Marsh Heaven

 

on winsor newton 140# 11 x 14

I am contemplating putting in some grasses on that bottom left group of grass; although the real painting you can see texture and it appears to be just right. The photo makes it look subdued. I might go in and soften a few edges such as the mid left section. My favorite part is the sky, background, the reflective area on the front right and then last, the grasses on the foreground.

My snow scene went well, I enjoyed it and I might post it soon after I assess it. This painting was painted within a matter of 15 minutes! I am a get in and get out kind of painter.

I also started a seascape, I used a photo as a reference from my anniversary trip to Mendocino. Once I finish that one, I’ll post it.

I figured out why I am connecting with these wide open spaces and marshy areas is because I feel that I can let it rip and not get caught up into detail and just focus on the lay of the land and the expanse of sky.

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

Marsh Gold

 

On Saunders 300# 11 x 14 inches

I wasn’t sure if this painting would work but I kept at it to make it work for now. It was too wimpy for me the first several passes and I added the grasses in front to bring more interest.

 

Right now I am working on a painting of the Sierra Buttes all snowy and beautiful. I have been able to get in contact with a woman who lives up in Sierra City which is in the backyard of this beautiful mountain. She and her husband ventures out on snowmobiles and she is a photographer and she captures such beautiful photos. I am hoping that I will have it finished before the end of the week and if I am happy with it, I’ll show it.

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

 

 

Valley Bliss

 

on Saunders 300# 11 x 14 inches

I am on a roll and wanted to post one more time today. I tried something different for me and that was to paint on large piece of plastic board and over saturated both sides of my paper to keep it damp longer. I have to admit I loved this painting experience. It allowed me to give my painting a soft and diffused appearance.

I had enough time today to start on another painting but need to assess it to see if it needs anymore work. I am losing daylight so that tells me that it is the end of my day of painting.

Tomorrow is my day of rest so no painting for me, time to recharge. Have a wonderful weekend!

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

Another Valley Scene

 

On Winsor Newton 140# cp 11 x 14 inches

I am enjoying having scenes like these to make a whole series of paintings. I had originally started this series once I got back from my anniversary visit to the Mendocino coast. Here is the first post with several paintings that I had painted from that experience. Valley Scenes. I am focusing right now on photos that I took of the valley on the way home. I hope to evidently paint paintings from the photos of the coast.

I am enjoying a breakthrough lately with my watercolors. Two things that I have discovered lately, at least for me, is that I prefer now to stand while painting and also I have a board that is tilted at a 45 degree angle, maybe a tad less. I also step away often and tilt my head while viewing from that distance, I find that I am able to assess what is wrong or what I need to do. Learning is a never-ending process and I can live with that.

 

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

Acrylic of Goose Lake

 

Goose Lake on 11 x 14 inches

I decided to use up some of my Liquitex acrylics and to make sure I really want to get back into the medium. I didn’t have all the colors I wanted, for one I had to substitute white gesso for Tit. white. I “made do” and I was surprised how much I enjoyed painting this little scene. I referred to the pastel plein air rather than the photo.

I had difficulties trying to match up my photo to my painting. The purple in the far back trees doesn’t show up too well or the light blue highlights in the water. The yellow highlights on those trees on the left is subdued, it is in actuality a beautiful bright yellow. Oh well!  I hope I can get my camera to take good enough photos because I won’t show my paintings unless I feel comfortable with how the photo depicts the paintings.  I might work on this further or call it good, I might gesso it and re-use it or keep it.

 

 

plein air pastel of Goose Lake

 

photo of Goose Lake

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

 

 

Getting Back to Acrylics

 

Acrylic on 11 x 14 inch panel 

This is an acrylic that I painted about 8 years ago based on a near by reservoir. In my photo, I lost the orange in my sunrays and the water….and the pinks in the sky but at least you get an idea of this landscape. I will be purchasing a new set of acrylics and this time I am going to order Golden acrylic. I hope to make the order today.

I was trying to decide between gouache or acrylic and I have decided that I need a paint that I can get aggressive with. Gouache is similar to watercolor and aside from the opacity, I am thinking that I’ll probably approach the medium in the same way as I do with watercolor. Perhaps that is my thinking but I want a paint that has a firmer body and I feel that acrylic might do the job.

Wish me good speed on getting my paints and equipment!

