reception awaiting here? We went over to the Red Mile and did some needed reference photography of the harness horse training and workouts before she took me to the airport.
Today's painting is one that I did on location at the Iroquois Hunt Club creek a few days ago, and is the second of three I did that afternoon. This one, a five by seven oil, as compared with the first, shows how important it is to have the sense of place "in place" before beginning painting. It is much better in design and value than the first, more hurried one of yesterday. It really says moving water and stream to me.
Tomorrow the routine begins again, with some stress, yet I know I am happy to be home, refreshed, loving my hubby, so will say "nighty nite" to all of you for yet another day. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your artistic journey!
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How sad I am that this is my last night in Kentucky--yet how happy I will be to see and enjoy all that awaits me upon my return to California tomorrow! I share with you one of the two quick studies I did a couple days ago while Painting with Kathy Lambert from Florida. This is the warm up one, while I was still establishing a "sense of place" in my mind. It is of the creek, still swollen from the recent rains, behind the Iroquois Hunt Club.
Interesting that I have found just how important it is to take the time to get a "sense of place" before beginning a plein air painting. Without it, one's work looks false and full of effort. I'm sure you'll see that tomorrow's 5 x 7, which was painted immediately following this one, is MUCH more evocative of the creek and its gift of being in front of me. I will miss the rushing and trickling water, but my pond is working well at home now, and I can hardy wait to see it.
That sense of place comes when I wait in an area for 30 to 45 minutes before begining painting. I can set up, but tend to wait until I have allowed the site to sort out in my head, making the choice of what to paint an easy one. The place tells me. So when you head out the door to paint--don't be in such a hurry to set up and get something done. Sometimes the best learning time is BEFORE you lift your brushes, when you rest quietly and allow the place to speak its special magic to you!
I went for my last ride around the farm today with Melissa, on Belle who was again a joy to ride, and we circled by these round bales. I will so miss the greens and yellows of this area!
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A very full day today, with a trail ride through several farms and along deep forested creeks with belly deep grass, creek crossings and wild turkey hens thundering up out of the meadow to startle the horses! We saw white tail deer and had a great ride early this afternoon.
Then, as the weather mixed up the sky, I headed over to the end of the barn under cover while the wind buffeted the trees and painted this 8 x 10 oil of the back pasture. The skies opened up and drenched the parched fields in a bucket-filling downpour that left as quickly as it began. It has been close to a record number of days without rain, although still the greens are everywhere. Painting while the rain clattered like marbles on the tin covering was exciting, yet that was topped by the discovery of a corn snake--a species I haven't seen close up in the wild--coming to watch. Gentle enough to capture, I showed it to the farm manager's boy and friend, then we let it loose in the woodpile.
Tomorrow Melissa and I head over to Shaker Village where the workshop was going to be held, and spend a day painting on location with a group of local artists. It will be a full day. But today was not finished yet, as I just felt I had to go out and try to get a photograph of the fireflies/lightning bugs that are such a part of my growing up, and so welcoming to see yet again. We don't have these insects in California, and they are so dear to my heart. Who says you can't photograph a lightning bug? I was able to get these two on the driveway up to the farm! I'm just glad nobody was around to take a picture of this crazy artist chasing bugs!
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"Pastures at the KHP" This acrylic demonstrates the layering effects of building layers and veils of color over an underpainting of large shapes like a cartoon. For example the tree started out as a solid area of pthalo green, but at this more finished stage, the tree has been pushed back by a layer of lighter green, another of burnt umber wash, and several other layers of sky color and grayed blue. Acrylics suit this method, because they dry more quickly, and can be built up with luminosity as the layers are added. An original acrylic, 9 x 12 inches, for $100.
