Landscapes Galore

On By Margaret Parker BrownIn art, California North Valley, Landscape painting, Northern California, watercolor
p1160341
painting #1 on Bockingford tinted paper 11 x 14 inches

I took several photos off the evening sun across the landscape on my way home from town. Here in Northern California we have had so much rain and snow that there has been road failures, landslides and now a comprised dam. I had to take a long way around to make my trip into town and I took advantage of being out and about when the sun was setting.

I haven’t had too much opportunities to paint the landscape in the evening. En plein air it is more difficult in the evening because the time is narrowed by a margin. Taking photos is the best option for right now.

colors used: Quin. Red, Quin. Gold, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Moonglow

p1160338
painting #2 on Saunders 200# 11 x 14 inches

I decided to paint another seascape. I wanted to go for feeling and not necessarily get lost in detailing this.

Colors used: Hematite Genuine, Green Gold, Cobalt Blue and Quin. Gold

 

p1160343
painting #3 on Bockingford tinted paper 140# 11 x 14 inches

Since I was having difficulty posting here on WordPress, I slapped dashed out another painting! Imagine that! I am in love with this paper. I have noticed it does dry faster and it is very fun but also you have to be on your toes which I like anyway. I wanted to go dark with this one, compared to the first time I painted this scene, I think that I have gone darker. Here is that post, painting #1  Valley Scenes .

colors used: Quin red, Quin. gold, Moonglow, cobalt Blue, Green Gold, Hematite Genuine, Prussian Blue

Have you all noticed that I haven’t been including my reference photos? Reason being that I take it much further than what the photo shows and plus I am trying to focus more on the paintings themselves. I will include photos when I go plein air painting or when I feel I need to include them.

*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.

 

35 thoughts on “Landscapes Galore”

  5. Margaret!!!! THREE Amazing Paintings today! You blow me away! I GASPED at the first – so so beautiful, and then the second…… OMG! So alive and powerful and magical,and then the beautiful peaceful privateness of the third. I wanted to claim a favorite, but I just can’t! You are absolutely brilliant!

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  6. They are lovely. Number 3 is my personal favorite, but they’re all wonderful. The warm colors and the radiant light are enchanting.

    I have been wondering whether you were affected by the problems of the Oroville Dam — so glad that your family is safe.

    How fabulous that you’re putting emotional distance between the reference photos and the pictures: it’s a welcome sign of confidence! The paintings are distinctive, imaginative — they stand on their own.

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    1. Thank you Aletha, I love using the photos just for inspiration now and then I take it in the direction I want. I feel that all my plein air painting has been a big part to do with that and also following a photo bores me and I seem to try to depict a photo rather than being expressive. I am about 22 miles as the crow flies from the Oroville Dam. I am far enough up in the hills/mountains and more to the east of it that we are safe. Though if it were to break all that water would flow in the Yuba and I am sure it would rise significantly. My brother and his were in the flood zone area and were evacuated. They left for the coast rather than deal with being evacuees. Long story short, we are safe 🙂

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  7. what absolute fun Margaret! lovely use of colors and the textures you achieved; I always love the fact that the YOU factor is infused in everything you paint!! #1 with its hills and trees resonate with me. the dashing ocean spray is so lively, it makes me Smile! well done, YRF 🙂

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      1. hi M! hip is doing well 🙂 and I get my wheels back today…. whew. 6 weeks of dependency. Eye Opener. anyway, hope you had a good V day and now with Spring…. around the corner (I’m jumping the gun) you’ll be outside more painting 🙂

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    1. Oh you are too kind and yet you are perceptive as well. Yes, I feel that I am walking more on the edge of where I would like to go and being expressive is top priority right now. I paint every single day except for Sundays now and that has really helped me to achieve the practice and space to explore what I want to accomplish. I always love hearing what you think and if you think I would benefit from something or a view, please let me know. 😉

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  10. I absolutely love the first and second paintings…you have really captured energy in the second and the first speaks to me in a big way. I read this morning that California is expecting more major rain storms, but I don’t think where the dam is! Keep dray and continue making beautiful art. Janet. 🙂

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    1. Thank you! I wasn’t too sure if that second painting would work but I put those feelings aside and went with the sense and feeling of the ocean, then it appeared out of trusting that it would! It is truly glorious when that happens. Oh we have had a year of disasters right and left. Roads crumbing and disappearing and unprecedented snow in the higher elevations. I live about 22 miles as the crow flies from the Oroville Dam. It wouldn’t affect me personally other than affecting the Yuba River, in which we live by or travel over. At least I keep painting to keep my mind off from the constant pounding rain…. 😉 I make do!

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