Pretty Palette

I thought that you might enjoy seeing the bright oil paint colors on my palette, esp. at this time of cold and neutral colors outside. I used these colors last week on a large oil painting of water lilies which I am developing in the studio. I'm savoring the lush colors and slick paint, and the energy that they are adding to the work, and hope that you enjoy them too!

Show is Coming!

Several of my new oil and pastel landscapes will be included in the upcoming Farmland Preservation Artists of Central PA Show/Sale Feb. 3 - 5. I'm a founding member of this small group of local artists who teamed up with the Centre County Farmland Trust to raise visibility for the Trust's mission to preserve farmland in this area.  We exhibit our paintings (primarily local landscapes) at several events throughout the year, and donate a portion of the proceeds from sales to the Farmland Trust and the PA Association for Sustainable Agriculture.  I enjoy working with others who appreciate the beauty of open land in this area, and feel excited about this partnership to help maintain open space through my work as an artist. I hope that you can come and see the artwork- please feel free to contact me for more information about the show/ sale.

Evolution of a Work - 'Fields Across the Stream"

"Fields Across the Stream" - final

This is a scene along Marengo Road, about one half mile from my house.  I go on walks this direction a lot, and see this hillside nearly every day.  I always seem to be drawn into this scene. I like the composition and warm late winter colors in this oil painting.  I began this painting on location with a pencil sketch on a small pocket-sized notebook since it was too cold to stay outside for long.  This painting seems to have a poem-like quality which appeals to me, saying just enough for it to feel 'whole,' but without distracting details.

Original sketch, made on location

I made this sketch to remember the composition of the scene that appealed to me with its interlocking arcs.  The colors I filed in memory, and noticed them more as I drew and interacted with the scene.  I remember sitting there, feeling grateful for this open land, and a touch of warm sun despite the cold air.

Grisaille oil sketch

After getting back to the studio, I wanted to lay in the tonal masses to make sure that the values would work as a composition (and not just the lines).  I decided to work on canvas paper so I felt free to experiment, and then later use this as a reference for the final work.  Such a sketch is called a Grisaille, and is a time-tested approach to beginning a painting.  I don't do this too often, but I've been paying close attention to value-masses lately to see what I can learn from it.  I liked this sketch, so I then used it as a reference for the final painting on canvas.