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"Valley View Ferry" Here's the plein air (on location) painting from yesterday afternoon, created with a pleasant hour at the edge of the Kentucky River. The cables hold the ferry from the white A-shaped tower on each side, no matter the river's height. I learned that Kentucky has more fresh water than any state in the United States, including Alaska, according to my hosts. It certainly is a GREEN state, although some of the leaves, like on this large sycamore(?) across from where I was sitting are starting to turn fall colors. It must be beautiful year-round, yet I haven't been here in the winter. Original 4 x 4 inch oil
 to Roy Renfro of Pottsboro, Texas
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"Underpainting with Cadmium Orange" (Pastures at the KHP #2) One of the demonstration paintings for the last workshop, this 12 x 16 acrylic painting was started over an underpainting of acrylic that continues to peek through in various places in the final composition. A familiar tactic to unify a painting, this bright pigment livens up areas of the work. In the earlier version on September 16, you'll see the quieter version. $100
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"Evening Light Across the Pasture" My first plein air after arriving in Kentucky on September 17. Subtle greens of the trees contrast with the brilliant light and shadow of the pasture grasses in this hour-before-sunset light. Original oil 12 x 9 inches, US $289 from the artist. |
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"Rock Ridge Driveway" Such a familiar sight coming and going from Melissa and Bill Brown's farm in the Kentucky hills. Beautiful in the evening light, black board fences in place, and the evening light all over the landscape. Original oil, 9 x 12 inches, US $289 from the artist. |
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"Evening Light at the Lake, Kentucky Horse Park" After the full day of classes in teaching "Color Boot Camp" to 13 students, I invited them out to meet me by the lake to demonstrate evening light in a plein air demonstration. |
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"Near the Art Studio, KHP" The horse in the pasture painting done as a demonstration during Elin's AAEA workshop. Nothing like those beautiful clouds in Kentucky! Original oil on canvas panel, 16 x 20 inches US $ 850 Contact Elin |
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"Across the Pasture, Kentucky" On her first evening back in Kentucky pastures, Elin took her paints and easel out into a pasture in the late afternoon light. The slants of the trees show the prevailing winter wind direction, in the company of five curious horses looking over her shoulder! Original oil on panel, 5 x 7 inches. US $ 175 Contact Elin |
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"Tennis, Anyone?" This is a 10 x8 watercolor on watercolor canvas, which I painted "en plein air"--which means I was looking at the scene while painting it. I was sitting on a porch swing on one of the older houses in Lexington, looking across to the public tennis courts, where three players were exercising and enjoying a late afternoon day of tennis. People and dogs walked by, there were kids on skateboards, and it was just a lovely afternoon after yesterday's rain. The watercolor canvas will be sealed, and can be framed normally without glass. Available for $100...
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Virginia
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"High Water" While on the banks of the Potomac River just north of Leesburg and southeast of White's Ferry, my sister and I figured out why the ferry wasn't operating. However the grandeur of these two bankside trees caught my eye. Original acrylic on board-backed canvas 12 x 9 inches, US $ 295 from the artist. |
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"Holding on or Spring" Everywhere we went on our Virginia trip, we would look through the forests and see these beech trees holding fast to last year's leaves, awaiting the spring growth before dropping their silvery white remnants of last year's green. Original acrylic on board-backed canvas, 12 x 9 inches. Available for US $295 from the artist. |
Glen Eden
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"Morning Neaqr Piper Hall" The second of the paintings Elin has done on location (en plein air) at her Club, where she spends many hours swimming and playing water volleyball. This view is of the outdoor dining room near Piper Hall. Original oil, 12 x 16 inches, US $ 300 from the artist. |
California Landmarks
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"The Red Line" On location at the Orange Railway Museum in Perris, I painted this Red Line street car today.
33 45' 36.51N 117 13'57.00W Looking ESE
The Red Line has an interesting history in Los Angeles, the streetcars from Pacific Electric that serviced the city until bought out and retired by... yes, the oil companies. That's why Los Angeles has auto freeway gridlock today instead of an efficient electric streetcar system! Orginal oil on rigid canvas, 9 x 12 inches. $300
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Arizona - Aspens
Paint the Aspens with the Paint-L mailing group!
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The first morning after arriving at Hawley Lake, I awoke to mist and cool weather--portent of the rain that was to come later in the day. What to do but pull out the acrylics and paint the picnic table and the view across the lake!
This is a gallery wrap 9 x 12 and I'm looking at it sitting on the dashboard of my truck==the greens are more vivid than this image conveys...Now, all you folks familiar with the Color System know that 99 percent of this painting was done with the cool boxes. Do you see that areas under the left end of the picnic table? That flash of burnt sienna is what makes this painting work. OK, it breaks a rule, but sometimes that is what makes painting so much fun!
I've painted three more, but will have to wait until I get the photos in the computer. Now it is starting to rain again, and I need to get out of town and back to the lake before full dark. Here's a snapshot of the lake from my camping spot--with the evening clouds reflected. See you soon!
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Original acrylic, 14 x 7 inches. Using those acrylics in the pill boxes with the felt in the lids is working so well, I have no desire to even get out the oils for this trip! On Wednesday, Gwen, Suzanne and I met up on Escuadilla Mountain to capture the absolute beauty of the changing color of the aspens, and we weren't disappointed! The sun would break through scudding cloud masses, and my camper's oven was cooking the pot roast for the campfire gathering that night. Then the weather changed to lightning and thunder, and we beat feet for cover. I had done this painting as the second endeavor for this area, and finished it safely dry at the camper's dining room table.
It sold to an Arizona collector on the opening of the gallery show yesterday, so "I'm a happy camper" (truly!)
The photo below is of Suzanne and Gwen looking at the scenery.
