Sierra Buttes and Company

 

painting #1 on Saunders 200# 11 x 14 inches

I have been working on a painting that I started about three years ago that requires a more detailed approach. As I like to do while painting on one painting is to start another one. The Sierra Buttes is one of my favorite subjects, so I decided to paint it again, why not? Here is my last post Making Do During a Snowstorm

I used Burnt Sienna and Fr. Ultramarine Blue on the mountain, I feel that it gives just the correct warmth and coolness. I chose not to go into much detail with the trees because the Sierra Buttes is the star, don’t you think?

I started out loosely with lots of water and getting the feeling and gist of the mountain rather than accuracy. To me that is more important.

 

painting #2 on Saunders 200# 11 x 14 inches

 

painting #3 on Arches 140# 11 x 14 inches

Both of these paintings are from my visit to the Bear Valley here in Northern California.

 

painting #4 on Arches 300# 11 x 14 inches

I enjoyed painting this one but feel that I would like to paint this over and work more on bringing depth and doing a better job in the foreground.

*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.

 

 

 

 

The Weary Paints On!

 

painting #1 wip on Arches 140# 11 x 14 inches

I have been struggling with an intense cold but I still manage to paint. No holding back now! This abstract is one that I keep visible while I work on other paintings. I keep painting on it in increments but only adding what I feel it needs and no more. In a way it is an artistic muscle builder.

 

painting #2 on Arches 140# cp  11 x 14 inches

I am not sure if I like this one, and yet when I am working on it, I love it. The critic in me wants to jump all over it. This is based on my trip over to remote Bear Valley in Glenn Co.

 

painting #3 on Canson Heritage cp 140# 11 x 14 inches

I practiced my wet on wet on this paper hoping to go very impressionistic. I pulled out shapes as I saw them. I over-worked the left side and basically lost my focal point. No matter, there are more paintings waiting and more lessons to be learned.

 

painting #4 on Canson Heritage cp 140# 11 x 14 inches

I again decided to paint wet on wet and I really love how you can work on a painting for over 2 hours non-stop. My photo made that area behind the sun-lit trees too blue, it is actually a grayed down purple/blue and green color. There is a point that you know that you have to wait for it to dry before proceeding to add your calligraphy  marks or to correct. This paper is perfect for this technique and it dries extremely flat which I really like.

*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.

 

 

 

 

 

North Valley to the Mountains

 

painting #1 on Fabriano soft press 300# 11 x 14 inches

I have painted this a few times before Busy with Landscapes and this one I like the best: Glory Be!  I have been going through a general dislike of my paintings but I know that I go through this cycle every month or so and it will pass, thank goodness!

 

painting #2 on Arches  140# rough 11 x 14 inches

This painting was from a reference photo that I took from my adventure with my brother to go see Bear Valley in Glenn County in the north valley here in Northern California. This place was amazing because of all the rain we received, the land breathed with moisture. I have never seen green as I did on that trip. Most of the roads were dirt or gravel and ranches were everywhere.

 

Bear Valley in Glenn Co. California

I saw something that I have never seen before and my brother had to point it out to me. Along the fence were two coyotes who had been shot and strung up, apparently this is suppose to be a deterrent to other coyotes. My husband told me that he remembers seeing this as a youngster on the school bus passing a ranch in Nevada County.

 

Acid green hills!

 

painting #3 on Arches 140# rough 11 x 14 inches

Last but not least, a view of the North Yuba river in Sierra County. Now onto other paintings and hopefully I’ll get into a better frame of mind with the next paintings.

*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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River and Marshland Here We Come!

 

wip painting #1 on Lanaquarelle 140# 11 x 14 inches

I had to return to the river and have some fun with my favorite subject for now. I needed to really “feel” it and this is always what makes me feel like I have come home.

 

painting #2 photo reference was Maria Jansson beautiful photo on Canson Heritage 140# 15 x 18 inches

I had a wonderful experience of translating Maria Jansson’s beautiful photo Maria’s photo but when I tried to depict the icy berry brambles then I started to fret but why try to depict a photo of such quality to the exact replica? Silly me! I do need to bring out the cattails more but other than that, I think I’ll call it finished. I could bring out more of the foreground but the star is the pond/marsh and the background.

Canson L’Aquarelle Héritage watercolor paper is new to me and I have to admit it I was a little leery because I HATE Canson, even their pastel paper. After viewing a youtube video describing the paper, I decided to give it a try and guess what? I love the paper and will buy more of it in the future.

 

painting #3 on Soft Press Fabriano 11 x 14 inches

I think that I love this and yet at the same time feel that it needs more and yet, I am wanting to take a painting to the edge of just done, not over-done. I want to depict as minimal as I can and I will leave it alone for now.

*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 Splendor

 

on Arches 300# rough 15.5 x 20 inches

I usually don’t paint on Sundays but I couldn’t resist that creative call. Those dark areas are not as dark as they appear, there is dimension present but my camera didn’t pick it up. I am thinking that this is finished for now. I might try it again because I lost something in the grasses, perhaps a clear vision?

What is fun is that at some point I noticed that I was holding three brushes in my hand and alternating between them. I have been using up to 6 brushes now in a painting session. Also this painting is the second largest painting to date for me. It didn’t seem to be any different than working smaller, so I think that might be a good sign.

Colors used: Cerulean Blue, Quin. Gold, Burnt Sienna, Indanthrone Blue, Fr. Ultra. Blue, Hematite Genuine

*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.

 

 

Landscapes Galore

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

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

 

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.

 

Another One to Add to the Valley Series

 

on Bockingford 140# cp 11 x 14 inches   

After receiving a new shipment of paper, I wanted to try out Bockingford tinted paper, eggshell to be precise. I ordered only one sheet and I thought I would give this paper a try. At first I was taken back by the blueish appearance of the paper but realized that against the warmth of my washes it really seem to contrast quite nicely. I love the paper! I am not sure if my room was too warm but it seems to me that Bockingford dries faster, I will have to keep an eye on that in the future. No problem because I would keep that in mind and react accordingly. I do believe that I will order it in the future, I am convinced that it will work for me.

The colors used in this painting are: Cerulean Blue, Quin. Red, Cobalt Blue (sky and land) then I used primarily Quin. Gold, Moonstone, Hematite Genuine and Indigo. Daniel Smith watercolors, of course.

*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.

 

Busy Busy!

painting #1 on Arches 300# rough 11 x 14 inches

I couldn’t resist another valley painting. I am planning a special painting for a special person who encouraged me to use one of her gorgeous photos as a reference. She is curious how I will paint it and so am I!  check out Jodi’s photo here: Jodi’s beautiful photo!. I wanted to spend good quality time on this next project so I decided that I better move these paintings along before I tackle that project.

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

This is taken from a photo that I took while at the Mendocino Coast. I hope to come back to this particular scene and do a “re-do” I am not happy with my fumbled horizon in the center. I loved using Daniel Smiths’ Hematite Genuine for those blackish rocks far below, it mixes so beautifully with other colors and the granulating properties is like none other.

 

painting #3 on Arches 140# 11 x 14 inches – reference photo was taken by Mary Lee Davey – granted permission to use her photo.

I enjoyed painting this but I am unhappy about the mountain sections, too close in value and I lost that special blue in the far peaks. I plan to give this another try at a later date. I would like to get looser with the trees and work on the drama of the Sierra Buttes.

*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 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.