Backward Glance II - WIP

Okay, so I decided the last painting I did of this pony looked more like one of those funky horse-like creatures in the movie Avatar.  So I'm taking another crack at it and at the same time zooming in on the pony so he takes up more of the canvas.  I'm liking it much better!  Still some work to do, but here's a sequence of shots.  I didn't start with a wash like I usually do.

 

Backward Glance - Study

Tonights effort.  This is just a 9"x12" study for what I hope will be a larger painting, maybe 16"x20".  This is based on a photo taken by a friend of mine, Thyra.  I've already done a painting based on another photo she took...what can I say, she's a terrific photographer and was gracious enough to let me use some of her photos as inspiration!

I'll definitely do another study that fills up more of the canvas with this horse before launching into the larger piece.  Never done painted a horse before, but I'd sure like do more...just my favorite animal!  We have two horses for my girls and neither is big enough for me to ride, but I don't care...I just enjoy looking out my window and seein' them in my pasture.  Hmmm, I should just go get some pictures of my own horses - now there's a thought.   9"x12" canvas board.

Backyard Maple - Plein Air

Took my wife in to Dr. appointment (everything's okay) this morning, brought her home, tucked her in to catch up on some sleep and did a quick plein air in my backyard while she slept.  This was fast and dirty, but I kinda' like it!

6"x 8" canvas board

Plein Air Evening

Wow!  This evening was absolutely perfect for painting outdoors.  Grabbed my easel and collapseable bucket and headed outside. This is the same setup I'll be using at Thomas Kitts Plein Air workshop coming up Aug. 15.    This view is from my backyard toward one of our favorite neighbors, Dennis and Mary.  What caught my eye was the white fence framed by those two large trees and the old rusty burn barrel.

I started out with plenty of light, but by the time I got to the details the light was pretty low.  Can you guess how the painting looked when I came inside and put it under the lights....yep, a bit on the light side.  I tried using a few things I've learned from the Richard Schmid November DVD I've been watching.  The collapseable bucket worked great for hauling various items outside and then doubled nicely has my paper towel trash can.  Thanks Kevin MacPherson for that tip!

So here's tonights effort.

6"x8" canvas board

Chipping Sparrow study

So the object tonight was NOT to produce a "masterpiece", but rather limit my time to force myself to look for the shapes and simplify the shapes.  Per Kevin MacPhersons book "Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color", I was only planning to paint 30 minutes, but I didn't get the canvas completely covered so I went over by about 15 minutes.  I was painting at night so this was based off a photograph from Birds and Blooms. 

Anyhow, I'll be doing lot's more of these small quick studies in preparation for the Thomas Jefferson Kitt's workshop in August.  He got my registration today and the class minimum is eight people...so come on, painters!! 

So here's tonights 45 minute effort.  6"x8" canvas board.

Coldwater Lake Study

Did a quick little study tonight.  From a photo I took of Coldwater Lake up near Mount St. Helens. Hmmm, I think it needs more depth. Oil on 8x10 canvas board.

Forked Path - Final....I think

Well, tonight I added some highlights, grass detail, and introduced some sky into the trees.  I think I'm going to call this one done and move on.  Learned alot and fun so this was success!

Apples anyone?

So here's my first still life in Oils.  I thought I was done with this one, but then decided it was too "orangey". So I came back later and deepened the red using a glaze.