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Above's the acrylic 12 x 12 diptych which was/were the first paintings started at Escuadilla Mountain. I taped them together across the back, and drew in the design of what I saw (see yesterday's image of Gwen and Suzanne painting to see my view). I wanted each one to stand on it's own, even tho' they were painted to be a duo, to hang together. They are gallery-wrapped, painted on the edges, which are 1.5" deep. Right now both are in the Joyous Lake Gallery in Pinetop-Lakeside for this month's show.
The process was to paint the largest shapes, in three major values (dark, middle and light) establishing the basic value plan in the inherent colors. Then breaking down each area into smaller and smaller bits, using either lighter or darker values to make each shape more interesting. For example, the aspens were laid in with a mid-value of sap green and cad yellow and white, and then subsequent layers came in to define the lighter and darker areas.
When I turned around in my seat, I could see behind me to my camper. That's where I took shelter as we literally ran from the lightning from the thunderhead that appeared so quickly. Sure doesn't look like it in this image! I just love the darks under the aspens, and those light trunks. Paintings in all directions!
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Although I might be back home again, I still have such wonderful memories of my time camping at Hawley Lake, and painting the beauty that is the White Mountains of Arizona. I have already marked my calendar for next year (first full week in October) and plan to host a three-day Mini Color Boot Camp before the official event! What a great way to learn to paint that glorious color.
The painting (left side) came about after the storm up above Escuadilla, and was painted in the camper. I used a small 5 x 8 inch canvas, and used many of the fun additives to give the surface additional texture. There are glass beads and fibers underneath the paint layers, and I also used palette knives to apply many of the color areas. And, being an acrylic canvas, it was dry enough to varnish and frame before day's end.
What better place to spend the end of that day though, than at Hawley Lake? The spot where I chose to park was surrounded by water on three sides, and very quiet and mysterious after nightfall. There was only one other camper in the entire area, and that made for a dark night! However, a good bonfire with the scavenged wood from the other camp sites light the night, and I sat with guitar and sang to the stars. Musta chased all the night birds away, ha!
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What an awesome time! Here just two weeks ago I was on the other side of the country in Georgia, painting beauty there, and now I'm high in the White Mountains of Arizona painting the aspens. This is a 12 x 36 acrylic, done on location, and is the second of several paintings I've done this week.
Camping at Hawley Lake is wonderful--the nights with the elk bugling through the night, and the stars thick and bright.
I'm online for only a moment in Eager, Arizona, thanks to the kindness of a computer store owner. Not much in this small town, but LOTS of kind people!
Back to the lake tonight, to host the campfire for the other artists, and singing by the lake with great friends.
I wish all of you were here, but know that I'm thinking about you high in these mountains. I'll write again when I get near another place to connect.
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"Backlit Aspen Evening" Changing from oils to acrylics was like revisiting an old friend. Larger canvas, familiar methods. This 16 x 20 canvas came to life as the evening light closed in. David R. Becker was nearby, painting a similar scene. Original acrylic available for $800 from the artist. |
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"Morning of the Bull" I took off across a meadow with my backpack and camp stool, and set my gear up near this stand of aspens in morning light. I worked for about 40 minutes, getting to this stage, when I heard a snort and a shuffle behind me. I turned to see a Herford bull curious and mighty interested in what I was doing. Fortunately, he was far enough away that I was able to pack up and get back to the truck camper before he decided to force the issue. Original oil on linen canvas, 12 x 9 inches
 to new collector Cynthia Kennedy of Virginia City, Nevada.
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"Hawley Lake Storm Clouds" The light was changing oh so fast! Same morning at Hawley lake, and having a lot of fun with the clouds. Original oil on canvas board, 5 x 7 inches, $185 from me. |
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"From the Second Lakeside Campground" On my last morning in the White Mountains of Arizona, I painted this morning light piece, sitting and waiting for the light to come up and strike the sides of these towering pines. The evening prior I listened to the bugling of the elks as I camped again on the edge of Hawley Lake. Original oil, 12 x 9 inches, US $375 from the artist. |
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"Morning Thunderhead" I spent the night solo in the campground at Hawley Lake, no other campers around, after making a campfire and listening to the elk bugling in the night, my constant companion dog with me. In the middle of the night, a rainstorm came through, rat-a-tat rain on the camper roof. The morning brought this scene to light, just before dawn. Original oil on board, 5 x 7 inches, US $185 from the artist. |
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"Changing Seasons" From the parking lot at Sunrise Ski Area (not open), I looked up the hill and saw this group of beautiful aspens, so I grabbed my gear and hiked up to paint it. I was sitting in the shadow of a pine, and halfway through the painting session, I was extremely startled to have a large raptor, probably a hawk, explode into flight from the branches above me. But I settled back down and finished this 16 x 12 oil on board, US $675 from the artist. |
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"On the Road to Sunrise" This escarpment of black rock called Snake Creek Canyon, is located on the road up to Sunrise Ski Area, and most of the Paint-L artists spent one day here painting this vista. I'm happy with this 6 x 12 canvas, with all the details and color in the trees. US $ 475 from the artist. |
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"Last Evening Light, Hawley Lake" As the light lengthened and changed, I look to the southeast and saw the last light on the clouds and White Mountains of the Apache Reservation. Original oil, 5 x 7 inches, US $ 185 from the artist. |
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"Hawley Morning", nine miles out of Pine Top and Lakeside, in the White Mountains of Arizona. On location, about 6:30 with morning light. Original oil on canvas board, 5 x 7 inches US $185 from the artist. |
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"Evening Light at Hawley Lake" On the penninsula day use area, I took my oils and at about 6 p.m. went out and painted this tree, solo in the golden evening light. Original oil on canvas backed board, 9 x 12 inches. US $ 375 from the artist. |
Georgia
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I have been busy, busy, busy! Freeing up time from the daily effort to produce a painting has given me opportunities to create in many ways. I've been doing the podcasts for iTunes, and have the first month of daily paintings online--October 12 through November 10, 2005, and will have the rest of the month up and running by this weekend coming up.