 

Thinking of the North Yuba

 

on Arches 300# rough 11 x 14 inches

This is a studio painting that I painted several weeks ago. The photo was difficult to marry up to the real painting. The background is more of a greenish blue and the water is more of a yellow gold and there is more of an over all lime green throughout that isn’t showing up in the photo. I am not sure why I couldn’t get the correct depiction but I tried.

I have many more paintings to share and deciding on which ones is difficult. Today I am working on a forest scene of light coming through a grove of redwoods, a photo that I took about 15 years ago.

 

my scene of the North Yuba at Rocky Rest

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

 

Valley Scenes

 

Painting #1 On Winsor Newton #140 11 x 14 inch

On our way back from the coast celebrating our 31 anniversary, I took the opportunity to snap several dozen photos while driving into the valley area on the other side of Clear Lake, California. I somehow was able to capture the beauty of the landscape while driving along at a good 60-65 mph. No worries, my husband drove while I snapped the photos. I was a little disappointed that my photo doesn’t show the light blue in that center where it goes back in but believe me, in reality, your eye is pulled back into the trees.

 

Painting #2 on Winsor Newton 140# 11 x 14 inches

Odd seeing views of this sort from me, isn’t it? Of the valley! The flat lands! I have to admit it has inspired me to the point of feeling like I am obsessed. I love the river, the mountains but for some reason these valley scenes brought out a creative side that has me feeling like I going 60 mph!

 

Painting #3 on Winsor Newton 140# 11 x 14 inches

This painting doesn’t show the expanse in this photo but I tried to marry it up to the real painting. I am going to work on making these kind of paintings “lay down” better. Something to work on in the future.

 

Painting #4 on Winsor Newton 140# 11 x 14 inches

This painting I purposely went for shapes and color. True, I could have modeled the bushes better but then again I am after feeling and the gist of the scene.

 

Painting #5 on Winsor Newton 11 x 14 inches

This particular painting is a wip and I am not convinced that it will work. I included it just because. I might work on it more or put it in the “failed” pile. I could not get the colors to marry up with the actual painting.

Have you noticed that I have used Winsor Newton watercolor paper with these? I simply turned over failed paintings from when I first started painting with watercolors and at the time I bought a lot of the paper. Actually I like the paper because of the weave surface.

I am a bit tired and need to put these post up. I have been painting a solid 4 days, I need to rest my eyes and brain.

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glory Be!

 

Glory Be on Arches rough 300# 10.5 x 13.5 inches

I have been busy with painting every day and loving every moment. I think that for now I am allowing myself to veer in the direction that my creative spirit thrives in. Such as the painting  above. I didn’t want to fiddle around with all the little shrubbery, rocks and gravel so I decided to abstract that jumble of detail.

 

my reference photo

I might work on this painting more and maybe not! I will let it sit for a while and we’ll see. I like this no pressure approach, it truly works for me. I can’t emphasize how important it is to get out in nature to experience it fully if you plan on painting it. I love painting portraits, you wouldn’t think that I do if you have been following my blog because you never see them!

As a child the landscape has always pulled me, intrigued me to no end. While people tire of looking at landscapes whiz by while on road trips, my spirit soared. It wasn’t until I started plein air painting and hiking out to get to my spot to paint, that this love came to a deep realization.

Know your subject and paint what you love, I can’t emphasize that enough. True, I love portraits but right now I think that I love landscape more. Yes, I am a loner, perhaps that has something to do with it?

Have a wonderful weekend!

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.

 

 

A Touch of Gold

Along Shenanigan Flat aka Canyon Creek Trail on Arches 140# 11 x 14 inches

I won’t be able to paint or post for almost a week so I will be missing in action. My husband and I will be celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary on the 11th and will be staying for a few days on the Mendocino coast. Of course we are in the midst of one of the biggest storms that California has experienced in a decade!

My reference photo

I had more fun painting this. I have been finding that using a rigger brush helps with keeping things exciting and loose and especially with those trees. I didn’t want excessive detail and brought out only what I thought would help the painting. I plan on buying a larger liner though because the one that I do have is kind of small. I got the idea of using a rigger brush from watching Sandra Lynn Strohschein paint in her videos.

*A word about photos. The photos on my blog are mine, taken by me and copying them would be stealing from me. If you find a photo that you would like to copy or use, I request that you ask me for permission and I expect you to give me full credit for my own photo. Thank you so very much.