First plein aire--at last!

[artbabe21]

OK, after 3 weeks of weather problems I was able to finish this.
It's nothing interesting, just trees outside my house but it was close. I haven't painted in 8 years so throw the book at me! Go ahead. I had many problems, the least of which was controlling my darks!!!!!!! Usually I am SO middle values, never having enough darks. But I was seeing lots of contrast between the light falling on the trees and the darker trees in back not receiving any sun
8x10 oil- on panel--brush/knife, just a little---Cathleen~

[artbabe21]

I see that resizing this picture {the file was huge, must find out how to change that setting} has made some distortions in the trees leaning, the background colors look faded-----oh, well you get the idea. Now I am sorry I posted it already-----ack, it's so lousey, the greens scream, even though I used different shades.
Cathleen~:(

[seejay]

Hi Cathleen,

I have only just started this sort of thing myself, so I have little to offer in advice. I really like the depth in the picture, the contrast between the trees in light, and those in the dark works for me.

As for colour, maybe someone else can help there, if they think there is a problem....

Thanks for posting.

Chris

[Yax]

Cathleen I think you have done very well here. This is a very nice painting, and your first plein air effort. Hope we will see many more paintings from you. Yax

[joemajury]

I agree, you get a great feeling of depth here, and I love the many shades of green - 40 perhaps ??
Best wishes

Joe
;) ;)

[Wayne Gaudon]

Ooooooooooooh ... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........

Cath~
this is a wonderful first timer. Would like to see some focal point with a little more variance in the trees, grass, and front shrubs.
Me thinks I better get to work before someone decides to start a club for you and I have to find me a new Pres.

PS.. you can edit the pic within 24 hours

Later,

[impressionist2]

Cathleen, Here I am, watching your file open up and thinking, "this is Really good. Especially, for a first timer." Then I read your second post, and it reads like Woody Allen from Annie Hall. So funny and so human! Relax.

You got the trees and with detail yet! You got the shade. The color looks good. Everything is fine. I am amazed when first time work shows up looking as good as yours, and also Dianes.

Good going Cathleen and we'll be expecting more now!:)

Renee

[walden]

Congratulations! I like it very much-- an excellent re-start on painting! I'm going out again after a week of no painting and I'm wondering if I can still do it-- I can't imagine what an 8 year gap would feel like. :)

[artbabe21]

I plumb forgot, this is merely 1/100, so I will only remember the joy of the process--------and learn something about what I don't want to repeat. It was daunting to face the majesty of nature & try to capture so much at once! Next time I will *remember, IMPRESSION, not detail!:o

Thanks for all the nice comments, nobody threw the book, come on don't be so nice!

Chris & Yax--thanks for your very encouraging comments.

Joe--you're a dear to travel over here, my friend to see my work!

Wayne, thanks for the pages from the book that you threw!!!!
I appreciate your mentioning the focal point which I forgot, and the other suggestions! That's how I will learn!

Renee, glad I cracked you up-----it was a shock to see my own work uploaded, something I wasn't sure of anyway! I'll keep going, it's contagious!!
thanks everyone!!!!!!Cathleen~

[guillot]

:clap: Cathleen :clap:

This is beautiful. You did such a great job. Wonderful work with the shadows and with light. Beautiful vibrant greens.

Wayne, watch out.........Cathleen is on the move!!!!

Isn't it a terrible feeling when you first post your work???? yak. But the feedback and support, whether good or bad, are priceless.

Pat yourself on the back!!! When will we see more???? Great work Cathleen ;)

Tina

[LarrySeiler]

Your trees show a nice sense of rhythm with the brushwork...a real unifying harmony to it. The greens and color temperature you've managed to achieve give a good sense of being there. Again, my test is always to squint my eyes and see by imagining if I can "feel" myself standing in a spot for real looking at this view.

It has that sense for me!

What I'm curious to know is...were you conscious about "squinting" your eyes? How much did you do so? If not about 60% of the time....I'd recommend it as you grow, to take in more the dynamics of the scene and help eliminate the unessential details.

Details are needed if the drama and dynamics of the sun, the shadows, and color are themselves not convincing enough. The need is almost a "crutch" form. A last measure or attempt to convince the viewer.

I mean, I've seen the most spontaneous, loose...painterly brushstrokes give off that spirit of realism and "life" because the essentials of color, shadows and sun's drama were captured.

To really get a feel for that...you need to squint your eyes a bit more to focus on those variants.

looking good though!!!!!

Larry

[CarlyHardy]

Wow...I read the second message and thought...who is the critic here? LOL!! I think you did a great job for a first plein air....and a return from an 8 year sabbatical from painting!!

Every time I begin a new painting...I look at the scene, and say "what do you have to teach me today?" Let every new painting be an opportunity to learn from 'nature'.