The painting for you today is one I did with acrylics, showing noonish light, and it is from the Somes Sound area in Maine. This is mostly palette knife, and done to clean out the acrylic boxes before coming back home. I really laid it on thick! It is being shipped back to Gail Ribas, who is in charge of the Acadia Workshop Center, and she will be adding it to her collection! It measures 9 x 12.
I received the Harness Tracks of America auction catalog in the mail yesterday, and one of my paintings is featured on the cover! The auction is online here, where you can scroll down and see my painting bottom center. There are many beautiful works of art to view. I have two paintings to ship to this fund-raising auction in October. I have lot numbers 22 and 83, and have to say the color sure stands out compared to others.
Five more of my paintings are in Maine at the "Dog and Pony Show" at Skyline Carriage Museum, on Skyline Farm. One already sold opening night, and I have hopes that perhaps the rest will not return. (Note: Three sold!) All are from the Daily Paintings and it was as if I were packing up old friends!
Friday it is off to Georgia, to teach the full workshop in Dawsonville, so I've been getting my materials ready and preparing to leave for just over a week. I have to make lists of chores that need doing while I'm gone.
One more bit of news--my web sites have gotten so big that it was time to put a search tool to find paintings on them. And you can search them now! It is now so much easier to find pages with the art you're seeking, and I'm using it too, finding work when a collector purchases a painting so I can mark it sold. Please find that search link on the lower left side of every page! It searches not only the current site you're on, but the other two as well.
Welcome to another new collector, Jacob Cohen of Rockville, Maryland, who purchased not one, but two cat paintings ("Cat Blue" and "Black Cat") from the ebay store. today. Thank you! |
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Here's my first demonstration painting for the Color Boot Campers in Georgia this evening. I hadn't lifted my brushes since leaving California, and was so itchin' to get to a painting by today (three days later) that even before the folks came in for the evening's welcome, I was at it. The result's a 9 x 12 acrylic of a section of the Amicalola River where we were yesterday, and I'm pleased with the outcome so far. I may work some more on it with the light of day, however tonight was the welcome and orientation for the week ahead. The hustle and bustle of the new arrivals and the warm welcome by all was delightfully distracting. A wonderful group of artists are here, and the next five days will be challenging and full of laughter.
Very satisfying to see the acrylic paints in their pill boxes make it successfully in my checked luggage. No leaks and still loads of wet paint!
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Now, if you check back a couple days in my blog, you'll see that I painted this image once before--in acrylics! This is an oil version, done to demonstrate morning light as it falls on an area of the Amicalola River in Georgia, and those of you "Color Boot Campers" will recognize why it is so obviously morning light!
The subject lent itself to instructing on how to convey time of day when one doesn't have the sky to help out. And of course, it also validates why one's source material should not be the determination of which color to use! Notice the difference in handling the rock face in sunlight between the two paintings. This 12 x 16 oil is now in the hands of Mary Pless, of Dunwoody, Georgia.
And also here's an image of the wonderful facility at Fay's for workshops! We're all working away at our easels, and there are halogen spotlights above each table! That's Sue (retired art teacher from Florida) on the left, painting moonlight in her inimitable style. The reproductions on the walls are Richard Stone Reeves' work. And all above the horse stalls below! No "roughing it" here!
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Europe
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"Snowy Path" A 12 x 9 inch acrylic painting from memories of my travels into Switzerland during the winter, although this scene could be found just about any place where snow falls. $325
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Email Elin about the paintings on this page.
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