Much better today

DLGardner · #1 04-18-2002, 07:32 PM

I feel much better today about what I did. I brought my frame to grab a composition; kept it simple (well, at least simpler than nature) and enjoyed the entire time! I didn't panic and chase the sun either (there wasn't any so that simplified that). Here's what I came up with. This is a little larger, 9 X 12 oils. A park in Gig Harbor WA.

walden · #2 04-18-2002, 10:09 PM

Yes, much better! Good composition, and beautiful cool color harmony-- you captured the light. Good work!

CarlyHardy · #3 04-18-2002, 10:25 PM

You did a beautiful job of capturing that cool shady day. I hope you'll be doing more outdoor painting. This was a lovely setting!
carly

LarrySeiler · #4 04-19-2002, 08:09 AM

a challenge to capture all the greens of the foilage, and yet you've done so capturing the values and feeling of a constant light. Is overcast more or less you area's constant for skies? That gives great longer diffused lighting and painting opportunities.

Quite a complicated composition yet too for something as you say "simple." Good job.....

what's more is...you've made a personal connection to the area, the beauty there that resounded in your spirit. As an artist, you didn't so much plot to make art...which we do in the studio, but indeed your senses "responded" and "reacted." It hardly gets more personal and intimate than that for an artist.

Larry

DLGardner · #5 04-19-2002, 02:20 PM

Thank you Larry. In answer to your question about overcast light...this is the challange! We have clouds 80% percent of the time and of that percentage probably 60 percent is rain (these are just my figures). But I do know one year it rained straight for 90 days and that's not exaggerating. We have about 2 months, August and September where the sun shines and the temperature actually rises about 60. Those months are glorious because of all the vegetation here from the rain just makes this place sparkle with life. Unfortnately we have to wait a long time for that sun. So as a painter I can't just sit and wait for August to plein air. I love working with shadows but here it just isn't happening. I think Peter Pan was from Washington because he couldn't find his shadow, remember? Well, I guess my real challange then is to paint what I see here and capture that Washington sky and like you say, the diffused light that comes with it. Then I need to do something with my paintings to make it look like I didn't forget the light factor. That's the real challange. Your comments helped me realize that Now how.....!

DLGardner · #6 04-19-2002, 06:15 PM

Just a couple of studio touch ups. The water wasn't really blue at all (how could it be, there was no blue sky) but a brown so I changed it.

Off to thin the blackberry plants in my yard (nasty job). Anyone want any?

impressionist2 · #7 04-19-2002, 09:13 PM

Diane,

Big improvement.

You have an entryway into the painting and a focal point. You changed and varied the greens ( don't forget the complimentary colors throughout the greens). Personally, I like the untouched painting a bit better. Just looked looser.

Btw, are you using a small brush on that central tree? If so, go bigger next time. You'll lose any tightness and detail that way.

See, plein aire can be fun!

Renee

DLGardner · #8 04-19-2002, 09:38 PM

I like the untouched painting a bit better. Just looked looser
Actually I didn't change as much as appears. I used the digital enhancement to make it clearer since my scanner didn't pick up the image as well as the first time. When I did that it made the whole picture brighter, which isn't how it is.

Btw, are you using a small brush on that central tree? If so, go bigger next time. You'll lose any tightness and detail that way.

Yes I did. Don't I want some detail? I love the big brushes but I was thinking that I should have a bit of detail in the painting. Am I wrong in thinking this?

impressionist2 · #9 04-20-2002, 09:55 AM

Diane, Okay, yes you need some detail on the focal point, but you don't need actual lines. It's more of splashes of color, that make up the whole image.

Now, these are Very loose examples. Some people think Charles Sovek is too loose: http://www.sovek.com

, but he is a member of PAPA and it doesn't get much better than that. Also, his colors are very primal as opposed to the soft look ( which I preferred ) years ago.

You can see however, the way he lays in individual spots of colors that make up the tree.

Renee

DLGardner · #10 04-20-2002, 12:08 PM

Thank you Renee, this helps me very much. I'll remember this in my next painting! Maybe I'll get out there today.

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