Now you're an official "plein airist"!!
carly

[artbabe21]

Lisa, I have missed you! Knew you were busy w/your girls. Thanks
for your comments & taking a look. I think I am now on a road to ruin----only wanting to paint!! I sometimes wonder how families understand this?

Tina, thanks for your kind comments & support! I will keep at this until I get it right, so it's going to be awhile, but that's the beauty of painting. You can always do another & so on!

Larry, your comments made me smile. You were so right about the 'squinting' thing, no it wasn't even 60%, I was so bombarded with this new experience I kept forgetting. But now that you have mentioned it to me it will probably be something I will remember in the future. Kinda like when your mom said things when you were a kid that stick in your head. I really enjoyed what you wrote on Diane's thread and related to it so throughly!

Carly, thanks for stopping by with your good advice, yep this plein aire does grow on you! I went scouting for a new spot for the next one when I was in town today, so I am ready to venture out.
Cathleen~

[artbabe21]

Late the night that I posted this thread, I ran to my studio and fan brushed out all the miserable details. When I was done it resembled a really green ragin'!! I waited for the weather to clear so I could repaint it. Early this morning I was reading Larry's demo's and it got me fired up so I was able to repaint with no trepidation. I 'did' remember to squint, I think you can see that, and thanks to Renee, I used a bigger brush!!!!! Then I wasn't prone to do so much detail, it's much looser. Wayne helped with suggestions on focal point & tree colors. I am grateful for all the advice I received and am far more happy with this version but please don't hesitate to offer suggestions. That's how I will continue to learn!
Cathleen~

[guillot]

Hi Cathleen!! You're doing so great!! But, I did like the first one better. It's so hard to do what you just did, fanning out something and then putting it all back in, with landscapes. I think you are on your way :)!

Tina

[Wayne Gaudon]

Everytime I try to fix one I mess it up. I think it's easier to repaint. I like this but I think you need to add some warms to make your highlites sing .. a few cad yellows next to those center purples and some of the grass area & branches should catch some real direct sunlight. You have toned down the trees but again, the middle treees that are in the path of the sunlight, need more sunlight. You need to kiss them with the sun ..

[Wayne Gaudon]

Definately not like this but this effect if you get the drift .. would make the baby sing in MHO.

Later,

[Cherie]

For a first time......you did good. Keep painting!

[pampe]

geesh, BozeGal...that's after 8 years off?????

:eek:

Maybe I should take a break:rolleyes:


I really like the first one's spontaneity and life


The second one looks like you tried to squeeze the life out.....:crying:

Really.....how great to FINALLY see a piece of youer creative spirit....:clap: :clap:


KEEP PAINTING

*waving from the North side*
Pam

[guillot]

You are doing wonderfully, and it's a fantastic barrier to cross, when you put yourself out there.

I, personally, think that you are doing great. Just as you have show us all here!!!! "angel" Keep up the wonderful work and keep posting!!! :clap:

Tina

[artbabe21]

Thanks for your honest critiques Tina, Wayne, Cherie & Pampe---I
did forget to mention I ran out of light and hadn't yet put in the highlights that were giving me trouble, as everything was so wet.
I still like the looser look and it will have more life once it's finished. But you can imagine how much I disliked the first version to fan brush it out! I'll keep trying!
Cathleen~:rolleyes:

[Wayne Gaudon]

Not even the masters made great paintings each time out. Don't be too tough on yourself, it won't help. Besides, that's my job.

I did an experiment today with getting the oil out. It's in the Oil Forum called Removing Oil From Oil Paint .. weird but fun stuff.

[artbabe21]

Originally posted by artbabe21
I still like the looser look

btw, that was LOOSER look, not 'loser'------LOL! Will check out your thread, thanks Wayne!
Cathleen~

[Wayne Gaudon]

I know that .. but at first read I read it as Loser and I had such a good laugh I had to hang on to it for a bit. :D

[impressionist2]

Wayne wrote: Definately not like this but this effect if you get the drift .. would make the baby sing in MHO.

Later,

Wayne Gaudon has attached this image:

Wayne, How did you apply those light/warms? They do sing. Did they go over the darks or did you apply those first and then paint the darks around them? They look like the effect you get when there's only white canvas underneath the paint, with dramatic cool/darks surrounding them. Renee

[Wayne Gaudon]

Hi Renee

.. I did that in PSP (Digital) but if you want your warms to sing, put them down first, a little bigger than you want so you can cover some of them to make them more natural in the setting, and then paint some cold darks around them. They will sing!I don't know if it's true to anything but the darkest dark next to your lightest light should ring the bell.

I put some over dark but you must remember that as the paint dries the dark will affect the light and it won't sing as much when it's sitting on a dark base.